Surprising Things About the Mennonites
Samantha shares the tidbits and quirks that surprised her in joining the Mennonite world. What are some of the unexpected cultural elements within the Mennonite church that are often confusing to those coming from the outside? For example, what is the Mennonite game? Why do Mennonites often play harmonicas and accordions? What’s with the prevalence of Mennonite choirs and singing groups?
Episode Guest Info
Samantha (Trenkamp) Bender
Samantha (Trenkamp) Bender was raised in the hills of East Tennessee, but now lives in the land of corn and hogs that is Iowa with her dear husband and daughter. She enjoys writing children’s stories and sharing words of truth with concision and simplicity.
Read MoreEpisode Host
Reagan Schrock
Reagan is a member of Wellspring Mennonite Church and lives with his wife Patricia in southeast Tennessee. Reagan, along with Jaran, started Anabaptist Perspectives in 2017, and serves in leadership in the organization, in addition to being deeply involved in overseas missions work.
Read MoreRelated Content
“Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom.”
2 comments
Kraig Beachy
I found it fascinating that a number of the things pointed out are also true of the conservative Pentecostal churches of Romania. The accordion would be one example. I’m not completely sure why that is, but the accordion is so prevalent that some of my Pentecostal friends are tired of it, because it is the only instrument that they regularly use. Is it possible that the accordion fits a conservative church’s idea of worship more closely than many other instruments? I like guitars, but somehow have a hard time seeing one fit into a conservative worship service. Somehow, in my mind, they fit a more casual setting, such as around a campfire, more than the spirit of reverence that we strive to cultivate in our worship services.
Marlin Sommers
That’s interesting. Similarly in some of our churches the guitar is used in informal services (campfire, home cell groups, etc.) but not in formal services, but then where I am familiar, accordions or harmonicas aren’t used in formal services either.