A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

ussian Baptists. Wieler, who died in exile, must be considered the first Mennonite missionary among the Russian people. 22 Expansion Across Land and Sea The expansion of the Mennonite Brethren during the second decade of their history into new geographical areas was as much due to the migration of a people as it was to the propagation of a faith. By 1925 almost 40 percent of the population in the daughter colonies belonged to the Mennonite Brethren, whereas only 15.5 percent belonged to them in the mother settlements of the Ukraine. This makes it clear that the greatest increase in Mennonite Brethren, which was due primarily to winning converts from the Mennonite Church, was found in the daughter colonies. "It could also indicate that the Mennonite Brethren 78 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH of the mother settlements were more active in the establishment of daughter settlements."" Before we consider Mennonite Brethren emigration to America, let us briefly sketch the beginning of Mennonite Brethren churches in the daughter colonies. 1. Expansion in European Russia (1) Friedensfeld. Three Mennonite Brethren families from the Molotschna settled here in 1867 with a number of families from the Kleine Gemeinde. This settlement consisted at first of one village and was located about thirty miles north of Nikopol, near the Dnieper River. The faithful ministry of Jacob Jantz resulted in conversions and increased membership. Since the Kleine Gemeinde congregation here was in the process of dissolution, "all the remaining inhabitants of the village joined the Mennonite Brethren."" Friedensfeld was at first a subsidiary of the Molotschna Mennonite Brethren Church, but in 1875 it was organized as a separate congregation with forty-five members. At the same time Jacob Jantz was ordained as elder and Christian Schmidt as "associate elder" by the elders Abraham Unger (Einlage) and Abraham Schellenberg (Rueckenau). By 1885 the church had a membership of one hundred, and approximately 150 adherents. It also had an effective outreach in the surrounding areas and had general supervision of the small Baptist church at Michailowka. (2) Zagradowka. This settlement, established in 1872, was situated on the Inguletz River about sixty miles north/northeast of the city of Kherson. By 1883, sixteen villages had been established here on excellent farm land. After surviving early pioneer hardships, the colony became one of the most prosperous of all the newer settlements. Here too, there was a nucleus of three Mennonite Brethren families among the first contingent of settlers. Through the itinerant ministry of such men as Jacob Jantz and Eduard Leppke the small group was strengthened and increased in numbers. By 1885 the congregation had a membership of one hundred, with an additional one hundred and fifty adherents. The earlier meeting place had been in the village of Altonau, but in 1888 a new church was