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.

Nationwide Fellowship Churches in 2010

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 Conservative Mennonite Fellowship	Millbank	Ontario, Canada	1970	89
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	New Tripoli	Pennsylvania, USA	1993	28
Borderview Mennonite Church	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 Conservative 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	Aylmer	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	Lowville	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		80
La Honda Mennonite Church	La Honda	Zacatecas, Mexico	2008	25
Lake Centre Mennonite Church	Arborg	Manitoba, Canada	1973	57
Lena Mennonite Church	Oconto	Wisconsin, USA	2002	48
Lighthouse Mennonite Church	Westville	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
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	Brodhead	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	Margarettsville	North Carolina, USA	1993	46
Sharon Mennonite Fellowship	Salem	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	Wellsboro	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

Bibliography

Author(s)	Ernest Strubhar
Date Published	October 2010

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.

Cite This Article

MLA style

Strubhar, Ernest. "Nationwide Fellowship Churches." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. October 2010. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nationwide_Fellowship_Churches&oldid=163141.

APA style

Strubhar, Ernest. (October 2010). Nationwide Fellowship Churches. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Nationwide_Fellowship_Churches&oldid=163141.

Nationwide Fellowship Churches

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Nationwide Fellowship Churches in 2010

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