One man's story of leaving the Old Order Mennonites

[HansMacDonald]

[JohnH]

Rodney was born into the Old Order Stauffer Mennonite Church. Stauffer Mennonites view themselves as the one true church, believe you cannot know if you are saved (church membership is your best chance), and enforce a long list of extra-biblical rules, forbidding every thing from zippers to men's beards to electricity. Those who leave this group are handed over to the devil, and that's exactly what happened to Rodney's parents when his family left during his teen years.

Following this experience, Rodney continued to attend other types of Mennonite churches until he and his wife concluded they would need to fully leave in order to be spiritually fed and grow in their faith. He shares how, during this process, he came to understand the gospel of grace and learned to trust in Christ for his salvation—not himself, his church, or his works.

•••

It is the mission of Berean Holiness to develop free, faith-based resources for those who are leaving hyper fundamentalism. If you would like to support believers leaving strict Mennonite churches and similar groups, you can give today at:

They’d have a lot more credibility with me if they didn’t immediately start off with misrepresenting assurance / hope of salvation.

They’d also have a lot more credibility if they didn’t refer to Old Orders as “hyper fundamentalist”, when they are pretty much the polar opposite of fundamentalism.

[Jazman]

They’d also have a lot more credibility if they didn’t refer to Old Orders as “hyper fundamentalist”, when they are pretty much the polar opposite of fundamentalism.

I think I get the point you're trying to make (that OO are not technically fundamentalist) - But the more recent definitions of fundamentalism, as a disposition rather than some beliefs (old definition of fundamentalism) suggests that many OO groups struggle with "fundamentalism" (In fact, lot's of current categories of people can be and do exhibit "fundamentalism")
Here's what I think is a better definition of fundamentalism and helps explain the way some people think and behave in many different kinds of groups (including people here)

In short, I disagree with your assessment of the video; the OO Stauffer Mennonites DO act and exhibit traits of fundamentalism (systemically and possibly individually as well).

[the-real-steve]

Wouldn't Stauffer Mennonites be a step more conservative than Joe Wengers?

[Jazman]

Wouldn't Stauffer Mennonites be a step more conservative than Joe Wengers?

I believe so... (a few steps in fact) Are Stauffer Menn. the same as Pike or not?

[the-real-steve]

Wouldn't Stauffer Mennonites be a step more conservative than Joe Wengers?

I believe so... (a few steps in fact) Are Stauffer Menn. the same as Pike or not?

Not sure. Isn't there a group called 35-ers?

[Thomas_muntzer]

Rodney was born into the Old Order Stauffer Mennonite Church. Stauffer Mennonites view themselves as the one true church, believe you cannot know if you are saved (church membership is your best chance), and enforce a long list of extra-biblical rules, forbidding every thing from zippers to men's beards to electricity. Those who leave this group are handed over to the devil, and that's exactly what happened to Rodney's parents when his family left during his teen years.

Following this experience, Rodney continued to attend other types of Mennonite churches until he and his wife concluded they would need to fully leave in order to be spiritually fed and grow in their faith. He shares how, during this process, he came to understand the gospel of grace and learned to trust in Christ for his salvation—not himself, his church, or his works.

•••

It is the mission of Berean Holiness to develop free, faith-based resources for those who are leaving hyper fundamentalism. If you would like to support believers leaving strict Mennonite churches and similar groups, you can give today at:

They’d have a lot more credibility with me if they didn’t immediately start off with misrepresenting assurance / hope of salvation.

They’d also have a lot more credibility if they didn’t refer to Old Orders as “hyper fundamentalist”, when they are pretty much the polar opposite of fundamentalism.

Yes it's true what you say JhonH the only part i agree with the video are the extra biblical rules i think those should be few and having a clear objective

[sojourner]

Wouldn't Stauffer Mennonites be a step more conservative than Joe Wengers?

I believe so... (a few steps in fact) Are Stauffer Menn. the same as Pike or not?

Not sure. Isn't there a group called 35-ers?

Well I believe this question has surfaced multiple times recently. I'll give it a shot one more time.
Stauffer Mennonites are indeed also referred to as Pikers. From my observation they resemble Amish in their dress and way of life. Solid colors, suspenders, and straw hats. They don't have electricity and farm with horses. Implements appear to be steel wheeled. The men are clean shaven tho.
35ers on the other hand seem to resemble Wengers a bit more.

A friend of mine shared this video with me soon after it was published. We are both mutual friends of Rodney. I have known Rodney for 10+ years. Probably within a few years of his family leaving the Pikers. Soon after getting married, Rodney moved out of the area to go to college. I haven't seen him much since. That's prolly been 6 or 7 years ago.
I haven't watched the video recently so I'm sharing from my recollection. Rodney was a nice young man. Smart, hard working, and made friends easily. I was surprised after watching the video. I suppose I wrongly assumed other influences took him away from Anapatism. Or perhaps he doesn't fully realize what took him away.
I believe Rodney fell victim to same thing a lot of Amish and OOM seem too. The culture they are accustomed to emphasizes tradition, dress, and following a set of rules. A lot of those folks struggle to find their footing after leaving. After leaving they aren't sure what to hang on to. What really does it mean to be a christian? And how is that best lived out?
Rodneys family unfortunately went thru multiple churches that weren't particularly stable to begin with. Both churches were part of recent church splits. Both experienced significant turmoil and a revolving door in leadership. Eventually his parents landed at a church that isn't Anabaptist but seems to be made up of mostly ex-mennos that need a place to do "church" I don't believe any of his siblings are plain either anymore. Rodney being one of the last to leave the menno circles. I still wonder if his family and spouse didn't play a major role in his decision. Rodney mentions that the church he left wasn't very spiritual. However he doesn't say the same about the church he first attended. I guess his parents get the credit for leaving that church.
It really is a sad story to me. I wish the best for Rodney and hope he can continue to grow and serve the Lord.