This site is sponsored by First Mennonite Church, Kelowna, B.C.
Mennonites descend directly from the Radical Reform of the Sixteenth Century. They became known as Anabaptists (Rebaptizers).
Concurrently with the emergence of the Protestant movement, led principally by Martin Luther in Germany and Ulrich Zwingli in Switzerland, breaking ties with the Roman Catholic Church in an effort to repudiate some doctrines and practices that they saw to deviate from biblical teachings, these radical reformers sought to restore the church to its New Testament beginnings.
The Anabaptists believed in the church as a community of believers, the priesthood of believers, adult baptism upon confession of personal faith in Jesus Christ, and God’s call to all believers to follow Christ’s example sharing His love, making peace and serving others.
It is our belief that Anabaptist values have much to offer contemporary society. Their understandings of God’s role in human relations can help individuals, communities and nations make this world a better place. To that end we as a church desire to share the Anabaptist vision through telling our stories, some taken from history, others happening now in the present.
May these stories encourage all who view them to answer Jesus’ call today to follow Him. Quoting from Isaiah 61:1,2 he summed up His mission as follows :
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18, 19)
May each of us today take up this banner as we seek to establish God’s Kingdom on earth!
