Hi everyone! Thought I’d clear something up in the comments. The reason I am not sharing the conference or specific church I was apart of is two-fold. 1) Adding a word or two in the video/comments will not add any value to your life. 🤍 2) This offers a protection for me and the people I went to church with. I do not want them or myself to be located. This decision came prayerfully, so if you still disagree, you may take it up with the Lord. I appreciate you being here!

Perfect love casts out fear and because of being fully loved we become obedient… God doesn’t use fear shame or manipulation to get us to obey, but He says we will obey His commands if we love Him.

Thanks for sharing!
You’re right God’s Grace is amazing

He is a God of compassion and mercy filled was unfailing love and faithfulness❤

I so fully understand the freedom. It took me so many years to truly feel like i could be me. It really helped me to be honest with my husband and having a way better relationship. I was not raised with proper understanding of relationships, hugs came as the inlaws came a long and were not shy about that. The I love yous are so much easier now. But I still find it hard to talk about feeling with my siblings. I was a sickly child and found it very difficult to be real.

This was very gracious and discerning.  I love that you listed the treasures of your first church before heading into what the "cracks" were. I know personally the difficulty of leaving a church "community".  Also, I applaud your decision to not reveal which exact church it was, however it does make it difficult to discern which Mennonites are the "dangerous" one's, since there are just so very many versions of Mennonite!  I'm in Canada, and most Mennonite churches here look the same as any other evangelical church.

Thanks for sharing. I grew up Mennonite and can relate to so much of what you have experienced. It’s sad with all the guilt,shame and condemnation that is placed on people.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Being so open about it, has helped me know that I am not the only one who struggles as an “outsider” inside my church. I have been searching for others with similar experiences. I am so grateful that you came up in my feed today. I appreciate your openness on this subject, also treating it with discreet dignity. ❤

I’m up to 7:43 on the timestamp.  I will be listening until the end, but I do want to say, at this point, that I truly appreciate your honesty In talking about your pridefulness. Something, I think, we all struggle with despite our desire to love and please the Lord.

I really appreciate you putting your story out there, it actually helped me with a thought process Ive had for awhile. Im sorry you have gotten to much unloving people in the comments. But I am really grateful you made this video 💜

Thank you for having the courage to share your story and the true gospel. I can relate to your experience and am also very thankful for much the same reasons.

Thank you for putting this out there. We have just left and are working through all the hard things. I can totally relate to all that you said.

As someone who left in my 20’s, so much of this is relatable and good to hear from someone else. Thanks for sharing ❤

When people decide to go public with their experiences when they’ve decided to join a culture and/or religion different from their own heritage it would be helpful, as in this case, to mention that they switched to or joined a CONSERVATIVE Mennonite organization and/or church.

There are many Mennonite organizations that do not adhere to traditional dress or any of the other restrictions that are imposed on people in the very traditional conservative groups.

I love your story. I ask that you rethink "theology nerds".  How about "students of theology"?  I  completely changed my view of who God is after studying theology, and was then able to leave the Mennonites.  I am by no means a nerd.

It’s not ok to generalize “Mennonites” in this video! There are many kinds of Mennonites…everything from the Amish, Huldamon, Huddarites, old Colony Mennonite, Old Mennonites, Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Brethern and more denominations! From extremely conservative…in not understanding personal salvation through Jesus Christ…to Mennonite churches that are no different than any evangelical gospel believing church! What you are sharing is not true in how many Mennonite churches are at all… I can hardly believe what you are actually saying… Your experience is really your personal experience and certainly doesn’t describe the Mennonite congregations that I am familiar with! I am sorry that you experienced what you did…you were hurt by the specific Mennonite church that you went to! But that doesn’t mean that countless Mennonite churches aren’t fully alive in the teaching of the need of accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour and Lord…and choosing to be baptized upon the confession of your faith! And believing what the Bible says…and freedom in worshipping God…no legalism! What flavour of Mennonite church did you go to? I don’t understand where you are coming from…from what you have shared…….😮😢❤

Hi from SC. I was born and raised in the Mennonite church. I left 20 years ago. It is a very lonely journey; I completely understand. I admire you for being true to yourself! Stay strong, friend.

What a grace filled account and testimony. You are a lovely person. I know the expectations can feel completely different to someone familiar with it from littlehood and comfortable in it and someone like you who hasn't -- familiar versus strange. It is partly a culture. And we can agree that there is nothing wrong with culture. We're all a part of one whether we like it or recognize it or not. I guess it's a matter of what culture we choose. Ultimately it needs to be a Biblical culture if we want to follow Christ.

I am sorry for everything that you went through. I grew up Amish was very hurt didn’t know which way to go. I left when I was 16. And lead and even more hurting sinful life. Had 4 children out of wedlock. I met my husband when I was 38 he was Amish. So we joined a Mennonite church. The people were so kind to me they wrapped me up in Christian love. I never felt judged they helped me through so many struggles. The minister’s wives were amazing.
I want to express again how sorry I am for everything you when through. My name is Sarah. And I am praying for you!

Me too sis

Just setting the record straight the core old order conservative Mennonites are very strict! My brother in-law is part of one of the most conservative Mennonites groups. They do not allow cars, cellphones, in house phones electric and farm with horses and wear extremely plain clothes big hats and head covers that cover their head past their ears! So the the real core groups are not liberal worldly fancy flashy people!