Schönthal Church, a Kleine Gemeinde congregation in Spanish Lookout
If anything, COVID-19 has helped us appreciate technology. You no longer need to walk in and go through the awkward moments of shaking hands with strangers, hoping the usher will not point out a seat at the front of the church, wondering how many eyes are boring into the back of your head. But perhaps you're one of those socially active persons who simply loves meeting strangers and creating new friendships and can hardly wait for church to be over so that you can begin. Thanks to COVID, no matter what your outlook is on visiting new churches, the fact is that attending some Mennonite churches can now be done with the touch of a finger. See below (and above) at the list of various Mennonite congregations in Spanish Lookout. From the conservative Kleine Gemeinde singing acapella from their benches to the modern and liberal ones who sway to the music of guitars and electronic systems.
Interested in viewing a wedding ceremony in a Kleine Gemeinde church? Rosenhof is another KG congregation in Spanish Lookout. See above.
Gnadenfeld, Edenthal (see above) and Greendale are three other Kleine Gemeinde congregations also in Spanish Lookout.
A little tired of solemn traditional church rituals? See below for modern "English" Mennonite churches:
Here's Fountain of Life, a church that is sure to liven up your Sunday morning with drums and dancing.
Or check out Fusion, another such church in Spanish Lookout.
Interested in a modern but "quiet" church? Head over to Amazing Grace, an evangelical church also in Spanish Lookout.
You can also tune in to EMMC, the oldest evangelical church in Spanish Lookout.
Maybe you're looking for an even more conservative church but not quite as rigid as the Kleine Gemeinde. See above a service at Mennoniten Gemeinde Rosenort, a rather "new" congregation which caters toward German-speaking Mennonites for example those who are leaving the Kleine Gemeinde and the Old Colony.
Blue Creek, northern Belize
Although Blue Creek is a large and very modern Mennonite community on the Belize-Mexico border, it features two main church groups, the Kleine Gemeinde and the EMMC. Not much in-between such as those found in Spanish Lookout.
For a non-Mennonite, this is perhaps the closest you will ever get to attending an Old Colony church service. See video below:
Of course there are many more Mennonite churches not shown here. Some of them do not have an online platform due to their beliefs, others simply do not place a priority on it, and others completely shun any and all technology. But I hope the videos above have assisted you in learning more about the variety of Mennonite groups found in Belize.
They are worn as traditional garments by some, as a symbol of church membership by others, and as a Biblical commandment by some. Styles, patterns, color and age of when to use it depends on the church's interpretation of it. Also, please note there is a difference between a bonnet and a veil . Both are a form of headcovering, but are not the same. Old Colony Mennonites Shipyard & Little Belize When at home, unmarried girls sometimes leave off their headcovering The headcovering is usually a white kerchief (veil) placed over the whole head and tied in the back, just behind the ears and a little below the hairline. Solid white, flowered white, and white with drops of colors. Married women switch to black after their wedding day. A thicker, bulkier one is used by...
The Kleine Gemeinde They believe the headcovering is mandatory as found in the Bible; however, as time goes by it is being viewed more as a necessary garment required by the church after baptism than as a symbol of Biblical obedience. Some of them wear the covering without a clear understanding of exactly why they must wear it. Thus, while pre-teen girls do not wear any headcoverings, by the age of 15 or 16 they are considered to be of "joining age". Although they are not physically forced to join, the verbal and emotional pressure placed on them by parents and peers is more than enough to convince them to enter baptism classes ( this is the opinion of an ex-KG girl who spoke to me. ) From then on the black triangular, fall-back headcovering is worn, held with clips, until she decides to leave the KG church. Holdeman Mennonites Beli...
My Opinion of the One True Church First of all, the Holdeman (official name Church of God in Christ, Mennonite) church is not the only true church. John Holdeman in the 19th century did not receive any special revelation like Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion. In all fairness, he was a sort of Martin Luther, seeing and realizing a need to break away from the lax and lukewarm old Mennonite church in order for a spiritual revival and renewal to begin its work. Well, a revival did happen. A return to the original teachings of the Anabaptists to a certain extent. However as time went by and the church grew and became more organized, the main focus-apostolic teachings-became somewhat obscured by the belief that "we" are the true church. This led to rigid Mennonite traditions that eventually led the church into turmoil in the 1970's in the US. William and Viv Stoppel have written extensively on the Holdeman church and even do...
