Terry Miller

August 14, 2004

The following testimony was send to us from a minister in Canada who grew up Hutterite. I was so blessed by his testimony that I got Terry's OK to post it on our web site. Growing up, I heard about the Hutterites but never knew what they believed for salvation. In this testimony you will get to hear first hand like I did. --- Joe

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Dear Joe, precious brother-in-Christ....

I greet you in JESUS beautiful name from our little settlement of ex-Hutterites here in central Manitoba, in western Canada, just above the North Dakota border. What a joy to hear from you and to learn more about MAP and your wonderful outreach to "our people". Although not Amish, Hutterites have always considered Amish and conservative-type Mennonites "our people", primarily because of our common origin in the Anabaptist movement of the sixteenth century.

I've read your testimony and have already forwarded on to many ex-Hutterites who are now born-again. No doubt several of them will be logging on to your website. Your testimony is a wonderful inspiration.

Please permit me to share a bit of our experience and background with you. The Hutterites have many similarities to both the Amish and the conservative Mennonites, but also differences. As you already know, Hutterites live communally in colonies of 100-150 people. There are over 400 Hutterites colonies in North America, mostly in western Canada and the states of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Washington.

Almost all colonies conduct their worship services (daily) in German, reading old sermons written by the forefathers in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. They sing from the Ausbund. Although our fathers certainly taught a salvation experience, many Hutterites today rely more on their baptism coupled with living "all things common" like the early Church, which the hardliners certainly consider a "Biblical necessity". There are many genuinely born again people among them, but traditionalism has a terrific hold.

Hutterites are certainly technologically modern, unlike the Amish. They are very computerized and farm equipment is the very latest. The way of dress is similar to the Amish, yet somewhat different. Most children go through grade eight, but there is a tendency for many to go on to high school (conducted on the colony site) and several have been trained in the local University as teachers. Most people, however, have only grade 8.

I hope I am not being too long or boring, but I thought you might be interested in knowing more about us and what is happening here. It may surprise you to know that my own great grandparents were Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but defected from the Amish and resettled in South Dakota. They never affiliated with any Church after that. I grew up next to a Hutterite Colony and as a "seeker" in my teens, I joined the Hutterites as a "novice member".

A revival broke out in Montana (and Alberta, Canada) amongst Hutterite youth, called the Hutterite Youth Movement. The emphasis was on know-so salvation, a genuine born-again experience. I was caught up in the Movement and became one of the youth leaders. Many of us were "pushed out" of the colonies and regrouped in a new "unaffiliated" Hutterite Colony in Manitoba, Canada where I was ordained as a Hutterite minister. We lived very much like the old order, but we were born-again, saved people. Our outreach increased over the years and local non-communal congregations were formed. We also began a radio ministry, held gospel test crusades, and began an outreach to the West Indies. (My wife is from Trinidad in the West Indies). Eventually the Bethesda Colony of which I was minister was disbanded (1975) as a communal society and became a non-communal, non-Hutterite "gospel church".

Tell me all about your life and ministry and your relationship with the Amish today? I realize much of this can be found on your website. Are you a minister? Are you working full-time in the MAP outreach? Have you totally abandoned "things Anabaptist", I mean, doctrinal-wise? We are not a "plain" church any more, but of course we do stress modesty and a truly Christian lifestyle. As for the non-resistance "doctrine", that is left up to the individual. I am still a conscientious objector to war (and violence in any form). We now baptize by immersion rather than the previous pouring/sprinkling mode of the old order. Baptism is only upon confession of faith, a truly born again experience.

Currently the old order Hutterite communities are under attack from the "Charity Church" group and many have been drawn away by them, but quite frankly we have some serious doubts about that organization. Are you familiar with them, and what is your assessment? We need some direction in this from godly people like yourselves of similar background as our own, who've had some experience with groups like "Charity".

Have you ever heard of the TV video entitled HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN IN MONTANA? It was aired nationally on TV and tells the story of the conversion of most of the members of a Hutterite Colony in Montana (Flatwillow) a few years ago. It is powerful and would give you a better understanding of Hutterites. I could send you a copy if you haven't seen one.

As for our current relationship with the old order Hutterites, we here in Manitoba are on fairly good relationship with them right now. That hasn't always been so. I think some of the leaders are beginning to understand that we are NOT against them or trying to destroy them, but we have a genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of them all. We walk a fine line. We cannot compromise on the great truth of salvation through the blood, but neither can we accomplish anything through an anti-Hutterite stance. We are not at war with them, but we certainly have serious differences in understanding. Love seems to always find a way.

I've shared many thoughts and probably have bored you to tears. I hope not, but it's not often that I get to inter-act with "our people" from Old Order Amish heritage. I cherish this contact and believe God has opened it up.

I anxiously await your reply.

Much love in JESUS.
(Min.) Terry Miller

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^{This email has been published with permission from the owner.}

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