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MRN
MINISTRY Resources Preface BY 1 Starting with Stereotypes: What
Mennonites Perceptions About Mennonites Mennonites are Amish or Amish-like All (or most) Mennonites are farmers Mennonites are strict and have no fun Mennonites are simple minded You have to be born Mennonite to be a Mennonite Mennonites love to eat Mennonites are cheap Mennonites are a cult View From the Other
Direction—Perceptions of Some definitions for clarity Non-Mennonites are not Christians Non-Mennonites think like Mennonites do Non-Mennonites don’t have good family values Non-Mennonites are too worldly Mennonites should teach non-Mennonites 2 What Does it Mean to be a "Good Mennonite?" + 37 How I Became a Christian Why I Became a Mennonite Living the life of a Christian Similar values A loving welcome Helping others Being there in body and spirit Simple lifestyle Mennonite Things I Don’t Do Where I Am Today 3 What Does it Mean to be a "Good Christian?" + 48 What Christians Are Not Christian Means Follower of Christ What Makes a Person a Christian? 4 A Close-Knit Community: Going Around in Circles Anabaptist Community in History and Today Church Personality Alienation in the Church Strong Sense of Community A Sense of Belonging 5 The Ideal Family and the Mennonite Church + 70 A Look at Families Families aren’t perfect Different family trees Varying education and occupations Working mothers and two income families Single parents Divorced and remarried Singles Youth Senior citizens Couples without children Families of color Bicultural families Adoptions Families dealing with homosexuality How Does the Church Interact with the Family? 6 What non-Mennonites Don’t Want to Hear + 85 Theological Issues That’s not Mennonite—You’re not Mennonite Emphasis on who or what is Mennonite Mennonites are the only Christians Mennonite theology has the same weight as the Bible Preservation or protection of doctrine Conflict of beliefs Little sharing of personal conversion experiences Comments that Can Turn Away Non-Mennonites The world is bad and you are worldly Patriotism is bad Demeaning what is outside the congregational walls Demeaning other congregations Mistrust Persecution and the martyr syndrome Personal Treatment The Mennonite game Judgment Not able to handle a less than ideal situation Shock and amazement in something you do Dead silence Private inside jokes and conversations Being ignored or cut in front of Being used Emphasizing the differences In Conclusion 7 Nonconfrontation: A Way of Life or a Way Out? + 106 A Brief Review of Pacifism, Nonviolence, and Nonresistance A Look at Nonconfrontation Corporate nonconfrontation Personal nonconfrontation How nonconfrontation affects outreach The view from non-Anabaptists Jesus was Confrontational 8 Reaching Out Beyond the Familiar: The Familiar Church Legalism Inward focus Self-preservation Resting on our laurels Changes in Attitudes Outward focus New believers Changes in leadership Changes in worship Who are the outsiders? Safe place versus comfort zone versus safe haven Changes in Congregational Structure Decision-making Ministry-mindedness Flexibility, involvement, and growth 9 Getting to Know People and Meeting Their Needs + 134 Fear of Compromise Traditional, Modern, Postmodern Tradition view Modern view Postmodern view The Way Things Were The Way Things Are The Way Things Go 10 Getting Churches on Track Preparing Churches for The Great Commission Healing churches Going outside of the box A willingness to change Establishing a vision Welcoming congregations Building relationships Being missional Addressing racism Changing and forming a new identity Remaining Anabaptist Reaching Beyond the Mennonite Comfort Zone orders:
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