Muddy Creek Mennonite Church

Hope Mennonite Fellowship is a conservative Mennonite denomination formed in 1981 by Earl B. Horst and Edwin H. Gehman, who left the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church to establish a more open relationship between ministry and laity. With 11 congregations and nearly 750 members as of 2026, the fellowship emphasizes nonconformity to the world, nonresistance, and a capella singing. The group adheres to the 1921 Garden City Confession of Faith and maintains a strong focus on evangelism and prison ministry. About Us

Hope Mennonite Fellowship (HMF) is a Mennonite denomination rooted in the Anabaptist tradition, formed in 1981 by Earl B. Horst and Edwin H. Gehman. They left the Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Church (EPMC) to create a fellowship with a more open relationship between the ministry and the laity in policy-making and discipline review. HMF has grown steadily to 11 congregations by 2026, with nearly 750 members. Many of these members came from EPMC and other conservative Mennonite conferences in southeastern Pennsylvania.

HMF adheres to the Christian Fundamentals (1921, Garden City, Missouri), a confessional supplement to the Dordrecht Confession (1632). Core doctrines include nonconformity to the world, nonresistance, and the belief that only marriage between a man and a woman is sanctioned by God. Members are discouraged from using television and radio, though internet usage is allowed with approved filters and accountability. Women wear head coverings and have uncut hair, while men wear plain coats. Singing in worship services, schools, and youth chorus programs is a capella.

The fellowship maintains a strong evangelistic effort through ministries like Caribbean Light and Truth in Belize, Mennonite Air Missions in Guatemala, and Alleghany Boys Camp in Maryland. HMF also conducts prison ministry in Lehigh County Prison twice weekly and provides temporary care for children of inmates through the Beacon of Hope Committee.

HMF provides church-sponsored activities for youth, including Ebenezer Mennonite Bible School and youth choruses that perform in retirement homes and rehabilitation centers. The fellowship also supports the Hope Teachers' Institute, a training seminar for school teachers conducted in collaboration with Pilgrim and Weaverland Mennonite Conferences.

HMF does not participate in Mennonite Church USA assemblies or attend MCUSA regional conferences but maintains fraternal relationships with other conservative Mennonite groups. The fellowship's congregations often have their own Christian day schools, using curriculum from Anabaptist publishers like Christian Light Education and Rod and Staff Publishers.

For more information, visit About Us or History.

Muddy Creek Mennonite Church in Denver, PA, offers a worship style rooted in Anabaptist traditions, featuring a cappella singing and plain attire reflecting nonconformity. First-time visitors may notice structured services with clear Sunday and Wednesday gatherings, alongside community outreach through prison ministry and youth programs. The congregation emphasizes close-knit evangelism and educational initiatives like Ebenezer Bible School.

Pros

• Clear service times with Sunday worship and weekly prayer meetings posted.
• Youth and family ministries including Bible school, choruses, and teacher training programs.
• Community outreach through prison ministry and Caribbean mission work.
• Facilities include a combined school and church building for convenience.
• A cappella music in worship aligns with traditional Anabaptist practices.
• Hope Teachers' Institute provides professional development for educators.

Cons

• Website offers limited specific details about Muddy Creek Church’s local activities beyond HMF-wide programs.
• Plain dress and head covering customs may require visitor preparedness.
• Service times are infrequent, with worship only on Sundays and select Wednesdays.
• No explicit guidance for newcomers on the church’s dedicated webpage.
• Faith tradition is listed as 'Unknown,' which may reflect denominational distinctiveness not widely recognized.