GRANGEVILLE - The nearly completed single-story church that sits at the edge of a pastoral meadow two miles east of town signals the intention of a group of newly arrived Mennonites to make Grangeville their permanent home.
Aaron Troyer, a spokesman for a group of about 80 members, said this offshoot of a larger Mennonite community in western Montana moved to Grangeville about two years ago to fulfill a divine destiny.
"We feel that it's scriptural and God's design to live together in communities," Troyer said. "That's why you don't see one Mennonite family by themselves somewhere. We live in close enough that you can be involved in each other's lives."
The church building features a large sanctuary with wooden pews, smaller meeting rooms with metal folding chairs circled for prayer, an office and a large kitchen and fellowship room. It was built by members of the church clearly skilled in woodworking. A couple of Mennonite communities from the Midwest also came to Grangeville to help with construction, Troyer said.
Mennonite communities typically prefer smaller congregations, he said. So when the Montana church grew beyond its capacity, a small group decided to find a place where they could create their own home.
"Six families had the vision of establishing a small church," he said. "We liked the area; we liked the people here, so we moved from St. Ignatius (Mont.). Now three more families have joined us from Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania."
This kind of migration in the Mennonite church is called an "outreach." If the Grangeville church ever becomes too large, Troyer said it's likely an offshoot group may move out once again.
"We feel that the biblical directive is to take the Gospel to the world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ," he said.
The Mennonite church was founded in Europe in the 16th century by a Dutch priest named Menno Simons. It is part of the Anabaptist group of Christian churches that include Amish and Hutterites.
There are about 1 million Mennonites in the world today, according to a church website, and they are known for their emphasis on peace, justice, simplicity, community, service and mutual aid.
Troyer said while his community is not opposed to handing out tracts or going door-to-door to spread the Gospel, most prefer to evangelize by the way they live their lives.
"Our goal is to live the teachings of Jesus - all of them - and follow him," Troyer said. "And to reach out to those around us is what Jesus did. That's what his followers do, and that's what we try to do."
But he acknowledged that proselytizing directly often is not effective in the U.S.
"It depends on the situation," he said. "In Mexico or Haiti it's more acceptable. Here it is more powerful to live a blameless life in all our relationships that we have. Otherwise we work with non-believers all the time; help them make the right decisions."
Unlike the Amish or Hutterites, Mennonites have a more modified way of dress. Troyer said the men wear simple work clothes and women typically wear long dresses and head covers.
Although the Mennonites are a tight-knit group, individual members have their own businesses. In this area it ranges from a post sawmill that Troyer operates in Craigmont, to a woodworking shop, a mini-barn construction company and a roof gutter business.
The businesses are intended to keep church members employed, but Troyer said the Mennonites are not exclusive in their hiring practices.
One of the most striking differences between the Mennonites in Idaho County and their neighbors is their position on social justice and self-defense.
"We don't participate in war," Troyer said. "Jesus said we would rather be taken advantage of than defend ourselves. That goes in court, too. We're very slow to go to court to fight for our rights on something. We would try to make a settlement, even if it means being taken advantage of.
"We feel it would be wrong under any circumstances to use violence against somebody else," he said.
Troyer said Mennonites do not vote or get involved in politics. They are obedient to secular authorities, follow laws and pay their taxes. Mennonite children are usually schooled at home or in one of the church's private schools.
But they know where they stand.
"There's two kingdoms - the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world," he said. "The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom and the members are the ones who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and have accepted him as their personal savior."
Troyer said his group seems to have been welcomed in Idaho County. And for the time being church members are intent on raising their families, doing their work quietly and focusing on their frequent gatherings at the new church.
"Our goal here in Grangeville, first and foremost, is to bring glory to God," Troyer said. "To serve him with every aspect of our lives - not having a difference in our Sunday lives or our weekday lives. And to reach out to those that need help; those that need God; those that are struggling. That's what we're here for."
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Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.