I lived next to Gretel for a long time. She was a nice lady, if slightly crazy. Yet I promised to tell my tale of Menno Simmons, so here it goes:
I spent years getting to know Menno Simmons when he was a priest in a nearby community. However, after 12 years of preaching Menno began questioning many of the Catholic doctrines like the rest of us. He would renounce the church and convert to the Anabaptist religion after 1527. After the events at Munster (you know, where all of the people died at the hands of King Jan), Menno was baptized in October 1536. This marks the point where he began preaching as an Anabaptist.
By 1541, Menno had been exiled from Groningen and Friesland. I was very concerned that he would not find an audience anywhere. After a brief stay in Amsterdam, Menno moved away to northern Germany. He remained there afterward, so I decided to follow him. He produced several books, including Christian Baptism and Foundation of Christian Doctorine, which focused on new birth in Chris of Brethren believers and living as Christ taught.
Menno Simmons's beliefs were broadcast in many languages. He became the most important Anabaptist preacher. I was followed Menno across multiple different countries, and I am proud to consider myself one of his "Mennonites." We live our lives to fulfill the teachings of Christ. As Menno once said, "Scripture does not need interpreting; it needs only to be obeyed."
Thanks for reading an old man's rambling tale.
Sources:
A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe: Dances over Fire and Water by Jonathan W. Zophy.
http://mennochurch.net/mennosimons.htm
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