Nationwide Fellowship Churches

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In the late 1950s and early 1960s, various scattered congregations of the Mennonite Church (MC) withdrew from the regional conferences and formed independent churches with a congregational church government. These congregations opposed the way the conferences were abandoning biblical principles and conservative practices. Though not homogenous, these congregations began fellowshipping together for mutual edification and encouragement. Other congregations left the conferences and joined them in subsequent years. In time these non-conference churches formed into groups called "Fellowships." One such group became known as the Fellowship Churches, later known as Nationwide Fellowship Churches.

The Fellowship Churches have upheld seven Bible principles that they believe were being compromised or abandoned in the Mennonite Church: (1) The supreme authority of the Bible for life and doctrine. Cutting across time and cultures, Bible principles find a consistent practical application among God's people in every generation. (2) Believer's baptism. Only those who show evidence of real conversion and a change of life are fit candidates for baptism. (3) Scriptural church government. Not an ecclesiastical authority legislating to a carnal people, but Spirit-led men leading a body of committed disciples to confront sin and current issues. (4) Clean communion. Prompt dealing with sin and carnality to maintain the purity of the church and her communion table. (5) Mutual aid. A commitment to meet each other's material needs, without depending on government aid or insurance programs. (6) Scriptural separation from the world based on radical discipleship (nonconformity) and an uncompromising stand against the pressures, trends, and fads of the world. (7) Every-member involvement in evangelism.

The Fellowship Churches have not maintained organizational ties but are bound together by common purposes and practices. The ordained brethren have met annually for inspiration and conferring. From small beginnings, the Nationwide Fellowship Churches by 2001 had grown to 3,369 members in 91 congregations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, the Philippines, and Nigeria. By 2010 it had grown to 114 congregations with 4,607 members.

The Fellowship Churches actively support missions and the distribution of literature. Rod and Staff Publishers, Crockett, Kentucky, were supported by the Fellowship Churches in developing a private Christian school curriculum for grades one through ten in 1990. The Fellowship Churches consider providing a Christian education for children a scriptural requirement for the preservation of the faith.

Congregation Location State/Province/Country Founded Members
Agua Azul Mennonite Church Departamento Canindeyu Paraguay 1970 28
Alturas Mennonite Church Alturas California, USA 1998 40
Athens Mennonite Church Athens Wisconsin, USA 1983 96
Augusta Mennonite Church Augusta Wisconsin, USA 1954 76
Belen Mennonite Church Belen New Mexico, USA 1988 65
Bethel Mennonite Church Apple Creek Ohio, USA 1953 31
Bethel Mennonite Church Mt. Pleasant Mills Pennsylvania, USA 1961 70
Bethesda Mennonite Church Coaldale Alberta, Canada 1986 39
Bible Believers Mennonite Church Aba Nigeria 6
Blooming Valley Mennonite Fellowship Guys Mills Pennsylvania, USA 1978 53
Blue Mountain Mennonite Fellowship Lynnville Pennsylvania, USA 1993 28
Borderview Mennonite Churches Roseau River Manitoba, Canada 1992 32
Breckinridge Mennonite Church Stephensport Kentucky, USA 1996 90
Buena Vista Mennonite Church San Juan Dominican Republic 1981 29
Calasiao Mennonite Church Dagupan Philippines 1986 21
Calton Mennonite Church Calton Ontario, Canada 1985 98
Canaan Mennonite Church Hopewell Ohio, USA 1968 54
Cedar Fork Mennonite Church Beulaville North Carolina, USA 2006 33
Christian Light Mennonite Church Sapang Palay Philippines 1985 15
Corinth Mennonite Church Corinth Ontario, Canada 1995 60
Craig Mennonite Church Craig Colorado, USA 2004 46
Duchess Bethel Mennonite Church Duchess Alberta, Canada 1963 45
El Ranchito Mennonite Church Las Matas de Farfan Dominican Republic 1981 27
Fairview Conservative Mennonite Church Fairview Michigan, USA 1977 40
Faith Hills Mennonite Church Crockett Kentucky, USA 1959 66
Farmington Mennonite Church Farmington New Mexico, USA 1973 81
Glade Run Mennonite Church Kensington Ohio, USA 1972 68
Gleason Mennonite Church Gleason Wisconsin, USA 2000 60
Golden Hills Mennonite Church Angels Camp California, USA 2007 22
Grace Mennonite Fellowship Ephrata Pennsylvania, USA 1984 70
Grand Valley Mennonite Church Loma Colorado, USA 1993 84
Grandin Mennonite Church Grandin Missouri, USA 1968 58
Grayson Mennonite Church Grayson Kentucky, USA 2005 40
Green Mountain Mennonite Fellowship Bennington Vermont, USA 2005 22
Haven Conservative Mennonite Church Kalona Iowa, USA 1961 50
High Prairie Mennonite Church Carpenter Wyoming, USA 1991 52
Hope Mennonite Church Pantego North Carolina, USA 1965 72
Hope Mennonite Fellowship Watson New York, USA 1979 45
Hope Valley Mennonite Church Flat Gap Kentucky, USA 1990 61
Hudson Valley Mennonite Church Ghent New York, USA 2006 16
Iglesia Menonita de El Rodeo El Rodeo Guatemala 1974 13
Iglesia Menonita de Paquip Tecpan Guatemala 1972 26
Iglesia Menonita del Valle de Huaral Huaral Peru 2009 8
Iglesia Menonita Getsemani Chimaltenango Guatemala 1972 25
Iglesia Menonita Nueva Jerusalen Tecpan Guatemala 1992 42
Igelsia Menonita Sinai Chimaltenango Guatemala 1966 24
Ikpoba Hill Mennonite Fellowship Nigeria 10
Jorgillo Mennonite Church El Cercado Dominican Republic 1982 16
Karahumi Mennonite Church Philippines 2006 10
Kenabeek Mennonite Church Kenabeek Ontario, Canada 1982 49
La Esperanza Mennonite Church Le Esperanza Chihuahua, Mexico 15
La Estancia Mennonite Church Las Matas de Farfan Dominican Republic 1980 17
La Estrella Mennonite Church Bolivia Bolivia 80
La Honda Mennonite Church La Honda Zacatecas, Mexico 2008 25
Lake Centre Mennonite Church Arborg Manitoba, Canada 1973 57
Lena Mennonite Church Lena Wisconsin, USA 2002 48
Lighthouse Mennonite Church Loch Broom Nova Scotia, Canada 2003 36
Little Cedar Mennonite Church Riceville Iowa, USA 2008 33
Living Waters Mennonite Church Randall Minnesota, USA 2006 42
McBride Mennonite Church McBride British Columbia, Canada 1962 44
Meadow Green Mennonite Church Three Springs Pennsylvania, USA 1983 67
Meadow View Mennonite Church Resaca Georgia, USA 2002 32
Mennonite Church International No. 1 Benin City Nigeria 11
Mennonite Church International No. 2 Benin City Nigeria 5
Mennonite Church International No. 3 Nigeria 6
Merville Mennonite Church Black Creek British Columbia, Canada 2005 29
Milverton Conservative Mennonite Fellowship Milverton Ontario, Canada 1970 85
Mine Centre Mennonite Church Mine Centre Ontario, Canada 1980 40
Mountain Light Fellowship Philippines 2005 17
New Bethlehem Mennonite Church New Bethlehem Pennsylvania, USA 1990 80
New Life Bible Church No. 1 Nigeria 30
New Life Bible Church No. 3 Nigeria 15
New Life Bible Church No. 4 Nigeria 15
New Life Bible Church No. 5 Nigeria 17
North Coast Mennonite Church Fortuna California, USA 1994 36
Northern Utah Mennonite Church Willard Utah, USA 1997 38
Oak View Mennonite Church Edina Missouri, USA 2006 29
Oakridge Mennonite Church Redgranite Wisconsin, USA 1992 49
Peace Christian Mennonite Church Dasmarinas Philippines 1982 19
Peace Mennonite Church La Crete Alberta, Canada 1979 53
Pedernales Mennonite Church Pedernales Chihuahua, Mexico 1982 41
Pike's Peak Mennonite Church Pueblo Colorado, USA 2005 18
Pilgrim Mennonite Church Amelia Virginia, USA 1955 31
Pine Creek Mennonite Church Austin Manitoba, Canada 1999 40
Pine Ridge Mennonite Church Rutherfordton North Carolina, USA 1990 36
Pioneer Valley Mennonite Fellowship Russell Massachusetts, USA 1999 43
Plad Mennonite Church Tunas Missouri, USA 2005 51
Plains Conservative Mennonite Church Osler Saskatchewan, Canada 1981 32
Plainview Bible Fellowship Plainview Texas, USA 2003 37
Pleasant Valley Mennonite Fellowship Harrisonburg Virginia, USA 1977 65
Pleasant View Mennonite Church Beloit Wisconsin, USA 1998 50
Pleasantview Mennonite Church Brethren Michigan, USA 1980 45
Prairie Light Mennonite Church LaGlace Alberta, Canada 1999 19
Rawlins Mennonite Church Rawlins Wyoming, USA 2002 30
Red Deer Valley Mennonite Church Innisfail Alberta, Canada 2005 24
Rolling Meadows Mennonite Church Goodhue Minnesota, USA 2005 21
Royers Mennonite Church Myerstown Pennsylvania, USA 1960 60
Sabana Cruz Mennonite Church Sabana Cruz Dominican Republic 1981 4
Salmon Arm Mennonite Church Salmon Arm British Columbia, Canada 2004 35
Severn Mennonite Church Severn North Carolina, USA 1993 46
Sharon Mennonite Fellowship Columbiana Ohio, USA 1963 47
South Point Mennonite Church Leamington Ontario, Canada 2001 48
South Shore Mennonite Church Slave Lake Alberta, Canada 2008 11
Southside Mennonite Church Kenbridge Virginia, USA 2007 30
Spring Valley Mennonite Fellowship Chambersburg Pennsylvania, USA 1984 51
Stony Fork Mennonite Church Stony Fork Pennsylvania, USA 1967 47
Stoughstown Mennonite Church Newville Pennsylvania, USA 1962 22
Thorp Mennonite Church Thorp Wisconsin, USA 1985 60
Tilley Mennonite Church Tilley Alberta, Canada 1975 59
Towanda Creek Mennonite Church Monroeton Pennsylvania, USA 2008 21
Unity Mennonite Church Unity Wisconsin, USA 1967 51
Valley Mennonite Church Rosthern Saskatchewan, Canada 2000 41
Valley View Mennonite Church Leburn Kentucky, USA 1963 61
Valley View Mennonite Church Patriot Ohio, USA 1977 48
Total 4,607

See also Conservative Mennonite Church of Ontario; Conservative Mennonites

Bibliography

Directory of the Fellowship Churches. Farmington, N.M.: Lamp and Light Publishers, published biennially.

Mennonite Church Information. Harrisonburg, VA: Christian Light Publications, 1999- Published annually.

Mennonite Yearbook & Directory, 1997, ed. James E. Horsch. Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1997: 97.

Reimer, Margaret Loewen, ed. One Quilt, Many Pieces. Waterloo, ON: Mennonite Publishing Service, 1983: 18.


Author(s) Ernest Strubhar
Date Published October 2010

Cite This Article

MLA style

Strubhar, Ernest. "Nationwide Fellowship Churches." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. October 2010. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nationwide_Fellowship_Churches&oldid=116489.

APA style

Strubhar, Ernest. (October 2010). Nationwide Fellowship Churches. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nationwide_Fellowship_Churches&oldid=116489.



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Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, pp. 295-296. All rights reserved.


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