THE MENNONITE BROTHERHOOD IN RUSSIA (1789 - 1910), P. M. Friesen, 1911

ueckenau, was named leading elder. Br. Jacob Dirk- sen (Muensterberg) became his assistant (died in Herzenberg). The latter soon left the Molotschna. Fast had laid hands on Elder Huebert for God’s blessing in 1868 on behalf of the church. Br. Huebert himself had ordained Br. Fast as minister of the Word in 1867. “Brother Fast has always been a faithful fellow elder, especially in house visitation and the counseling of individuals. He has been a blessing to many in these respects. It is still often mentioned that Br. Fast is held in loving memory for having spoken appropriately and truthfully to one and the other. Proverbs 10:7 is fulfilled in him: ‘The memory of the righteous is a blessing.’ ” 294 On April 15 of the same year the two brethren, Franz Nickel and David Schellenberg, were confirmed in the preaching ministry by the laying on of hands. The brethren Wilhelm Loewen and Klaas The M.B. Church 1873-1885 497 Enns, who had not been prepared to accept ordination earlier, were confirmed in the ministry by Johann Fast, the leading elder after the departure of Abraham Schellenberg on June 1, 1880. c) "And so the time came for the brothers and sisters emigrating to America to bid farewell. The farewell was arranged for May 6, 1879, in Rueckenau. Br. Jakob Dirksen (Muensterberg) spoke on John 16:32, 33, Br. Johann Poettker (Fuerstenau) on Revelation 2:10 (sic!), 295 Elder Abraham Schellenberg on the text, ‘Because I live, you shall live also’ (John 14:19), and Br. Klaas Enns among other texts used the verse, ‘It must be so’ (Matthew 26:54). Thereupon a number of brethren and sisters, who were emigrating, shared what was on their hearts. Finally all those emigrating were asked if it was their intention to remain true to the Lord, whereupon all stood to their feet to affirm their resolve to do so. Brother Abraham Schellenberg then asked the brothers and sisters remaining concerning their intention, and they also affirmed the same by standing.” On May 15, 1879, final goodbyes were said to the emigrants at the Michailovka (now Prischib) railway station. Addresses were given and prayers were spoken out in the open field by those departing and those remaining. 10. The orphaned church and its united leadership. a) “We felt like nestlings abandoned by their mother and now on their own, for the direction of the church and our task in the Kingdom of God here in the Molotschna were very much upon our hearts. But we did all things together [at that time, and such united action brought blessing] .Each one served with the gift he had received (I Peter 4:10) and One was our Master, Christ. The meetings were faithfully attended and the brethren ministered diligently. We received rich comfort from God’s Word through study and proclamation. The brethren Dirksen, Nickel, Loewen, Enns, and myself (David Schellenberg), together with our dear Brother Fast, were rather active in the preaching ministry of the church.”