Menno Simons was a Catholic Priest in Holland during the years of Anabaptist beginnings.

Menno Simons was a Catholic priest in Holland during the years of Anabaptist beginnings. He had heard of the Anabaptists and had thought a little about their teachings, but was unwilling to give up his good job as a Catholic priest, with its regular pay and secure position. But more and more he began to study the teachings of Jesus, and he began to doubt the teachings of the Catholic Church.

When he conducted Mass, he knew in his heart that no miraculous change took place to make the bread and wine turn into the body and blood of Christ.

Then one day Menno Simons’ own brother was killed in an attack by the State upon a group of Anabaptists who were using swords to defend themselves. This influenced Menno Simons to live, as he believed God wanted him to. He put aside his priest’s robes, gave up his steady pay, and joined a hunted and persecuted group. He was himself a hunted man, with a price on his head, to the end of his days.

Reluctant leader

When the Anabaptists asked Menno Simons to become their leader, he was reluctant because he knew it would be a difficult task. But when he thought of the unnecessary troubles being brought upon these simple people because of ignorant and fanatical leadership, and how they were “like sheep with no shepherd,” he assumed leadership of the church that was later to be known by his name.

The first record we have of “Menists” was in an order by Countess Anne who was the ruler of one of the small provinces in Europe. She signed a paper driving all Anabaptists from her province, with the exception of the peace-loving Anabaptists, known as “Menists.” This established a pattern which was repeated many times in the years to come, that the Mennonites were often welcomed by rulers to their lands because they were hard working, peaceful, honest citizens.

Persecutions remained severe during these years in Holland, Switzerland, and Germany. Mennonites survived by moving continually from one province to another. When the ruler of one province decided to destroy all his subjects who would not join the state church, the Mennonites could usually find another ruler who welcomed them.

So the history of the Mennonites is a story of wandering from one country to another, losing their belongings again and again, and of refusing to defend their lives and possessions through armies and weapons.