A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

er to working in a medical program in Kentucky. This practical expression of a "faith working through love" has provided many opportunities for sharing the Christian faith. Christian Service A new form of voluntary service, called "Christian Service," was initiated by the Board of General Welfare in 1960. It was an attempt to utilize the service potential of Mennonite Brethren young people to a greater degree in church-related ministries. The purpose of the new program was stated (in part) as follows: 1. To interpret and encourage the vision of Christian Service among our conference young people. 2. To develop dedication and loyalty to our M.B. Conference program and principles through service. 58 The response to this new opportunity for service was most gratifying. Dwight Wiebe, the associate secretary of the board responsible for the Christian Service program, reported enthusiastically at the 1966 convention: "Judging by the present rise of interest, it will not be long until each Mennonite Brethren Church in Canada and the United States will have one or more young persons away from home serving the Lord." 60 The 1969 Yearbook of the General Conference lists eighty-four workers who were involved in Christian Service programs in North America. Of these twenty-six were serving in Nova Scotia (Canada). With one or two exceptions, the latter were all engaged in teaching. Mennonite Disaster Service Another avenue of voluntary service in which Mennonite Brethren have actively participated for a number of years is Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). The program was organized by Mennonite laymen in the United States and Canada to aid the victims of natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, storms, earthquakes, and fire by cleanup and reconstruction work, largely in damaged homes. Such work sup- plements the familiar Red Cross operations which primarily provide emergency relief and medical supplies. Generally MDS operates by assembling groups of men who, at their own expense and with their own tools, proceed to the disaster area and work for a period of several days or weeks doing what they can do to restore damaged homes. The Canadian M.B. Conference recommended this avenue of service to its congregations in 1958. Most Mennonite Brethren congregations 360 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH have so-called "contact men" who organize local groups in the event of an emergency call from the regional, national or international MDS committee. In recent years Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren have had many opportunities to serve in disaster areas. Such services to the community have been an important Christian witness to the state and to the larger society. This ministry of compassion has also been recognized by governmental agencies and officials. In 1970 the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation paid tribute to the constructive peace witness of the Mennonites in a national telecast. In that