The Mennonite Trek to Central AsiaApocalyptic Debacle or Christian-Muslim Paradigm?

Three Phases of the Story

The migration & settlement of Mennonites in Central Asia

The Prevailing Narrative: Apocalyptic Debacle

The Emerging Narrative: Christian-Muslim Paradigm

The Trek - Background

Mennonites moved east since the Reformation (1530’s to 1800’s):

Netherlands to Prussia to Russia

Search for self governance and freedom from military service

1870’s: Russia threatens to end exemptions

Thousands move west to North America

The Trek - Background

Many felt their new refuge was further east

The East = refuge from the Tribulation, site of the Second Coming of Christ

About 1,000 migrated to Central Asia between 1880 and 1884

Heimweh (Homesickness) A novel by Heinrich Jung Stilling, 1794

The hero, Christian von Ostenheim, finds a utopian refuge in Central Asia

The Trek - Influences

The Trek - InfluencesHistory of the Defenseless Baptism-Minded Community*Martin Klaassen, 1874

“Very likely in one of the lands of the rising sun, toward that direction God will rescue the little company of his own ... and exalt them on the Rock until his wrath and holy judgments will have passed.”

*Geschichte der wehrlosen taufgesinnten Gemeinde

The Trek - Influences

Claas Epp Jr. 1838 - 1913

“This place of refuge is not in the legally organized part of Russia ... This points us to the free area of the khanates of inner Asia, and to no other place in the world.”

The Trek - Influences

Claas Epp Jr. 1838 - 1913

Islam would be “wiped away” before Tribulation

Second Coming:8 March 1889

“Bride Community” would prepare the way for True Believers

The Trek

The Trek

The Trek

Many settled in Russian Turkestan (Kyrgyzstan)

Most ardent “Bride Community” members went to Khiva (Uzbekistan)

Of those who first went to Khiva, half migrated to North America in 1884

Khiva

Khiva

Claas Epp Jr. became Increasingly radical

Character from Book of Revelation

Held Ascension Ceremony

Godhead = Father Son, Holy Spirit, Claas Epp

Khiva Settlement: Ak Metchet

Claas Epp’s influence waned after failed prophecies

Mennonites remained in Khiva until 1935

Both Talas Valley and Ak Metchet Mennonites shed apocalyptic views (mostly)

Most descendants now live in Germany, U.S. and Canada

Apocalyptic debacle?

Prevailing narrative since the trek:

Focus on erroneous apocalyptic beliefs, hardships of the trekkers

Claas Epp singled out for responsibility

Used as a warning against millennialism

Apocalyptic debacle?

C. Henry Smith, Mennonite Historian:

“Mennonites have been unusually susceptible to unwholesome influences of this sort … A number of times, undue stress upon chiliastic and apocalyptic views on the part of fanatical leaders has led to unfortunate results.”

Apocalyptic debacle?

Walter Unger, Fmr. Pres. of Columbia Bible College, BC:

“Contemporary prophecy teachers who read current events back into Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation are repeating Claas Epp’s error.”

Apocalyptic debacle?

Karen Schmidt, Trek Descendant:(click here to play video)

“Why did first-cousins marry?”

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

Recent contact between North American Mennonites and Uzbeks yield new evidence

Mennonites had a modernizing influence in Khiva

Contemporary values regarding interfaith cooperation shape the reassessment of the trek

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

Modernizing influence in Khiva

Photography and filmmaking

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

Modernizing influence in Khiva:

Photography and filmmaking

Cotton production

Electricity

Architecture

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

New Sacred Symbols

Mosque in Serabulak, Uzbekistan

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

New Sacred Symbols

Parquet floor at Khan’s palace

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

New Sacred Symbols

Mennonite well at Ak Metchet

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

New Sacred Symbols

Mennonite well at Ak Metchet

Norman Epp:

“Release Claas Epp from the stigma...”(click here to play video)

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

Four Mennonite pilgrimages to Khiva since 2007

Local imam “prays to” Ak Metchet Mennonites every spring for good crops

Museum planned in old city of Khiva

Christian-Muslim paradigm?

Khivan Mennonite Colony: An example of a peaceful, long-term Muslim-Christian cooperation and friendship