A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

whose names appear in conference records and church reports. Of special interest is the fact that many missionaries, either while candidates or when on furlough, would devote themselves to evangelistic work in the churches. Among those well-known in the earlier years were N. N. Hiebert and F. J. Wiens. In later years J. N. C. Hiebert, J. A. Wiebe, P. V. BaJzer and J. H. Lohrenz, among others, became well-known for their evangelistic ministry in the churches. In Canada the pattern of evangelism in M.B. churches was similar to that in the United States. C. N. Hiebert and H. S. Rempel were widely known in the pioneer settlements for their work as evangelists and Bible colporteurs. Several of the brethren mentioned above as being active in evangelistic work in churches in the United States, also served in Canadian churches from time to time. With the coming of the Mennonite Brethren from Russia in the 1920's, the "company of the preachers" was greatly enlarged and strengthened. In the twenties and thirties, when the German language could still be effectively used for evangelistic outreach in Mennonite communities, several older brethren were extensively used of God in this work. Abraham Nachtigal, H. H. Goossen, C. C. Peters, and others are well re- membered by the older generation. In the forties and fifties, the period of bilingualism in Canadian M.B. churches, a younger group of brethren became active in evangelism. Several of these were Bible school or Bible college teachers who devoted their summer months to evangelistic work. Among these were G. W. Peters, F. C. Peters, J. H. Epp, G. D. Huebert, J. A. Toews, A. P. Regier, B. W. Sawatzky, J. F. Redekop, P. R. Toews and others. Among the pastors and ministers active in this field were H. H. Janzen, Abraham Huebert, and D. B. Wiens. The latter three also carried on an effective ministry among the Russian people. After World War II the number of "volunteers" for this ministry gradually declined. As a result, churches began to invite evangelists SERVING WITH VARIOUS GIFTS 317 40. C. N. Hiebert 41. H. S. Rempel from other denominations or interdenominational organizations. A. H. Unruh comments on this change: More and more (evangelism) became the work of invited evangelists. Formerly it often took people a longer period of time to find peace through prayer and the searching of the Scriptures. Gradually it appeared, that everything had to happen in one evening. Although this is possible, it must not become a fixed pattern. Our people accepted methods which prevailed in other churches. 30 The influence of "outside" evangelists on the life of the church became a brotherhood concern which found expression in discussions on the conference floor. At the 1953 convention of the Canadian Conference the question of a conference evangelist was considered. In the discussion it is pointed out, that it is a great disadvantage for the Conference if t