File Folder 3 - Brunk, George R. (II)

BOX 3, FOLDER 3 This Description represents a later version of the original notes--a somewhat edited and perhaps more complete version--as compared to the Items listed under Folder 3. Thin folder (9 items). George R. Brunk II (1911-2002) was best known as a tent evangelist preaching in Mennonite communities in the late 1940s and 1950s (with his brother Lawrence Brunk [Lawrence B. Brunk], as “Brunk Brothers Evangelistic Campaign). He also taught at Eastern Mennonite College [EMC, later Eastern Mennonite University (EMU)] and its Eastern Mennonite Seminary, serving the latter for a time as Dean. And he was Editor of the unofficial Mennonite journal Sword and Trumpet which his father, George R. Brunk I, had founded--the father a prominent Mennonite leader also, who had often dissented quite vehemently against other leaders, not least those at Goshen College. {1} George R. Brunk (II) to Bender, March 16, 1949: stationery of the (MC denomination’s) Mennonite Commission for Christian Education and Young People’s Work--the letterhead does not mention an office for him, but letter’s content says he was the Commissions “secretary of Home Interests”; inviting Bender to meeting with a “restricted group of men to give prayerful consideration” to issues of marriage and family; the Commission had authorized the meeting, which was not intended “to formulate an official statement; mention cooperation with Nelson Kauffman [Nelson E. Kauffman], the Commissions Field Secretary; John R. Mumaw [J. R. Mumaw, John Mumaw--Commission’s chairman] would deliver an introduction and Dr. Edward Mininger [Edward P. Mininger] and Bender would give papers on birth control (Bender’s on its “Moral and Spiritual Implications”).... {2} George R. Brunk (II) to Bender, December 1, 1952: inquiring whether Bender’s paper “Nineteenth Century Protestant Revivalism and its Effect on the Mennonite Church” had been printed, or whether or how it might be available; also interested in one by John C. Wenger [J. C. Wenger], “The History of Evangelism in the Mennonite Church”; was having a time at home in Virginia following “the Morgantown Campaign”. {3} Bender to George R. Brunk (II) [at Goshen College], February 11, 1953: looking forward to having you, Brother Brackbill, and whole seminary faculty for supper at the Benders’ home, then discussion; hoped Brunk would give his vision for the future of the great work to which the Lord has called you; Brunk might be interested in the piece in the seminary bulletin Discipleship, called “Evangelism Policy of the Goshen College Biblical Seminary”. {4} Bender to George R. Brunk (II), May 2, 1953 [c/o Allen Ebersole at Canton Ohio]: Brunk had left without receiving reimbursement for his expenses; words of appreciation for Brunk’s part in a panel and other discussion; Bender rather unhappy with criticisms Brunk had gotten in the afternoon session--remarks more suitable for private exchange; God bless you; Paul Miller [Paul M. Miller ?] and Bender had wished to talk to Brunk on whether “you” need a seminary student as assistant this summer. • • • REPLY, George R. Brunk (II) to Bender, June 9, 1953: had gotten letter at Canton “several days after the Evangelism Conference there at Goshen”; appreciated your fairness as moderator; some who had spoken up there were factually wrong... (elaborated); forget about expenses...; had just finished campaign at Columbia Pennsylvania, would now have a three-week one in Franconia Mennonite Conference area. • • • REPLY, Bender to George R. Brunk (II), June 16, 1953: thanks for your generosity; “I agree that you did not get the concrete practical help which you had requested, and had a right to expect, both at the General Council Meeting and at our Goshen meeting.” ... {5} Bender to George R. Brunk (II), June 27, 1953: for the library, wished to have every item the Brunk Brothers are publishing--hymnal, sermons, promotional leaflets, and leaflet by Brother Lawrence Brunk [Lawrence B. Brunk]; welcomed donation, but would pay. {6} George R. Brunk (II) to Bender, September 14, 1953 [stationery of Brunk Brothers Evangelistic Campaign (base address Denbigh Virginia, typed dateline Albany Oregon)] : [seems to have been writing about Mennonite Board of Education matters]; had Bender’s communication regarding “the Chicago meeting” and issues before the Board; had wired Nelson Kauffman [Nelson E. Kauffman] about his (Brunk’s) proxy, and voted for Mininger [likely Paul Mininger to be Goshen College and Seminary President]. // Brunk then continued regarding a charge communicated somehow by a member of the Goshen Seminary faculty, reporting criticism Brunk had made against Bender during the “Souderton Revival Campaign”; [reportedly, after, at Goshen, Bender had asked Brunk at Goshen what the Seminary could do to help Brunk’s work, at Souderton Brunk had denigrated Bender for not knowing how to help an evangelistic campaign]; Brunk now wrote that he did not remember saying what he reportedly had said, etc., but did remember that at Souderton he had quoted Bender favorably....// Brunk closed with a few words about good developments at Albany. • • • REPLY, Bender to George R. Brunk (II), September 17, 1953: had heard a rumor about this, but had not acted until he could talk to Brunk; sorry Brunk felt it necessary to take time from the Albany campaign to write; since Brunk seemed to want to rectify matters, Bender was willing to cooperate. {7} Multilithed letter, George R. Brunk (II) to Dear Brother, October 27, 1954: letter was to inform about “the affairs of Brunk Brothers Revivals, Inc., and to give accountability to contributors; Lawrence Brunk [Lawrence B. Brunk] not associated with the work since October 1953--“differences of conviction” seemed to make continued cooperation impossible...; “in my judgment” Lawrence had poor attitude toward the church that had paid for the equipment--that was the reason George had denied permission for Lawrence to use the equipment in his campaign, but he had taken equipment for his “private project”. • • • ATTACHED, 2.5-page closely typed multilithed document, “A REPORT ON MY RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH LAWRENCE RELATIVE TO OUR REVIVAL CORPORATION AFFAIRS” [not signed but surely by George R. Brunk II; mention getting Mark Ross to be song leader [Lawrence’s former role]; mention a Paul Hummel of Berlin Ohio; mention their brother Truman Brunk; threat to have State Police find a van Lawrence had taken, and a Georgia State Trooper had indeed pulled Lawrence over and George had impounded the van; mention Lloyd Winey; much more detail; finished with list of the property Lawrence had, about $20,000-$25,000 worth.... {8} Bender to George R. Brunk (II), June 10, 1957: glad for your letter of June 7 about your Manitoba meetings; mention Peter Wiebe; that J. J. Thiessen [Jacob Johann Thiessen, Jacob J. Thiessen], President of Canadian Mennonite Conference had spoken very highly of those meetings; Bender asked Brunk to take another look at a passage Brunk had cited, Acts 19:1-7, about receiving the Holy Spirit--Bender suggesting how to interpret it [essentially to understand the Holy Spirit to come with original conversion]; promise to continue to pray for you.