A Pilgrimage of Faith: The Mennonite Brethren Church in Russia and North America, 1860-1990It is now [1990] one hundred and thirty years since the birth of the Mennonite Brethren Church and therefore time for someone in that church to take a backward glance to see how things have developed. Who better to do this John B. Toews. His life spans well over half of those years and he has experienced much of what he writes. "JB" as he is affectionately known by both students and colleagues is a patriarchal figure in the Mennonite Brethren Church. Born in Ukraine, the Russian Revolution and its aftermath were the crucible that shaped his youth and young adult years. After studying in Western Europe, Toews immigrated to Canada in the late 1920s. Much of his life has been in Mennonite Brethren educational institutions in Canada and the United States. During ten years as Executive Secretary of the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions he traveled widely and came to know Mennonite Brethren people around the world. In between educational and mission administrative responsibilities he pastored in Kansas and California. After retiring from the presidency of the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary he became the founding Director of the Historical Commission of the Mennonite Brethren Church.
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... gospel and believe in Him should not perish but have ever- lasting life . " The linkage of " obey " and " believe " was impor- tant to the early Mennonite Brethren . To believe and to obey were interdependent ; there was no true belief ...
... after withdrawal from the old church , was " conversion to God through repentance and faith in the reconciling grace in Jesus Christ and a life of sanctification according to the rules of the gospel through the 32 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH.
... gospel through the gift of grace of the Spirit of Christ . " 18 This emphasis remained predominant . A mere crisis experience or verbal profession did not provide the proof of a genuine conversion . A new life was the proof required ...
... Gospel have separated themselves from the world and have their fellowship in the Holy Spirit with God the Father and Je- sus Christ their only mediator , and have come unto an in- numerable company of angels and unto the spirits of just ...
... gospel to every creature " was the provision of God for the salvation of the world . The strong emphasis on the " Word " as the communicating means of God accounted for the centrality they gave to preaching and Bible studies in the life ...