Why have the Anabaptists FAILED at Reaching the Masses

[GaryK]

It is classified as Intentionalist and it certainly feels that way. (It isn’t a typical conservative Beachy church, even though it is conservative and it is Beachy.) For some reason, the cluster of churches in Texas are intentionalist.

I really valued my time visiting with the members there. We talked about meaningful things. There were a few seekers (who were members) that particularly stick in my mind because of how much I enjoyed visiting with them.

You're not thinking of Osceola, are you? Osceola and Grandview are not too far apart geographically.

[Josh]

It is classified as Intentionalist and it certainly feels that way. (It isn’t a typical conservative Beachy church, even though it is conservative and it is Beachy.) For some reason, the cluster of churches in Texas are intentionalist.

I really valued my time visiting with the members there. We talked about meaningful things. There were a few seekers (who were members) that particularly stick in my mind because of how much I enjoyed visiting with them.

You're not thinking of Osceola, are you? Osceola and Grandview are not too far apart geographically.

I was speaking of Bastrop.
I haven’t been to the Dallas area churches.

I don’t fully know the lineages of church plants / splits in TX.

[Ken]

... that's immediately adjacent to an interstate highway exit.

So what? It is literally in the middle of nowhere and well outside the DFW metro area.

I've driven by there many many times over the years but never went in so I admittedly don't know anything about the congregation. Do you? Is is mostly local Menno families who settled in the area to do farming, construction and such? Which is fine. I'm absolutely not criticizing this local congregation in any way. But it very much strikes me as a rural transplant congregation from PA, IN, or OH. You move to a place like Grandview because you are looking for rural farmland. Not because you are seeking to be part of the DFW metro area.

My larger point is that the DFW area provides a very good picture of where this country is going demographically and economically. It is the 4th largest metro area in the country and within a decade will probably be 3rd after only New York and Los Angeles. Demographically it also looks a lot like the America of 2024 and especially the future of the country. Increasingly diverse and trending young. And Anabaptism hasn't made even the slightest inroad. Well, that isn't 100% true. According to the MCUSA directory there are 3 small Spanish-language MCUSA-affiliated churches within the metro area and the one small English-speaking one in the northern suburbs that advertises itself as inclusive and LGBT-friendly. And no, rural farm town churches way outside the actual metro area don't count.

So come up with whatever reasons for this that you want. But it is a good example of what the OP is talking about.

My list was not meant to be comprehensive, and there are churches in the DFW exurban metro area.

MCUSA churches? There are a couple of those.

The greater DFW metro area is the size of New Jersey and has a population north of 8 million. And yet I suspect you are including places like the Pilgrim church in Grandview which is maybe 40 miles south of downtown, completely outside the DFW metro area, and completely rural. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5VoB6ZkU2DKNnaVKA?g_st=ic

I suggest you might do better to talk about things you know rather than things you "don't know anything about."

I know that Grandview TX is not part of the DFW area. What do you think I am wrong about in anything that I wrote?

[Ken]

The Grandview congregation was started by “intentionalists”, that is, intentionally trying to reach seekers and converts.
It is the same environment Chester Weaver is in. (I think that’s his congregation but I’m not sure.) It would be in the same vein as Shippensburg, Bastrop, Chambersburg, Rocky Cape/Detention River, City Light (Waynesboro), and so forth.

Describing it as a bunch of back-woods farmers is a tad ridiculous.

You move to a place like Grandview because you are looking for rural farmland.

Mennonites don’t move 35 minutes from Dallas for farmland. They would move to Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, New York State, Missouri and so forth for that.

This is the Google Street View of the actual congregation in question: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5VoB6ZkU2DKNnaVKA?g_st=ic

Take a 360 view of the location and tell us what you see. Pick any spot 5 miles from this location and tell us what you see. Do you see farmland or the 4th largest metro area in the country?

[Josh]

It looks like the kind of place that will have a Buc-ee’s sprouting soon.

[mrbilliam]

No EO doesn't interpret loving your enemies the same way as others when it comes to protecting your own land, thank the Lord they had a "free," land to flee to because America fought for it. So it can work to Anabaptists advantage.

Are you claiming that the Anabaptists had a "free" land to flee to (USA) because America fought for it?

Despite where the freedom came from, we ARE free, and we do not put numerous churches into cities. It's more fun to live out our lives in the countryside fighting about women's shoes and suspenders for the rest of our lives.

[mrbilliam]

So what? It is literally in the middle of nowhere and well outside the DFW metro area.

I've driven by there many many times over the years but never went in so I admittedly don't know anything about the congregation. Do you? Is is mostly local Menno families who settled in the area to do farming, construction and such? Which is fine. I'm absolutely not criticizing this local congregation in any way. But it very much strikes me as a rural transplant congregation from PA, IN, or OH. You move to a place like Grandview because you are looking for rural farmland. Not because you are seeking to be part of the DFW metro area.

My larger point is that the DFW area provides a very good picture of where this country is going demographically and economically. It is the 4th largest metro area in the country and within a decade will probably be 3rd after only New York and Los Angeles. Demographically it also looks a lot like the America of 2024 and especially the future of the country. Increasingly diverse and trending young. And Anabaptism hasn't made even the slightest inroad. Well, that isn't 100% true. According to the MCUSA directory there are 3 small Spanish-language MCUSA-affiliated churches within the metro area and the one small English-speaking one in the northern suburbs that advertises itself as inclusive and LGBT-friendly. And no, rural farm town churches way outside the actual metro area don't count.

So come up with whatever reasons for this that you want. But it is a good example of what the OP is talking about.

MCUSA churches? There are a couple of those.

The greater DFW metro area is the size of New Jersey and has a population north of 8 million. And yet I suspect you are including places like the Pilgrim church in Grandview which is maybe 40 miles south of downtown, completely outside the DFW metro area, and completely rural. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5VoB6ZkU2DKNnaVKA?g_st=ic

I suggest you might do better to talk about things you know rather than things you "don't know anything about."

I know that Grandview TX is not part of the DFW area. What do you think I am wrong about in anything that I wrote?

It's not. It basically works like just about any other moderate to conservative Anabaptist church. Far outside the city, mostly populated with native born Mennonites. Too strict and cultural to reach the masses. They won't read this as they have no internet, unless you get a spy (ahem, accountability partner) to accompany you at the library.

^This is part what I'm talking about. Many churches have weird standards like this. You'll have 50 year old men needing somebody to go with them to the library so they won't get into immorality online.... It's just weird. If somebody wants to sin - phones slip in pockets and are easily hidden. Libraries block "immoral / hate / etc." web sites anyway.

So it's all isolated, the gospel message is not spread, and we pick each other apart for life (Hey brother, you need to part your hair better down the middle), rather than spread the gospel of Jesus. God help us.

[mrbilliam]

... a tiny rural church in the middle of wheat fields ...

... that's immediately adjacent to an interstate highway exit.

So what? It is literally in the middle of nowhere and well outside the DFW metro area.

I've driven by there many many times over the years but never went in so I admittedly don't know anything about the congregation. Do you? Is is mostly local Menno families who settled in the area to do farming, construction and such? Which is fine. I'm absolutely not criticizing this local congregation in any way. But it very much strikes me as a rural transplant congregation from PA, IN, or OH. You move to a place like Grandview because you are looking for rural farmland. Not because you are seeking to be part of the DFW metro area.

My larger point is that the DFW area provides a very good picture of where this country is going demographically and economically. It is the 4th largest metro area in the country and within a decade will probably be 3rd after only New York and Los Angeles. Demographically it also looks a lot like the America of 2024 and especially the future of the country. Increasingly diverse and trending young. And Anabaptism hasn't made even the slightest inroad. Well, that isn't 100% true. According to the MCUSA directory there are 3 small Spanish-language MCUSA-affiliated churches within the metro area and the one small English-speaking one in the northern suburbs that advertises itself as inclusive and LGBT-friendly. And no, rural farm town churches way outside the actual metro area don't count.

So come up with whatever reasons for this that you want. But it is a good example of what the OP is talking about.

It's also the Bible belt. The fact Anabaptists have not penetrated DFW is pathetic. We have done a massive wrong to the gospel of Jesus. Not even a CHURCH. 1 SINGLE CHURCH. Baptists have thousands in DFW. Anabaptists 0. In fact there is a satanic temple in Ft. Worth, and another in Dallas, but no Menno churches.

Satan's score 2
beating
Mennonites score 0

How do we explain this to God on Judgment Day? We do stand before him at some point...

But we do not evangelize after our fellowship meal like many other successful churches that spread the gospel (SDA's for instance). We go home with full bellies after a meal, a plate of desserts, and a big fat nap. Burps are obligatory. SDA's & Fundamental Baptists typically go out after church for 2-3 hours knocking on doors.

That could be one real reason why they have grown and brought many converts to Christianity.

[mrbilliam]

Also for those who say other churches are bringing in a "watered down gospel", I think we should judge by Godly standards on that one. We by almost complete example are watering down Matthew 28.

We don't enforce Matthew 28.
But we do enforce 1 Corinthians 11 that has a non-radical verse at the end of the chapter saying "no such requirement for those who are unfamiliar".

Would Jesus rather us follow Matthew 28's Great Commission (the first command he gave after declaring all authority in Heaven and Earth) are his?
or
Women must absolutely cover their heads or no communion.

Great Commission > Head Coverings

Menno churches think

Great Commission < Head Coverings

[mrbilliam]

My list was not meant to be comprehensive, and there are churches in the DFW exurban metro area.

MCUSA churches? There are a couple of those.

The greater DFW metro area is the size of New Jersey and has a population north of 8 million. And yet I suspect you are including places like the Pilgrim church in Grandview which is maybe 40 miles south of downtown, completely outside the DFW metro area, and completely rural. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5VoB6ZkU2DKNnaVKA?g_st=ic

As I said earlier, people in Dallas are completely comfortable driving an hour to do basically anything. This isn’t a big deal.

Not all people in Dallas have cars. There are also the elderly. There are also those who have bad eyesight. (the list goes on) There is however an extensive public transit system in Dallas. And no, don't assume people in Dallas are comfortable driving an hour to do basically anything. That's why there are many suburbs loaded with stores.

Do you know where public transit does not exist? Where there are Mennonite churches!