A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

articipants, some 125 to 150 Mennonite Brethren. This gathering was of historic significance in that it focused on an "Anabaptist style" of evangelism. After more than one hundred years, Mennonite Brethren are still deeply involved in the church's primary task. 320 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH IV. The Radio Ministry This chapter would be incomplete without at least a brief summary of gospel broadcasting by M.B. churches, institutions, and conferences. In view of their evangelistic and missionary concern, it is somewhat strange that Mennonite Brethren were rather slow in adopting this modern medium of mass communication. Several reasons for this hesitancy could be citied. Initially Mennonite Brethren shared with other Evangelicals the suspicion that radio was an instrument of evil. The programs that were aired by most stations confirmed this sus- picion. Rural isolationism and the language barrier were contributing factors. Moreover it was felt that the church-centered strategy of all Mennonite Brethren missionary endeavors could not be observed in a radio ministry. During and after World War II the attitude gradually changed when the congregations realized that radio could be used for the glory of God and the salvation of men as they listened to such broadcasts as the Old-Fashioned Revival Hour and other popular gospel programs. Local Radio Programs The earlier period (1940-1960) is marked by a great proliferation of effort. In Canada many local churches and institutions began their own radio programs. The Gospel Tidings, released over a Saskatoon radio station as early as 1940, was perhaps the first radio program produced by Mennonite Brethren in Canada. In 1955 the Konferenz-Jugendblatt listed the following radio programs sponsored by Mennonite Brethren across Canada: Gospel Bells Radio Program (Alberta) The Gospel Hour (British Columbia) Sonntagmorgen-Gottesdienst (Yarrow, B.C.) The Bible School Hour ( Abbotsford, B.C.) The Herbert Bible School Radio Broadcast (Saskatchewan) Gospel Echoes (Bethany Bible School, Saskatchewan) The Gospel Light Hour (Released in Manitoba and Ontario) The Glorious Gospel Program (St. Catharines, Ont.) Moments of Blessing (Niagara Falls, Ont.) The Chapel Speaks (Coldwater, Ont.)" A few of these programs have been discontinued since then, but the others are continuing their ministry to the present day. In addition to the programs mentioned above, the Winkler M.B. Church (Manitoba) and the Kitchener M.B. Church (Ontario) have also produced their own radio programs for a number of years. In the United States gospel radio broadcasts were first initiated by local congregations. Among those mentioned in early reports are the SERVING WITH VARIOUS GIFTS 321 programs of the M.B. churches of Buhler, Kansas, and of Delft, Minnesota. The Mennonite Brethren churches at Shafter and Dinuba have broadcast the morning worship service f