A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ies" the Board of Missions bought a farm at Nuevo Ideal with the understanding that Mennonites could be hired to work it. The missionaries soon discovered, however, that whereas the Mennonite colonists were slow to respond, the Mexicans were eager to hear the message. As a result, evangelistic efforts have been directed more toward the Mexican people. This shift in emphasis has also led to a geographical shift — from Nuevo Ideal to Guadalajara as the center of M.B. operations in Mexico. The Spanish-speaking churches are small, scattered over a wide area. The withdrawal of mission funds and personnel in recent years has made it difficult for the struggling fellowship groups to carry on an effective program. The church buildings in Ciudad Diaz Ordas and Piedras Negras, according to veteran missionary Sylvester Dirks who visited M.B. missions in Mexico in 1970, are out of proportion to the small groups who gather for worship. Dirks shares the view of other informed leaders that "the hope of Mexico is in the training of national leaders."' 9 EUROPE After four centuries, Mennonites from America — spiritual heirs of the sixteenth century Anabaptists — returned to Europe in the wake of the most disastrous war in history. They came to Germany, Austria and other countries of Western Europe as ministers of relief and messengers of reconciliation under the auspices of the Mennonite Central Committee. This ministry of compassion opened the door (as it did in Japan) for evangelism and church-planting by Mennonite Brethren. Trailblazers in this ministry were H. H. Janzen and Cornelius Wall, who preached in the refugee camps (established for Mennonites who had fled from Russia and West Prussia) in the years immediately following World War II. Mennonite Brethren in Germany Could Germany, the land of the Reformation of the sixteenth century, and the birthplace of modern missions in the eighteenth century, be a mission field in the twentieth century? The Mennonite Brethren, and many other Evangelicals who studied the religious scene in post-war Germany, answered the question in the affirmative. The fact that many Mennonite Brethren in America still spoke the German fluently, made it easier to respond to the spiritual needs of Germany. 434 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH Neuwied on the Rhine became the first center for a ministry of church extension and evangelism. The C. N. Hieberts carried on an extensive program of visitation-evangelism in the early fifties. A congregation originally composed of Russian and Polish Mennonites was organized and began to grow under the spiritual ministry of the J. W. Vogts, and the Hugo Jantzes. Radio and literature work was developed under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Balzer. The radio program Quelle des Lebens, aired over Radio Luxembourg, supported and strengthened the Mennonite Brethren witness in West Germany. The growth of this radio ministr