Kinderen van de Vrede
The Children of Peace
Menno Simons - (1496-1561) Dutch
the voice of Mijke Rhemtulla
Wehrlos und verlassen
- Carl Röhl (1810-1883)
the voice of Anne Gaderman
Wehrlos und verlassen sehnt sich
When I’m lonely and defenseless
oft mein Herz nach stiller Ruh
my heart longs for rest and peace
doch Du dekkest mit dem Fittich
Then you spread Your wings of caring
Deiner Liebe sanft mich zu
with Your love You cover me
Unter Deinem sanften Fittich
Under Your gentle wing
Find’ich Frieden, Trost und Ruh
I find peace, solace and rest
denn Du schirmest mich so freundlich
For You shield me so kindly
schützest mich und deckst mich zu
Protect me and console me.
Selig sind die’ welche trauen dem Gott
Blessed are they who trust in God
Mennonites are members of what is called the Historic Peace Churches; since their inception in 1525 Mennonites have considered non-resistance an important tenet of faith. Said early leader Menno Simons: "The regenerated do not go to war or engage in strife. They have beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks and know no war. Since we are to be conformed with Christ, how can we then fight our enemies with the sword?"
Menno Simons
Menno Simons was an early leader of the Anabaptist movement in Holland. Born in 1496, Simons became a Roman Catholic priest at the age of 28. After a few years, Simons began to have doubts about the church's practice of infant baptism and the Lord's Supper. He did not leave the church immediately, but continued to preach and develop his ideas. In January of 1536 he left his position in the Catholic church and soon led the area's group of Anabaptists.
Menno Simons is important to Mennonite history for several reasons:
1 Many groups which follow their history back to the Anabaptist movement of the 16th century call themselves Mennonites today.
2 Simons wrote many pamphlets, articles, and books, which have been very important in the development of Mennonite beliefs and practices.
3 Menno Simons was one of the first Anabaptists to present and explain a peace position as important. This was especially important after the fiasco at Münster.
4 Simons also wrote about the importance of discipleship and repentance in the life of believers, issues which are still discussed today.
Menno Simons died of natural causes in 1561. The house where Menno Simons lived in Germany still stands, along with a large linden tree, which he is said to have planted and under which he was buried.
