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Mennonites hold many common core beliefs and value their history
as a people of God. Their beliefs in God and Jesus Christ link
them with other Christian denominations. However, Mennonites live
out God's call in some ways that make them distinct. Worshipping
as a community of believers and studying the Bible to listen to
what God is saying to the church today are very important to Mennonites.
They also believe that the church is called by God to share the
good news of Jesus in word and deed, showing others a glimpse
of what life is like under God's rule.
Mennonites practice adult (or believer's) baptism. Baptism symbolizes
God's forgiving grace and the beginning of a new life in Christ.
At baptism people make a public commitment to obey Christ's teachings
and identify with a local Christian church.
Mennonites believe that Jesus, when he lived on earth, revealed
a way for people to live peacefully and nonviolently. The commitment
to the way of peace and reconciliation leads Mennonites to contribute
to country and community in ways other than participating in military
service.
Mennonites aspire to follow the example and words of Jesus Christ
in everyday life, including service to people in need.
From the beginning, Mennonites have shared their faith and passion
for Jesus with others. Mennonite churches are open to anyone who
confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and wants to live as
Jesus taught.
Today's Mennonite Church is one of several groups that grew out
of the Protestant Reformation in the early 1500s. In those days,
most people in Europe, including reformers like Martin Luther
and Ulrich Zwingli, assumed the church should be established by
or connected to the government.
A small group of others, however, felt that the New Testament
and the example of the earliest Christians taught that the church
should be separate from the state. They believed people should
voluntarily follow Christ through adult baptism rather than join
the state church through infant baptism. They were also passionate
about sharing their faith with others.
This alternative movement was launched in 1525 when Conrad Grebel
led a group in baptizing each other in Zurich, Switzerland. Official
churches immediately opposed the group and many others like it
in Europe. Thousands of these Anabaptists—"rebaptizers"—were
persecuted and martyred during the next two generations.
Menno Simons converted to Anabaptism in 1536, in the Netherlands.
He traveled throughout northwestern Europe, strengthening and
defending the persecuted Anabaptists through his preaching and
writing. Eventually, many Anabaptists came to be called Mennonites.
Expansion using the Bible as their guide, early Anabaptists
took seriously Christ's command to go into the world to witness
to people everywhere, even across national boundaries. Persecution
and hardship also scattered the increasing number of Mennonites.
Some trekked across Europe into Poland in the 16th and 17th centuries
and then into Russia at the invitation of Catherine the Great
in 1789. Others migrated from Europe to North and South America.
All were looking for a place to establish homes and churches where
they could practice Christian faith as they believed.
Global expansion also came through the mission and service work
of Mennonites in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today over
half of the world's Mennonites are found in India, Congo, Indonesia,
Ethiopia, Brazil, and other countries outside of Europe and North
America. See Map.
In Canada and the United States, some 46 groups claim roots in
the Anabaptist movement, including the Mennonite Church, the Mennonite
Brethren, the Brethren in Christ, the Amish, and the Hutterites.
Beyond local congregational life, Mennonites have established
many cooperative ministries, including colleges and seminaries,
mutual insurance programs, health service, and aid organizations.
Content adapted from “Who are the Mennonites” brochure published by MennoMedia.
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