The reason for my absence

Two weeks ago, during a flight from Toronto to Regina, I felt like a flu or a hay fever attack was coming on. Long experience has taught me that using a decongestant and an antihistamine at that point is often all it takes to stave off a full-blown episode.  But my pills were in the … Continue reading The reason for my absence

The brief career of a fervent preacher

Levi Young was born in Eastern Pennsylvania in 1841. The date of his conversion is not known, but he became a member of a small Mennonite denomination at the age of 21. Not long after, he became an itinerant minister and evangelist in that group. He never married. He was on fire for the Lord, … Continue reading The brief career of a fervent preacher

I owe the Lord a morning song

Amos Herr (1816-1897) lived on a Lancaster county, Pennsylvania farm that had been in the Herr family since 1710 when his ancestors fist arrived from Europe. In addition to being a farmer, he was a minister of the local Mennonite congregation. One wintry Sunday morning about 150 years ago, he awoke to a raging blizzard … Continue reading I owe the Lord a morning song

A light shining in the darkness

In 1671 there arose a severe persecution of the Mennonites in Switzerland, causing many to flee the country.  Brethren in the Netherlands came to their aid and gave them refuge.  In all, about 700 persons, among them some very aged, fled Switzerland.  They were destitute, their lands and properties having been seized by the Swiss … Continue reading A light shining in the darkness

Who was Benjamin Eby?

Benjamin Eby was a great-great-grandson of Jacob Eby, who was ordained bishop of the Mennonites at Zurich, Switzerland in 1663.  Jacob’s son, Theodor us Eby, left Switzerland in 1704 to escape the persecution of the Mennonites that was going on there.  This Eby family settled in Lancaster County Pennsylvania in 1715.  Benjamin Eby’s older brother, … Continue reading Who was Benjamin Eby?