Our Mennonite heritage

The Mennonite New Life Centre originates in a strong tradition of peace and service work by Mennonite churches. Mennonite history is marked by a long series of migrations – movements driven by religious persecution, as well as the desire to maintain a distinct way of life based on values of peace and non-violence. Mennonites therefore have a strong concern for immigrants and refugees, particularly the most vulnerable.

Beginning in the 1500s, Mennonites moved in large numbers from Europe to Russia, and then from Europe and Russia to North and South America. The first Mennonites to come to Canada arrived from the United States in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Among them were families who chose to leave their homes during the American War of Independence, refusing to participate in a conflict which threatened their pacifist beliefs. A large group of Mennonites settled on agricultural land around Waterloo, Ontario. During WW1, American conscription brought another wave of Mennonites to the Canadian prairies. The largest migration occurred in the 1920's, when around 20 000 Mennonites fled the violence of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. WWII brought another 12 000 Mennonites from the USSR and Germany, many of whom settled in urban areas, especially Winnipeg, Manitoba. In recent decades, most Mennonite migration to Canada has been from the US, Mexico and Paraguay. There are also increasing numbers of Chinese Mennonite churches in Canada.

The Mennonite church grew out of the Anabaptist movement, a continuation of the Protestant Reformation. Mennonites believe in the separation of church and state. They believe that baptism and church membership should be a voluntary expression of faith. For Mennonites, Jesus is the One sent by God to bring reconciliation between the Creator and a broken world. For this reason, working for peace and reconciliation is central to Mennonite faith. Mennonites also emphasize the connections between faith, words and actions. They are well known for their efforts in disaster response and international development. Mennonites also give great importance to community and mutual support.

Drawing on the inspiration of our Mennonite heritage, the New Life Centre seeks to be a place of community and mutual support for newcomers of a wide range of cultural and religious backgrounds. We welcome refugees from all sides of world conflicts, striving to be a place of healing and reconciliation. Services like art therapy offer victims of violence an opportunity to express and grieve their losses, while seeking hope and purpose for the future. Advocacy work gives expression to our call for a better world, where violence and injustice would cease, and for a better Canada, where all newcomers might experience compassion and fairness.

At the New Life Centre, we show our compassion for newcomers in practical ways – answering questions, helping with immigration needs, teaching English. Our goal is to serve, not to convert. Clients are encouraged and supported in giving expression to their own values, and their own dreams for the future. Together, we build community, a place for the voice and participation of all. 

References:
http://www.whitepinepictures.com/seeds/i/4/history1.html
http://www.thirdway.com/Menno/