Faith in Action

In Psalm 24:1, King David declares, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.”

For 500 years, this belief – that everything belongs to God and we are simply stewards – has guided Anabaptist theology and its tradition of stewardship.

It has also shaped Everence throughout our 80 years of existence.

Though our members and the world have vastly changed over the last eight decades, Everence has remained steadfast in the Anabaptist practice of stewardship – and consequently, mutual aid.

500 YEARS OF ANABAPTISM

In 1525, a group of Christian reformers in Europe broke away from both Catholic and Protestant traditions to form what became known as the Anabaptist movement. Seeking to return to the teachings of Jesus and the practices of the early church, these believers emphasized peace, love, community, and living out their faith in everyday life.

A core conviction of the Anabaptist tradition is that true faith – rooted in Jesus’ teachings – should be expressed in every action, not just words or worship. This belief deeply influenced how early Anabaptists approached finances and possessions. Grounded in the understanding that everything ultimately belongs to God, they believed Christians are called to share freely and care for one another’s needs.

Many early leaders boldly expressed this belief – even under persecution. In 1527, while on trial in Bern, Switzerland, Anabaptist leader Hans Dreier declared, “No Christian will permit his fellow man to be in need.

The earth is the Lord’s.” Referencing Psalm 24:1, his words reflect a foundational emphasis of shared responsibility and communal care.

Colin Saxton, Stewardship Theologian and Director of Church Relations at Everence, affirms that Anabaptism – at its best – recognizes the deep sense of responsibility to one another in every aspect of our lives – including through finances and resource sharing.

“There’s something powerful about communities formed in Christ that make mutual aid more than just being helpful to one another,” Colin said. “It’s a sense of responsibility and calling to live this out.”

When stewardship is practiced as an expression of true discipleship, it naturally gives rise to mutual aid – a principle clearly demonstrated in the lives of early Anabaptists.

During the late 1520s in Augsburg, Germany, when Anabaptist believers were under the threat of imprisonment, torture and death due to their beliefs, the community provided mutual aid to one another. Shelter, food, clothing, employment and refuge were given freely and voluntarily amongst Augsburg Anabaptists, writes Jeni Hiett Umble in “Building Communities of Compassion.”

The congregation also had a “common purse” – a way for the congregation to collect and distribute money to those in need.

For many of us, money and possessions represent security, said Beryl Jantzi, Director of Stewardship Education at Everence. Mutual aid, however, is an act of faith that requires us to find security in Christ, even during crises.

“By giving away our resources and money, we’re stating that our trust is in God,” Beryl said. “Not until you can let go of your possessions can you truly embrace what God has for you in its entirety.”

Even as their very existence was under threat, early Anabaptists remained steadfast in providing aid – not only to one another but to anyone in need – believing that God had entrusted them with their possessions to care for others and fulfill his will.

80 YEARS OF EVERENCE

In 1945, a group of determined Mennonite church leaders established Mennonite Mutual Aid – now known as Everence – to put their belief in faithful stewardship and mutual aid into action.

“From the beginning, our organization has been rooted in the idea that faith calls us to care for one another, and to put that faith into action in practical ways,” said Ken Hochstetler, Everence President and CEO.

Following World War II, Mennonite conscientious objectors returned from their Civilian Public Service assignments. CPS was a government program that allowed conscientious objectors, many of whom were members of Anabaptist and other Historic Peace Church traditions, to perform alternative service in nonmilitary roles during World War II.

Even before the war ended, Mennonite leaders knew CPS volunteers and their families would need financial support as they acclimated back into their communities.

And so, MMA and its loan program for CPS workers were established. Within its first 10 years of operation, the organization provided about $600,000 in loans to CPS workers and their families.

Over the next several decades, MMA expanded its client base and developed numerous other programs, services and products to serve its new members and the changing times. These programs included the organization’s insurance plans, financial services, charitable programs and education resources.

Just as mutual aid had been central to the convictions of early Anabaptists in the 1500s, so it remained for MMA leadership. Writing in the late 1990s, then MMA President and CEO Howard Brenneman reflected on how this vision of mutual aid had evolved with time – and remained central to the organization’s mission.

“Mutual aid is a key way we practice Christian stewardship,” Howard wrote, continuing on to compare MMA’s life insurance policies to “a modern barn-raising” – a way for the church to rally around those who have suffered loss and provide them with tangible support.

“Faith in action is what drives MMA as we help people in our Anabaptist community apply their faith in their daily lives,” he wrote.

From 16th-century common purses to 21st-century grant programs, the principle remains the same: God’s resources are meant to be shared. Today, Everence strives to continue this tradition of active, generous faith through our commitment to nurturing a community rooted in stewardship and mutual aid.

Everence has a critical role within the church and beyond, said Beryl. “We teach clients how to manage their finances wisely – not as owners, but as stewards – so they can live generously and with the understanding that God is the owner of all things.”

This understanding of stewardship goes beyond financial management, Colin said.

“Stewardship is about the transformation of our lives,” he said. “It is not simply a set of practices, but it’s rooted in our self-identity as the people of God.”

In a world increasingly defined by individualism and consumerism, Everence offers a radical alternative – one that sees resources not as personal possessions, but as tools for community care and spiritual transformation, just as Jesus did.

This belief is reflected in action – both in the way we serve our clients, but also in the ways we provide mutual aid to communities in need.

Over just the past 15 years, Everence has supported our community in times of crisis in numerous ways: offering $60,000 in grants following the Great Recession; launching a COVID-19 relief fund with key partners in 2020; and providing $175,000 in the past year alone to support communities hit by hurricanes and wildfires, to name a few.

And there’s the Sharing Fund, our longstanding program that helps thousands of individuals and families meet basic needs each year through matching grants. In 2024, Everence provided $990,000 in Sharing Fund grants, which was then matched by $1.2 million from churches, supporting thousands of people.

These grant programs echo the spirit of the Augsburg Anabaptists’ common purse centuries ago – reflecting a legacy of shared resources and mutual support.

As Howard wrote, “Like our Anabaptist ancestors, we can turn our belief into action.”

That same spirit of active faith and community care continues to guide Everence today. Grounded in our mission – Together, we empower financial well-being for faith-inspired living – we remain committed to living out these convictions in meaningful, tangible ways.

“At Everence, we see stewardship as more than numbers and transactions – it’s a way of life, rooted in our faith and shared history,” said Ken. “Mutual aid is not a relic of the past, but a living practice that helps us walk alongside individuals and communities with compassion, purpose and generosity.”