# Oasis
For the past year or so, my family and I have been attending Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, AZ. I’ve wanted to share to some extent our experience because it has indeed been an amazing one. Like many of our friends who might be considered “post-modern immigrants”, we’ve been wandering for the past few years in what has seemed to be a very desolate and sometimes lonely landscape. By “post modern immigrant” I am generally referring to those who have developed a holy dissatisfaction to the typical American Christian Church experience and who are left searching for a new way of experiencing Christian community. My wife and I, as well as many of our friends, have emerged from a evangelical mega-church context into a state of limbo, not sure what the next step would look like. That state of limbo began to slowly evaporate the day we stepped into the Mennonite tradition for the first time.
What’s been fascinating to us as we’ve learned more about our new church community is how the Mennonite tradition is a welcoming oasis for those who suffer from the fatigue of the conventional american evangelical landscape. If you are allergic to the slick “American Idol”-like worship, the Mennonite tradition of 4 part harmony hymns sung beautifully by the entire congregation will floor you. If you lament the nationalistic, patriotic emphasis of many American churches, the Mennonites could tell you story after story of a government that hasn’t always been so friendly to those who follow Jesus and practice peace. As amazing as these stories are, and I’ve only heard a small portion, they don’t come up often. It’s with an amazing humility that these first hand accounts are shared. They almost need to be begged out of them. These are just a couple of examples of many, I could go on and on. What’s been made pretty clear to us is that what many from the “emerging”/”postmodern” context are longing for (a new way) is actually not a new way at all. It has been with us all along, for hundreds of years, in the Mennonite tradition.
This past Sunday, during the sermon time our pastor interviewed four members of the community; two of them were lifelong Mennonites and the other two are new to the Mennonite tradition. I highly recommend checking out this sermon audio because it represents really well something happening in our congregation. Trinity Mennonite is attracting people from all over the valley who’ve discovered what a special place it is. Because of this attraction, there is now a growing influx of “post modern immigrants”, like myself, who are blending into a community of life-long Mennonites and learning so much from this beautiful tradition.
It’s exciting what is happening and if you live in the Phoenix area and in any way resonate with what you read here, I encourage you to discover this amazing community of people.
September 18th, 2007 at 9:00 pm
Thanks for the interesting post. It really resonates with my own experience in the Mennonite Church these past few months. You did a great job of explaining what I’ve been thinking but haven’t been able to express so clearly!
September 19th, 2007 at 1:57 am
I had a similar experience in northern Indiana. One book I would recommend to cement you in Mennonite thought is “The Politics of Jesus” by John Howard Yoder.
Profound writing, it helped me understand specific ways in which mennonite thinking is different, and in my case, more genuine and connected to Christ. Thanks for posting.
September 19th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
welcome to the family. wait til you see the “mennonite game” in action.
as someone who grew up in the church, i certainly took a lot of it for granted and didnt understand. coming back to the church as a youth pastor, i now know and appreciate the distinctions of the mennonite church.
October 12th, 2007 at 1:19 am
I’d be interested to chat with you more about the Mennonite tradition. I had a bit of an impasse issue arise back here in Atlanta with a Mennonite family who has housed me since I’ve returned from missions. I would really like to get perspective from others to understand whether the family is practicing the traditional beliefs or something else.
I sent you an email, not sure if you have the same address. But if you have some time to chat in a couple weeks in ATL that would be awesome.
October 13th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Thanks for the eye opening post. I listened to the sermon, and I’m definitely interested in pursuing these thoughts further with my family. My views and current church ’situation’ are similar to your own, so it seems from your post.
The part I like is that these ideas are not new to Christianity, but perhaps just hidden a bit from the lime light. Which would make sense, because it generally is not glamorous to become humble, to downsize, to love and not gloat, etc.
Thanks again….
October 14th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I agre with the above, and “The politics of Jesus” is an amazing book. Real community is so hard to find because people dont want to give up part of themselves to serve and love others, but i think the mennonite churches do this wonderfully. My old pastor and boss has recently planted a community/ small group centered church in gilbert. I would highly recommend it. check out realife.cc if you feel so inclined.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Zach, I read Shane’s blog every once in awhile (he spoke at my school, Goshen College a few weeks back) and happened to stumble upon this entry from you just now. I ditto your remarks: you have a wonderful pastor.
I’m increasingly intrigued by the synthesis between the emergent and Mennonite churches. I think they both have something unique to offer each other. May we continue conversation via email?
March 16th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Thanks for the comment, Sheldon. I’ll email you.