View source for Shank, Crissie Yoder (1888-1929)

Crissie Yoder Shank, the oldest of three children of John A. and Sadie Yoder, was born 7 January 1888 near Holden, Missouri. In early childhood she moved with her parents to [[Wayne County (Ohio, USA)|Wayne County]], Ohio, where she grew up and taught in the public school system. After receiving a BA degree from [[Goshen College (Goshen, Indiana, USA)|Goshen College]] (1909), she taught English and was dean of women at [[Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel College]], KS. In 1914 she married Charles L. Shank.

In 1915 the Shanks went to [[Dhamtari (Chhattisgarh State, India)|Dhamtari]], Madhya Pradesh, [[India|India]], under appointment by the [[Mennonite Board of Missions (Mennonite Church)|Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities]] ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]]). Due to a daughter's illness they returned to the [[United States of America|United States]] after only four years of service. Crissie captured the drama and meaning of these years in a book for young readers, <em>Letters from Mary. </em>She was a gifted speaker and writer with global and ecumenical concerns and she used her gifts to promote missions. She helped organize the Mennonite General Women's and Girl's Missionary Society and edited its publication, <em>[[Monthly Letter of the Mennonite Women's Missionary Society|Monthly Letter]] </em>(later <em>Voice).</em> Crissie Yoder Shank died 12 October 1929.
= Bibliography =
American Mennonite MC Mission, Dhamtari, India. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Building on the </em><em class="gameo_bibliography">Rock. </em>Scottdale: Mennonite Publishing House, 1926: 184. 

<em class="gameo_bibliography">Gospel Herald </em>(24 October 1929): 623. 

Interview with Mary Royer.

Klingelsmith, Sharon. "Women in the Mennonite Church, 1900-1930." <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Quarterly Review </em>54 (1980): 163-207. 

Rich, Elaine Sommers. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Women: A Story of God's Faithfulness, 1683-1983</em>. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1983: 138-140. 

Shank, Crissie. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Letters from Mary</em>. Scottdale: Mennonite Publishing House, 1924. 

Springer, Nelson and A.J. Klassen, compilers, <em class="gameo_bibliography">Mennonite Bibliography, 1631-1961</em>, 2 vols. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press, 1977: 243-28, 243-79.
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