Relief Work - Revision history

SamSteiner: Text replacement - "[[Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)" to "[[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches"

2023-08-08T19:23:38Z

Text replacement - "[[Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)" to "[[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches"

AlfRedekopp: "Indian raids" replaces with "raids by Indigenous people"

2023-01-26T19:45:10Z

"Indian raids" replaces with "raids by Indigenous people"

RichardThiessen: Spelled out some abbreviations in full.

2021-01-04T21:16:34Z

Spelled out some abbreviations in full.

RichardThiessen: Text replace - "Mennonite Quarterly Review" to "''Mennonite Quarterly Review''"

2017-01-15T23:09:27Z

Text replace - "<em>Mennonite Quarterly Review</em>" to "''Mennonite Quarterly Review''"

RichardThiessen: Formatted headings.

2014-10-11T00:46:36Z

Formatted headings.

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RichardThiessen at 00:42, 11 October 2014

2014-10-11T00:42:25Z

SamSteiner: Adjusted formatting and links

2013-12-02T16:32:15Z

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RichardThiessen at 05:11, 25 August 2013

2013-08-25T05:11:23Z

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GameoAdmin: CSV import - 20130816

2013-08-16T19:13:44Z

CSV import - 20130816

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 The new settlements of Mennonites in America continued the tradition of helping the needy. As early as 1756 the Franconia Mennonites in Eastern Pennsylvania organized a small relief program for the help of the Moravian communities of Northampton County who had suffered loss of life and property because of raids by Indigenous people. In 1775, when the war spirit of the revolutionary era was running high, the Mennonites joined the Dunkers in a petition to the [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] Assembly declaring it according to their principles "to feed the hungry and give the thirsty drink; we have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that can be helpful to the preservation of men's lives, but we find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in anything by which men's lives are destroyed or hurt." During the war the Mennonites used the facilities of the Brethren Cloister at Ephrata for hospital purposes. A Mennonite minister, John Baer, and his wife died, evidently of a contagious disease, while ministering to sick soldiers at this place. One writer says: "we may be sure from what we know of their character and customs, that many a weary straggler, invalid soldier, or destitute refugee received aid and comfort from the rich farms and hearths of the Pennsylvania pacifists." Even British fugitives received such aid. In 1783 some British soldiers who had been imprisoned in Lancaster escaped and called at Mennonite homes northeast of the city, where they received help. Local officials regarded this as an act of treason and insisted that the Mennonites be punished. Only through an appeal to George Washington himself were these Mennonites saved from a prison sentence. But they had to pay a fine.
-The immigration of 18,000 European Mennonites, chiefly from [[Russia|Russia]], in the decade following 1873, was the occasion for a large-scale relief and aid program on the part of the Mennonites of [[Canada|Canada]] and the [[United States of America|United States]]. Three committees were organized for carrying on this work. The first was the [[Mennonite Board of Guardians|Mennonite Board of Guardians]], organized in 1873 with [[Krehbiel, Christian (1832-1909)|Christian Krehbiel]] and [[Goerz, David (1849-1914)|David Goerz]] of Summerfield, Illinois as president and secretary, and [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] of [[Elkhart (Indiana, USA)|Elkhart]], Indiana as treasurer. The second committee known as the Mennonite Executive Aid Committee was organized in Eastern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] under the leadership of Preacher [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] of the [[Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Lancaster Conference]]. The third committee was formed by the Ontario Mennonites and was known as the Canadian Aid Committee, with [[Shantz, Jacob Yost (1822-1909)|Jacob Y. Shantz]] of Berlin (now [[Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Kitchener]]) as president. These three committees cooperated very closely and did a remarkable piece of work. They distributed literature throughout the Mennonite communities of south Russia, giving detailed instructions as to procedures for taking advantage of the provisions being made by the American committees. They had representatives in Hamburg and New York who met the immigrants and helped them with the details of their travel and transportation arrangements. They helped them make contact with the proper railway companies and arranged for very cheap immigrant fares, and gave assistance in the location and purchase of lands on which to settle. It is estimated that the assistance in money and services given by the Mennonites in the United States to the Russian immigrants amounted to more than $100,000. The [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] Mennonites secured a loan of $88,000 from the Canadian government to assist the immigrants who came to Canada. In addition, private loans and gifts brought the aid given by the Canadian Mennonites also considerably above $100,000.
+The immigration of 18,000 European Mennonites, chiefly from [[Russia|Russia]], in the decade following 1873, was the occasion for a large-scale relief and aid program on the part of the Mennonites of [[Canada|Canada]] and the [[United States of America|United States]]. Three committees were organized for carrying on this work. The first was the [[Mennonite Board of Guardians|Mennonite Board of Guardians]], organized in 1873 with [[Krehbiel, Christian (1832-1909)|Christian Krehbiel]] and [[Goerz, David (1849-1914)|David Goerz]] of Summerfield, Illinois as president and secretary, and [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] of [[Elkhart (Indiana, USA)|Elkhart]], Indiana as treasurer. The second committee known as the Mennonite Executive Aid Committee was organized in Eastern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] under the leadership of Preacher [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] of the [[LMC: a Fellowship of Anabaptist Churches|Lancaster Conference]]. The third committee was formed by the Ontario Mennonites and was known as the Canadian Aid Committee, with [[Shantz, Jacob Yost (1822-1909)|Jacob Y. Shantz]] of Berlin (now [[Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Kitchener]]) as president. These three committees cooperated very closely and did a remarkable piece of work. They distributed literature throughout the Mennonite communities of south Russia, giving detailed instructions as to procedures for taking advantage of the provisions being made by the American committees. They had representatives in Hamburg and New York who met the immigrants and helped them with the details of their travel and transportation arrangements. They helped them make contact with the proper railway companies and arranged for very cheap immigrant fares, and gave assistance in the location and purchase of lands on which to settle. It is estimated that the assistance in money and services given by the Mennonites in the United States to the Russian immigrants amounted to more than $100,000. The [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] Mennonites secured a loan of $88,000 from the Canadian government to assist the immigrants who came to Canada. In addition, private loans and gifts brought the aid given by the Canadian Mennonites also considerably above $100,000.
 === India ===

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 === North America ===
-The new settlements of Mennonites in America continued the tradition of helping the needy. As early as 1756 the Franconia Mennonites in Eastern Pennsylvania organized a small relief program for the help of the Moravian communities of Northampton County who had suffered loss of life and property because of Indian raids. In 1775, when the war spirit of the revolutionary era was running high, the Mennonites joined the Dunkers in a petition to the [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] Assembly declaring it according to their principles "to feed the hungry and give the thirsty drink; we have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that can be helpful to the preservation of men's lives, but we find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in anything by which men's lives are destroyed or hurt." During the war the Mennonites used the facilities of the Brethren Cloister at Ephrata for hospital purposes. A Mennonite minister, John Baer, and his wife died, evidently of a contagious disease, while ministering to sick soldiers at this place. One writer says: "we may be sure from what we know of their character and customs, that many a weary straggler, invalid soldier, or destitute refugee received aid and comfort from the rich farms and hearths of the Pennsylvania pacifists." Even British fugitives received such aid. In 1783 some British soldiers who had been imprisoned in Lancaster escaped and called at Mennonite homes northeast of the city, where they received help. Local officials regarded this as an act of treason and insisted that the Mennonites be punished. Only through an appeal to George Washington himself were these Mennonites saved from a prison sentence. But they had to pay a fine.
+The new settlements of Mennonites in America continued the tradition of helping the needy. As early as 1756 the Franconia Mennonites in Eastern Pennsylvania organized a small relief program for the help of the Moravian communities of Northampton County who had suffered loss of life and property because of raids by Indigenous people. In 1775, when the war spirit of the revolutionary era was running high, the Mennonites joined the Dunkers in a petition to the [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] Assembly declaring it according to their principles "to feed the hungry and give the thirsty drink; we have dedicated ourselves to serve all men in everything that can be helpful to the preservation of men's lives, but we find no freedom in giving, or doing, or assisting in anything by which men's lives are destroyed or hurt." During the war the Mennonites used the facilities of the Brethren Cloister at Ephrata for hospital purposes. A Mennonite minister, John Baer, and his wife died, evidently of a contagious disease, while ministering to sick soldiers at this place. One writer says: "we may be sure from what we know of their character and customs, that many a weary straggler, invalid soldier, or destitute refugee received aid and comfort from the rich farms and hearths of the Pennsylvania pacifists." Even British fugitives received such aid. In 1783 some British soldiers who had been imprisoned in Lancaster escaped and called at Mennonite homes northeast of the city, where they received help. Local officials regarded this as an act of treason and insisted that the Mennonites be punished. Only through an appeal to George Washington himself were these Mennonites saved from a prison sentence. But they had to pay a fine.
 The immigration of 18,000 European Mennonites, chiefly from [[Russia|Russia]], in the decade following 1873, was the occasion for a large-scale relief and aid program on the part of the Mennonites of [[Canada|Canada]] and the [[United States of America|United States]]. Three committees were organized for carrying on this work. The first was the [[Mennonite Board of Guardians|Mennonite Board of Guardians]], organized in 1873 with [[Krehbiel, Christian (1832-1909)|Christian Krehbiel]] and [[Goerz, David (1849-1914)|David Goerz]] of Summerfield, Illinois as president and secretary, and [[Funk, John Fretz (1835-1930)|John F. Funk]] of [[Elkhart (Indiana, USA)|Elkhart]], Indiana as treasurer. The second committee known as the Mennonite Executive Aid Committee was organized in Eastern [[Pennsylvania (USA)|Pennsylvania]] under the leadership of Preacher [[Herr, Amos (1816-1897)|Amos Herr]] of the [[Lancaster Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church USA)|Lancaster Conference]]. The third committee was formed by the Ontario Mennonites and was known as the Canadian Aid Committee, with [[Shantz, Jacob Yost (1822-1909)|Jacob Y. Shantz]] of Berlin (now [[Kitchener-Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Kitchener]]) as president. These three committees cooperated very closely and did a remarkable piece of work. They distributed literature throughout the Mennonite communities of south Russia, giving detailed instructions as to procedures for taking advantage of the provisions being made by the American committees. They had representatives in Hamburg and New York who met the immigrants and helped them with the details of their travel and transportation arrangements. They helped them make contact with the proper railway companies and arranged for very cheap immigrant fares, and gave assistance in the location and purchase of lands on which to settle. It is estimated that the assistance in money and services given by the Mennonites in the United States to the Russian immigrants amounted to more than $100,000. The [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]] Mennonites secured a loan of $88,000 from the Canadian government to assist the immigrants who came to Canada. In addition, private loans and gifts brought the aid given by the Canadian Mennonites also considerably above $100,000.
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 [[File:94-14-224.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''A Teachers Abroad Program worker, Ruth Friesen with a first grade reading class in Bolivia.'']]
-By 1974 there were 480 persons serving with MCC in 39 countries, including 152 TAP teachers in Africa. In that year material assistance valued at 3.5 million dollars (US) was sent to developing nations. The first SELFHELP Crafts shop was established in [[Bluffton (Ohio, USA)|Bluffton, Ohio]], in 1974. Work with refugees continued or was initiated in the Middle East, Burundi, Sudan, India, [[Bangladesh|Bangladesh]], and [[Vietnam|Vietnam ]]in this period. Power struggles, ethnic rivalries, political and economic oppression, racism, wars and natural disasters helped create over 14 million refugees and displaced persons. Mennonites responded to earthquakes in [[Peru|Peru]] and [[Nicaragua|Nicaragua]] and a cyclone along with droughts and floods in India. Nine million East Pakistan refugees streamed into India in 1971 during the [[Pakistan|Pakistan]]-Bangladesh war. Mennonites responded with food shipments and initiated long-range development plans to increase food production. Food, medical supplies, and services were contributed to both sides during the [[Nigeria|Nigeria]]-Biafra conflict in 1968 and 1969.
+By 1974 there were 480 persons serving with MCC in 39 countries, including 152 TAP teachers in Africa. In that year material assistance valued at 3.5 million dollars (US) was sent to developing nations. The first SELFHELP Crafts shop was established in [[Bluffton (Ohio, USA)|Bluffton, Ohio]], in 1974. Work with refugees continued or was initiated in the Middle East, Burundi, Sudan, India, [[Bangladesh|Bangladesh]], and [[Vietnam ]]in this period. Power struggles, ethnic rivalries, political and economic oppression, racism, wars and natural disasters helped create over 14 million refugees and displaced persons. Mennonites responded to earthquakes in [[Peru|Peru]] and [[Nicaragua|Nicaragua]] and a cyclone along with droughts and floods in India. Nine million East Pakistan refugees streamed into India in 1971 during the [[Pakistan|Pakistan]]-Bangladesh war. Mennonites responded with food shipments and initiated long-range development plans to increase food production. Food, medical supplies, and services were contributed to both sides during the [[Nigeria|Nigeria]]-Biafra conflict in 1968 and 1969.
 [[File:94-14-436.jpg|300px|thumb|right|''Two officials of [[Church World Service|Church World Service]] examine part of 1st shipment of aid materials for Saigon, Vietnam to be distributed there by MCC.'']]
-North American Mennonites first went to [[Vietnam|Vietnam ]]in 1954 at the time of the division of the country. They contributed material aid, provided community and agricultural development assistance, and medical services. In 1965 the situation escalated into a more violent and costly war as the major powers became more deeply involved. American Christians, some of whom felt a measure of responsibility for the destruction, wished to respond. In January 1966 Vietnam Christian Service, a cooperative Protestant relief agency made up of [[Church World Service|Church World Service]], Lutheran World Relief and MCC, was formed. Mennonites furnished 40 percent of the eventual 200 field personnel. MCC, because of its experience in Vietnam and its long peace tradition, was asked to take leadership and did so for the first five years.
+North American Mennonites first went to [[Vietnam ]]in 1954 at the time of the division of the country. They contributed material aid, provided community and agricultural development assistance, and medical services. In 1965 the situation escalated into a more violent and costly war as the major powers became more deeply involved. American Christians, some of whom felt a measure of responsibility for the destruction, wished to respond. In January 1966 Vietnam Christian Service, a cooperative Protestant relief agency made up of [[Church World Service|Church World Service]], Lutheran World Relief and MCC, was formed. Mennonites furnished 40 percent of the eventual 200 field personnel. MCC, because of its experience in Vietnam and its long peace tradition, was asked to take leadership and did so for the first five years.
-Mennonites withdrew from VNCS at the end of 1972 but continued a ministry of reconciling service. After the change in governments in April 1975 four MCC workers remained in Vietnam to demonstrate concern for all of the people of Vietnam. The last worker, a Japanese Mennonite, left Saigon in September 1976. The events in [[Vietnam|Vietnam ]]raised questions of church and state and of how to respond to those designated as enemies and illustrated the complexities, ambiguities, and challenges of doing relief work when a country is at war. Mennonites believe that Christians and the church belong where there is oppression and suffering.
+Mennonites withdrew from VNCS at the end of 1972 but continued a ministry of reconciling service. After the change in governments in April 1975 four MCC workers remained in Vietnam to demonstrate concern for all of the people of Vietnam. The last worker, a Japanese Mennonite, left Saigon in September 1976. The events in [[Vietnam ]]raised questions of church and state and of how to respond to those designated as enemies and illustrated the complexities, ambiguities, and challenges of doing relief work when a country is at war. Mennonites believe that Christians and the church belong where there is oppression and suffering.
 Beginning in 1965 Mennonites had periodical contacts with representatives of the Provisional Revolutionary Government and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to interpret peace concerns and express interest in helping the Vietnamese under their governments. Some limited medical supplies were sent, but no regular channels were possible until 1974 when Mennonites began to send substantial material aid, including food, medicines, and school supplies. Agricultural development, including irrigation projects, was the central focus of later assistance.

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 === Russian Relief Request ===
-As early as 1919 [[Fast, Martin B. (1858-1949)|M. B. Fast]], W. P. Neufeld, and B. B. Reimer, Mennonites of Reedley, Cal., collected funds, clothing, and relief supplies amounting to more than $40,000 for the suffering Mennonite communities in Siberia, which were at that time not under Soviet rule. Fast accompanied the shipment in person and was joined later by Neufeld. Following their return the Emergency Relief Committee of the Mennonites of North America was organized 4 January 1920, at Hillsboro, Kan., with [[Hiebert, Peter C. (1878-1963)|P. C. Hiebert]] as chairman and [[Fast, Martin B. (1858-1949)|M. B. Fast]] as general secretary; but it soon found the door to Siberia closed by military developments.
+As early as 1919 [[Fast, Martin B. (1858-1949)|M. B. Fast]], W. P. Neufeld, and B. B. Reimer, Mennonites of Reedley, California, collected funds, clothing, and relief supplies amounting to more than $40,000 for the suffering Mennonite communities in Siberia, which were at that time not under Soviet rule. Fast accompanied the shipment in person and was joined later by Neufeld. Following their return the Emergency Relief Committee of the Mennonites of North America was organized 4 January 1920, at Hillsboro, Kansas, with [[Hiebert, Peter C. (1878-1963)|P. C. Hiebert]] as chairman and [[Fast, Martin B. (1858-1949)|M. B. Fast]] as general secretary; but it soon found the door to Siberia closed by military developments.
 In June 1920, however, the [[Russlandmennonitische Studienkommission|Studienkommission]], composed of four Mennonite delegates from [[Russia|Russia]], came to America to solicit help for their people who were suffering from famine, many of whom desired to emigrate. In response to this need and appeal the MCC was organized in July 1920 for the operation of a joint Mennonite relief program. The Emergency Relief Committee of the Mennonites of North America now joined its forces with the new movements as did the MRCWS, the Emergency Relief Committee of the General Conference Mennonite Church, the Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, the Krimmer Mennonite Brethren, and the Mennonite Brethren Church. P. C. Hiebert was elected as chairman (serving until 1952) and [[Mumaw, Levi (1879-1935)|Levi Mumaw]] as executive secretary (serving until his death in 1935), after which [[Miller, Orie O. (1892-1977)|Orie O. Miller]] was chosen to fill his place (serving until 1958).

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 Krahn, C., J. W. Fretz, and R. Kreider. "Altruism in Mennonite Life," in P. A. Sorokin, <em>Forms and Techniques of Altruistic and Spiritual Growth, a Symposium.</em> Boston, 1954: 309-28.
-Kuhler, W. J. "Dutch Mennonite Relief Work in the 17th and 18th Centuries." <em>Mennonite Quarterly Review</em> 17 (1943): 87-94.
+Kuhler, W. J. "Dutch Mennonite Relief Work in the 17th and 18th Centuries." ''Mennonite Quarterly Review'' 17 (1943): 87-94.
 Lehman, M. C. <em>Mennonite History and Principles of Mennonite Relief Work, an Introduction, Students Edition With Syllabus and Annotated Bibliography.</em> Akron, PA: Mennonite Central Committee, 1945.

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 __FORCETOC__
 __TOC__
-= 1956 Article ==
+= 1956 Article =
 == Early History ==
 The [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] emphasis on [[Discipleship|discipleship]] and brotherhood required the material possessions of the Christian to be brought under the lordship of Christ. The extremes of luxury and poverty were to be avoided. Material aid and generous sharing and co-operation in economic matters were to be freely practiced, and after the manner of the Good Samaritan the needy were to be helped. Hans Leopold, a Swiss Brethren martyr of 1528, said of his brethren: "If they know of anyone who is in need, whether or not he is a member of their church, they believe it their duty, out of love to God, to render help and aid." Menno Simons, in an enumeration of qualities of the saints, says: "They show mercy and love. . . . They entertain those in distress. They take the stranger into their houses. They comfort the afflicted; clothe the naked; feed the hungry." Both the Dordrecht and the Ris confessions of faith in their statements on nonresistance emphasize the duty of the Christian to feed, clothe, and help his needy fellow men.