Mennonites in Belize

  There are no Hutterites living in Belize. I have met them here only as visitors but perhaps someday they will migrate here.

   Black people, known as Kriol in Belize, are not as often seen mixed among the Plautdietsch Mennonites except for those who have been adopted and those ladies that have married a liberal Mennonite. KG couples usually choose Hispanic and Maya babies when they adopt children. Old Colony people are less friendly toward black people and will never mix with them in social gatherings much less let them live in their colony, partly because they are ultra conservative and want to remain that way. Non-Mennonite workers among them are usually Mestizos. They are the only group of Mennonites with almost 100% of the population white-skinned. Old Order Mennonites are not as segregated and accept black people in their communities and will even allow them to join the church if they meet the requirements.   Holdeman, Beachy and Conservative Mennonites are not in the least mindful of skin color. They live with black people, work with them, eat with them, marry them, etc. just the same a...

  Perhaps I should have chosen a more discreet title; perhaps I'd better keep it brief. Anyway, you'll find they're no different than other cultures in this area.   While among the Beachy and Holdemans there is an effort being made to teach an honest, godly view of sexual matters to the younger generation, generally the person's view of such things will reflect his culture's view on it. They do make it a point of not providing detailed studies on biology to the pupils, and many of their pages will end with a note asking the reader to consult with a parent, guardian or respected elderly person. For example on the subject of menstruation, a CLP workbook was very brief and ended with " a girl should visit with her mother or an older church sister for more details on this topic," thus encouraging children to open up to their parents. Both groups of Mennonites strongly believe sexual topics should be taught first by the parent and not by the school teacher. Of...

   The following printings are not done in Belize but by their brethren in North America and circulated among the Mennonite communities worldwide.               Die Mennonitische Post    Published by the Altkolonnie Mennonites in northern Mexico, it is a monthly newspaper distributed among the Old Colony and Kliene Gemeinde Mennonites here in Belize; except for business advertising in Spanish, the rest is written in German and contains major news of their type of Mennonites from all over the world. There is also a small spiritually toned German pamphlet that is distributed among the KG of Belize, it contains about 4 pages and is more of a gospel tract.                   CAM Newsletter   Christian Aid Ministries, headquartered in Berlin, Ohio but with agencies in many countries, publishes a monthly newsletter with colorful photos depicting orphans, war torn countrysides, disasters...

  There are none of the big factories among the Mennonites in Belize, such as you will see in the heavily industrialized Mennonite communities of Mexico and Canada. Except for metal companies like Koop Sheet Metal and Koop's Tinsmith, there are no metal, textile or chemical factories. All such goods are imported either packaged or almost prepared. Metalworks companies and glass shops import prepared materials and then mold, cut and shape to customer requirements.   Smaller home businesses buy wholesale components from these importers and build their own products to sell. This creates high product cost, consequently more people are importing their own ready made items, either local importing companies or from online giants such as Amazon and Ebay.    The only products that can truly be labeled "product of Belize" are items from Caribbean Chicken, Quality Poultry, Western Dairies, Reinland Meats, Country Meats, Eurobel, Bel-Car , Circle R and Country Foods. All the...

    Among the Mennonites in Belize, there is no sport unique to a particular group. I mean something that would be recognized as typically Mennonite. In other countries there are "Mennonite" games but none that I would know of in Belize.    While volleyball is the most common sport, soccer is increasing in popularity but more so with the liberal Mennonites. In youth gatherings of any group, volleyball will usually be the first one chosen.   With the exception of the Old Colonists who view games as worldly, most conservative Mennonites enjoy ball and other outdoor games but consider sports outside of the religion. They will not involve games with their church affairs; they will not "pray for the upcoming baseball game", nor will they encourage their children to practice a specific sport. Boys and girls are expected to learn these games in school. In short, games are acceptable as long as it doesn't distract the members from their beliefs. Those liberal Menno...

    Plattdeutsche-speaking Mennonites, specially the Kleine Gemeinde, are known for their surplus crops of beans and corn. Yet in spite of all the land available for planting, the latest territory selected by this person seems a bit odd.... Two little bean plants sprouting out of a bathroom sink.    Sometimes efficiency may seem strange but who knows, it might be the next type of farming method coming up. Whether the beans were accidentally or purposefully dropped there, the fact is they certainly show a willingness to survive.

  Except for Elvin Penner and Cornelius Dueck, no other Mennonite has been directly involved in the Belizean government. Actually only Elvin Penner served within the Cabinet. Cornie Dueck created his own independent party with himself as candidate for Prime Minister, but after he lost his party quickly disintegrated.   Elvin Penner served one term in office as a member of the UDP cabinet. He represented the north west area of the Cayo district and was head of the immigration department. It was during the beginning of his second term that he was involved in a false passport scandal and was fired. He is now just a quiet business man. He is married to a woman of mixed descent and has several children.    Cornie Dueck was already a very interesting character before he became involved in politics. More than just a businessman, he is a preacher, pastor, self-proclaimed prophet, constable, and justice of the peace. He once declared that in the name of Jesus he could sh...

   Who are they? Is it a new group of Mennonites starting another church somewhere in Belize? Or a new colony with Mennonites of the same mindset?   No. They are simply people from different communities and colonies who have left the traditions of their forefathers, have been born again and experienced a spiritual enlightenment. Unfulfilled and disapointed in their former churches, they have gone out of their comfort zone, packed up their belongings and moved to wherever God has called them. I have met and talked with many of these.    Some were from the KG, some from the Old Colonists, others from the Old Order, a few from the Beachy and Holdeman. Now I'm not implying that these folks sought each other out and formed a new church. No, they're just quiet individuals and families who have left a Mennonite church and are seeking to live a conservative lifestyle based on the Bible. They dress modestly but without a specific dress code and head coverings are wo...

  The majority of articles found online about Mennonites describe white-skinned people of Anabaptist descent who either speak a German dialect or used to but have long let it go. That's because the word Mennonite has come to mean a race of people, a culture or ethnicity to many. A white skinned, usually fair-haired religious person. A lot of German-speaking Mennonites themselves think that way too. Others disagree.    There are some, or perhaps I should say many, Kleine Gemeinde and Old Colonists who think themselves to be true Mennonites due to their skin color, way of making a living, and traditions. But why do people of the Holdeman, Beachy and Conservative churches have members of different color of skin? Because these 3 groups have another understanding of the word Mennonite. They did come from North America to evangelize the natives of Belize, but to them  the word stands for the system of doctrines they practice, NOT  for the traditions, rituals and c...

   Short jeans or long? T-shirt or blouse? Skirt or dress? Polo shirt or blazer? These questions are common matter-of-fact things for liberal Mennonites. By that term I mean any person of Mennonite background but not member of a conservative church. Plenty of them exist in Belize.    The tradition of going to church on Sundays is so strongly built into Mennonites. This is partly the reason there are many non-conservative churches in Spanish Lookout. Some of them are truly seeking freedom from the traditions and religious rituals of their forefathers; some have been offended at something in the conservative churches and walked out; others have declared that one church is as good as another and attend whichever makes them the most comfortable.   These churches hold no traditions, no specific clothing, no regulations concerning membership, no feet washing, no head coverings. To them these were simply misunderstandings caused by their Mennonite forefathers. We li...