This is a thread to discuss how Dirk Willems life and testimony have impacted the world.
Feel free to tell stories, share anecdotes, or postulate on his impact.
Dirk Willems Impact on the World
Dirk Willems Impact on the World
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A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Re: Dirk Willems Impact on the World
A couple stories from the Behalt...
The Behalt is a 265 ft. circular mural (cyclorama) in Holmes Co., Ohio that tells the story of the Anabaptists.
https://behalt.com/meet-heinz-gaugel/
The story of Dirk Willems has been the catalyst for a lot of deep thought and questions at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, where Behalt is located.
On one occasion, a veiled Muslim from Iraq was part of a group that was being given a live narration and tour of Behalt. After hearing the story of Dirk Willems, she stood fixed at the scene, while the rest of the group moved on to continue learning about the rest of the painting. At some point, the tour guide went back to talk with her. "Are there Christians that live like this today?" she asked. "The only Christianity I know about is the one that dropped bombs on my village inscribed with, "God bless the USA." The tour guide was glad to tell her, "Yes, there are Christians that live like this today."
On another occasion, a young lady stayed fixed in front of the picture. She was sobbing and a staff member checked up on her. It turns out she was one of the victims who was shot at Nickle Mines School. She was wounded but her sister had been killed. After returning home from the hospital, on that very traumatic day, her father gathered the family together and told them that they were going to reach out to the wife of the murderer. And they were going to make sure the wife knew that they would not hold anything against her. Their posture towards the family of the murderer was forgiveness.
The father then told the family the story of Dirk Willems. It was this memory that this young lady was reliving that day.
You can listen to the story here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X5APZ6Wnuk
The Behalt is a 265 ft. circular mural (cyclorama) in Holmes Co., Ohio that tells the story of the Anabaptists.
https://behalt.com/meet-heinz-gaugel/
The story of Dirk Willems has been the catalyst for a lot of deep thought and questions at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, where Behalt is located.
On one occasion, a veiled Muslim from Iraq was part of a group that was being given a live narration and tour of Behalt. After hearing the story of Dirk Willems, she stood fixed at the scene, while the rest of the group moved on to continue learning about the rest of the painting. At some point, the tour guide went back to talk with her. "Are there Christians that live like this today?" she asked. "The only Christianity I know about is the one that dropped bombs on my village inscribed with, "God bless the USA." The tour guide was glad to tell her, "Yes, there are Christians that live like this today."
On another occasion, a young lady stayed fixed in front of the picture. She was sobbing and a staff member checked up on her. It turns out she was one of the victims who was shot at Nickle Mines School. She was wounded but her sister had been killed. After returning home from the hospital, on that very traumatic day, her father gathered the family together and told them that they were going to reach out to the wife of the murderer. And they were going to make sure the wife knew that they would not hold anything against her. Their posture towards the family of the murderer was forgiveness.
The father then told the family the story of Dirk Willems. It was this memory that this young lady was reliving that day.
You can listen to the story here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X5APZ6Wnuk
0 x
A wee little man can’t say, I’m sorry. A big man owns his mistakes and apologizes.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
A wee little man trusts himself and his own discernment. A big man is humble enough to know that he needs the counsel and input of others.
Re: Dirk Willems Impact on the World
I’ve taken people to Behalt a few times. It seems to serve the purpose that Icons do, to convey through art the truth of in this case, history of the Reformation and if the main point of forgiveness is what is affecting a Muslim to come to Christ, that was well worth it.Ernie wrote: ↑Sun May 03, 2026 10:14 pm A couple stories from the Behalt...
The Behalt is a 265 ft. circular mural (cyclorama) in Holmes Co., Ohio that tells the story of the Anabaptists.
https://behalt.com/meet-heinz-gaugel/
The story of Dirk Willems has been the catalyst for a lot of deep thought and questions at the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, where Behalt is located.
On one occasion, a veiled Muslim from Iraq was part of a group that was being given a live narration and tour of Behalt. After hearing the story of Dirk Willems, she stood fixed at the scene, while the rest of the group moved on to continue learning about the rest of the painting. At some point, the tour guide went back to talk with her. "Are there Christians that live like this today?" she asked. "The only Christianity I know about is the one that dropped bombs on my village inscribed with, "God bless the USA." The tour guide was glad to tell her, "Yes, there are Christians that live like this today."
On another occasion, a young lady stayed fixed in front of the picture. She was sobbing and a staff member checked up on her. It turns out she was one of the victims who was shot at Nickle Mines School. She was wounded but her sister had been killed. After returning home from the hospital, on that very traumatic day, her father gathered the family together and told them that they were going to reach out to the wife of the murderer. And they were going to make sure the wife knew that they would not hold anything against her. Their posture towards the family of the murderer was forgiveness.
The father then told the family the story of Dirk Willems. It was this memory that this young lady was reliving that day.
You can listen to the story here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X5APZ6Wnuk
I had no idea bombs were inscribed with God bless the USA and I for one feel there should be a stop put to that. Maybe my brother who served as a Chaplain can help- I hate to think that’s the only false representation of Christianity she knew.
Wonder how many have come to Christ from visiting Behalt. I was moved by the stories but also remember feeling it conveyed some confusion regarding sectarianism among Christians but then I already had faith and was a seeker to Anabaptism my first visit. I need to probably let go of my discouragement with conveying in a mural how Christianity is so split up as I feel it’s confusing. God uses Holmes County but people can be confused at so many divisions there as well - but non-resistance to a Muslim who are taught to hate Christians and Jews (if they are in the countries like she is from) will need a message like Dirk Williams.
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Re: Dirk Willems Impact on the World
Altho Ernie initiated talk about graffiti on bombs, there’s a separate topic in History on it:
“God Bless the USA inscribed on munitions”
https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?t=8881
(i’m not sure how anyone who had been bombed with graffiti-bombs would have known there was graffiti, outside being told so.)
“God Bless the USA inscribed on munitions”
https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.php?t=8881
(i’m not sure how anyone who had been bombed with graffiti-bombs would have known there was graffiti, outside being told so.)
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i’m perfectly comfortable with an older, wiser, more docile Trump.
”Try hard not to offend. Try harder not to be offended.” Robert Martz
”Try hard not to offend. Try harder not to be offended.” Robert Martz
Re: Dirk Willems Impact on the World
P.3 / https://forum.mennonet.com/viewtopic.ph ... 1&start=20
Isaiah 55:11
https://biblehub.com/isaiah/55-11.htm
Truth is a wonderous thing that cannot be contained or stopped.
When what is done or said is Truth, it will Live, it’s a living thing. Beyond all human reasoning.
Did Vasily Arkhipov know of Dirk Willems? -
Certainly, there could have been an influence, even if he didn’t know the name or about Anabaptists.
Truth gets around. It cannot be contained.
Isaiah 55:11
https://biblehub.com/isaiah/55-11.htm
10For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth,
making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,
11so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please,
and it will prosper where I send it.
12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.…
Truth is a wonderous thing that cannot be contained or stopped.
When what is done or said is Truth, it will Live, it’s a living thing. Beyond all human reasoning.
0 x
i’m perfectly comfortable with an older, wiser, more docile Trump.
”Try hard not to offend. Try harder not to be offended.” Robert Martz
”Try hard not to offend. Try harder not to be offended.” Robert Martz