John B. Toews (24 September 1906-9 May 1998) was a teacher, pastor, school administrator, missions executive, and theologian from the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. He was born to Johann A. and Margaretha (Janz) Toews at Alexandertal, Ukraine, Russia, and attended the Zentralschule in Gnadenfeld and the Mittelschule in Halbstadt, Molotschna. He graduated from the U. of Ukraine in 1926 and continued studies at the U. of Amsterdam (1926-28). He immigrated to Coaldale, AB, in 1928 and studied at Tabor College, KS, (STD); Western Baptist Theological Seminary (BD and ThM); and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY (summers 1941-44). He married Nettie Unruh in 1933; they had three children.

J. B. Toews Mennonite Reporter photo

Toews taught New Testament theology and doctrine at Bethany Bible School in Hepburn, SK, and served as president of the school (1932-38). He was director of the Bible department at Freeman College, Freeman, SD (1940-42), president of Mennonite Brethren Bible College (later Concord College), Winnipeg (1945-48), professor of missions and practical theology, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, CA (1964-78), and president of the seminary in Fresno for eight years. He was pastor of the Hepburn Mennonite Brethren Church (1937-38), and also pastored Mennonite Brethren churches at Buhler, KS (1942-45) and Reedley, CA (1948-53).

One of Toews' major contributions to his denomination was a 10-year term of service as general secretary of the Mennonite Brethren Board of Missions and Services (1953-63). Together with his previous interest in missions, his travels for the board established him as a missionary statesman among Mennonites. He was also prominent in other Mennonite Brethren activities, serving on the Educational Committee (1942-48), Program Committee (1948-51, 1954-57), Board of Missions (1948-53, 1966-72), Board of Reference and Counsel (1948-60), and as General Conference vice-chairman (1948-51).

Having taught history and theology until his retirement in 1980, he remained active in the Fresno seminary community in historical research and writing into the early 90's. He gave impetus to and served as director of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies. Toews was a long-time supporter of the Institute of Mennonite Studies, Elkhart, IN.

Among his published writings are The Key to Fruitful Christian Service (Back to the Bible Publications, 1959); The Mennonite Brethren Church in Zaire (Mennonite Brethren Board of Christian Literature, 1978). He helped translate P.M. Friesen's Mennonite Brotherhood in Russia, 1789-1910 (Mennonite Brethren Board of Christian Literature, 1980).

Bibliography

Additional Information

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page: