View source for Hostetler, Ida Miller (1900-1972) and Hostetler, Sylvan Jay (1901-1978)

Ida (Miller) and Sylvan Jay "S. J." Hostetler can duly be called explorers. They began church work in settings in [[India|India]] and [[Ghana|Ghana]]; they pastored [[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church (MC)]] congregations in [[Illinois (USA)|Illinois]], [[Indiana (USA)|Indiana]], and [[Michigan (USA)|Michigan]]. Not daunted by the unknown or difficult, they approached assignments intent to learn, with a spirit of adventure, with warmth toward people.

Born 16 September 1900, Ida died on 5 January 1972. S. J. lived from 7 March 1901 until 7 October 1978. Both were from Indiana; they married 22 August 1924. Parents of one son and two daughters, Ida and S. J. were missionaries in India, 1928-1949, and in Ghana, 1957-1964, during which time they also explored mission possibilities in [[Nigeria|Nigeria]]. During S. J's last five years, he was married to Leona Yoder, who earlier served in [[Ethiopia|Ethiopia]] and Jordan.

Whether at work with different idioms in language study; meeting needs of boarding school boys, of whom one-third were orphans; on preaching tour to scattered villages; fact-finding with missionaries of other denominations; attending to obstacles or hostility that new Christians met; deciding about schools for non-Christian girls; or reporting to North American churches, Jay and Ida believed in sharing the Good News. They believed in prayer, practiced humor, adapted with grace, and modeled teamwork.

After work in [[Madhya Pradesh State (India)|Madhya Pradesh]] (Central Provinces), India, the decade of the 1940s was given by Hostetlers to establish a mission in [[Bihar State (India)|Bihar State]]. Working with tribal people who were primarily basket weavers, S. J. and Ida rejoiced when ten were baptized in 1941. Twelve years later there were 10 missionaries, 15 full-time Indian workers effective in gaining the confidence of people, and 92 church members.

Ida proved to be systematic in checking Home Bible Studies materials in Ghana; she created a course on the Gospel of Mark for new Christians. S. J. gathered 25 topics into a resource for [[Baptism|baptism]] candidates. During 1958 and 1959 he made five trips to explore the Nigeria field. Convinced of the future in mission, both wrote informative articles, rich with anecdotes, for North American readers.
= Bibliography =
Hostetler, S. J.  <em class="gameo_bibliography">We Enter Bihar. </em>Elkhart, IN.: Mennonite Board of Missions, India Mission Study Kit. Also titled "History of Bihar Mennonite Mission 1940-1950." 1951: 45.

Hostetler, S. J. "Supplement to <em class="gameo_bibliography">We Enter Biha</em>r 1950-53." 1954: 14.

Hostetler, S. J.  'The Mennonite Church in Ghana 1957-1964." Elkhart, IN: Mennonite Board of Missions, 1979?: 53.

Hostetler, S. J. "Beginning in Bihar." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Christian Monitor </em>(January 1946): 14-18.

Hostetler, S. J. "Lessons in Discipleship." 1956, 1958 editions: 64 p. 

Frequent articles in <em class="gameo_bibliography">Gospel Herald </em>by both S. J. and Ida Hostetler according to Springer, Nelson and Klassen, A. J., compilers, <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Bibliography, 1631-1961</em>, 2 vols. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1977: II<em class="gameo_bibliography">, </em>p. 459.
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