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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... questions of faith and life . ( 5 ) The centrality of ethics in the expression of a scriptural faith . ( 6 ) A form of meaningful worship , consistent with the character of God . " 3 The birth of the Mennonite Brethren was significant ...
... ) provided little evi- dence of creedal concern . The point of reference for them was not a codified statement but the study of Scripture in or- der to find answers to questions arising in the life 18 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH.
... questions arising in the life of the church . " What does the Bible say ? " was their major concern . Their understanding of salvation was rooted in a " Christo- centric theology . " Briefly stated , this meant a fervent belief in Jesus ...
... questions related to the evi- dences of a true conversion . My own experience in 1921 il- lustrates the process of such an inquiry . My initial conversion experience occurred at the age of fourteen . David Reimer , a youth worker in ...
... questions of the preliminary examination were asked from the floor . " Is Hans Toews too young for baptism at the age of fifteen ? Is he mature enough to grasp the implications of a life surrendered to the lordship of Christ ? " The ...