Perilous Journey: The Mennonite Brethren in Russia 1860-1910, John B. Toews, 1988

There were at least two other activities sustaining congregational vitality — the ladies mission circle and the choir. In a broader context the emergence of the Saengerfest (Song Festival) in the 1890s supplemented the overall sense of community. Songs, missions and thanksgiving festivals, Bible studies, home visitations, village school meetings, regular ministerial visits, common sermon styles — all contributed towards a religious uniformity which generated its own peoplehood. Conversion, both as to process and inner meaning, was clearly defined. Bekehrung remained crucial to the Brethren sense of identity and well being and continued to be expounded and experienced. Yet the celebration of salvation was not an end 52 in itself but took place in a setting sensitive to the demands of discipleship. The inner dynamics of the community focused on the nurture of the new Christian, on mutual caring and admonish- ment and on the progression of the spiritual journey. Newness, vitality and excitement still characterized the pursuit of private and public religion. The community was at peace, largely unaware of several developments which would soon threaten its tranquility. NOTES l P.M. Friesen, The Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia, 1789 1910 (Halbstadt, 1911), 276. See also pp. 325-326. - Peter Reimer, "Russland," Zionsbote, VII (1891), no. 18, 2; Judith Lohrenz, "Margenau, den 4. April 1891," Zionsbote, VIK1891), no. 20, 3-4; Heinrich Penner, "Meine Bekehrung," Zionsbote, X(1894), no. 38, 3. ;) "eine Gesellschaft, die meinem Fleisch sehr ansprach," Thomas Koop, "Meine Erfahrung," Zionsbote, VII (1891 ), no. 47, 1. Another spoke of the fact that he withdrew from "der weltlichen Gesellschaft," "Meine Erfahrung," Zionsbote, X(1894), no. 31,2-3. 4 J. Epp, "Aus meinem Leben," Zionsbote, VII (1891), no. 27, 2-3; also Zionsbote, VII (1891), no. 23, 2. 5 Abraham Peters, "Meine Bekehrung, Zionsbote, VII (1891 ), no. 32, 1. 6 "Meine Erfahrung," Zionsbote, VII (1891), no. 49, 1. 7 Peter Goerzen, "Russland," Zionsbote, VII (1891), no. 26, 2; Johann Huebert, "Die Bekehrung eines Bruders," Zionsbote, X (1894), no. 20, 2; Peter Perk, "Etwas aus meinem Leben," Zionsbote, X (1894), no. 23, 2; Elisabeth Friesen, "Wie mich der Herr bekehrte," Zionsbote, X (1894), no. 29, 2-3. B B.B. Janz Papers (Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies in Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba), Memoirs, "Meine Heimkehr," 8-9. ! ' Henry E. Reimer, Being Born Again by the Word of God (n.p., n.d.), 5-6. 10 Herman Neufeld Journals (Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies in Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba), "Lebensgeschichte," 117 ff. 11 "Ich ling an zu beten um Vergebung meiner Suenden. Ich blieb in diesem Zustand ungefaehr einen Monat, ich konnte aber nicht durchkommen." F.J. Becker, "Wie der Herr mich gesucht und gefunden hat," Zionsbote, X (1894) no. 32, 3. Also Zionsbote, X (1894), no. 33, 3-4. 12 Anna Boschman, "Wie der Herr mich gesucht