Holdeman 

I live in a town near a Holdeman Mennonite community. These are the nicest people. However, I continue to pray that they learn the Gospel of Jesus is the only true way to be saved. To not be bound by earning their way but trusting in Jesus alone. This truth will set them free from the requirements of correct performance to being free in the truth of Jesus. We cannot earn our way to heaven. We can trust in Jesus death and resurrection alone to be forever saved. There are Bible based churches that will give them the community and church family they still want and frankly we all need. Thank you Jon and all of the speakers in this documentary.

"I believe He died for me." I never grow tired of hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Man the enemy finds ways to keep us in bondage even in a church . May the Lord grant mercy and freedom to all who seek Him from the Holderman church.

I am thankful these brave people searched until they found the truth and are wiling to talk about it. Watching this video took me back to the years-long spiritual crisis that I was in that almost wrecked my marriage. Sadly, there are a lot of people who walk away from God when they leave the holdeman church because they have been taught they can't be saved if they leave. I hope and pray they will take another look at God's plan that is freely offered to all. Lance's experience as a minister was very similar to what my dad went through over 50 years ago.

What an excellent documentary- Christ exalting. Christ Alone - Soli Deo Gloria.

Jon-I have come to expect the truth from you,and I'm never disappointed with the content of your videos!I am so thankful for your ministry!This documentary was an eye opener;my prayer is that there will be people watching this that need this word of truth!

I grew up in an exclusive Plymouth Brethren group. Very similar experience. "They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you." 2 Peter <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="139">2:19</a>. In Christ alone our hope is found. "Strive to enter his REST." Heb <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="251">4:11</a>

Well done Jon. Thank you for sharing this message of truth to lift HIM up.

Powerful and moving-thank you, Jon. Sometimes even when we are blessed to be in an environment in which we do see peers come to faith in Jesus, the Christ, we miss the sense of wonder that is demonstrated here by so many coming out of a place where the truth was hidden from them but upon seeing it, they embrace Jesus and know that they are embraced by Him.

This sounds all to familiar me and my wife both grew up in the old order Amish religion and seen firsthand what it is like. Thankfully we both left the religion and are both believers in the Biblical Jesus. Thank you too all that worked so hard to put this material together.

This was incredible and what a beautiful presentation of the Gospel in it.

Excellent documentary, Jon. My daughter and her family are in Lancaster PA in the heart of Amish country. There are many other communities there like the original Mennonites, Anabaptists and Hutterites. Many of the people in the congregation of their community church have been called out of these backgrounds.

Thanks for sharing. I had never heard of the Holderman sect.

Good job, Jon. This was great!

What a great documentary! It is so important that we recognize the characteristics of a cult. I have also been fascinated with learning about the Branham cult through long4truth, etc. it all comes back to knowing the Word ourselves, comparing everything to Scripture, and having a correct so terminology. Thanks so much!

Well done! Very informative, and full of grace and truth.

I’m an ex member of the church, as I studied more the Bible and searched for a closer walk with God, and had questions, that’s the answer I got for my questions, that I have the wrong spirit. But I didn’t get the answers. I’m not offended with anyone, I just want the Truth, the real Jesus and the real power that comes from him!

Ya done good brother. This was a mighty work in Jesus' Name.

Excellent work, I pray this impacts those people trapped in this needless bondage.

Wow. This was so moving. So wonderful to hear such a clear presentation of what it truly means to know and follow Jesus. Oh how I love Him and want to bring glory to Him. Thank you Jon. May Our Lord continue to use you for His glory and bless you and your family.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. I was in the independent fundamental KJV only Baptist church. I was there for eight years and it is very difficult to leave such a controlling manipulative leadership and congregation. Many of the things presented here I experienced. Once you do leave places like this, you are basically shunned from everyone. Although they cannot biblically practice Matt 11. Leaving was the best desicion I made for my Christian maturity and growth.

This was a great work Jon. Thanks

The young lady said to get the savior right matters....Amen. Paul washer once said, and I have never forgotten, that when a group like the Mormons or JWs present Jesus he is NEVER in His rightful place...on the throne as God. That cleared a lot up for me really quick...if that isn't right, it's wrong

This is excellent. I also notice the "other sheep which are not of this flock" application. A Seventh Day Adventist man once quoted that Scripture to me, and since then I've learned that SDA doctrine is that Satan will die for our sins as his own, and that will finalize the atonement; not only that, but to not believe that is to not be saved (according to SDA doctrine). So, I've been wondering why he would say there are other sheep, but now I see that the SDA apply that Scripture in the same way as the Holdemans, not to include others but rather to exclude others and make it all about their own cult.

Excellent documentary! I grew up in the New Life church in Nebraska.

Thank you for this. I have come to the conclusion recently to never assume that the person next to me in church is a Christian. This video opened my eyes to an idea of cult beyond Mormons or JW or other common ideas. People wanting to control others spring up everywhere. I sometimes joke with my Christian friends about making an isolated community away from the world, but this shows that this kind of community may be impossible in this world. In the world but not of it. Thank you.

Thank You for this documentary. It’s well done I didn’t know about this group of folks.

Praying this will reach some of the Holdeman folks and convince them to leave this cult of bondage. There is incomprehensible joy and freedom in Christ alone.

Great video. The basic themes are similar to the Armstrongite cult that I came from. Began with a vain young man who thought that he was God's vessel being used to straighten everyone else out doctrinally. Using the "here a little, there a little" method of interpreting the Bible, which led to contextual distortion. An alternate view of church history which claimed that they were the true believers that ran alongside the evil Roman Catholic/Protestant false church...etcetera, etcetera. Once people get trapped in this idea that they are some sort of elite enlightened individuals, their vanity holds them captive. It is a trap of the devil.

So interesting! Thank you for sharing this story.

Well done, Jon...and all while pointing everyone to the true Gospel.

Wow!!! In this video I learned so much about this sect. I had no clue what this particular group believed and the stranglehold their leadership have over their congregation.

G'day, Conversations That Matter (Jon Harris)! I'm at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3272">54:32</a> and quite a lot of this has reminded me of the church in Martin Luther's time and how he had to deal with a corrupt and controlling system in the Roman Catholic Church. He quivered under the dictates of the pope and, even after becoming an Augustinian monk, was beset with fears and doubts about his having a right standing with God. Some time later, he had a revelation of Romans <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="77">1:17</a> ("the righteous will live by faith") and it was life-changing. At his hearing before the Diet of Worms, he held fast to his conscience and did not recant the things he had written about the church and its teachings. He, too, was excommunicated and branded an outlaw only to be sequestered for 11 months during which time he translated the New Testament from Greek to German so that the common man could read the Bible for himself and not have to depend on interpretation from the clergy.

Excellent!!!! God bless you brother!

I wish the film made more of a distinction made between holdeman and conservative Mennonite.

"Fear because of not placing their faith in Christ" i always felt that while in a free will baptist church for over 20 years.

This actually reminds me of the Old Line Primitive Baptist sect. Even more so than the IFB churches. I left the SBC because I don’t like it’s direction. They don’t have any Reformed Baptist Churches in my area so I went back to the IFB Church but there not the crazy Jack Hyles type! I wish there were more reformed churches in rural areas. Where I’m located, it’s either Pentecostal, liberal Methodist, or IFB.

This is so much like a strict COGIC church I visited back in the 80s.

Sola scriptura, grace alone by faith, everything to the glory of God

I grew up in a holiness church and never thought I could be saved and had all this guilt and scared of god

that was the most touching documentary i’ve ever seen. thank you for sharing this information

That was presented so well. Very sad but very, very inspiring. Thank you.

Someone asked the question... If you don't believe like we do, why don't you just leave us alone and go away ? Well here's my answer. One day we will all stand before a righteous God and be held personally accountable for our deeds. How can I stand idly by and not warn against the corruption of tyranny in the religious systems that are in violation to the divine nature of God and God's natural laws? Bullies who take authority over other people but refuse to take responsibility for the outcomes? Using fear, intimidation, manipulation, and domination to bring people into the bondage of manmade by-laws ? How will I answer to my Maker if I don't sound the alarm ? You are free to believe whatever you want to. We are not free from the consequences of our choices. S.J.L.

I was disappointed to see members of other conservative Mennonite churches in the B-rolls. Also the low-lit picture of conservative Mennonites on the title picture are not members of the Holdeman church. Conservative Mennonites and Holdeman Mennonites are not one and the same.

Please do more of these. Do one on Tge New Apostolic Reformation a heresy of tge health amd wealth gospel.

Nice work, John.

I was so happy to come across this video. I relate so very much to the experiences I hear shared here. I was raised Amish in Hartville, OH. At the age of 19 I was arrested by the Spirit of God & could not go on without knowing my sins are forgiven. I found the Jesus of the Scriptures & ever since have always sought fellowship with true believers. I knew I had passed from death unto life. I came across the Holderman people & in some respects I really appreciated them with their sincerity & other things that I felt lined up with the Scriptures. But I found out they would not except me on my testimony of Jesus alone. Exactly as I hear testified here; they wanted to hear from me that its Christ & the Church. For them the "church" has become an idol. Kind of what happened with the Jews when they rejected Jesus: their own table has become a snare to them. Here is a video message I think you people will appreciate: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GdVmK7vgN3o.htmlsi=h08BMrMZo4UvhIGP

Strange. I live 20 minutes north of Grant Ne for 20 years. I went to Grants fabric store and always saw many Mennonites.

Well Done!

Great video Jon. Really encourage anyone dealing with a similar experience, with a church that practices this kind of shunning, or believes that it is the only true church, to grab the books 'Churches that Abuse,' by Ron Enroth and 'Kingdom of the Cults,' by Walter Martin.

I grew up in a strict Catholic church family. It was no different than this. All cults operate this way. It's all about power and control and greed. If you try to leave, you are excommunicated by your family. All cults operate the same.

Hi, enjoyed the documentary. But I am curious, have you researched the difference between Holdeman Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren? I ask because I saw my church had multiple shots of B-roll in this documentary and it is a Mennonite Brethren church. We have completely separate views and believe solely in the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Very well done 👍. I had never heard of the Holdemans until today but I am very familiar with the 'if you died tonight' question (stick) being held over the head of people. This creates congregations full of people who can never have assurance of salvation because it's always one sin, repentance or church service away. I am sad to say that there are untold numbers of churches who have never heard of the Holdemans where this takes place.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1212">20:12</a> so so true. Ripping verses out of context and making something up that's totally different. Overall this is a fantastic documentary. Very well done. Sad that so many people are deceived through man's cunning and slippery speech. Nice work!

I don't know that God is happy for this. In the end of a day, we are all God's people. if God look down to us what will he say to each one of us, it is well done or i never know each one of you... Instead of this both of us why can't we be like Gamaliel in acts <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="338">5:38</a>-39.. God is the only one who knows the content of the heart of each one of us... Written in weakness. May the peace of God will be upon us.. this is God really want. I felt sorry for each of us

Sounds like your average strict Mennonite and Amish church

Did anyone else have trouble with playback? It started doing the spinny thing with me @<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2180">36:20</a>.

Interesting how many of false religious systems came about during this time period. Unfortunately our daughter is in one called the church of Christ.

I've never heard of this group. If it doesn't discuss what the differences are between mennonites then I'll ask later.

Bro wit da blonde girl has to get permission to breathe

In spreading the truth, i don't know if it's right to feature the errors of others /group. If so what is the reason. As if we are leading the people in what they want. As if we are telling them not to choose this or that, there is an error there or that is a cult. God only knows. God give us a choice, everyone has a choice. I don't know if it's God being praised or exalted or the person's behind this. Sorry. God forgive me for telling this. Or maybe it's better to let people know the truth about the bible without stepping someone/group. What do you think.... Sorry

This is difficult to watch. Thank God these people were able to get out of this unBiblical legalism. One can't help but recognize some of this, to a lesser level though, in more orthodox denominations like the SBC even. The ad hominem fallacy element is something I've witnessed in a large SBC church I attended. The person questioning things about the church was questioned before the content or Biblical veracity of the concerns they had.

I didn't grow up in the church. I'm sorry for those who may have truly erred with you all, but one thing I know, Christ is the head of the Church and never has the Church tried to mislead anyone. The truth is out there and doesn't need to be defended. Unfortunately this video does have many untruths in it.

Dad always said what Peter tells about Paul, tells more about Peter than it does about Paul. What I find disturbing is how this crowd discusses at length how wrong the Holdeman’s are for believing that other churches are wrong yet these guys have a lot to say about how wrong the Holdeman’s are, weirdly hypocritical to say the least. I’m not Holdeman nor have I ever been one but I live amongst a group of Holdeman’s and I have to say I’d be hard put to find a crowd I trust more but you know churches are run by and frequented by humans and humans fail in many ways no matter how much they strive to do what they believe is right, so cut them some slack, you guys left the Holdeman church already right? So you’re now free to be the perfect christians right? Go be what you think is the best you and quit whining about the Holdeman’s. And Stuart, you tell a compelling story there but you left out some pretty important parts didn’t you, why didn’t you tell it all? You want to make the Holdeman’s look bad but you cleverly left out very serious information so the innocent viewer would side with you. As for those of you in the video that have never been members of the Holdeman church, my question is why do you want to boost your membership with ex Holdeman’s? Is it too much work or why don’t you go out and do all the work of converting the poor souls off the streets? Just saying…

Total waste of time, whoever produced and participated in this video is a major disappointment. What is the point of this? If you weren't happy being a Mennonite that's fine, go away, but what is the point of trash talking after going away? Does it somehow justify the path you decided to take, does it somehow make you a better person? This entire video is a huge pile of misinformation. On top of a lot of missing details and a totally one sided story, it's just a couple of very desperate people trying to make a point, a very weak point. May God have mercy on your souls

Is this what Henry Hildebrandt is?

There's a big difference between being butt hurt, and being an advocate for people who have been abused and have no voice.