A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

he Paraguayan Chaco was not an "historical accident" (as some have described it) but an act of God's providence, since it was through these immigrant settlers that the gospel was first brought to the Indians, and later to the native Paraguayans. For the sake of convenience, the Mennonite Brethren who came from Russia will be referred to as the "immigrant church" and the M.B. converts among the Indians and Paraguayans as the "national church." The Immigrant MJB. Church Between 1928 and 1947 five Mennonite colonies were established in Paraguay: Menno in 1928, by Mennonites from Canada (mostly Sommer- felder) who feared the inroads of Canadianism; Fernheim, in 1930, by 422 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH Mennonites who had escaped from the "Gates of Moscow" via Germany; Friesland, in 1937, by Mennonites from Fernheim, who were disil- lusioned by the economic prospects in the Chaco; Neuland, in 1947, (in territory adjoining the other two Chaco colonies of Menno and Fernheim) by refugees from Russia after World War II; and Volendam, in 1947, also by Mennonite war refugees. 3 " Mennonite Brethren churches were established in all colonies im- mediately after settlement, except in the Menno Colony. The experiences of common sufferings in the past, and of economic necessities in a pioneer settlement, made cooperation with other Mennonite groups not only pos- sible, but also spiritually profitable. Let us briefly trace the growth and development of M.B. churches in the different colonies. Fernheim The Fernheim M.B. Church was organized on June 9, 1930, under the leadership of Isaak Braun. It consisted of 50-60 members. Later, when the group was enlarged by new arrivals, the entire Mennonite Brethren Church was divided into two groups, largely because of poor roads and communications: the Schoenwieser Lokale and the Lichtfelder Lokale. The name in each instance was that of the village in which meet- ings were being held. Upon the arrival of another group of immigrants from Russia via Harbin, China, in 1932, a third group was formed under the leadership of Johann Schellenberg, called the Orloffer Lokale. In 1947 the first two united as the Filadelfia Mennonite Brethren Church with a total membership of 400. In Filadelfia, the educational, industrial, and business center of Fern- heim, the Mennonite Brethren built a brick church in 1945 with a seat- ing capacity of 350. In 1950 another church building was erected with a seating capacity of 1,000. Because of distance the Orloffer Lokale (the name was changed to the Karlsruhe M.B. Church in 1968) remained separate and in 1953 had a membership of 116. The ministers of the congregations for many years received partial financial support from the brotherhood in North America. Sunday schools and young people's work are carried on regularly. While the reg- ular church services are held jointly with the GCM and EMB groups, the first Sunday of each