Today we met a man that is from a state west of us. During the course of the conversation he mentioned he had a sister in a certain southern town. Since he is a mennonite minister in another demonination, and being somewhat familiar with the town he mentioned, I asked "Is she Holdeman? cause in that town you are either Holdeman or Black." He said "No she is not Holdeman,She attends a community church there. But I am not trying to put anyone down here, but the church she belongs to is actually a mennonite church but they don't use that name anymore because they had to take off the Mennonite part, because the Holdeman's in that place are so known for their dishonest business dealings that being known as a mennonite was ruining their church's reputation."

I found that a very sad commentary for a people that are so proud of their reputation of being the OTV perfect church. that a whole 3 congregations could make it that another church had to change their name just to keep a Godly reputation.

He added that "it has helped to take off the mennonite name tag and their church is again growing there. even thought they are still a part of the mennonite conference."

Love and prayers, Locklady

LL, Two comments on your post.

1. I have yet to have a hear a Holdeman say OTV perfect Church. They may use the OTVC but even they know that it is not perfect.

2. As for taking the Mennonite out of their name and they have a growing church again. Sounds to me like they may have been exposed to "Purpose Driven". Did you ask this?

Before one makes a judgement on a reputation one needs to learn to ask the correct questions. Sad but true when it comes to a mennonite church. Google: Who's who in Purpose Driven. And read up. Also check out the newsletters on this web site: Laity Lodge Retreat Center, for an article on driven Vs. drawn.

As to how the H are perceived by the world around them: My pastor has a saying: "You won't worry what others are thinking about you, When you realize how little they do, (think about you). They are too busy thinking about themselves."

"Before one makes a judgement on a reputation one needs to learn to ask the correct questions."

I don't know about asking the right questions, but what about just listening to what people say or are saying? We did not enter into any type of debate. It was just a casual visit with an out of town visitor.

Lockman

"Before one makes a judgement on a reputation one needs to learn to ask the correct questions."

I don't know about asking the right questions, but what about just listening to what people say or are saying? We did not enter into any type of debate. It was just a casual visit with an out of town visitor.

LM, The "just listening" stopped when this thread was posted. I'm all for listening and casual visits, but many, myself included, would not have gotten burned by a church if they had asked the right questions. And it hurt our reputations with them. But we are learning to ask the right questions. At least more of them. I did not enter into a debate with the MB but was thrust into one nonetheless when they took my "casual visit" comments and began sharing them with others to judge me.

Whether or not the dropping of the word Mennonite from the church's name and/or being exposed to the 'Purpose-driven' cult has anything to do with its growth is not the issue here.

The point is that the Holdemans in that area have a reputation for dishonesty. Whether or not it is deserved, I don't know. But, I have heard similar things about the reputation of Holdemans in other areas, so it's not a surprise to me to hear that this is what people think of them.

>>I did not enter into a debate with the MB but was thrust into one nonetheless when they took my "casual visit" comments and began sharing them with others to judge me.< <br>
Vine, a lot of what you are saying here is true. I have plenty of experience on this one. If you open you mouth and say anything or ask any questions that they(H) 'perceive' as controversial as it relates to the H church you have opened yourself up to speculation of what you meant or intended to say and anything is fair game as to the end result of what you really said. By the time your comment gets to the fourth or fifth person it has been added to and subtracted from so that very little of what you said is passed on to the next person. And they will never come back to you and verify if what they heard is actually what you said. They will believe what they heard and judge you by that. You never want to get into a debate with holdeman people because it will become so emotionally charged that feelings will get hurt and people will get offended because everyone is 'sure' their opinion is right. So it is best to say as little as possible if you want to avoid rumors that are untrue. I wish I was wrong but that has been my experience.

You know GM, you religious people bring all your problems on yourself.

I did see though you said it was best to say as little as possible. Good. If that help, then don't say anything at all.

If you clam up like a rock, what road do the gossipers have to you anymore?

Brent