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Evangelism and Bible Conferences / 125
in reviving Ohio churches and his private diaries list the following Ohio churches and dates of his meetings: Pleasant View, 1896; Riley Creek, 1896; Salem (Wayne County), 1896; Salem (Allen County), 1896, 1897, 1902; Leetonia, 1897; East Lewistown, 1897.='
Thus did evangelistic work and revivalism become a part of Ohio Mennonite and Amish church life. By 1905 three evangelists were appointed by the Ohio Conference to serve in respective districts." They were Perry Brunk (Western), Amos Mumaw (Middle), and Enos Detweiler (Eastern). In so doing these appointments became part of the churchwide efforts that built up the life and membership of congregations throughout the Mennonite communities of America. Ohio ministers became evangelists not only in their own state but also in others. That Ohio ministers exerted evangelistic influence beyond their own congregations and state can be seen in the 1894 report of the Mennonite Evangelizing Board of America which lists the following Ohio ministers at its meeting in Indiana: C. Z. Yoder, Weilersville; J. M. Shenk, Elida; Michael Horst, North Lawrence; M. S. Steiner, Canton; D. S. Brunk, Elida; John Blosser, New Stark; Jacob E. Greider, Wadsworth; Moses Brenneman, Elida; C. P. Steiner, Cranberry; Jacob Horning, Bluffton.''
The terms "evangelism" and "revivalism" have been used interchangeably here as throughout much of Mennonite history in the last three quarters of a century. While strictly speaking "revivalism" means a rekindling of indifferent or estranged members, it has also meant the ingathering of persons who were never members of any church. In this respect it has been "evangelistic." Evangelists in the period just surveyed usually aimed to win the uncommitted members in the church community (often youth who had not joined the church) but quite usually some who responded to the evangelist's efforts were also members who had "erred" or who were marginal in their church affiliation. Many churches in the Ohio and Eastern Conference in the past two generations have had annual series of meetings for a week or two with "evangelistic" sermons and efforts that served both of the purposes outlined above.'-'
Bible Conferences
Among the movements that created new life in Ohio Mennonite churches few were quite as important as the Bible conferences.
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