Agape Christian Fellowship

[Samuel-Stoltzfus]

So what would Harmoney and it's spin-off consider themsleves?
[/quote]


Harmony and Oasis are both part of Agape I believe.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Is there a link to this 'Agape Christian Fellowship' spoken of here ? It seems to me to be a term used by various groups. I looked up one using this name and their statement of faith did not appear totally Anabaptist.

I find it interesting how some Christian faith groups are dropping words in their church identifications and the reasons for it. For instance, some would say 'Fellowship' today is just too masculine to be used as a name. I was raised in a local church using the word 'Tabernacle' which I seldom hear used today but 'Community' seems to have got quite popular.

Never heard fellowship being called masculine, that’s a new one for me.

I doubt they’re going to have a webpage. While they use Internet, I think they’re a little bit more leery of it than the rest of “Charity”.
It’s a fairly new group within the last few years. We still associated with the church in Oregon back when it was first forming. I know later that church voted to become part of it. They were already being overseen by one of the key people starting the group, so it was kind of logical.
It’s not being formed by young people, I think they’ve seen the good and the bad of the Charity movement and the broader Mennonite conservative movement.

Folks I was talking to were former Klene Gemidene. I do not think they have a website, but use the internet.

[Soloist]

Wife: I don’t know if this is still on the books, but I think they had a standard against smart phones for teenagers. For some reason, I’m thinking something about not having WhatsApp until you’re either 18 or 21. also, I don’t know if this was a requirement, but they encouraged accountability groups and using Internet filters, or at least something like accountabletoyou.

[Praxis+Theodicy]

I attend a small church plant that has been going for about 5ish years in the northeast that is in direct relationship with Agape Fellowship. Several families come through to visit and help with projects going on here, and most of them are from 3 churches in Pennsylvania:

Harmony Christian Fellowship
Oasis Christian Fellowship
Living Hope Christian Fellowship

From what I can tell, Harmony Christian Fellowship has planted all these churches, and families from all 3 churches have helped support each other. I believe Ephrata Christian Fellowship was another in communion with these churches, but it's either no longer in place, or it's broken fellowship. There are other churches in Ohio and other places that are joining into the Agape Fellowship too.

Valley Christian Fellowship in Halsey, Oregon is related to Harmony and Agape. Their doctrine page has this addendum at the very bottom:

22. Other: As a founding resolution made at the formation of Valley Christian Fellowship, we have chosen to attach ourselves to the congregation in Pennsylvania called Living Hope Christian Fellowship, where our bishop, Mark Brubaker, is a member. In any major question affecting culture, direction, and church policy, our default position, in the absence of an agreed-upon alternative, will match the position that has been adopted by LHCF.

(NOTE: I think this is the same Doctrinal Statement as Harmony Christian Fellowship with the addition of this addendum and one stating suspicion in "media and technology")

I was recently directed to listen to a message Roger Hertzler gave to Valley Christian Fellowship to outline their vision. He makes specific reference to Charity Christian Fellowship, and some things said by Denny and Mose looking back at the experience.
https://www.vcfhalsey.com/sermons.php
https://www.vcfhalsey.com/sermons/20230 ... Of_VCF.mp3

This doesn't necessarily represent the spirit of the whole Agape Fellowship, just one church in it.

[steve-in-kville]

I attend a small church plant that has been going for about 5ish years in the northeast that is in direct relationship with Agape Fellowship. Several families come through to visit and help with projects going on here, and most of them are from 3 churches in Pennsylvania:

Harmony Christian Fellowship
Oasis Christian Fellowship
Living Hope Christian Fellowship

From what I can tell, Harmony Christian Fellowship has planted all these churches, and families from all 3 churches have helped support each other. I believe Ephrata Christian Fellowship was another in communion with these churches, but it's either no longer in place, or it's broken fellowship. There are other churches in Ohio and other places that are joining into the Agape Fellowship too.

My wife has cousins that attend Harmony and we know people that attend the Schaefferstown group. I think I had a coworker help start one of the plants upstate Pennsylvania. No ideas what it is called. Might be the Living Hope group that you referenced.

[Sudsy]

Never heard fellowship being called masculine, that’s a new one for me.

Probably because of the "fellow" part of the word.

Yep. I remember when our local MB church dropped the word 'Brethren' in 2004 from their name and changed to 'Meadow Brook Fellowship'. This was to drop the 'Mennonite' and yet retain the short form 'MB' and is also a short form for the name of an adjacent sub division in the city. But they changed their name again a few years later to 'Meadow Brook Church' and replaced the 'Fellowship' with 'Church'. This removed the 'fellow' part of the name that still has some male association by some people.

Seems many churches have hid their original identifications in new church names. If it works to draw more people to come and hear the Gospel, I'm all for it. I'm sure many though have no problem with 'Fellowship' in the name as it has more of a oneness and family sense to them. I don't think the name 'Brethren' though would be viewed quite that way and would be viewed more as favouring men.

I suppose the name 'Agape' would be one that would make outsiders wonder what that is all about.

[ken_sylvania]

Seems many churches have hid their original identifications in new church names. If it works to draw more people to come and hear the Gospel, I'm all for it. I'm sure many though have no problem with 'Fellowship' in the name as it has more of a oneness and family sense to them. I don't think the name 'Brethren' though would be viewed quite that way and would be viewed more as favouring men.

I suppose the name 'Agape' would be one that would make outsiders wonder what that is all about.

I think a lot of churches have hid their identification as Christians as well.

[steve-in-kville]

I think a lot of churches have hid their identification as Christians as well.

I sort of understand. Depending on the area, using "mennonite" in a title may make people think of black bonnets and black cars. Some years ago, the local Mid Atlantic district wanted to build a new church and school. The township meetings that were held to approve the project were well attended by the neighbors that were worried about the "hundreds and hundreds of black cars" traveling their back roads.

They did get approval, though!

[Josh]

I think a lot of churches have hid their identification as Christians as well.

I sort of understand. Depending on the area, using "mennonite" in a title may make people think of black bonnets and black cars. Some years ago, the local Mid Atlantic district wanted to build a new church and school. The township meetings that were held to approve the project were well attended by the neighbors that were worried about the "hundreds and hundreds of black cars" traveling their back roads.

They did get approval, though!

Based on current population trends, Wengers and Scottsville, KY-type Hoovers will eventually be the majority of "Mennonites", as the rest of the Mennonites (particularly the non-plain ones) seem to keep bleeding population.

[Soloist]

I think a lot of churches have hid their identification as Christians as well.

I sort of understand. Depending on the area, using "mennonite" in a title may make people think of black bonnets and black cars. Some years ago, the local Mid Atlantic district wanted to build a new church and school. The township meetings that were held to approve the project were well attended by the neighbors that were worried about the "hundreds and hundreds of black cars" traveling their back roads.

They did get approval, though!

Based on current population trends, Wengers and Scottsville, KY-type Hoovers will eventually be the majority of "Mennonites", as the rest of the Mennonites (particularly the non-plain ones) seem to keep bleeding population.

Wife: judging from the obituaries I’ve always seen from Weaverland conference, it’s easy to see why. I think the record I remember was maybe 316 or more great grand children? of course, pilgrim and eastern have some of that too, but it’s not nearly as consistent.