A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ite History, p. 143. CHAPTER IX 1. Originally a larger delegation had been planned, but only Bender and Wiens were able to obtain visas in time for the trip. Cf. Epp, Mennonite Exodus, pp. 459-461. 2. The author had the opportunity to meet with Mennonite Brethren leaders in March, 1970, in Taschkent as well as in Moscow. These interviews gave a general impression of faith and worship of M.B. churches. 3. Epp, Mennonite Exodus, pp. 462-463. 4. Ibid. 5. The Evangelical Christians and Baptists (actually two branches of Russian Baptists) united on October 21, 1944, to form the Ail-Union Council of Evangelical Christian-Baptists. Cf. Serge Bolshakoff, Russia Nonconformity (Philadelphia: Westmin- ster Press, 19601, p. 121. 6. See article, "Mennonites in the U.S.S.R." by N. Teodorovich, in Bulletin, Institute for the Study of the U.S.S.R, XV: 10 (October, 1968), 31. 7. V.F. Krestyaninov, Mennonity (Moscow, 1967), 224 pp. Copy in private library of the author. 8. Ibid., p. 80. 9. Teodorovich, op. cit., p. 34. 10. Krestyaninov, op. cit., p. 138. 11 . Ibid., pp. 176-177. According to a table on p. 177, the proportion of older members in cities is still smaller. In Tomsk, for instance, almost ninety percent were under fifty. 12. In persona] interviews with several M.B. ministers in 1970 I was impressed again and again with the fact of constant church growth through baptisms, mostly from the ranks of the young people. 13. Krestyaninov, op. cit., pp. 110-112. The Soviet Constitution of 1936 makes no provision for conscientious objectors. In article 133 it simply states, "The defense of the Fatherland is the sacred duty of every citizen of the U.S.S.R." Quoted by Smith, op. cit., p. 508. 14. See article by G. H., "The Mennonites in Soviet Russia," Mennonite Life, XIV: 3 (July, 1969), 108. 15. The discriminatory decrees against settlers with a German background were rescinded under N. Krushchev in 1955. See documents re: "Religious and Ethnic Groups" in ibid., pp. 122-124. 16. Krestyaninov, op. cit., p. 79. 17. The Mennonite Brethren in Russia deny the existence of an "underground church" in their country; they readily admit that the unregistered groups suffer from harassment and many restrictions because of their lack of legal recognition. 18. Krestyaninov, op. cit., p. 159. (Translated and quoted by G. H. in "The Mennonites in the U.S.S.R.," op. cit., p. 112. CHAPTER X 1. The contributions of Funk and Krehbiel are duly acknowledged in the seventy -fifth anniversary publication, From the Steppes to the Prairies, edited by C. Krahn (Newton, Kansas: Mennonite Publication Office, 1949). 2. Quoted by K. Schnell, in ibid., p. 72. In the years to come. Funk's own home often served as a hostel to the immigrants in transit to Kansas or Nebraska. FOOTNOTES 449 3. Christian Krehbiel was chosen president, David Goerz, a recently arrived immigrant as secretary, and John F. Funk as treasurer. I