Historical Committee

Hist. Mss. 1-105
Nelson and Ada (Ramseyer) Litwiller
Papers, 1921-1979
19 Boxes (1 Gray, 2 Long Green, 15 Large, 1 Oversize)

Biographical Sketch

Born in St. Agatha, Ontario, Canada, Litwiller received his formal training at Stratford Teacher's Colleg, Stratford, Ontario, also at Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana and Bethany Biblical Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. He also did graduate work at Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois.

Nelson Litwiller and his wife, Ada (Ramseyer), were first appointed missionaries to Latin America in 1925 by the Mennonite Board of Missions, Elkhart, Indiana. An ordained minister, Litwiller held various offices in the Argentine Mennonite Conference, including that of bishop. Appointed Missions Field Secretary for lower South America in 1953, he held responsibilities in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. Instrumental in founding the Mennonite evangelical Seminary in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1956, he has the Seminary's first president and held that office for ten years.

After his retirement from the South American field, in 1967, he served the Mennonite Church through special assignments overseas and in North America. He received the baaptism of the Holy Spirit in August 1970 at a Catholic prayer meeting in South Bend, Indiana. From 1970 until 1985, he had an itinerant speaking ministry throughout the world, including Africa, Central, South and North America, Europe and the Far and Near East. His knowledge of English, Spanish, German and Portuguese increased his ability to minister.

He was also a key figure in Mennonite Renewal Services, a Mennonite charismatic organization. His collection reflects all of these involvements. Of special interest is his South American correspondence and his spiritual renewal ministry correspondence. His sermon notes are also extensive.

Administrative Information

Collection processed by Bryan Kehr, Rachel Shenk, and Marilyn Voran, September 5, 1986. Updated by Dennis Stoesz, March 6, 1996. Updated by Monica Zimmerman, July 25, 2001. Web update by Israel Ditzler, Febuary 7, 2006.

Box Listing

Inventory Listing

Box 1 (Large)

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Miscellaneous Correspondence, with Governments Official Documents
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1933-1952
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1953
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1954
Miscellaneous Correspondence. 1955
Miscellaneous Correspondence. 1956
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1957
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1958
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1959
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1960
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1961
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1962
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1963
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1964-65
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1966-67
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1968
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1969-1970
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1971-1973
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1974-1979
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1980-1983
Miscellaneous Correspondence, undated

Arline Ticket Correspondence, 1962
Arline Ticket Correspondence, 1963
Arline Ticket Correspondence, 1964
Arline Ticket Correspondence, 1965

Argentina

*Also see box 5 for oversize Argentina materials
Argentina Minutes, 1944-1956
Argentina Minutes, 1957-64
Argentina Reports, 1942-1956
Argentina Reports, 1957-1965

Box 2 (Large)

Argentina - Brazil

Argentina - Brethren Service Commission Minnutes and Rep., 1958-1961
Argentina - Brethren Service Commission Correspondence 1956-1957
Argentina - Brethren Service Commission Correspondence 1958-1959
Argentina - Luayza, Albano, 1921-1954; 1970

Argentina Correspondence, 1946
Argentina Correspondence, 1948
Argentina Correspondence, 1949
Argentina Correspondence, 1950
Argentina Correspondence, 1951
Argentina Correspondence, 1952
Argentina Correspondence, 1953
Argentina Correspondence, 1954
Argentina Correspondence, 1955
Argentina Correspondence, 1956
Argentina Correspondence. 1957

Bolivia (MCC), 1969

Brazil - Misc. Minutes, 1962-1964
Brazil - Araguacema (AVIM) Reports, 1956-64
Brazil Correspondence, 1954-1955
Brazil Correspondence, 1956
Brazil Correspondence, 1957
Brazil Correspondence, 1958, Jan.-June
Brazil Correspondence, 1958, July-Dec.

Box 3 (Large)

Brazil-Uruguay

Brazil Correspondence, 1959
Brazil Correspondence, 1960
Brazil Correspondence, 1961
Brazil Correspondence, 1962
Brazil Correspondence, 1963
Brazil Correspondence, 1964
Brazil Correspondence, 1965
Brazil Correspondence, 1966
Brazil Miscellaneous, 1961-1962

Deputation Trips, 1967-1969
Field Secretary Reports, 1953-1963
India Deputation, 1968
Mennonite Central Committee Minutes and Reports, 1948-1965

MCC Correspondence, 1952
MCC Correspondence, 1953
MCC Correspondence, 1954
MCC Correspondence, 1955
MCC Correspondence, 1956
MCC Correspondence, 1957
MCC Correspondence, 1958
MCC Correspondence, 1959
MCC Correspondence, 1960
MCC Correspondence, 1961
MCC Correspondence, 1962
MCC Correspondence, 1963
MCC Correspondence, 1964
MCC Correspondence, 1965-1966

Mennonite World Conference, 1962
Mennonite World Conference, 1967

Paraguay - Law Providing for Mennonite Migration, 1927
Paraguay - Missionskomitee Minutes and Reports, 1963-1966
Paraguay Correspondence, 1960-1963

South America Miscellaneous, 1961-1963
Spanish Literature, 1960-1963
Uruguay - Miscellaneous Minutes, 1954-1963 (Also see box 5)

Box 4 (Large)

Uruguay - Z

Uruguay - Miscellaneous Reports, 1946-1960
Uruguay - Federacion de Iglesias Evangelicas del Uruguay, 1955-1959
Uruguay - German Mennonites, 1947-1973
Uruguay - Mennonite Biblical Seminary Reports, 1955-1963
Uruguay - Mennonite Biblical Seminary Correspondence, 1954-1959
Uruguay - Mennonite Missionary Fellowship, Minutes and Reports, 1-55-1960
Uruguay - Reunion de Obreros Min., 1959-1961
Uruguay - Correspondence, 1946-1953
Uruguay - Correspondence, 1954-1958
Uruguay - Correspondence, 1959-1963

Clippings, Notes

Miscellaneous Programs
Lecture/Sermon Notes

Manuscripts

"Be Aglow with the Spirit"
"Besitztum im Lichte der Bibel:
"[The] Call to Mission"
"Casamiento, Divorcio y Segundas Nupcias"
"[The] Church and Peoples of the World"
"Conceptos Biblicos Basicos de la Iglesia"
"La Cooperacion Intermenonita"
"La Discplina Congregacional"
"Estrategia Misionera"
"Estudios sobre el Apocalipsis"
"[El] Evangelico que Predicamos"
"La funcion de la Iglesia"
"I met God"

"The Indigenous Church"
"La Literature en la Obra Evangelica"
"Los Menonitas - Su Relacion y hacia la Reforma"
"La Mision Christiana hacia las Religiones Resurrectas:
"New Strength for a new Age"
"La Obra Practica en el Seminario"
"One Mission - One World"
"Una Pregunta Fundamental"
"Prinzipien Fuer Jugendarbeit"
"Un Programa de Trabajo para el Pastor Cristiano"
"South America Dims Church Breaks"
"Viviendo Como Camaradas"
"What the War has done to Christian Missions"
"Witness in Christian Love"
Untitled

Manuscripts of Others

Buckwalter, Albert - "The Indian Protective Service & the Religious Missions"
Byler, B. Frank - "La Esencia del Anabautismo"
Castro, Emilio - Several Articles
Uruguay Seminary Faculty - "Problemas Ecclesiasticas"
Mennonite Statements of Position, etc.
Miscellaneous Articles (English)
Miscellaneous Articles (German)
Miscellaneous Articles (Spanish)

Box 5 (Long Green)

Oversize Material

Argentina Minutes, 1957-1962
Argentian Minutes, 1963-1974
Uruguay Minutes, Reports & Pub., 1963-1968
Minutes & Articles of Miscellaneous Organizations (2 folders)

Box 6 (Large)

Correspondence - General

Castro, Emilio 1971
Circle Letter 1972-1985
Dueck, Helga 1969-1971
Family Correspondence, 1958-1983
Fernheim, Paraguay Property 1957-1971
Gallardo, Jose 1967-1972
Litwiller, John 1970

Menno Tour - Juan Neufeld 1965-1972
Mennonite World Conference - Brazil 1970
Mission Board Deputation Work 1970
Mission Board Deputation Work 1971
Puricelli, Adolfo & Betty 1977-1979
Ramseyer, Nancy 1924
De Santa Ana, Julio 1967

Spanish Mennonite Work (Belgium, Spain) 1967-1971
Trip to Africa 1972-1973
Trip to Europe 1970
Trip to Mexico 1974
Trip to South & Central Cmerica 1975-1976
Trip around the World 1978
Wellman Mennonite Church, Iowa 1975-1976
Letterhead

Spiritual Ministry

Correspondence 1971
Correspondence 1972
Correspondence 1973
Correspondence 1974
Correspondence 1975
Correspondence 1976-1977
Correspondence 1978
Correspondence 1979
Correspondence 1980-1982

General Data

Adademia Menonita Betania, Puerto Rico - Greetings
Addresses
Anniversary - Litwiller Ministry of 60 years
Anniversary - Steinman Mennonite Church
Anniversary - Wedding Clippings

Argentina Mennonite Church - Mission'Church Policy
Argentina Mennonite Church - Pehaujo Mennonite Church 50th Anniversary
Argentina Mennonite Church - Pehuajo Mennonite Church List of First Mennonite Believers 1926
Articles by or about Nelson Litwiller
Between the Lines, 1969-1971

Box 7 (Large)

The British Weekly - Comment
The British Weekly - Commentary
The British Weekly - Obiter Visa
The British Weekly - Peter Parson's Log
The British Weekly - Reid, James
The British Weekly - Snowden, Rita
The British Weekly - Thought for the Week
The British Weekly - Misc. Clippings

Christian Life Convention, Kidron, Ohio 1969
Church and Peace Statement 1982
Clippings - Family
Clippings - German
Clippings - Miscellaneous (4 folders)
College Mennonite Church
Convencion Menonita de Puerto Rico
Cuba

Daily Devotions
Farewell to Litwillers - Uruguay 1967
Fast, Eleonore - "The Place of Social Work in the Development of the Evangelical Churches of Montevideo" 1960
Field Secretary for Latin America - Report 1954
Financial Materials - Misc.
Gingerich, Fannie - Obituary 1976
Gospel Evangel
Gra-Roy Property Owned by Litwillers

Hungary - Trip to, 1978
Indian Tribes Calendars
International Christian Leadership
Itineraries
Jews for Jesus 1978

Latin American Evangelist
Latin American Mennonite Congress, Bogota, Colombia 1968
Latin American Mennonite Congress, Costa Rica 1975
Latin American Papers - Christianity in the University Context 1967
Latin Mennonites - U.S. Mennonites Relations 1977

Menno Travel Service South America Tour - 9th Mennonite World Conference 1971-72
Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Montevideo, Uruguay - Clipping 1967
Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Montevideo, Uruguay - Letters of Support 1956
Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Montevideo, Uruguay - Misc.
MCC - Reports, Latin America 1967
MCC - COMBS Meeting 1967 - International Education

Mennonite Board of Missions - Family Tree
Mennonite Board of Missions - Newsletters & Misc.
Mennonite Board of Missions - Overseas & Personnel Committees Consultation 1969
Mennonite Board of Missions - Policies
Mennonite Board of Missions - South American Work

Mennonite Experience in America 1976
Mennonite General Assembly - Estes Park 1977
Mennonite World Conference - Curitiba, Brazil 1972
Mennonite World Conference - Wichita, Kansas 1978

Millenium - Clippings
Missions - Articles
Minutes - Misc. (Spanish Migrant Comm., South American Junta, etc..)
National Catholic Reporter
Newsletters - Misc.

Box 8 (Large)

Newspapers - Misc.
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Newsletter
Overseas Missionary Directories
Pamphlets - Misc.
Preaching Record
Presbyterian Life 1969

The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, 1973-1974
Princeton Theological Seminary Alumni News
Programs with Nelson Litwiller Participation
Publications - Misc.
Reports - Misc.

St. Margaret's Community Church, Vancouver, British Columbia - Sermon Transcripts 1978
Shank, Charles L. - Funeral 1969
Snyder, Mario - "La Iglesia ante los Problemas del Mundo"
Songs - Misc.

Tracts - Misc.
Travel Items
Women's Roles in the Church
World Vision

Charismatic Renewal Data

Acts 29 Newsletter 1974-1977
Charismatic Catholic Renewal
Charismatic Leaders Conference - Misc. 1973-1983
Charismatic Leaders Conference - Sheperding Controversy 1976
Charismatic Renewal Conferences - Misc.
Charismatic Renewal among Mennonites - Manuscripts
Charismatic Renewal Newsletters - Misc.
Charismatic Renewal - Misc. Clippings

Christian Summit Convocation - Singapore 1978
Comissioning Service - Minnich, Herb and Shirley, 1982, Pleasant View Mennonite Church
Conference on Chrismatic Renewal in The Christian Churches - Cassette Duplicating 1977
Conference on Charismatic Renewal in the Christian Churches - Computer Listing of Mennonite Participants 1977
Conference on Charismatic Renewal in the Christian Churches - Corr. 1976-1977
Conference on Charismatic Renewal in the Christian Churches - Planning Committee 1975-1977

Box 9 (Large)

Conference on Charismatic Renewal in the Christian Churches - Press Releases 1977
Conference on Charismatic Renewal in the Christian Churches - Misc.
Eastern General Conference - Atlantic City 1976
Festival of the Holy Spirit, Goshen, Indiana
"The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church" - Responses 1977
Holy Spirit Study

Jerusalem Holy Spirit conference 1975
Lietters of Introduction
Life in the Spirit Seminar
Life in the Spirit Seminar Team Manual

Mennonite Renewal Services - Corr. 1975-1977
Mennonite Renewal Services - Corr. 1978-1980
Mennonite Renewal Services - Minutes 1976-1977
Mennonite Renewal Services - Newsletter 1976-1977
Mennonite Renewal Services - Misc. 1975-1986

One in the Spirit Conference 1979
Pacific Coast Conference - Resolution on the Baptism of the Holy Ghost 1906
Renewal '74 - Landisville, Pennsylvania
Sheperd, Barrie J. - "Water into Wine or Wine into Water" 1973
Testimonies about Nelson Litwiller's Ministry

Whole Life Crusades, Inc. - Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
Whole Life Crusades, Inc. - Corr. 1974-1979
Whole Life Crusades, Inc. - Financial Reports 1974-1979
Whole Life Crusades, Inc. - Minutes - Board of Directors 1974-1979
Whole Life Crusades, Inc. - Newsletters 1974-1978
World Conference on the Holy Spirit 1973-1975

Sermon Notes and Background Materials

Abstinence
Acts
Africa Trip
Anabaptism
Anabaptist View of the Church - Little
Argentinian Revolution

Baptism
Biblical Paradoxes
"The Biblical Questions" (Preached 61 times)
Biographical Sermons
Book Reviews

Casting out Demons
Charismatic Charter
Charismatic Esperience in History
Charismatic Movement - Reactions to
Charismatic Renewal - Need for

Christ
Christ's Copming
"Christ and the Golden Candlesticks" (Preached 54 times)
"Christ, the Lord of Life" (Preached 284 times, 1924-1970
Christian Courtship
The Christian Home
Christian Life
Christian Testimony to Those of Other Faiths
Christmas

The Church and the Christian
The Church and Communism
The Church as a Light to the World
Commissioning Service
Communion Service
Confession
Conversion

The Cross of Christ
Dedication of Children
Devotional Notes
Discipline
Duplicate Sermons
Easter
Ephesians
Evangelism
Exorcism
The First Word

Box 10 (Large)

Funeral Sermons
Genesis
German Sermons
God who Tests
Goshen Biblical Seminary Presentations
"Growth in Holiness" (Preached 30 times)

Healing
Hebrews
"The Holy Spirit in Evangelism" (Preached 54 times)
The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church
Holy Spirit and Renewal
Hope
The Hope of Israel

Incarnation
John
Latin America
Leadership and Authority
Life and Light
Livingstone, David

The Making of a Leader
May Your Kingdom Come
"Measuring the Church" (preached 94 times)
Meditations 1931
Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Montevideo, Uruguay - Addresses
Mennonite World Conference 1962, Kitchener, Ontario - Sermon
Mennonite World Conference 1972, Curitiba, Brazil - Sermon

Ministers' Task in Recruiting and Supporting church Workers
The Ministry
Missions
Missionary Orientation & Preparation
Mother's Day
Old Testament Passages
Ordination Sermon
Others' Sermons - Notes

The Parables
Passing of Kornelius Isaak (Killed by Moro Indians)
Paul
Peace and War
Pentecost
Praise and Worship
Prayer
Prayers - Misc.

Preaching
"The Priceless Gift - Forget the Price" (Preached 65 times)
Prophets
Qualifictions of a Pastor
Quotes
Readings - Notes
Receiving Members
"The Religion of a Baby's Home" (Preached 54 times)

Renewal '74
Repentance
Resurrection of Christ
In Retrospect
Revelation
Revival

Service
Simons, Menno
Sin
The Spirit-Filled Life
Spiritual Gifts
Stewardship
"Strangers and Pilgrims" (Preached 96 times)
"Stretch Forth Thy Hand" (Preached 98 times, 1929-1983)

Talks to Mennonite Educational Institutions
Telegram Messages
Temptation
My Testimony
Thanksgiving
Tongues

Box 11 (Large)

"The Tragedy of a Wasted Life" (Preached 154 times)
"The Truly Christian Motive in Life" (Preached 51 times)
Union with God
Unity
Using our Bibles

Vision
Vocation in New Testament
Weddings
The Will of God
The Word of God
Youth

Miscellaneous English Sermon Notes
Miscellaneous Spanish Sermon Notes
Miscellaneous Sermon Titles
Miscellaneous Spanish Notes
Miscellaneous Notes (6 folders)

Seminary and Teaching Notes

Colossians and Philippians
Cure of Souls
Discurso Politico 1964
The Doctrine of God in the Book of Amos
English Bible/Pentateuch

Las Ensenanzas de Jesus
Ephesians 1946
Epistle to the Hebrews 1946
Exegesis of John
Exegesis of I Peter
Expository Peaching 1946

German Class Notes
Homiletics
Introduction to Ecumenics 1945-1946
Jesus' Teachings
Methods in Bible Study
Method in the Use of the Bible

Observanciones
Old Testament Theology
Pastoral Theology
The Practicum in the Seminary
The Remaking of the Modern Mind
Revelation (2 folders)

Seminary Work - Chicago 1925
Sermon Analysis
Sociology
Study of the Book of Matthew - English Notes
Study of the Book of Matthew - Spanish Notes
Study of the Bood of Revelation

Box 12 (Large)

Datebooks and Memorabilia

Datebooks, 1933-1939
Datebooks, 1940-1945
Datebooks, 1946-1954
Datebooks, 1954-1962
Datebooks, 1963-1979
Datebooks, 1980-1983

Desk Datebooks, 1965-1972
Desk Datebooks, 1973-1977
Desk Datebooks, 1978-1981
Desk Datebooks, 1982-1984

Datebooks, Misc.
Autobiography
Family Memorabilia
Identity Cards, Driver's License, etc.
Litwiller Genealogy
Litwiller Memorabilia
Ramseyer Genealogy
Travel Diary 1964-1976
Trip to Africa and South America 1973-Journal

Box 13 (Large)

Miscellaneous Memorabilia and Family Bibles

Memorabilia - Miscellaneous (Legal Size)
Nelson Litwiller Leather Travel Bag
Peter Litwiller (1809-1878) German Bible, 1744 Froschauer Bible
Litwiller German Bible - Given to Nelson in 1921 by his grandfather, Christian Litwiller

Litwiller German Bible - 1916
Litwiller German Bible
Litwiller Spanish Bible - 1925
Litwiller English New Testament (2 copies)
Litwiller German New Testament

Christlichen Leser
Communicating the Gospel fo Halford E. Luccock (with notations)
Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht - Belonged to Nelson Litwiller's mother, Rachel Jantzi Litwiller, 1892
Faith Promise fo World Witness: A Challenge to Every Church by Norm Lewis
Manual Ministerial
El Ritual

Box 14 (Long Green)

Miscellaneous

Argentina Mennonite Church - Treasurer's Reports 1959-1964
Bragado - Data 1972
The British Weekly - "William Barclay's Page"
The British Weekly - "Principal Duthie Answers this Weeks' Question"
Miscellaneous Clippings

Box 15 (Oversize)

Oversize Folder (Mapcase)

Remembrance from Church in Trenque Lauquen
Remembrance from Church in Bragado (2 Scrolls)

Box 16 (Large)

Memorial Service, Correspondence, Slides, Papers c. 1941-86

Memorial Service, Nelson Litwiller, Nevember 20, 1989
Correspondence, 1968-86, including Mennonite Renewal Services (in English) (3 inches)
Bolivia Trip, 1969, MCC (in English)
Financial Record Book, 1938-48 (in Spanish)
Pink folder, Course, "Abra Misionera Contemporanea," Uruguay Seminary 1961 (in Spanish)

Philosophy Course, 1937 (in Spanish and English)
Pink folder, Dourse on "Prayer" (in Spanish and English)
Blue Folder containing notes, sermons, etc., about 1923-1962
Folder on evangelism about 1946
Folder on contemporary Catholicism, 1945
Course on "Apocalipsis" (1950s-60s)
Packet containing notes, 1923
Folder of correspondence, 1965

3 Boxes of Slides from 1952 Mennonite World Conference

Assortment of papers, including family hisstory research, ca. 1941-86
(Have not been listed separately)

Box 17 (Large)

Assortment of papers, ca. 1940-86 (Continued)

Box 18 (Large)

Assortment of papers, ca. 1940-86 (Continued)
Books, including many Bibles

Box 19 (Gray)

Books, including many Bibles (Continued)

Name and Subject Tracings

Febuary 7, 2006 / Web update by Israel Ditzler
July 19, 2005 / Updated by Helen Hostetler
April 29, 2004 / Reformatted by Kathryn Yoder
July 25, 2001 / Update by Monica Zimmerman
March 6, 1996 / Updated by Dennis Stoesz
Septmeber 5, 1986 / Processed by Bryan Kehr, Rachel Shenk, and Marilyn Voran

File: "hm1-105 Nelson and Ada Litwiller.doc"
Mennonite Church USA Archives - Goshen, 1700 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526

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