What is the current situation with Charity?

[JohnH]

To characterize anything about church groups like Agape or Charity as more or less conservative is probably fruitless.

Huh?

[Donny D]

Seeing this topic to begin drifting a little from personal experience, here's a quick answer to the question as to whether or not there is a Agape Fellowships web site.

I am not aware of any official Agape Fellowships website.

It appears that the following link will locate most of the Agape or Agape-like congregations. I am sure there will be differences from location to location.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 999998&z=3

Click on the magnifying glass to search.
Enter the word “Agape” without quote marks.
Click on “See all 26 results”
This should be a list of Agape/Agape-like congregations.

*******
To address other comments:
My personal experiences resulting from many visits at various locations are generally as follows:
A few men wear suspenders, but most do not. (Those without are generally the younger men.)
A very limited number wear broadfalls, but most do not.
I have been told that a beard is allowed as a full beard (beards I've seen are trimmed to a greater or lesser degree).
A beard without a mustache is allowed.
A mustache alone or a goatee is not allowed.
Shaving is allowed, but it does not seem real common. (This last "shaving" thing has seemed a little surprising to me. Somehow, I expected something different.)

Lastly, my personal experience is that women wear either a sizable cap or a hanging veil. I have seen only white caps and solid white or solid black veils.

Again, these are only my personal experiences, nothing more.

Blessings to all.

[JohnL]

Thank you, Donny D.

Seeing this topic to begin drifting a little from personal experience, here's a quick answer to the question as to whether or not there is an Agape Fellowships web site.

I am not aware of any official Agape Fellowships website.

It appears that the following link will locate most of the Agape or Agape-like congregations. I am sure there will be differences from location to location.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 999998&z=3

Click on the magnifying glass to search.
Enter the word “Agape” without quote marks.
Click on “See all 26 results”
This should be a list of Agape/Agape-like congregations.

*******
To address other comments:
My personal experiences resulting from many visits at various locations are generally as follows:
A few men wear suspenders, but most do not. (Those without are generally the younger men.)
A very limited number wear broadfalls, but most do not.
I have been told that a beard is allowed as a full beard (beards I've seen are trimmed to a greater or lesser degree).
A beard without a mustache is allowed.
A mustache alone or a goatee is not allowed.
Shaving is allowed, but it does not seem real common. (This last "shaving" thing has seemed a little surprising to me. Somehow, I expected something different.)

Lastly, my personal experience is that women wear either a sizable cap or a hanging veil. I have seen only white caps and solid white or solid black veils.

Again, these are only my personal experiences, nothing more.

Blessings to all.

[JayP]

We all know we can debate what is conservative all day long.
My point was, at least for me, I know how to compare say Beachy to Eastern to Pilgrim all the way to LMC .

But Charity type churches draw from both worldly folks seeking Anabaptist groups and from what we would call more conservative settings. The point is two people in those churche, with identical practices are actually in two different places. Hence…what is conservative?

Especially in the area of dress, because a certain number of worldly converts like to play a bit of dress up.
I do not mean that as harsh as it sounds, but there is an element of that.

I just think when we are looking at long standing historical groups the terms conservative and liberal work better than they do with newer groups, especially widely pollinated ways.

[Valerie]

We all know we can debate what is conservative all day long.
My point was, at least for me, I know how to compare say Beachy to Eastern to Pilgrim all the way to LMC .

But Charity type churches draw from both worldly folks seeking Anabaptist groups and from what we would call more conservative settings. The point is two people in those churche, with identical practices are actually in two different places. Hence…what is conservative?

Especially in the area of dress, because a certain number of worldly converts like to play a bit of dress up.
I do not mean that as harsh as it sounds, but there is an element of that.

I just think when we are looking at long standing historical groups the terms conservative and liberal work better than they do with newer groups, especially widely pollinated ways.

You make a really good point or points-
It was a (now former) Amish man that encouraged Denny Kenaston/Charity to us in 2007. I listened to cassettes & was really drawn to them to the point of making the several hour trip to Leola PA as seekers. It was our first pursuit of Anabaptism. There was such a mix of seekers like us being influenced to change our worldly attire. We had come from charismatic/evangelical background where the way you dress means nothing from a Christian perspective.

Anyway I remember things seemed to start changing right after 2008. I was following them via reading “The Remnant” and other forms of media so I have personal feelings as to possibly why but I will always be grateful for the teachings that came from them.

[JayP]

I recently, when asked, advised an Eastern family against joining an Agape group.
My point was that for someone coming from the world, it may well be a good move. Because it is a move FROM point A to a point that brings them closer to what they are seeking. Whereas having come from deep Eastern/LMC roots moving to Agape would be much more likely to place t(ear family trajectory towards the world.

I am sure some will see that as an indictment of Charity/Agape. It is not. It is the reality that where you come from and where you are is a significant factor on where you should (and should not) go next.

[temporal1]

Valerie,
.. but I will always be grateful for the teachings that came from them.

I recently, when asked, advised an Eastern family against joining an Agape group.
My point was that for someone coming from the world, it may well be a good move. Because it is a move FROM point A to a point that brings them closer to what they are seeking. Whereas having come from deep Eastern/LMC roots moving to Agape would be much more likely to place t(ear family trajectory towards the world.

I am sure some will see that as an indictment of Charity/Agape. It is not. It is the reality that where you come from and where you are is a significant factor on where you should (and should not) go next.

Life is a literal faith journey.
For Christians, all roads must lead to Jesus Christ, however wiggly the path. He waits. 2Peter 3:9 https://biblehub.com/2_peter/3-9.htm

[Jazman]

And as far as CCF goes, they are still active. The tape ministry has recently folded, but they post messages to Youtube: https://youtube.com/@charitychristianfe ... ure=shared

Thanks for sharing. I know only a few of the speakers... none of them except Ulrich and Esh were at Charity when I was there in the late 80's-early 90's.