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| − | The '''Old Mennonites''', not to be confused with [[Mennonite Church Canada|the (Old) Mennonites]] of the early 20th century, are a collection of Anabaptists who, although neither [[Old Order Mennonite Groups in Ontario|Old Order Mennonites]], nor Conservative Mennonites, share characteristics of both. A movement rather than a church, the Old Mennonites are closest to the [[Progressive Old Order Mennonite Groups|Progressive Old Order Mennonite group]] known as the [[Markham-Waterloo Mennonite Conference]], although there are significant differences.
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| − | ===History===
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| − | The Old Mennonites were established October 22, 2023 in the city of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. On November 16, 2023, the '''Ontario Anabaptist Institute''' was established, also in the city of Stratford.
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| − | The Old Mennonites began a mission to '''Uganda''' on November 17, 2023, and a mission to '''Nigeria''' on December 31st.
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| − | The '''Old Mennonite Church''' was created on January 1, 2024.
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| − | A new mission to '''Malawi''' was established on January 2, 2024.
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| − | ===Beliefs and Practices===
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| − | Similar to Progressive Old Order Mennonite groups, Old Mennonites adhere to the [[Dordrecht Confession of Faith (Mennonite, 1632)]], use the King James Version of the Bible, and cherish the [[Martyrs Mirror]].
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| − | Also similar to Old Order Mennonites, Protestant beliefs and practices are strongly avoided, along with ecumenism, and traditional marriage is upheld, in order to maintain the purity of the Holy faith.
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| − | They allow black vans for transportation and black pick up trucks for business, but automobiles are discouraged as they are considered to cause pride. Separation from the world is essential to Old Mennonites, and anything they consider matters of pride are avoided. Traditional Mennonite Plain Clothes are a must in public for men and women.
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| − | '''The Stratford Confession (Nov. 25, 2023)'''
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| − | ARTICLE 1: JESUS AND HIS CHURCH
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| − | Jesus is the Head and Cornerstone of His Church. As God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are one, the Church is one with our One God (John 17:21). The Church is an holy nation (1 Peter: 2:9), the household and people of God (Ephesians 2:19), and has existed since the beginning of time, among the people of Israel, and after Pentecost among the defenseless Christians or Anabaptists, the true followers of the Messiah (ref. The Martyrs Mirror).
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| − | Jesus, the One begotten Son of God (John 3:16), born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, is the only Way to eternal life (John 14:6), and there is salvation in no other (Acts 4:12).
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| − | The Church exists to serve Jesus Her Lord. We are to love Him above all, and to love others as ourselves (Luke 10:27). Loving Jesus involves humbly doing His will in our lives (John 14:15). This has always been the way of the true disciple.
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| − | We enter His Church through baptism at the commandment of Christ. Jesus Himself was baptized (Matthew 3:16), and we are to make disciples, baptizing them in the Name of the Trinity, teaching them to obey the teachings of the Scriptures (Matthew 28:19-20). We cannot claim to be disciples of Christ if we do not walk in His ways.
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| − | Finally, just as Jesus was visibly present among us, His Church is visibly present on the earth. Baptism into the Body of Christ is a necessary witness of our repentance and faith in Jesus, and our entrance into His visible Church.
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| − | ARTICLE 2: SALVATION
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| − | There is but one God...of whom are all things (1 Cor. 8:6). Since God is our Creator, we come to Him in humble adoration. Yet, not all people do so, as God wants us to come to Him with our own free will.
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| − | In order to be with God in eternity, we must choose to repent of our sins (1 John 1:9), and turn to His Son Jesus in faith, believing that He died on the Cross for our sins, and to grant us eternal life through His resurrection (John 11:25).
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| − | Salvation is a lifetime commitment. Once we truly repent and believe in Christ and are baptized, we are called to examine ourselves humbly in the sight of our Lord and Saviour, daily choosing to follow His Way, as He taught in the Scriptures (Luke 9:23). Through active obedience, we honour our Lord, and show that we are His disciples (James 1:22).
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| − | ARTICLE 3: SEPARATION
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| − | As the Church of Christ is a peculiar people, who have been called out of the darkness of the world (1 Peter 2:9), we are to visibly show our faithfulness to our Lord. We are commanded to be in the world, but not of it (Romans 12:2
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