My facts maybe somewhat off but approximately 7,700 Mennonites from Manitoba (including the Blumenort area) and Saskatchewan emigrated to Mexico and Paraguay between 1922 and 1927. *If I made any mistakes, please correct me!*

The primary motivation for this migration was to maintain their traditional way of life and control over their education, which they felt was threatened by new provincial education laws that mandated English-only public schooling. This violated the “privilegium” (promises of religious and educational autonomy) that the Canadian government had granted them in the 1870s… but the question remains – what is a Mennonite in the current day? Is it someone who likes perogies :)? Perhaps someone who is a pacifist?

My belief is that a Christian doesn’t have to be a Mennonite , but a Mennonite has to be a Christian. That is perhaps a loaded statement, let me explain why I believe that…

There are traditions/practices/beliefs that Mennonites have and I’m not going to split hairs over every nuance that describes every kind of Mennonite; however there are some core beliefs that are hold true even today.

• Adult baptism – Faith-based immersion after personal confession
• Pacifism – Absolute rejection of violence, war *there is some debate on this point
• Believers’ church Voluntary membership, no infant baptism
• Foot washing – Servanthood ritual during communion *Not practiced as much anymore
• Non-oath – Refusal to swear legal oaths
• Shunning – Not excommunication, more along the lines of exclusion from leadership roles, etc.
• Plain living – Simple dress, modest technology use
• Community focus – Mutual aid, shared decision-making
• Separation from world – Distinct lifestyle, cultural withdrawal

For myself, I believe that a “real” Mennonite is a follower of Christ and adheres to Mennonite traditions. I think its OK to lose our Mennonite traditions or practices (are you guys still doing faspa?) – but as a Christian we need to hold onto the “Separation from world” trait.

I don’t mean we should isolate ourselves from the outside world but we should live such a strong Christian life that there is a noticeable difference between ourself and the non believers around us. It is difficult to resist sin and we have to remember who we are outside of church should represent the people we are in church; we shouldn’t go to church and sing strong, and then screw people over for the rest of the week, that won’t entice anyone to be a believer.

It doesn’t help to have the form & appearance of a Mennonite without God in your heart otherwise its just a hollow apple, good from far, but far from good.

Blumenort has a large Mennonite presence and I’d say that’s a very good thing.

Jason