For decades, members of Anabaptist churches from the USA, Canada and other countries have been traveling to Europe. They walk in the footsteps of their ancestors: in Holland, where the Mennonite namesake Menno Simons lived, in Alsace and the Palatinate, where many Anabaptist families from Switzerland found refuge. And they come to Switzerland, to the Bernese Emmental, the Jura and to the cradle of the Anabaptist movement in Zurich. It is more than just tourism. It is about questions such as "Where do our ancestors come from and why were they persecuted and driven out so harshly?"
For many years, the Anabaptist groups came anonymously like other tourists. But then "Signs of Remembrance and Reconciliation" sent a clear message: You are welcome here! The memorial plaque on the Limmat connected with the confession of 2004, the Anabaptist Year 2007 in Emmental or the Swiss dialog between Mennonites and Reformed in 2006-2009 under the motto "Christ is our peace" built bridges and created relationships.
2025 will be a special year: 500 years of the Anabaptist movement! Group trips are already being planned in the USA and Canada for the anniversary on May 29 in Zurich - and some are already fully booked. The event is being organized by the Mennonite World Conference. The Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich is supporting it financially.
Not only travel groups, but also families and individual travelers will make a pilgrimage to Zurich and visit other places in Switzerland with an Anabaptist connection. It will enrich their journey if they get to know fellow local Christians. Let's give them a warm "welcome", with a guest room!