The untimely passing of John A. Toews in January 1979 was a profound loss to many people both inside and outside the Mennonite Brethren Church. This book of selected essays circles two themes about which Toews was particularly concerned: 1) Mennonite Brethren history and identity, and 2) the question of nonresistance. Toews was well-educated and spent most of his life in academic institutions, but he always viewed his task primarily in relation to the church rather than in relation to the academic community. He was a man of the people and excelled in bringing the insights of the academic community to the people in a form that they could digest and apply.