Kniss, Esther Mast (1923-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Nov 12 p. 11

Birth date: 1923 Jan 6

text of obituary:

Longtime India worker dies at 84 in Virginia

By Mennonite Mission Network and Virginia Mennonite Missions

HARRISONBURG, Va. — During more than a half-century of service, Esther Mast Kniss focused on sharing Christ, being a presence for his kingdom and passing on power to the local church. Kniss, 84, died Oct. 28 after a sudden illness.

Kniss and her husband, Paul, spent 43 years as mission workers in India with Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and Missionary churches through Mennonite Board of Missions.

They also served short-term assignments in Trinidad and Tobago through Virginia Mennonite Missions and in India with all three denominations.

Along with evangelism, a part of the couple's assignment was to help transfer control of church and mission activity from international mission organizations to national workers.

Linda Gunpath had close connections with the Knisses when Paul mentored her husband, Ganese, for the first year of his pastoral work with Charlieville Mennonite Church in Trinidad. Gunpath said the Knisses were able to helpfully relate their India experiences to Trinidad.

Gunpath said Kniss was very careful "with organizing financial records and producing detailed reports. She brought integrity and honesty to the process. She always worked along with the nationals to do this."

Emmanuel Minj, chair of Bihar Mennonite Church and director of Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India, said the couple worked in Bihar longer than any other mission workers. Their work, Minj said, helped launch many ministries, in part because of their humility and simplicity.

"I regard them as parents of Bihar Mennonite [Church]," Minj said. Their "second child," he said, was Good Books, a media ministry in the city of Ranchi. It continues as an independent ministry connected to Bihar Mennonite Church.

Laura Schumann, who served six years on a mission team in India with the Knisses in southern Bihar province, said the couple always worked alongside Indian counterparts and shared both knowledge and friendships.

"The mission included helping the [Indian} church become more independent," Schumm said.

Kniss, Schumm said, had gifts in interpersonal relations, teaching and organization.

"She was methodical, thorough, just a very steady person who spoke with clarity," Schumm said.

Kniss was Born Jan. 6, 1923, at Morgantown, Pa., the daughter of John and Rebecca Hartz Mast. On Aug. 23, 1947, she married Paul G. Kniss.

She was a member of Ridgeway Mennonite Church.

In addition to her husband, survivors include five sisters, Edna Mae Good of Lancaster, Pa., Ida Swartley of Harrisonburg, Ruthanna Otto of Denver, Colo., Naomi Sensenig of Warwick, N.Y., and Selena Horning of Oley, Pa.; a brother, Albert mast of Buffalo, N.Y.; and many nieces and nephews.