Meridian Mennonite Church
Who we are
Meridian Mennonite Church
The Meridian Congregation of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, is the oldest existent congregation of the denomination. In the early 1870s, David S. Holdeman. who was already a member of the church, came to the Hesston area from Elkhart, Indiana, (although the town of Hesston was not formed until 1886), to visit his son who was already living here.
In 1873, the David Holdeman family moved 1/4 mile north of the church location and they, together with a few other families, formed a small congregation here. Holdeman donated a small acreage for a church and cemetery, and the congregation has continued at the same location for 150 years. The present church building, dedicated in 2004, is the fourth one to be built on this site.
The congregation has grown steadily. Although through the years many have moved to other church communities because of agricultural and other opportunities or family connections, current membership is over 200.
In the early years several family lines dominated the congregation. Today, the congregation enjoys a wide diversity of families and backgrounds from many places and is a healthy mix of children, youth, young families, middle-aged, and elders.
As every other congregation in the denomination, the Meridian Mennonite Church sponsors and operates an elementary church school, Meadowlark Christian School. The school is a non-accredited private school under Kansas law. Its approved curriculum and competent instructors provide the children with an adequate elementary education in a Christian environment.
Wthen you visit us, you will notice several distinct aspects of our worship. Men sit on one side of the sanctuary and women on the other. This is a traditional practice of the Anabaptists through many centuries and is still considered to be conducive to worship. Of course, visitors are free to sit together as families if they wish to do so.
All girls and women who are members of the church wear a head covering according to the teaching of 1 Corinthians 11. Traditionally, a shawl-type covering is worn in worship services.
The men wear beards because, although not clearly commanded in Scripture, it is believed that they should be worn by virtue of creation and biblical example.
No musical instruments are used because there is no indication of their use in the New Testament and, as far as is known, the Anabaptists have never used them. We believe our practice is one of humility and simplicity in worship.
The audience kneels for prayers, which is a tradition of reverence to God. Visitors are welcome to join us in prayer in whatever way is comfortable to them.
The church has a plural ministry. Ministers and deacons are elected from the congregation as needed, ordained for life, and are unsalaried.
Although our dress, appearance, and lifestyle may set us a little apart from our neighbors and friends, we are not a closed society and we welcome anyone to join our worship.
Meridian youth
Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
We seek to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and His apostles in all matters of faith and practice. This faith has been embraced by Christians throughout history, including the Waldenses, Anabaptists, and other such groups. Although they were often persectured and forced to live in obscurity, the New Testament church flourished and grew.
We believe the grace of God brings personal salvation through the new birth, which begins with faith in Jesus as our Savior and leads to repentance of sin and obedience to Christ. This new life unites us with other believers in fellowship and brotherly love. We believe the Bible teaches baptism for those who are born again, nonresistance, and a simple, modest life. We are to be separate from the world in attitude, outlook, and manner of life. As children of the Kingdom of God, Jesus teaches us to live peaceably with others. We do not take part in politics, elected government office, or the military. We teach that Christian men should wear a beard and Christian women should wear a head covering.
Origin
Mennonites are descended from Christians known as Anabaptists in the 16th century. They were not a product of the Reformation, but lived the same faith as all true believers, known by various names, from the time of Jesus and the apostles as recorded in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. They rejected infant baptism, insisting on a believers baptism. These believers were bitterly persecuted for their doctrine and their independence from the state churches.
In 1536 Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Catholic priest from Holland, began studying the Bible. He found beliefs of that church that were not supported by Scripture. He repented of his sins, left the Catholic church, and was baptized by the Anabaptists. Soon, he was chosen as a leader and was ordained to the gospel ministry. He became a very capable teacher and writer. Because of his influence, the Anabaptist believers became known as Mennonites.
The Mennonite Church in America
Because of persecution and desiring religious freedom, Mennonites began immigrating to America in 1683. They were known as quiet, God-fearing people who were devout in their faith, temperate in everyday life, and industrious. Their faith did not allow them to participate in war, and they became known as peace-loving people.
John Holdeman
However, in the following years times of test and prosperity brought a spiritual decline. During the 19th century, many Mennonites began to deviate from the doctrines embraced by their fathers. Among those who contended for the true faith was John Holdeman (1832-1900) of Wayne County, Ohio. He became increasingly concerned that the Mennonite Church was no longer practicing the true doctrine in many things. He appealed to church leaders for spiritual revival. Although some agreed with his concerns, little change followed. In 1859, he and a few others began worshipping separately. Eventually this small group organized as the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.
John Holdeman was a Spirit-filled evangelist, teacher, and writer. His outstanding doctrinal book, A Mirror of Truth, is still held in high regard by the church. He traveled widely and many who heard his preaching experienced a spiritual new birth and were baptized. Congregations were soon established in the United States and Canada, particularly in Kansas and Manitoba.
After Holdeman's death, the church continued to grow. The years of the world wars, especially World War 1, were times of particular test because of the doctrine of nonresistance and conscientious objection to war in any form. The church's commitment to humble spiritual life and separation from unchristian influences in the world has also been tested in times of peace and prosperity.
Growth and outreach
Through the years and particularly in more recent times, congregations have sprung up in most of the states and provinces in the U.S. and Canada as well as in over 40 other countries. Necessary organization has accompanied this growth, and the church operates missionary and humanitarian aid ministries in many countries of the world. Worldwide literature distribution is administered by Gospel Tract and Bible Society. The church's periodical, "Messenger of Truth," has been continuously published since the early 1900s. Many other doctrinal and inspirational writings have been published, as well as Sunday school and vacation Bible school materials, songbooks, and some curriculum for the church's private schools.
The church responds to natural disasters across North America through its organization known as Christian Disaster Relief, bringing hope to the hopeless whose lives have been upended by storms, earthquakes, fires, or floods. Volunteer service units for young people and their supervisors operate in many locations in North America--emergency child care shelters, humanitarian services in large medical complexes, and rebuilding units following natural disasters. There is a growing number of elder care homes for the aged, and virtually every congregation sponsors an elementary church school.
Total membership of the denomination is between 25,000 and 30,000. We invite people of every culture, race, and nation to come to Jesus Christ for salvation and to become part of this faith and fellowship. With living hope in God's grace and salvation, we face the future with confidence in God, watching for Jesus's return.