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Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church Phone: (316) 682-4555 Pastors: 
Sunday Worship Schedule 9:20 a.m. Prelude 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Fellowship 10:45 a.m. Sunday School |
Who Are the Mennonites?Mennonites are the spiritual descendents of a group of 16th-century Swiss, South-German, and Dutch church reformers known as the “Anabaptists,” a derisive title meaning “re-baptizers.” The Anabaptists in the Netherlands were called “Menists” and eventually “Mennonites,” after one of their leaders, Menno Simons. As a result of their careful, personal reading of the Bible, the Anabaptists came to believe that a person should be baptized only when they are old enough to understand what it signified, namely an acceptance of God’s grace, a commitment to the Lordship of Christ in their lives, and a commitment to the mutual nurture and accountability of the church as Christ’s body. Their beliefs put them at odds with the state church, for whom the practice of infant baptism had basically come to represent registration with and allegiance to the state. Consequently the Anabaptists were branded as heretics and severely persecuted, forcing them to flee to places having greater religious freedom. Eventually, the Mennonites began finding their way to North America. Some came directly from Switzerland, others via Poland or Russia. Some came as early as the seventeenth century, others as late as the nineteenth century. Some settled in parts of the eastern United States (notably Pennsylvania), others in Canada, still others in South America. And a sizable number settled in the central plains of the U.S., particularly in rural communities of South-Central Kansas. By the latter part of the 19th century, Mennonites had begun moving to Wichita from these communities, prompting the denominational leaders to begin efforts to plant a church here. During the ensuing decades, the ground was tilled, seeds were planted, and in time a new congregation began to bloom. Mennonites today continue to identify with our Anabaptist forefathers and foremothers. Like them, we think of the Church as a community of accountability, both to each other and to the cross of Christ. We identify with our tradition as a “peace church,” choosing non-violence over violence, reconciliation over military might, allegiance to the way of Christ over allegiance to worldly powers. We emphasize the central importance of loving God, and our neighbor as ourselves, often expressed through compassionate service to others, whether overseas or at home. Above all, we are committed to bringing the good news of God’s reign to every corner of the world. As a result, we are becoming increasingly diverse; there are presently more Mennonites in Africa and South America than in North America or Europe. Like all denominations and churches, the Mennonite Church is far from perfect. We continually struggle in our efforts to be faithful to God’s will, and sometimes get mired in disagreements, some of which have led to unfortunate division and disharmony. Thankfully, our God is a God of patience, love and grace, a God who continually calls diverse peoples to diverse tasks, all for the fulfillment of God’s universal reign in the world. For more information about Mennonites, visit the Third Way Cafe |
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