Mennonites in France: beacons of hope in a secular land
The country of France is known for its secular culture, its magnificent cathedrals that attract more tourists than worshipers, and a catholic religion that has diminished in importance and influence in the past 50 years. Many people are unaware of the love for God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the faith in Jesus Christ that are shining lights in communities across the country.
The Mennonites in churches in France are such beacons that shine in dark places.
Jonathan Thiessen (kneeling, with his wife Cécile) is ordained as a minister in the French Mennonite Conference at the Strasbourg Mennonite Church on October 6, 2024.
These Mennonites originated in Switzerland where they were persecuted in the 16th and 17th centuries. They found refuge and a place of safety between the Rhine River and the Vosges Mountains, in France. “Strasbourg was the haven of refuge for Anabaptists from Switzerland, Holland and North and South Germany….The Anabaptists called Strasbourg the ‘City of Hope’ and the ‘Refuge of Righteousness’.” (Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online).
Today in the northeast region of France known as Alsace, there are 32 French Mennonite churches (including three in the greater Paris area), with a total of 2,100 members. The French Mennonite Conference supports missionaries in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Burundi and Laos.
Their Anabaptist theology is reflected in the May 2024 issue of their monthly magazine, Christ Seul. In this issue the topic of non-violence is addressed, with articles like, “Les Fondements Bibliques de la Non-Violence” (The Biblical Foundation of Non-violence), and a testimony of a Ukrainian pacifist, who was conscripted by the Ukrainian army, but declared that he would not kill another human being.
The Evangelical Mennonite Church in Strasbourg, France.
The Geisberg Mennonite Church was one of the churches where I gave a missions report in October 2024, telling about our Bible translation work among the Siamou people. This congregation sent out and supported Paul and Martine Solomiac to work with Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM) in Burkina Faso. They began the translation of the New Testament into the Samogho language and later became leaders with SIL/Wycliffe in Ouagadougou. Lois and I were privileged to work alongside them during our years in Burkina Faso. The Geisberg church, together with the other churches of the French Mennonite Conference, has been involved in the AIMM work in Burkina Faso since the 1980s.
Our son, Jonathan Thiessen, has been the pastor of the Strasbourg Mennonite church for two years. On October 6, 2024, Lois and I had the honour of participating in a service in that church where Jonathan was ordained as a minister in the French Mennonite Conference.
The Centre de formation du Bienenberg (Bienenberg Training Centre), in Liestal, Switzerland, trains Anabaptist church leaders. Their programs include teaching in theology, Anabaptist history, leadership training and creation care.
My awareness of these Mennonite churches in France began in 1984, when I attended the Mennonite World Conference in Strasbourg. Most recently we received blessings from God through the churches, pastors and church leaders and believers in Geisberg and Strasbourg during our visit there in October 2024.
Lois and I have been blessed and strengthened by these congregations and by these French brothers and sisters in Christ through our many visits to Alsace through the years.
We thank God for his faithful servants, these Anabaptist brothers and sisters in Christ, who are worshiping God and proclaiming the good news in the Alsace region and beyond.
