Comments on: In Memoriam: Nate Yoder, professor emeritus of church history and university archivist, helped many ‘put feet on their prayers’

By: Sharon Wyse Miller

Sharon Wyse Miller — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 16:19:14 +0000

I join the chorus of appreciation for Nate Yoder as I recall Nate’s careful, caring and thorough coaching as I researched and crafted my MAR thesis as a seminary student. Nate continued to give me encouragement through the years, even as he coped with his own health challenges. He was an historian to the core, but also meticulous and caring in scholarship. A pastor at heart. I will always smile with gratitude as I remember him.

By: Elmer Lehman

Elmer Lehman — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:21:42 +0000

I just received the 91��Ƶ News this morning and found out about Nate Yoder’s passing on to his eternal reward. I was on the Historical Committee of the Conservative Mennonite Conference when we invited Nate to write the 100-year history of CMC and enjoyed working with him. A few weeks ago I started re-reading his book and again observed his kind words of affirmation for our own ministry in Costa Rica and to CMC as he autographed the book, which I now treasure more than ever. I praise God for Nate’s gifts and contribution to the work of the Lord and His Church.

By: Levi Miller

Levi Miller — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:16:23 +0000

I knew Nate as a friend and researcher when he was doing his Phd studies at Notre Dame, and I was director of the Mennonite Church’s Historical Committee and Archives in Goshen, Indiana. Later, we again intersected when he was writing the Conservative Mennonite Conference history, and I was with Herald Press, his publisher. What always impressed me was how much he loved the church, the larger catholic church of South Bend, but also his own sectarian congregation that reared him in Grantsville, Maryland — and every other variety. His piety and sincerity was authentic and charming, at least to me. May he rest in peace.

By: Paul M. Zehr

Paul M. Zehr — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:08:07 +0000

I found Nate Yoder to be a forthright historian, scholar, compassionate man. I worked with him both in serving as a third reader in oral exams for a couple of Master’s student thesis and as advisor to at least one Master’s student. Nate knew what questions to ask in these exams as well as what sources of information students could find help. Nate gave me the honor or reading the history of the Conservative Mennonite Conference book before it was published.
I am grateful for who Nate was as a Christian disciple and a teacher.

By: Donald B. Kraybill

Donald B. Kraybill — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 01:11:13 +0000

I was blessed to have the opportunity to work closely with Nate while I was researching and writing the centennial history of 91��Ƶ. Nate had the amazing knack of find key, sometimes obscure documents and files that were pertinent to a wide variety of topics that I was investigating. Besides, he drafted short research essays for me on theological and historical topics that laid out the key issues, debates, and sources on controversies like pre-millenialism, plenary inspiration, and J.B. Smith’s view of liberalism, to name but a few of dozens of topics. These research essays saved me hundreds of hours of time by providing guideposts, identifying central points of controversy, and alerting me to errors. Without his enormous investment in all the background research and unwavering support, the centennial book would have been much shorter and more shallow or I possibly would never have completed it.

All the while, his spirit was gracious, supportive, winsome, and humble, even as the Parkinson’s slowed him down during the last several years. Rest in peace my dear Brother and may the joys of Shalom surround you in your new abode.

By: Moderator

Moderator — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 20:07:06 +0000

While I wrote this tribute for Nate, I didn’t include my own connection to him. Nate helped me with many articles related to the history of 91��Ƶ, including tribute articles for former faculty and staff, and in our special Crossroads alumni magazine issues that commemorated 91��Ƶ’s Centennial. It was Nate who assisted in the creation of the list of objects/artifacts featured in the magazine to commemorate the 100 years. And it was Nate’s idea to feature a hymnal — and then not just any hymnal. He offered to bring a few of the “red hymnals” from Mt. Clinton Mennonite Church that had been donated there in honor of the retirement of Chester K. Lehman. Lehman was pastor at Mt. Clinton from 1947-73, but also a dean and professor at EMC for more than 40 years. I loved that Nate saw the beautiful symbolism of those special hymnals, spiritual and historic treasures that, when used, lifted voices to God and man, and I remember cramming all of the words possible to describe everything about those books into that caption on that page (I didn’t have room to say who had made the photo possible, which was just a wonderful synchronicity considering who Nate was). I even remember telling Nate about how I worked so hard on that caption later.

Nate was always ready to listen to an eccentric question and just as ready to help me track down the answer. Nate and I often got off on rabbit trails into Mennonite history and some time later, we would both look at the clock and wonder where all our time had gone. I will always remember the smiles we shared the many times this happened. It was evident to me that there was much more to Nate than the historian I knew, and that I was only scratching the surface of his immense wisdom. I always wish for the opportunity to learn even more from him.

I knew of Nate’s declining health and had just written down his home address to send him a note when I heard of his passing. live not far from Mt. Clinton Mennonite Church and it’s just a few extra minutes to add that as a turnaround point to one of my regular runs. I did that for the first time on Friday. I’ll miss you, Nate. –Lauren Jefferson