Bernhard Fast was born ca. 1787 in Prussia, ordained minister in Russia in 1814, ordained elder 13 January 1821, and died 25 April 1861. Fast succeeded Jakob Enns as elder of the large Flemish Ohrloff Mennonite Church and became a very significant progressive leader of the newly established Molotschna Mennonite settlement. He was a supporter of Johann Cornies' endeavors, of the Ohrloff Vereinsschule, and of more progressive measures in promoting the Gospel and co-operating with other Protestant groups. Because of his progressive views he soon encountered opposition which led to a split within the congregation. Some of the reasons for the division were: (1) some objection to Fast's decision to be ordained by a Flemish elder; (2) Fast had admitted a non-Mennonite missionary, Moritz, to the Lord's Supper in his congregation; (3) he promoted the work of a Russian Bible Society, a branch of which was organized in the Molotschna Mennonite settlement; he supported the Ohrloff Vereinsschule; and he favored the observance of the holidays according to the calendar in use in Russia.

Four of his co-ministers led in the opposition which culminated in the split of the congregation, leaving Fast only one fourth of the members (150 families). Jakob Warkentin was ordained elder of the conservative wing on 3 August 1824. This congregation became known as the Lichtenau Mennonite Church. The objectives which Fast promoted became generally accepted after one or two generations. It was unfortunate that circumstances in his day caused friction and division, but it was fortunate that he stood for a cause which paved the way for better education and a more meaningful practical Christianity.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 315. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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