In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, Waylon and Amanda welcome Ray, who takes us on a journey through his life as a member of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Ray begins by introducing himself as someone currently living in Muskogee, Oklahoma, but his story starts in the small, tight-knit congregation of Crooked Creek in northern Alberta, Canada. At just four years old, Ray’s family moved to Kansas, where he grew up in the Fredonia congregation, a community that...

In this episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," we had the pleasure of sitting down with Wes Friesen from the Barron, Wisconsin congregation of Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Wes takes us on a journey through his life, sharing intimate and heartfelt stories about his upbringing, experiences within the church, and his eventual path out of the Holdeman community. Wes begins by recounting his childhood in Barron, Wisconsin, a place where he spent the majority of his formative...

In this heartfelt episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, we sit down with Rosina Friesen, who offers a candid and inspiring account of her life’s journey. Born in 1950 in Crooked Creek, Alberta, Rosina grew up as the third of nine children in a bustling, hardworking family. Now living in Peace River, Alberta, she reflects on her early years in a traditional, close-knit community, shaped by the teachings of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Rosina’s story takes us through her...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, Amanda is joined by Herman Friesen, who shares his deeply personal story of growing up in a Holdeman Mennonite family and his life after leaving the church. Herman begins by recounting his early years, including his father’s role as a preacher and the significant moment when his father was "benched" from preaching when Herman was only four years old. He shares how he was converted at age 10 and baptized at 11, reflecting on the strong...

This episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories features Tyson, a guest who joins Amanda to discuss his journey of personal growth, healing, and self-discovery. Tyson starts off nervously but quickly opens up, sharing how he envisioned a podcast like this two years ago as a way for people with similar experiences to connect and heal. Surprisingly, Tyson discovered the podcast only a few months prior, making his appearance feel almost serendipitous. In the episode, Tyson dives into...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, Weylin Unruh sits down with Nolan Raber to discuss his life growing up in the Church of God in Christ Mennonite community and his journey of leaving the church. Nolan starts by sharing his early years in Kidron, Ohio, where he spent the first eight years of his life. He reflects on the close-knit nature of the Holdeman community and the strong emphasis on conformity, which played a significant role in shaping his upbringing. Nolan...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, Weylin Unruh sits down with Nolan Reiber to discuss his life growing up in the Holdeman Mennonite community and his journey of leaving the church. Nolan starts by sharing his early years in Kidron, Ohio, where he spent the first eight years of his life. He reflects on the close-knit nature of the Holdeman community and the strong emphasis on conformity, which played a significant role in shaping his upbringing. Nolan opens up about...

The episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories features Amanda as the host and Waylon as the guest. The discussion dives into the concept of spiral dynamics, a psychological model used to explain human development and behavior, especially in the context of religion. Waylon introduces spiral dynamics as a tool that has helped him understand why people react in different ways depending on their stage of psychological development. He emphasizes that the model is not hierarchical, meaning...

In this episode, titled "Avoidance Kills: A Discussion With Mary Byler," Amanda and Billy explore the impact of avoidance, a term used within the Church of God in Christ Mennonite for shunning. Mary Byler, founder of The Misfit Amish, discusses how the practice of avoidance, or shunning, within high-control Anabaptist communities perpetuates harm by isolating individuals and suppressing important conversations about abuse, trauma, and healing. Mary shares her personal journey of leaving a...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, our very own Amanda Esau takes the spotlight to share her personal journey, while being interviewed by Starla and Jordie. Born in Phoenix to a mixed-race family, Amanda opens up about the challenges she faced growing up with a Hispanic mother and a Caucasian father. She recalls how the cultural and racial differences were met with resistance within the Holdeman church, sharing a painful moment when her father was told, "I guess...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, hosts Weylin and Amanda sit down with Jaclyn (Jackie) Peachey to discuss her life journey, growing up within the Holdeman community and eventually finding her way out. Jackie opens up about her early life in Moundridge, Kansas, where her father left the family when she was just nine months old. She reflects on the strength of her mother, who went to nursing school and raised Jackie and her siblings on her own, becoming one of Jackie’s...

This episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories" features Laura Smith, who shares her journey growing up in the Church of God in Christ Mennonite and her eventual departure from the church at the age of 20. Originally from the Walker, Missouri congregation, Laura's family moved to Monterey, Tennessee when she was 12, and she describes the challenges and experiences that came with that transition. Laura delves into her early memories of the Holdeman Church, reflecting on the strict...

In this episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," Weylin sits down with Chris, a former member of a Central Kansas congregation of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Chris offers a candid look into her life, from growing up in a rural farming family to navigating her way out of the Holdeman church and redefining her beliefs. Chris recounts her childhood as the youngest of four daughters in a family that thrived on hard work and connection to the land. Her days were filled with...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, host Amanda sits down with David Justus, a former member of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, to share his life journey that led him from the confines of the Holdeman community to the expansive wilderness of Alaska. David talks about his early years growing up in the Bonners Ferry congregation, where strict rules and expectations shaped every aspect of his life. He reflects on the sense of community and belonging he initially...

In this episode, Caleb Jesser and Dennis Goossen take listeners through the transformative decades of the 1940s to the 1960s for the Holdeman Church, officially known as the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. This episode is part of the series "Our Heritage: Holdeman Mennonite History," which explores the critical changes and developments that shaped the church during societal upheaval. The discussion opens with a reflection on the immediate post-war era. Caleb and Dennis provide context...

In this heartfelt episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, Amanda sits down with Jordie, formerly known as Julie, to explore her journey into and out of the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Jordie shares candid reflections on her childhood, growing up first in Linden, Alberta, and later in Pincher Creek. She speaks warmly of her early years, recalling a childhood filled with love, family, and a sense of community. However, Jordie also opens up about the duality of her experience,...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, Weylin sits down with Doreen from the Crooked Creek congregation of Church of God in Christ Mennonite. She tells of her childhood in the church, her path out of the organization, and her faith journey after leaving. Her story features candid discussion of childhood sexual abuse, emotional manipulation, and other traumatic events. Follow us on Facebook: https://rb.gy/cj55td Subscribe on...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, host Amanda sits down with Carolyn, who shares her deeply personal journey of growing up and living within the Holdeman Mennonite community. Carolyn’s story is one of resilience, especially as she navigates the complexities of being a woman and a single mother in a patriarchal and high-control religious system. Carolyn begins by reflecting on her early years in Crooked Creek, where the church's teachings and sense of community...

In this episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," Teran Rinehart shares the story of her life, focusing on her challenging experiences growing up in the Carson City, Michigan congregation of Church of God in Christ Mennonite and its school. Teran begins by recounting the remarkable story of her grandmother, who was born into a wealthy family in Santiago, Chile, but left it all behind to become a mail-order bride in Michigan. Yolanda's journey into the Mennonite community had a...

In this episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," we sit down with Sandra Loewen, who hails from the Rosenort, Manitoba congregation of Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Sandra opens up about her unique life journey, beginning with her adoption into a Holdeman Mennonite family at just two weeks old. Raised within the church, Sandra’s early life was deeply rooted in the values and practices of the Holdeman community. She shares the love and nurturing she received from her adoptive...

In this episode of Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories, we are joined by Stuart Litwiller, who shares his profound journey from being deeply involved in Church of God in Christ Mennonite to building a new life in Kenya. Stuart starts by recounting his early years in Carson City, Michigan, and his move to Murray, Kentucky, where he took on significant leadership roles within the church. Stuart's story takes a pivotal turn as he describes his baptism at age 13, which left him feeling...

In this episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," we sit down with Barb Wedel, who takes us on a journey through her life growing up in the Fairview congregation of Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Barb, a self-proclaimed wild child, shares how she always felt like a bit of a rebel in a community that prized conformity. Barb talks about her family's deep ties to the church, with both her parents raised within its strict confines. She recounts a touching story about her maternal...

In this compelling episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," we sit down with Stanley Unruh to explore his unique journey into and out of the Holdeman Mennonite Church. Stanley, originally from the Greensburg Kansas congregation of Church of God In Christ Mennonite shares his deeply personal story of growing up within the high-control religious community, the pivotal moments that led him to question his beliefs, and the challenges he faced while transitioning to life outside the...

In this episode of "Our People: Holdeman Mennonite Stories," host Waylon sits down with Larissa, a former member of Church of God in Christ Mennonite. Larissa begins by sharing her background, growing up in the Ithaca, Michigan congregation, which she considered her home despite living in a few other congregations throughout her life. She delves into her family history, mentioning that her parents owned and operated the Mennonite nursing home, Maple View, in Michigan. This setting...