A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

n described in previous chapters. The first organized efforts on a conference level on both continents were related to itinerant evangelism. From the records it would appear, moreover, that every preacher in the early M.B. Church had accepted Paul's charge to Timothy: "do the work of an evangelist" (II Tim. 4:5). The spiritual burden for spreading the Gospel was not a "delegated responsibility" of the "ministry," but was the personal concern of individual members. The early Brethren were known (and sometimes feared!) for their efforts to win people to Christ through personal work. The present-day emphasis on "visitation evangelism" was also a well-known practice among them. Since 1909, when the General Conference was divided into "districts," evangelism has been a regional or area concern. Great changes have taken place in both the United States and Canada during the last sixty years in the methods and scope of evangelistic outreach in Mennonite Brethren communities. The developments since 1910 will be set forth briefly, divided into two periods. 1. Era of Multiple Lay Evangelists (1910-1954) Most of the work of evangelism during this period, especially in the first three decades, was done by brethren who would devote several weeks or even months every year to this ministry. For the "farmer-evangelist" the late fall was usually the most convenient season for such work; for the "teacher-evangelist" the summer season could be reserved for evangelism in the churches. According to J. H. Lohrenz, the major portion of the home mission effort in those years was directed toward evangelistic work in the churches. 2 " The committee for home missions (Innere Mission) of the district conference acted in an advisory and coordinating capacity in making arrangements. The work consisted of holding "protracted evangelistic meetings" in churches and, in the earlier years, often in schoolhouses. This method of conducting prolonged evangelistic services annually became an established pattern in practically all Mennonite Brethren churches of North America. Since Mennonite 316 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH Brethren lived mostly in rural areas, this method proved to be a very effective means of community outreach. The Mennonite Brethren Church was blessed during those years with a large number of brethren who were willing to become involved in evangelism. Among the evangelists who have done more extensive work in the United States in the earlier years are J. S. Ftegier, J. H. Ewert, Adam Ross, A. J. Harms, H. S. Voth, W. J. Bestvater, H. D. Wiebe, P. E. Penner, J. F. Thiessen, D. F. Strauss, and J. H. Richert. A little later, in the thirties and forties, other evangelists entered this field of service. Among these one could mention David Hooge, J. N. Willems, J. D. Hofer, G. B. Huebert, J. B. Toews, B. J. Braun, A. P. Koop, R. C. Seibel, G. H. Jantzen, Harry Neufeld, J. J. Toews, and many others