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Wiens, David B. (1908–1981)

Proper Title

David B. Wiens fonds

Dates of Creation

1942, 1943, predominantly 1952–1982

Physical Description

2.5 m textual material, books, 9 photographs, 3 casette tapes, 1 reel to reel tape, and 3 microfiche

Biographical Sketch

David Bernhard Wiens was born on November 7, 1908 to Bernhard and Elizabeth Enns Wiens in Friedensdorf, Molotschna, Russia. His family immigrated to Herschel, Saskatchewan in 1924, where they farmed, then moved to East Coulee, Alberta. For six years Wiens worked in coal mines around Drumheller, Alberta.

Under the ministry of a Baptist preacher he rededicated his life to the Lord and was baptized on August 4, 1934 into the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church in Namaka, Alberta. He started to prepare himself for ministry by studying for two years at Bethany Bible Institute, Hepburn, Saskatchewn, then for three years at the Western Baptist Theological College in Calgary. He married Gertrude Janz in 1939, while he was at the college.

Wiens taught at Bethany for several years, then in 1943 began 12 years of service to Russian-speaking churches in the Saskatoon area. He became fluent in Russian. In 1955 he went to Germany under MB Missions to pastor the Neuwied church for a year. In 1957 and 1960 he was part of a delegation of Mennonite ministers who travelled to the Soviet Union to re-establish links between the Soviet and North American Mennonites.

In 1957 he began to serve both as pastor of the Vancouver MB Church and as speaker for a Russian radio program on the Gospel Light Hour in Winnipeg. When the Culloden MB meeting place was completed in 1968 he pastored that congregation until 1975. He held deeper life services across Canada, and served on the Board of Reference and Counsel of the Canadian MB Conference from 1960 to 1973. After 1975 he dedicated all of his time to the Russian radio ministry. His wife died in April 1978. Later he married Mary Toews, who survived him. Wiens died on February 25, 1981 (from obituary).

Custodial History

Four Russian music books and forty other Russian books, including dictionaries, Bibles, grammars, and religious sermon source materials, were donated in 1985 by the D.B.Wiens family. Wiens’ original papers were given to CMBS in 1986 by the Wiens family, through John Enns, Abbotsford.

Scope and Content

The David B. Wiens fonds consists of German, English and Russian sermons. These are sermons that Wiens preached in Vancouver churches and in other churches, on radio broadcasts, and at special functions such as at weddings, funerals, at the Conference or at camps. A detailed register is included. Also in this fonds are several hundred letters from listeners of his radio broadcasts in many parts of the world.

Drafts as well as photographs used in Erich Ratzlaff’s biography of Wiens, Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, are included.

The biography itself, published in 1982, is available in the J.B. Toews library. The casette tapes are a series of German sermons on the Beatitudes (1975). Also included is a reel to reel tape of a Thanksgiving message at Clearbrook (1975). Books, many of them in the Russian language, are also a part of this fonds.

Notes

  • Volumes 1120–1127.
  • Title based on contents of the fonds.
  • Accession numbers are 1985–7 and 1986–28.
  • Finding aid for photographs: NP113–1.
  • Finding aid for tapes: NA-1–21, NA-1–22, NA-1–24, NA-19–10.

File List

Volumes 1120–1127

  1. Sermons preached in Vancouver. – 1957–1960, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1975.
  2. Erbauliche Predigten (Sermons for edification) 1–34. – 1954–1973.
  3. Erbauliche Predigten 35–60. – 1959–1972.
  4. Erbauliche Predigten 61–90. – 1962–1964, 1975.
  5. Erbauliche Predigten 91–110. – 1961–1965.
  6. Erbauliche Predigten 111–145. – 1965–1967, 1979.
  7. Erbauliche Predigten 146–170. – 1958, 1967–1977.
  8. Erbauliche Predigten 171–200. – 1969–1971.
  9. Erbauliche Predigten 201–240. – 1971–1974, 1978.
  10. Erbauliche Predigten 241–265. – 1965, 1967, 1974–1977.
  11. Erbauliche Predigten 266–291. – 1977–1980.
  12. Easter and Penticost sermons 2–35. – 1959–1969, 1972, 1973, 1975.
  13. Good Friday, Easter and Penticost sermons 36–71. – 1962, 1968–1980.
  14. Plans, itinerary, correspondence and reports about a trip to Russia and Europe. – 1956, 1960.
  15. Workshop outline and background notes for the Russian Broadcasters Seminar. – 1978.
  16. Article on “The Biblical Teaching on Man” by D.B. Wiens. – Undated.

Minutes of Missionary Institute. – 1962.
Presentation at the Life and Faith Convention in Winnipeg, “Marriage of Believers with Nonbelievers.” – 1967.
Other sermons. – 1972–1976.

  1. Sermons for Stimme des Evangeliums. - 1962-1964.
  2. Sermons preached in Vancouver and for publication in the Mennonitische Rundschau. – 1960–1968, 1974–1976.
  3. Sermons correspondence, and reports for the Russian radio broadcast of the The Gospel Light Hour. – 1968, 1971–1973, 1976, 1978.
  4. Notes on the Pentateuch for a class taught by Wiens. – Undated.
  5. Notes on Ephesians. – Undated.
  6. Lectures on I Corinthians presented at the Young People’s prayer meetings at the Vancouver MB Church. – 1961.
  7. Correspondence and report about trip to Russia. – 1956–1961.
  8. Talks given at Schwestern Verein. – Undated.
  9. Wedding Sermons. – 1957–1965.

Outline: “Guidelines for Christian Engagements and Weddings” and other materials on regulations for Christian weddings. – Undated.

  1. Wedding and anniversary sermons. – 1966–1973.
  2. Wedding and anniversary sermons. – 1974–1980.
  3. Sermons for Mother’s Day and the home. – 1960, undated.

Sermon preached at the Canadian Conference in Winnipeg. – 1958, 1966–1977.

  1. Advent sermons. – 1959–1969, 1977.
  2. Advent sermons. – 1969–1980.
  3. Christmas sermons. – 1959–1968.
  4. New Year sermons. – 1957–1978.
  5. Baptismal sermons and course materials. – 1959–1974.

Regulations for baptismal candidates. – Undated.
Lessons for instruction in baptismal classes. – Undated.

  1. Evangelism sermons. – 1959–1968, 1973, 1976, 1977, undated.
  2. Evangelism sermons. – 1965–1970.
  3. Evangelism sermons. – 1971–1980.
  4. Youth sermons. – 1962–1982.
  5. Sermons on non-resistance. – 1958, 1960, 1963, 1964.
  6. Sermons on prophesy. – 1960, 1962.
  7. Sermons for graduations and commencement programs. – 1959–1964, undated.
  8. Sermons for Sunday school. – 1958–1971.
  9. Sermons and programs for Ministers’ and Deacons’ Conferences. – 1952, 1957, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1973.

Minutes of Ministers’ and Deacons’ Committee meeting. – 1968.
Ordination sermon. – 1976.
Sermon: “Marriage of Believers with Nonbelievers.” – Undated.
Questions for ministerial candidates. – Undated.

  1. Sermons for church dedication and sod-turning ceremonies. – 1960–1967.
  2. Sermons for funerals. – 1959–1967.
  3. Sermons for funerals. – 1968–1980.
  4. Sermons on suffering. – 1976.
  5. Sermons for Thanksgiving and Missions Festivals. – 1965–1978.

Article: “A Message for Missionaries from Mopass” by Jacob A. Loewen. – Undated.

  1. Sermons for Thanksgiving and Missions Festivals. – 1953, 1958–1964, 1967, 1968, 1977.
  2. Sermons about proper Christian apparel. – 1967.
  3. Sermons: “The Blesssed Hope and Christian Stewardship.” – 1970.

D.B. Wiens’ letter to the Counsel of Boards at Winnipeg about the future of MBBC – 1973.
Sermons in the Russian language:

  1. Russian sermons, No. 607–656. – 1969–1970.
  2. Russian sermons, No. 657–706. – 1970–1971.
  3. Russian sermons, No. 707–755. – 1971–1972.
  4. Russian sermons, No. 756–806. – 1972–1973.
  5. Russian sermons, No. 807–857. – 1973–1974.
  6. Russian sermons, No. 858–908. – 1974–1975.
  7. Russian sermons, No. 909–953. – 1975–1976.
  8. Russian sermons, No. 956–1006. – 1976–1977.
  9. Russian sermons, No. 1007–1050. – 1977–1978.
  10. Russian sermons, No. 1051–1080. – 1978.
  11. Russian sermons, No. 1080–1109. – 1978–1979.
  12. Russian sermons, No. 1110–1149. – 1979–1980.
  13. Russian sermons, No. 1150–1179. – 1980.
  14. Russian sermons, No. 1180–1199. – 1980–1981.
  15. Russian sermons, No. 1200–1227. – 1981.
  16. Article in the Russian language. – Undated.

Programs and Russian sermons for the Russian Gospel Light Hour (67–80):

  1. No. 1–59. – 1957–1958.
  2. No. 60–99. – 1958–1959.
  3. No. 100–130. – 1959–1960.
  4. No. 131–160. – 1960–1961.
  5. No. 161–190. – 1961.
  6. No. 191–233. – 1961–1962.
  7. No. 263–302. – 1963.
  8. No. 395–398. – 1965.
  9. No. 1031–1076. – 1959–1960.
  10. No. 1077–1126. – 1960–1961.
  11. No. 1127–1198. – 1961–1962.
  12. Index for No. 1–147.

No. 564–606. – 1963.

  1. Report on Russian Broadcasting for Mennonite Brethren Communications Board and BOMAS. – 1981.

No. 1–69. – 1977–1978.

  1. No. 70–147. – 1978–1980.
  2. German radio sermons No. 2956–2994. – 1975–1976.
  3. German radio sermons No. 2995–3025. – 1976.
  4. German radio sermons No. 3026–3050. – 1976–1977.
  5. German radio sermons No. 3051–3079. – 1977.
  6. German radio sermons No. 3080–3103. – 1977–1978.

Index to No. 2956–3103.

  1. Russian sermons No. 51–100. – 1965–1966.
  2. Russian sermons No. 1–50. – 1964–1965.
  3. Russian report of second trip to Russia. – 1960.
  4. Mennonite Brethren Communications directory. – 1981.

Russian Gospel Light Hour program time-table. – 1981.
Program formats. – 1977, 1979.
Programs in Russian. – 1980–1981.

  1. Song list in Russian and English languages for radio broadcasts. – Undated.
  2. Russian songs, music and words included. – 1960–1970, undated.
  3. Correspondence about radio broadcasts. – 1980–1981.
  4. List of correspondents. – 1979–1981.
  5. Detailed sermon index, by theme and number.
  6. Record of where and when sermons were preached.
  7. Biography of D.B. Wiens “Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn,” by Erich L. Ratzlaff. – 1982.
  8. Sermons by D.B. Wiens published in the Mennonitische Rundschau. – 1971, 1973–1976.
  9. Pamphlets by D.B. Wiens: Two copies of “Was sagt die Schrift ueber den Heiligen Geist?” – Undated.

Booklet by D.B. Wiens: Unser Gott – Ein Gott der Ordnung. – Undated.

Various Mennonite Brethren Communications informational brochures, correspondence, and news releases. – 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, undated.

  1. First draft of D.B. Wiens’ biography by Erich Ratzlaff, later published (1982) under the name of Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn. – Undated.
  2. Report of Wiens’ trip to Russia. – 1960.
  3. Report of Wiens’ trip to Russia. – 1956.
  4. Second draft of D.B. Wiens’ biography by Erich Ratzlaff. – 1982.
  5. Obituary of D.B. Wiens written by his family. – 1981.

Sermon: “Das einfache Evangelium vom ewigen Leben.” – 1980.
Sermon: “Wie wird es dem Suender bei der Wiederkunft des Herrn ergehen?” – 1978.
Sermon: “Der biblische Zusammenhang der Krippe mit dem Kreuz.” – 1968.

  1. Letters from Russian radio broadcast listeners in many different countries such as Australia, Argentina, and the Ukraine. – 1957, 1964–1974.
  2. 56 Russian booklets and pamphlets.
  3. 16 Russian books.

See also: Soviet Union trip diary of 1956 and 1960. – 3 microfiche. (These the same as file 100 and 101).

NP113–1 David B. Wiens Photograph Collection

  • NP113–1–1 Photograph for cover page of Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn. – 1982.
  • NP113–1–2 Portrait of D.B. Wiens. (See Erich Ratzlaff, Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 5). – [195-].
  • NP113–1–3 Photograph of David Wiens at home, in his parent’s living room in Alberta, playing his mandolin. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 11.) – [192-].
  • NP113–1–4 Photograph of David Wiens, probably while he was a C.O. chaplain in Jasper during the war. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 20). – 1942.
  • NP113–1–5 Photograph of David Wiens with Russian Bible School students at Eagle Creek, Saskatchewan. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 28). – 1943.
  • NP113–1–6 Photograph of David Wiens during a broadcast of a Russian sermon. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 49.) – After 1957.
  • NP113–1–7 Portrait of the D.B. Wiens family from left to right: David B. Wiens, Edith, Mrs. Gertrude Wiens, Paul, Viola, and Victor. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 56). – [195-].
  • NP113–1–8 Photograph of the Wiens brothers: Pete, Jacob, George, Abram, and David at Pete’s silver wedding. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 64). – [195-].
  • NP113–1–9 Photograph of David Wiens and his second wife, Mary Toews Wiens. (See Ein Leben Fuer den Herrn, p. 69). – 1979.
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