During the latter part of the Reformation in the 1500's, a movement began among young people towards wholehearted Biblical fidelity as seen in the Book of Acts. This meant a further separation from the Roman Catholic traditions than what those who started the reformation were prepared to take. One practice that still remained in the Protestant Church was infant baptism, which, according to tradition, made newborn babies Christians. These young radicals insisted on re-baptizing those adults who had come to a personal experience of faith.  This, as well as other attempts to become New Testament believers, caused them to be persecuted by the Catholics as well as the Protestants.  The Swiss and German reformers actually joined forces with the Roman Catholics to stamp out these re-baptizers, or Anabaptists as they were called. From this movement came the Baptist and Brethren Churches today, as well as other non-liturgical religious groups that exist around the world.  In time, a former priest named Menno Simons helped the Anabaptists get a biblical foundation under their movement.  From this time on some Anabaptists were nicknamed "Mennonites". Early Mennonites were persecuted for what they believed and many were martyred. They decided that their response would be biblical even in the face of persecution. So they refused to take up arms to defend themselves from the Reform and Catholic coalition set against them. Some fled the area, but many were murdered by their persecutors. (It is from this that they developed their standard of non-resistance.) After years of persecution, many fled Europe for religious freedom in North America. Later, some came to what is now Lewis County here in Northern New York.

 RENEWAL

    As a religious movement, Mennonites have had their spiritual highs and lows.  As with any church, there is a constant need for renewal and realignment. A 1987-88 survey conducted by the Mennonite Board of Missions estimated that one-third of the Mennonite Church had participated in the Charismatic Renewal over these past three decades. This included the Lewis County Mennonites, from which came the first five couples who started Rhema Fellowship.

   Like the young radicals from early Anabaptist history, we are committed to becoming more and more like the church in the Book of Acts, maintaining a strong Biblical foundation, standing for what we believe, and promoting the need for constant renewal. We also enthusiastically participate in what God is doing throughout His great Body today. Our love for the brotherhood allows us to traverse many different organizational lines. This is evident in the fact that our membership is encouraged to maintain the various affiliations they have benefited from in the Body, and that we find our basis for fellowship around our common quest for New Testament Christianity.