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{{Anabaptist vertical}}
'''Charity Christian Fellowship''' is a network of Churches that was formed in 1982 in [[Pennsylvania]]. Most of the members have roots in [[Plain dress|Plain]] [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] groups and the network is seen as Anabaptist by Kraybill and Hostetter.<ref name="Anabaptist World USA">[[Donald Kraybill|Donald B. Kraybill]], C. Nelson Hostetter: ''Anabaptist World USA'', Scottdale PA, 2001, page 159.</ref>
'''Charity Ministries''', also called '''Charity Christian Fellowship''', is a [[Conservative Anabaptist]] network of churches that was formed in 1982 in [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]], [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name="CCF2021">{{cite web |title=Charity Christian Fellowship - Church |date=July 2020 |url=https://charitychristianfellowship.org/church/ |publisher=Charity Christian Fellowship |access-date=11 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618050915/https://charitychristianfellowship.org/church/ |archive-date=18 June 2021 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Anabaptist World USA">[[Donald Kraybill|Donald B. Kraybill]], C. Nelson Hostetter: ''Anabaptist World USA'', Scottdale PA, 2001, page 159.</ref>


As with other conservative Anabaptist Christian churches, the Charity Christian Fellowship seeks to emulate early Christianity and practices [[plain dress]], [[believer's baptism]], "feet washing, the devotional head covering, the holy kiss, non-swearing of oaths and practicing Biblical Nonresistance (As described in Matthew 5:45)."
== Belief and practice ==


Many members of the Charity Christian Fellowship have roots in other [[Anabaptism|Anabaptist]] denominations that practice [[plain dress]], though their emphasis on [[evangelism]] has led to individuals from non-Anabaptist Christian backgrounds becoming a part of the Charity Christian Fellowship as well.<ref name="Stephen Scott 1996, page 102"/>
In doctrine the Charity churches are quite [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] and the expression of faith is rather [[Charismatic Christianity|charismatic]]. The churches of the network resemble [[Conservative Mennonite Conference|Conservative Mennonites]] in many ways. Members wear [[Plain dress]], women with head coverings. [[Believer's baptism]] by immersion, [[Foot washing]] and the [[Kiss of peace|Holy Kiss]] are practiced. Non-swearing of oaths and opposition to military service is also mandatory.<ref name="Stephen Scott 1996, page 102">[[Stephen Scott (writer)|Stephen Scott]]: ''Old Order and Conservative Mennonites Groups'', Intercourse, PA 1996, page 197.</ref>


== History ==
There is a strong [[evangelism]] to win converts from other Anabaptist groups as well as from outside groups.<ref name="Anabaptist World USA"/>
In 1982, individuals with roots in different [[Plain dress|Plain]] Anabaptist groups met in [[New Holland, Pennsylvania|New Holland]] in order to form a church that would recapture the zeal of early Christianity and the tenets of the Anabaptist movement of the 16th century. Mose Stoltzfus, an ex-Amish (1946&ndash;2020), and Denny Kenaston, an ex-Baptist (1949&ndash;2012), were the main leaders of the new church.<ref name="gameo.org"/>


In the early years it was more of a spiritual movement than a church.<ref name="gameo.org">[http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Charity_Ministries ''Charity Ministries'' at Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online]</ref>
== Members and Congregations ==

In the late 1980s, a tape ministry was started as well as an organization for foreign missions. A publication called ''The Heartbeat of the Remnant'', short ''The Remnant'', was started in 1994. In 2011 its publication was transferred to its affiliated Ephrata Ministries and in summer 2013 its publication was stopped. In 2016 The Berean Voice, a ministry of Faith Christian Fellowship, resumed the publication.<ref>[http://charitychristianfellowship.org/ccf/about-us Charity Christian Fellowship: ''About us''.] at charitychristianfellowship.org.</ref>

In the latter part of the 2010s, a number of conservative Charity congregations grouped together as the Agape Christian Fellowship.

== Belief and practice ==
{{Main|Anabaptist theology}}
The Charity churches profess to be [[Conservative Anabaptism|Conservative Anabaptist]] in doctrine.<ref name="CCF2021"/> The churches of the network resemble [[Conservative Mennonites]] in many ways. Members wear [[plain dress]], with women observing plain dress through the wearing of the [[cape dress]] with a [[Christian headcovering|head covering]] in the form of a [[hanging veil]]. [[Believer's baptism]] by immersion, [[Maundy (foot washing)|Foot washing]] and the [[Kiss of peace|Holy Kiss]] are practiced. Non-swearing of oaths and opposition to military service is also mandatory.<ref name="Stephen Scott 1996, page 102">[[Stephen Scott (writer)|Stephen Scott]]: ''Old Order and Conservative Mennonites Groups'', Intercourse, PA 1996, page 197.</ref> They also place a strong emphasis on [[evangelism]] towards other Anabaptist and non-Anabaptist groups.<ref name="Anabaptist World USA"/><ref>Donald B. Kraybill: ''Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites By Donald B. Kraybill'', Baltimore, 2010, page 218.</ref>

== Members and congregations ==
{| class="wikitable" || align="right"
! Year
! Membership
|-
| 1993 || align="right" | ~500
|-
| 2000 || align="right" | 1,467
|-
| 2012 || align="right" | 2,232
|-
|}


In 1993 there were nine churches in eight states of the US and around 500 baptized members.
In 1993 there were nine churches in eight states of the US and around 500 baptized members.
<ref name="Stephen Scott 1996, page 102">[[Stephen Scott (writer)|Stephen Scott]]: ''Old Order and Conservative Mennonites Groups'', Intercourse, PA 1996, page 197.</ref> Around the year 2000 there were 24 congregations in the network in fifteen states of the US, mainly in Pennsylvania and [[Ohio]]. There were 1,467 members and an estimated total population including children an young adults not yet baptized of 2,787 people.<ref name="Anabaptist World USA"/>
<ref name="Stephen Scott 1996, page 102"/> Around the year 2000 there were 24 congregations in the network in fifteen states of the US, mainly in Pennsylvania and [[Ohio]]. There were 1,467 members and an estimated total population including children and young adults not yet baptized of 2,787 people.<ref name="Anabaptist World USA"/> In 2012 there were 41 congregations with 2,232 members associated with Charity Ministries.<ref name="gameo.org"/>


== References ==
== References ==

{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
[[Category:Anabaptism]]
* [http://www.charityministries.org/ Official website]

[[Category:Conservative Anabaptists]]
[[Category:Evangelical denominations in North America]]
[[Category:Evangelical denominations in North America]]

Latest revision as of 21:10, 15 December 2023

Charity Ministries, also called Charity Christian Fellowship, is a Conservative Anabaptist network of churches that was formed in 1982 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.[1][2]

As with other conservative Anabaptist Christian churches, the Charity Christian Fellowship seeks to emulate early Christianity and practices plain dress, believer's baptism, "feet washing, the devotional head covering, the holy kiss, non-swearing of oaths and practicing Biblical Nonresistance (As described in Matthew 5:45)."

Many members of the Charity Christian Fellowship have roots in other Anabaptist denominations that practice plain dress, though their emphasis on evangelism has led to individuals from non-Anabaptist Christian backgrounds becoming a part of the Charity Christian Fellowship as well.[3]

History

[edit]

In 1982, individuals with roots in different Plain Anabaptist groups met in New Holland in order to form a church that would recapture the zeal of early Christianity and the tenets of the Anabaptist movement of the 16th century. Mose Stoltzfus, an ex-Amish (1946–2020), and Denny Kenaston, an ex-Baptist (1949–2012), were the main leaders of the new church.[4]

In the early years it was more of a spiritual movement than a church.[4]

In the late 1980s, a tape ministry was started as well as an organization for foreign missions. A publication called The Heartbeat of the Remnant, short The Remnant, was started in 1994. In 2011 its publication was transferred to its affiliated Ephrata Ministries and in summer 2013 its publication was stopped. In 2016 The Berean Voice, a ministry of Faith Christian Fellowship, resumed the publication.[5]

In the latter part of the 2010s, a number of conservative Charity congregations grouped together as the Agape Christian Fellowship.

Belief and practice

[edit]

The Charity churches profess to be Conservative Anabaptist in doctrine.[1] The churches of the network resemble Conservative Mennonites in many ways. Members wear plain dress, with women observing plain dress through the wearing of the cape dress with a head covering in the form of a hanging veil. Believer's baptism by immersion, Foot washing and the Holy Kiss are practiced. Non-swearing of oaths and opposition to military service is also mandatory.[3] They also place a strong emphasis on evangelism towards other Anabaptist and non-Anabaptist groups.[2][6]

Members and congregations

[edit]
Year Membership
1993 ~500
2000 1,467
2012 2,232

In 1993 there were nine churches in eight states of the US and around 500 baptized members. [3] Around the year 2000 there were 24 congregations in the network in fifteen states of the US, mainly in Pennsylvania and Ohio. There were 1,467 members and an estimated total population including children and young adults not yet baptized of 2,787 people.[2] In 2012 there were 41 congregations with 2,232 members associated with Charity Ministries.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Charity Christian Fellowship - Church". Charity Christian Fellowship. July 2020. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Donald B. Kraybill, C. Nelson Hostetter: Anabaptist World USA, Scottdale PA, 2001, page 159.
  3. ^ a b c Stephen Scott: Old Order and Conservative Mennonites Groups, Intercourse, PA 1996, page 197.
  4. ^ a b c Charity Ministries at Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online
  5. ^ Charity Christian Fellowship: About us. at charitychristianfellowship.org.
  6. ^ Donald B. Kraybill: Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites By Donald B. Kraybill, Baltimore, 2010, page 218.
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