Canadian Mennonite Bible College - Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Lehre mich tun nach deinem Wohlgefallen.” Psalm 143:10. JAKE LETKEMAN Graysville, Man. HENRY LETKEMAN Graysville, Man. “Wie wird ein Jiingling seinen Weg unstraflich gehen? Wenn er sich halt nach deinen Worten.” Psalm 119:9. PETER LETKEMAN Waldheim, Sask.

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David Janzen B.A., M. A. nstructor in Social Science, English Literature and Church History Purposes of C.M.B.C. in Our Mennonite Situation The main purpose of CMBC is to be continually engaged in the ministry of reconciliation, in our own life, in the life of Mennonite communities, and in the life of every human being within our reach. The reason for this ministry is found in the fact that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners reconciling us to God. And now our duty is to obey our Lord ' s command: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’’ This purpose is not accomplished by compromising essentials, but by an understanding and tolerant acceptance of the fact that Christ also laid down His life for other sheep not of this fold. In accepting this position, we declare that God’s revelation to man through the mouth of the prophets, and particularly in His Son, is a legitimate source of knowledge, which however, is only received by faith. Rationalism and empiricism are not displaced by revelation but continue to exist in their own right. The purpose of CMBC then is to be a center of Mennonite culture and research, in order to make the very best knowledge available in love, to its students and to the constituenc y. This means that Christian values must give direction to all our study. Our daily life with its manifold activities must constantly be brought under the direction of the Spirit of God. CMBC should not only cultivate piety, which some characters substitute for knowledge, but should convey an intelligent Mennonite world view. There is something radically wrong when students make prayer and devotions a substitute for Christian morality and diligent study. CMBC should control the leadership supply of our churches. Yet it must teach how to carry learning with humility, not with ostentation. Missionary Emphasis Within a century of the death of Mohammed the Islam armies had swept across Africa and into Spain. One of the reasons of the rapidity with which they gained their converts was, we are told, the decadence of Christianity. A church that had started early in the Christian era and had been obedient to the Great Commission by th i founding of the Catechetical school of Pantaenus, which had sent missionaries into the regions beyond, ceased its effective testimony and succumbed to theological controversy—the result; spiritual dearth, successful Islam propaganda, the Dark Continent. About eight centuries later a group of Christians in Switzerland, not satisfied with Luther’s and Zwingli’s decision to retain certain elements of the Catholic faith, decided to emphasize the importance of voluntary commitment to the Master and a daily life consistent with such belief. In ascertaining the will of the Master for their lives they knew that missionary work was a must. It is not surprising therefore when we read that our Anabaptist forefathers were zealous evangelists, preaching their message with conviction and producing startling results. A similar thing happened in the nineteenth century when a group of Mennonites in Iowa and Pennsylvania saw the need of forming a union of churches for the purpose of education and missions. Thus it was that the General Conference Mennonite Church of North America could be organized in 1860. Again we pass almost a century onward to the decision of our Canadian Conference to found the Canadian Mennonite Bible College. When we ascertain what was to be the aim of the work here, it is told us that we want a youth thoroughly grounded in the Word of God who will fill the need in Christian homes, in our Sunday schools, in our churches, and on our foreign mission fields. These examples go to show that wherever people are concerned about obeying the Master there will be an emphasis on MISSIONS. Where the Great Commission is unheeded, however, there is compromise with the world, there is spiritual dearth rather than health. Into such hearts the forces of darkness find easy admittance. Benno Toews B.A., B.D., B. Ed. Instructor in Missions Bible and English Composition XII