Who Are the Mennonites?Mennonites and the Brethren in Christ are members of the historic peace churches, along with Friends (Quakers) and the Church of the Brethren. Mennonites are spiritual descendents of the Anabaptists in Europe, 16th century reformers within the Protestant Reformation who sought to recover New Testament Christianity, believing that faith must be expressed in daily living. Mennonites carry the name of their founder, Menno Simons. Currently, there are over one million members world-wide. Mennonite beliefs and practices vary widely, but important Mennonite tenets of faith include the centrality of the Bible and Jesus' teachings, voluntary church membership and adult baptism, refusal of all forms of violence and a focus on conflict resolution and peacemaking both within and beyond the church. The proceeds of the Ontario Mennonite Relief Sale support relief and development programs around the world and are a vital expression of the biblical call to care for the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the sick and those in prison. The words of the Hymn 142 from Hymnal, A Worship Book published by Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, text by Kenneth I. Morse, and music by Wilbur E. Brumbaugh express the compassion felt by all who volunteer their time at the Ontario Mennonite Relief Sale. Brothers and sisters of ours are the hungry People are they, men and women and children Lord of all living, we make our confession Like to know more? Visit either The Third Way Cafe or The Mennonite Central Committee. |