Why I Left the Mennonites

book link: rebrand.ly/3vt2vn8
Today I am sharing my testimony and perspective of the difference between religion and obedience and why I've made the choices I have. I have made these choices because God has led me down a path of wild, radical obedience and faith. Not everyone agrees with this, but that's okay because I'm not trying to live for people's approval. My heart's desire is to please God.

Пікірлер: 88

  • @Ellie-hn6vg
    @Ellie-hn6vg9 ай бұрын

    Amen! I left Beachy Amish Mennonites few years ago… Difficult leaving family and friends but how rewarding to follow God! Prayers for you sweet one! Precious u are!🙏🙏🙏 Such wisdom you share!😇

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    That's wonderful! Thank you!

  • @dmlzona
    @dmlzona9 ай бұрын

    i dont know what i watched that the algorithm suggested your videos but im glad it did..positive vibes your way..

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

  • @moroniconner7500
    @moroniconner75009 ай бұрын

    Very brave young lady

  • @user-sx2yv1sb3q
    @user-sx2yv1sb3q10 ай бұрын

    I was raised in a Catholic church, and when found myself with child at age 15, many of the congregation turned me away, but my pastor didn't! And he stood beside me for many years, telling me, you don't always have to go to one church, you can still have the love of the Lord anywhere you are! And I can hear it in you, your still walking with the Lord and he has made you one very strong lady! Glad to be seeing your video! Continue to stay strong and be who you are!

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    10 ай бұрын

    Sounds like you had a wonderful pastor who really cared! 🤗 thank you for your encouragement!

  • @philiphazelton6655
    @philiphazelton66559 ай бұрын

    GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELFS GOOD FOR YOU

  • @deedeewass3047
    @deedeewass30479 ай бұрын

    I can't imagine how difficult it was to leave. You are a brave woman follow your own heart and stand by your beliefs. When our Lord calls us he stets us apart even from family.

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Good point! 🩷

  • @decathlonevent

    @decathlonevent

    9 ай бұрын

    @@melindarocuant Hi, It doesn't matter what Church you go to. They're all the same, taking your money & ruling over you, to conform you to their way of thinking. I had it for 30 years, I've left now going on 7 years. Christianity is a complete fake & farce, & a counterfeit @ best. One notices really through discernment that the leaders are treated like God, that's how they get away with it. The new testament doesn't even mention submitting to unauthorized "leadership" as this verse in Hebrews 7 has been maligned. The apostles are now dead & the new testament is the final authority on all matters of faith & practise.

  • @stevenwistort9903
    @stevenwistort99039 ай бұрын

    This is a good testimony. It's by God's work that we are saved by grace. And him working in us by his Spirit to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Thanks be to God he's given you a new heart of flesh and taken out the Stony heart. Praise the Lord, so many don't know this. Only the true God can reveal this.

  • @hiroshiaoki3737
    @hiroshiaoki37379 ай бұрын

    I totally understand your situation. But right away I felt God's love in your vlog.

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Aww that's awesome!! I'm so glad!

  • @decnijfkris3706
    @decnijfkris37069 ай бұрын

    SMART CHOICE TO FOLLOW YOUR GOLDEN HEART

  • @dcorrell
    @dcorrell9 ай бұрын

    Great testimony Melinda! Thanks for sharing yours. I found out last year my dads family came from Anabaptist/Schwarzenau Brethren and settled among the Mennonites. I found it fascinating coming from a large family of Lutheran pastors. Our experiences and backgrounds shape us and give us spiritual gifts. I think you have a powerful testimony and I see a message of hope, encouragement, and resilience that can bear witness and encourage others in similar situations.

  • @sheba5203
    @sheba52038 ай бұрын

    Thanks for sharing your experience and your choices are valid in every way. As a human being you are allowed to decide what's in your heart and where you should go in life. God will lead the way and it's all that matters. You've got this!!

  • @BJones77
    @BJones779 ай бұрын

    So wise for your age. Following God is the most important thing in this life. ❤️❤️🙏🙏

  • @salliestephens1252
    @salliestephens12529 ай бұрын

    I just ordered your book on Kindle. Thank you for sharing your truth (and God's truth).

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your support!! It really means a lot.

  • @mattr.1887
    @mattr.18879 ай бұрын

    As an outsider, I think the Mennonites and Amish in some ways have a great life that the rest of us will never have. That said, it is not for everyone.

  • @smokeykat8423
    @smokeykat84239 ай бұрын

    You are such a wonderful young lady. You have a beautiful family.❤

  • @familyadventuretv978
    @familyadventuretv9788 ай бұрын

    Amen! Thank you for sharing your testimony.

  • @Katie-mw7pd
    @Katie-mw7pd9 ай бұрын

    I’ve never been a member of any church, or subscribed to any higher power (although I do believe in following the virtues modeled by Jesus Christ) but your channel popped up in my KZread recommendations and caught my interest. Although I can’t relate directly to your situation, your introspection and determination to follow the path that you know is meant for you is very inspiring. Although our lives are definitely very different, you gave some great advice that everyone can benefit from. Much love to you and your family, can’t wait to see what comes next for you ❤

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    8 ай бұрын

    I'm glad you enjoyed it!

  • @sandyyako2677
    @sandyyako267710 ай бұрын

    You have a beautiful heart.God bless you & your family🙏❤

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    10 ай бұрын

    Thank you ❤️

  • @juliefranc7443
    @juliefranc74439 ай бұрын

    I admire your courage to share your story. God Bless!

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @garyfletcher844
    @garyfletcher8448 ай бұрын

    I fully understand about being bound up in legalism and rigidity. Too many people confuse rigidity(strictness)with righteousness I fully understand what you are saying dear. Christ came to set us free from rigidity. He didn't set us free to be bound up again. Christ died for our sins. We didn't nor can we. We can't add to what he did.

  • @AbbyClark910
    @AbbyClark9109 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much for sharing! ❤

  • @Ellen-il6dk
    @Ellen-il6dk8 ай бұрын

    Glad you left you don’t need a group of men telling you what to do in order to know God. You certainly don’t need them telling you how to dress, what to read, if you can work etc.. Sounds like you are on your way to this big world opening up wide for you and your little one ❤. As a sidebar I love your short haircut! Very cute!

  • @user-wv3go5vj5q
    @user-wv3go5vj5q8 ай бұрын

    Thank you for helping me better understand the crossroads I find myself. God bless and keep you and your wonderful family.❤❤❤

  • @dianneweaver4809
    @dianneweaver48098 ай бұрын

    Thank you. Wise advice

  • @crissy9792
    @crissy97929 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your reasons and feelings. You were brave to do what you felt and believed in x

  • @medano
    @medano8 ай бұрын

    You are very intelligent and brave. You’ve made a good decision, based on your heart, prayer and self-reflection. It is very encouraging to hear your incredible story. It’s also remarkable to see your unwavering faith, while abandoning the principles that no longer serve you. You and your family are definitely blessed and deserve the absolute best. ❤

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    8 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much!

  • @shawnb3644
    @shawnb36449 ай бұрын

    Another great video.

  • @LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise
    @LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise9 ай бұрын

    I respect You for Your decision. I feel the love from God through You talking on this Vlog. Thankyou Mindy xoxoxo 🙏

  • @janblackkat7607
    @janblackkat76078 ай бұрын

    I just recently found you randomly and immediately liked your beautiful heart and sweet spirit. I can feel the light in your heart and its beautiful ❤ i enjoy your honesty and how genuine you are. Thats refreshing these days on here. I like hearing your perspective on life and am really enjoying watching your videos. Many blessings to you❤

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    8 ай бұрын

    Thank you!

  • @johnpatrick3718
    @johnpatrick37189 ай бұрын

    We are all born into a manger of sorts, Melinda. And the mind needs a story. But to grow up the manger must be left behind for advent-ure to occur.

  • @grannyanniesfarm4972
    @grannyanniesfarm49729 ай бұрын

    I just found your channel and joined. You are amazing!

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Welcome! Thank you 🩷

  • @Karenlemley
    @Karenlemley10 ай бұрын

    ❤love your videos ❤😊

  • @terencebarrett2897
    @terencebarrett28978 ай бұрын

    God bless you Melinda and your family'

  • @Brandi.65
    @Brandi.658 ай бұрын

    Praise God!

  • @sljack1671
    @sljack16719 ай бұрын

    I am happy for you and your family. You have to live the life that is right for you. I do not mean anything negative towards the Mennonites.

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you, I appreciate your attitude.

  • @deepsoultarot8272
    @deepsoultarot82729 ай бұрын

    I commend you for how strong, brave, & wise you are!! To follow your heart, & the Light of your Spiritual Guidance that is your own personal journey is admirable. I wish you only the best & as long as you have that true spiritual guidance within , you will always be divinely protected. Love & Light to you & your family. Namaste 💜🙏💙 ( also, new subscriber here!!✌️💗)

  • @TheMichelebode
    @TheMichelebode9 ай бұрын

    You are very wise for your age. Keep spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

  • @carolmccullough-kuchar4782
    @carolmccullough-kuchar47828 ай бұрын

    God is love. He said to love one another. The leadership in the churches are human and I agree with you that the only one you should follow is the Lord, not humans. I agree with your Bible passage.

  • @Markaisthereal3478
    @Markaisthereal34788 ай бұрын

    Oh wow 😮 your channel is interesting ❤ im definitely interested in your story.

  • @Lucky78502
    @Lucky785026 ай бұрын

    I left my Mennonite church and left my family. Shattered but God called me out of the church and my family disowned me for doing Gods calling. I'm ashamed of them but I do forgive in order for me to leave peacefully away from them. It was so hard to leave and havd no support and no love at all. But at 31 I'm proud to say God has given me more than I can handle in Blessings being on my own. So blessed that my family reached out after seeing me being successful in the English world.. that they finally came back and accepted me and a movement from church also allows more women to do more things but in groups I felt I lead the way to them having more freedom. But its still a touchy subject I simply follow God's calling and with that no one should be angry with that. God is so good and he will always provide.

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    6 ай бұрын

    That took a lot of courage for you! Good job!

  • @valeriegrice4775
    @valeriegrice47758 ай бұрын

    You are a beautiful soul!

  • @chuck_howard
    @chuck_howard8 ай бұрын

    The Holy Spirit came into my heart over thirty years ago and showed me who the father was and who his son was. I know nothing I can ever do will please God enough to earn my place in heaven. His mercy covers all my sins. I wish you a wonderful journey serving the lord as I have. I have had rough patches and some sorrows along the way but the Lord has always blessed me in the dark days and the sunny days. God bless you and your family.

  • @TLC7777

    @TLC7777

    8 ай бұрын

    Amen! 🛐✝️

  • @CharleysMom2
    @CharleysMom29 ай бұрын

    I think I was supposed to see this video this morning it just appeared out of nowhere it seems it has nothing to do with anything that you said I just know of the Mennonite religion that’s about it but what got my attention was that…I wrote a book…part. I did too but I don’t know how to publish it it took me 5 years to write and I have carried it around with me over 10 now I would like to know how. I live in a 10x16 shed and it ain’t fancy either.

  • @mdjones905
    @mdjones9059 ай бұрын

    My wife’s family were Mennonites, you’re fine.

  • @artvandelay7236
    @artvandelay72368 ай бұрын

    IMO, faith/religion has different paths for different people. Some need a person to guide them to an understanding of God, and for others, that same guide can be a hindrance.

  • @donnawiseman3686
    @donnawiseman36869 ай бұрын

    Hello, i was in a extremely strict Pentecostal church when i was around 18 years old. We had the fear of God drilled into us if we left we were going to hell. Thwt was 40 years ago, and i still struggle at times because of this as they believed they are the only church preaching the truth. They ex communicate people, families against each other, its so sad. I still am a believer but i can relate. Blessings to you and your family xxx

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing! Yes, it is sad how a lot of churches operate out of fear instead of love. Praying for you.🙏

  • @donnawiseman3686

    @donnawiseman3686

    9 ай бұрын

    @@melindarocuant thankyou sweetie. Will keep your beautiful family in my prayers to.🥰

  • @yoop177

    @yoop177

    8 ай бұрын

    Religion and obedience! Wowza! That is so good.

  • @donnawiseman3686

    @donnawiseman3686

    8 ай бұрын

    @@rainbowkitsch6855 thats great to hear, i follow rennee Rowland on utube she really explains the gift of salvation and how its not work based etc. Alot of religous people dont like to hear that. Blessings x

  • @guidedHandsforge
    @guidedHandsforge9 ай бұрын

    I hear you. Matthew 6:33

  • @amyeteel5379
    @amyeteel53799 ай бұрын

    God bless you pretious one. Jesus Christ railed against the religious. Your on the right track!

  • @stephen6631

    @stephen6631

    9 ай бұрын

    You aren't

  • @bunniemill1013
    @bunniemill10138 ай бұрын

    Exactly!!!

  • @crochetwithheather
    @crochetwithheather9 ай бұрын

    🙏🏼

  • @brendaechols5929
    @brendaechols59299 ай бұрын

    Sounds like the Mennonites follow strict teaching. But thats ok. You did what was best for you. God will always be by your side no matter what you do.

  • @hardeejohn
    @hardeejohn9 ай бұрын

    Amen

  • @grahamherbert3612
    @grahamherbert36129 ай бұрын

    I ran away from a Mennonite community in 2017, after being molested by three different married women (friends of my biological Mother and Father), from the age of thirteen until sixteen. They called me their "Dirty Devil Toy". I was thankfully, rescued and supported by an atheist couple, who I'm very proud today to call my adoptive parents.

  • @donnawiseman3686

    @donnawiseman3686

    8 ай бұрын

    Oh dear, thats horrible im so sorry. Normally we just hear about men being the abusers as a mother myself i just cant fathom the idea of doing this its evil. I hope you can recover from this and go onto living a happy life xx

  • @s3s_
    @s3s_9 ай бұрын

    If the religion is giving commandments contrary to what God commands i agree but another thing is religion commanding said rules in accordance to what God decrees and us being disobedient and struggling for the sake of God almighty in said case the comnunity should aid said person and understand their struggle. Yet another last thing is like the previous disliking a command of God Almighty being enforced by the religion and one chosing to dislike and later rejecting it that definitely is a different matter.

  • @Gamtry20
    @Gamtry207 ай бұрын

    ❤️💞

  • @user-ex3jn2bb7c
    @user-ex3jn2bb7c8 ай бұрын

    You're a good good Christian

  • @Greeneyedkitty82
    @Greeneyedkitty828 ай бұрын

    Are you familiar with Eli Yoder who left the old order Amish? He left for similar reasons.

  • @donnawiseman3686

    @donnawiseman3686

    8 ай бұрын

    I just found him on utube he is lovely 😀

  • @cherylbabrick1482
    @cherylbabrick14829 ай бұрын

    Good for you! Nice folks, but the legalism is, IMO, oppressive and misguided.

  • @cherylemaybury9967
    @cherylemaybury99678 ай бұрын

    You are only supposed to follow Jesus and his teachings. Read the Bible and follow Jesus not man made rules. Jesus gave two commandments only, to love one and another and to love Jehovah God. John 13: 34 & Matthew 22: 37 Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for all and to teach us about his father. If we truly have proper Christian love for our fellow man then we will not want to hurt him or steal from him but show respect for him and help him all we can. Jesus gave us hope for a better life and when we try to walk in his footsteps we do have a better life. To be a Christian means to be like Christ. Of course we fall short due to our imperfections but we need to strive to be like him in all things. 😊

  • @huthayfasalahat6945
    @huthayfasalahat6945Ай бұрын

    Did you still on contact with your family?

  • @melindarocuant

    @melindarocuant

    Ай бұрын

    Yes, I do.

  • @Nazarene_Judaism
    @Nazarene_Judaism20 күн бұрын

    We hope you can join nazarene judaism. Joshua Christ is lord.

  • @user-se9ny8jw5d
    @user-se9ny8jw5d8 ай бұрын

    religion is bassed on where youre born if you were born in india you would be a hindu .dont beat yourself up over it

  • @doubleedgedfist1535
    @doubleedgedfist15359 ай бұрын

    I live in Mennonite country. They’re a strange bunch. The women are oppressed, while the men can wear and do what they want.