This week in Christian history: Asbury revival, Oswald Smith becomes born-again, Menno Simons dies

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, January 28, 2024

Menno Simons dies – Jan. 31, 1561

A 19th century image of Menno Simons (1496-1561), a noted 16th century Anabaptist leader whose followers eventually formed the Mennonite Church. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Menno Simons, the Anabaptist pacifist leader and writer whose followers would later become known as the Mennonites, died in Holstein, Germany.

A former Dutch Catholic priest, Simons joined the Anabaptist movement after reading the works of Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther and having doubts of his own about Catholic teaching.

“Menno was not the founder of the Mennonite Church nor the most articulate spokesman of early Anabaptist theology,” explained Britannica.

“His greatness lay rather in the leadership he gave to northern Anabaptism during its formative first generation, a leadership maintained through his calm, biblically oriented approach and through his writings, which consolidated the insights of the movement.”