The Menno Page

``Since we are to be conformed to the image of Christ, how can we then fight our enemies with the sword? ... Spears and swords of iron we leave to those who, alas, consider human blood and swine's blood of well-nigh equal value ...''

Menno Simons, 1539 A.D.

Who Are The Mennonites?

The first Mennonites (Anabaptists) belonged to a fellowship organized in Zurich, Switzerland in 1525. They believed in personal regeneration symbolized by adult baptism, the importance of Christian community, nonviolence, and a life conformed to the example of Jesus Christ and the scriptures. They were nicknamed 'Anabaptists' (rebaptizers).

The name 'Mennonite' came from Menno Simons, a former catholic priest who eventually led the Anabaptists in the Netherlands and northern Germany in the mid 16th century. The movement initially sprang up in several countries, including Switzerland, Holland, and Germany. Persecution eventually drove some Mennonites to migrate to such places as Russia, Canada, Central and South America, and the United States. By now, pockets of Mennonites can be found on all continents.

Our fellowship, like hundreds of other Mennonite congregations, actively supports the work and goals of the Mennonite Central Committee. MCC is renowned for its relief work abroad and for its quiet but persuasive testimony to our spiritual heritage, encouraging and enabling us to share some of our wealth with those less fortunate, regardless of their religious beliefs.

More about the Mennonite church

    Mennonites are a relatively small group of committed believers in Jesus Christ. In our early history we picked up the name of an early Dutch leader, Menno Simons. But we are followers of Christ, not Menno.
The movement began in the 16th century at the time of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. A small group of earnest young believers said that reformers Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli had not gone far enough. Conrad Grebel led this group in an attempt to recover New Testament Christianity when they baptized one another and verbalized their faith in Jesus Christ at Zurich, Switzerland, in January 1525.    
    Fired by their new faith, the believers began to evangelize. The movement rapidly spread to South Germany and the Netherlands. The official churches immediately opposed the movement and scoffed at them as "Anabaptizers," which literally means RE-baptisers.
The state was intolerant of the movement because it defied the government-run church. Many Anabaptist leaders were martyred. Thousands died gruesome deaths over the next fifty years.    
    Small groups of Anabaptists lived without the right to own property or to meet publicly for worship. Some fled, many to Russia and North America, seeking freedom to live their faith according to their consciences. From the 16th to the 19th century the movement grew little.
Due to the expanding missionary efforts of the last century, today nearly half of all Mennonites live in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, which is also where the church is experiencing the most rapid growth.    
Basic Beliefs
    Central to Mennonite teachings is the belief in Jesus Christ is the model for life. Mennonites believe Jesus died and rose from the dead in order that people could live in union with God. In relating to each other and the world in the same loving, forgiving way that Jesus practiced, we strive to continue the ministry Christ began.
We strive to live in simple obedience to the Word of God. God's spirit helps the community of believers understand that Word. The life and teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible help in interpreting the meaning of the "Old Testament" part of the Bible.    
    We recognize that we all sin -- we do wrong, we fail to do good, we lose touch with God. We believe God sent Jesus Christ to the world so that all those who believe in Jesus Christ could receive forgiveness for their sins, as well as the gift of a more whole life today, and the promise of living forever with God.
We practice "believer's baptism" to symbolize the decision of an adult to make a public commitment to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.    
    Mennonites try to follow Jesus call to the church to bring good news to all persons. We are concerned with both the spiritual and physical needs of the world.
Essential to Mennonites is the strength of community. We gather together for encouragement and growth, and we help each other in times of crisis.    
    For Mennonites following Christ means loving the enemy and refusing to use violence. Many of us conscientiously refuse to participate in military service. We strive to live peaceably with others at all levels. We humbly serve the poor and needy, and take risks to work actively for justice and mercy.