A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

church membership calls for advanced theological training for pastors and church leaders. An early Bible institute at Kasugade developed into Osaka Biblical Seminary, a joint project of the Mennonite Brethren and two Baptist groups. Ruth Wiens and Harry Friesen have been teaching in this seminary; all pastors until now have attended this school. Apparently because of some doctrinal differences, the Japanese M.B. Conference recently de- cided to withdraw from Osaka Biblical Seminary and start its own school. In keeping with missions policy, this decision was made by the national conference independently of the position of the Board of Mis- sions and Services on this matter. The new school began in April, 1971, in the Tshibushi church with one student. The prospects appear to be bright for a wholesome and scriptural development of the Mennonite Brethren Church in Japan. Administra- tively and financially the conference is moving rapidly toward complete independence. An enlarged vision and deepened concern for the evangelization of the whole nation is noticeable in the churches. The establishment of a new church in Japan's third largest city, Nagoya, provides an opportunity for a practical expression of this wider interest. It is not impossible that the churches of Japan (which has sometimes been called "the rudder of Asia") may yet play a leading role, under God, in the penetration of the Asian continent with the gospel of Christ. AFRICA Africa, the world's second largest continent, has in the twentieth century become the continent of emerging nations and of an emerging Christian church. The rapidity of transition from "colony to nation" and from "mission to church" is without precedent in modern history. "The 'darkness' of the huge continent," Robert G. Nelson observes, "may now reflect only our own unwillingness to look again in corrected perspective."" In his report on Africa David B. Barrett describes the rapid growth of the Christian Church in the Third World and then adds: This trend, which is seen most dramatically in Africa, has far-reaching significance throughout the world. Not only is Christianity becoming a great part of black Africa . . . but also Christianity, which has been for long a religion of predominantly white races, will have started to have more colored than white members. . . Mennonite Brethren are happy to be identified with this story of trials and triumphs of the Christian Church in Africa. Mennonite Brethren interest in missionary activity in Africa dates back to the 1890's. In 1896 P. H. Wedel and H. E. Enns, supported by funds from the M.B. Conference, proceeded to the Cameroons field of MENNONITE BRETHREN AROUND THE WORLD 411 the North American Baptist Mission Society. 21 Because of the severe tropical climate, Mrs. Wedel was soon obliged to leave, her health broken. After seven months on the field, Enns died. Wedel, whose health also failed, left for Europe