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This is the classic Dirk Willems print from the Martyr’s Mirror. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://anabaptistfaith.org/dirk-willems/] |
On this date, May 16, 1569, Dutch Anabaptist Martyr, Dirk Willems was executed for his beliefs. I will post information about him from Wikipedia and also other links before giving my thoughts. I will present this bible verse in memory of him.
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"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:10 (KJV) [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-5-10_Inspirational_Image/] |
Dirk Willems (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdɪr(É™)k ˈʋɪlÉ™ms]; also spelled Durk Willems; died 16 May 1569) was a Dutch Anabaptist martyr most famous for escaping from prison but then turning back to rescue his pursuer – who had fallen through thin ice while chasing Willems – only to be recaptured, tortured, and killed for his beliefs.
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The Dirk Willems statue is the latest addition to the historical exhibits on our grounds. It was unveiled on November 10 by the Peace Exhibit Committee & Friends. The statue is based on the iconic engraving of Dirk Willems turning back to save his captor, who had fallen through the ice chasing Willems, in the 1685 edition of the Martyrs Mirror by Jan Luyken. The statue was created by sculptor Peter Sawatzky and was erected at the museum in recognition of the Anabaptist theology of peace and non-resistance. What does peace mean to you? #mennoniteheritagvillage #mhv #history #anabaptist #mennonite #peace #nonresistance #inthevillage #curatorsfavourites @ Mennonite Heritage Village Museum [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2075791862482534&set=pcb.2075792039149183] [ALBUM SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/MHVSteinbach/posts/pfbid0StnK2ovCgDAvwCdGt9nznhqwY8n9pa8drhY6entsLmsy6R42G4oLXxAM4hfrLW7sl] |
Life
Willems was born in Asperen, Gelderland (then under the Duchy of Guelders in the Holy Roman Empire), in the current Netherlands. He was subject to a believers' baptism, i.e. "rebaptized" (which made him an "Anabaptist" in the eyes of officials) as a young man in Rotterdam, thus rejecting the infant baptism, practiced at that time by both Catholics and established Protestants in the Netherlands, which he would have received previously. This action, plus his continued devotion to his new faith and the baptism of several other people in his home, led to his condemnation by the Catholic Church in the Netherlands and subsequent arrest in Asperen in 1569.
Willems was held in a residential palace turned into a prison, from which he escaped using a rope made out of knotted rags. Using this, he was able to climb out of the prison onto the frozen moat. A guard noticed his escape and gave chase. Willems was able to traverse the thin ice of a frozen pond, the Hondegat, because of his lighter weight after subsisting on prison rations. However, the pursuing guard fell through the ice and yelled for help as he struggled in the icy water. Willems turned back to save the life of his pursuer and thus was recaptured. His former pursuer stated his desire to let Willems go, but the burgomaster "reminded the pursuer of his oath", causing the pursuer to seize Willems.
Willems was thereafter held until he was condemned by a group of seven judges, who, quoting Willems' "persisting obstinately in his opinion", ordered that he be burned at the stake on 16 May 1569, as well as that all his property be confiscated "for the benefit of his royal majesty". Willems was executed in Asperen, and with a strong eastward wind blowing that day, the fire was driven away from the condemned's upper body, thus prolonging his torturous death. It was reported that the wind carried his screams all the way to nearby Leerdam, where he was heard to have exclaimed things such as "O Lord; my God", etc., over seventy times. The bailiff on horseback nearby was so saddened by Willems' suffering that he said to the executioner, "Dispatch the man with a quick death." Though it is not known if the executioner obeyed this request, it is known that Willems eventually died there, "with great steadfastness", and "having commended his soul into the hands of God".[1]
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The Dirk Willems statue is the latest addition to the historical exhibits on our grounds. It was unveiled on November 10 by the Peace Exhibit Committee & Friends. The statue is based on the iconic engraving of Dirk Willems turning back to save his captor, who had fallen through the ice chasing Willems, in the 1685 edition of the Martyrs Mirror by Jan Luyken. The statue was created by sculptor Peter Sawatzky and was erected at the museum in recognition of the Anabaptist theology of peace and non-resistance. What does peace mean to you? #mennoniteheritagvillage #mhv #history #anabaptist #mennonite #peace #nonresistance #inthevillage #curatorsfavourites @ Mennonite Heritage Village Museum [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2075791795815874&set=pcb.2075792039149183] [ALBUM SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/MHVSteinbach/posts/pfbid0StnK2ovCgDAvwCdGt9nznhqwY8n9pa8drhY6entsLmsy6R42G4oLXxAM4hfrLW7sl] |
Legacy
Today, he is one of the most celebrated martyrs among Anabaptists, which includes Mennonites and Amish, as well as a folk hero among modern residents of Asperen. A historical drama based on his life – Dirk's Exodus – was written in 1989 by James C. Juhnke. In 2018, a statue of Dirk Willems was unveiled at the Mennonite Heritage Village museum in Steinbach, Manitoba.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirk_Willems
RELATED LINKS:
https://anitamathias.com/2019/10/17/the-story-of-dirk-willems-the-man-who-died-to-save-his-enemy/
https://amnetwork.uk/resource/why-did-dirk-willems-turn-back/
https://www.homecomers.org/mirror/dirk-willems.htm
https://anabaptistfaith.org/dirk-willems/
https://www.homecomers.org/mirror/quotes.htm
MY THOUGHTS:
Dirk Willems is one of the most celebrated martyrs among Anabaptists, which includes Mennonites and Amish, as well as a folk hero among modern residents of Asperen. As a reformed Christian myself, I also have great admiration for him together with my Anabaptist brothers and sisters in Christ.
When I read about Willems escaping from prison, I remember the Apostle Paul escaped from Damascus by being lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall. (Acts 9:25 and II Corinthians 11:33).
When he saved the life of his pursuer, I think of the bible verse:
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But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. - Matthew 5:44 (KJV) [PHOTO SOURCE: https://dailyverses.net/2025/5/21/kjv] |
Last of all, I see him as a faithful Christian who rather die than give in to the tyranny of the papists. As he must have obeyed Acts 5:29 - Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
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We must obey God and defy tyrants! The apostles gave us the example in Scripture - Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."" The image itself is very symbolic. The crown represents a Tyrant who does not obey God's law and is spiritually dead as symbolized by the skull. The sword piercing the skull represents the Sword of the Spirit. What can defeat Tyrants? The Gospel message and He who is the Truth. When a king disobeys God's law and therefore acts unjustly, he must be called back. But if they refuse to harken to wisdom and continue to violate God's law and their role laid out in Romans 13, they must be defied. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.reformedsage.com/products/defy-tyrants-tee] https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/09/emperor-trajans-sword-doctrine-of.html |
In memory of this Anabaptist Martyr, I will post two videos on him:
Dirk Willems skit
Jan 29, 2025
The FMH Class of 2026 acts out a bit of the story of Dutch martyr Dirk Willems in honor of the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism. Recorded and edited by the Videography Class.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtqKr34UAyM
Unbelievably TRUE Anabaptist Stories: Dirk Willems and Michael Sattler
Aug 25, 2020
In this video, I hare two incredible, true anabaptist stories, that centre around two anabaptist martyrs; Dirk Willems and Michael Sattler! These are the early radical protestant reformers, who go on to become the Mennonites, Amish, and Hutterites!
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as-BSFSZWdk
Anabaptist 500 Years –
in a Broken Vase [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1288017125750629&set=a.144133180139035]
The Japanese art of Kintsugi speaks volumes about grace and restoration. When a
vase cracks or breaks, instead of discarding it or hiding the damage, Kintsugi
repairs the flaws by filling them with gold. The result? A vase more beautiful
and valuable because of its imperfections, not in spite of them.
I love that image. It’s a profound reminder that our flaws and failures can be
part of our beauty.
Today, we celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism, and to me, this milestone feels
like a Kintsugi vase: filled with cracks but shining with grace and lessons
learned.
On this day 500 years ago, a group of courageous young radicals gathered in
their small, illegal church to dedicate themselves fully to the Lord. They
performed adult baptism upon confession of faith, defying both religious and
political norms of the time. That act sparked a movement—a tidal wave of change
that, within just 2 years, saw 12,500 believers willing to give up everything
for their faith, including their lives. Among them was Felix Mantz, the first
martyr of this movement.
Over the centuries, Anabaptists have done so much good: standing against the
evils of warfare and slavery, championing peace, and becoming one of the first
groups after the Reformation to engage in global missions. These are the
attractive parts of our story.
But we’ve also made plenty of mistakes. For me, celebrating this anniversary
isn’t just about the victories—it’s about remembering and learning from the
failures, too. If we determine not to hide our mistakes, God can make them
shine as gold.
At 58, as I reflect on my life, I realize that the lessons learned through my
own mistakes are some of the most valuable ones I’ve ever received.
I believe that one of the greatest strengths of identifying as an Anabaptist
today is embracing 500 years of cracks and flaws, not hiding them but allowing
them to refine us. It is not about 500 years of "doing it right."
It's 500 years of learning. Embracing both the good and the mistakes. The art
of Kintsugi reminds us that our imperfections don’t mar us; they become part of
the beauty of our story.
So, on this 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, let’s remember both
our successes and failures. Let’s not hide our flaws, but instead, let them
teach us, refine us, and help us shine with God’s grace. Like a Kintsugi vase,
may we celebrate not perfection, but God’s grace in our broken vessels.
Let's also remember, as DL Mody once said "The only way to keep a broken
vessel full is to keep it always under the tap.”
Praise the Lord today with me for 500 years of learning, growing, and living
graciously. May God receive all the Glory.
OTHER LINKS:
Practice of Community in the Early Anabaptist Movement — Dean Taylor — Ep. 095
9.53K subscribers
2,946 views May 21, 2020 Anabaptist Perspectives Episodes
How was community practiced by the early Anabaptists? What is the proper vision behind living in a Christian community? In this episode, Dean Taylor discusses the presence of community in the early Anabaptists. He gives examples of communities that were successful and of ones that failed, showing that a proper understanding of the purpose of community is necessary in order for it to work well.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL5yfNU3d0Y&t=88s
The Quest for Community by Dean Taylor
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTq5QoCBvZA&t=1474s
What Kind of Community Do We Need? — Melvin Lehman — Ep. 191
11.7K subscribers
1,922 views Jul 13, 2023 Anabaptist Perspectives Episodes
What kind of community should Christians cultivate? Melvin Lehman argues that particular Christian communities should be shaped by shared values, shared geography, shared goals, and shared commitments. This includes submitting to brotherhood decisions. But it must be framed within the greater commitment to the Lordship of Jesus. Look for two more episodes with Melvin to further develop these ideas. Host: Jaran Miller
Melvin Lehman lives with his family in Guys Mills, Pennsylvania, where he also served as a teacher at Faith Builders Educational Program for many years. Melvin is passionate about teaching the Bible to the next generation, and enjoys tending his small family farm.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihP7wFjo4r8&t=568s
Should Churches Build a Culture? — Melvin Lehman — Ep. 193
Aug 10, 2023 Anabaptist Perspectives Episodes
A viewer asks: “Does Jesus really call us as His children to build anything?......an identity, a structure or a culture or rather to simply align ourselves with what He has already promised us He would build in and through His ekklesia?” This was in response to Melvin Lehman’s previous episode “The New Conservatives”. In this episode Melvin argues that the New Testament calls churches to proactively create culture.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaP5E2TAVa0&t=17s
Integrating into a New Church Community — Melvin Lehman — Ep. 199
Nov 2, 2023 Anabaptist Perspectives Episodes
Integration into a new church community does not happen automatically and often comes with difficulty. What does it take to successfully put deep roots into a new community? Melvin Lehman brings pastoral experience to questions from audience members and asks us to remember that participating in strong communities come at a price. Though building communities that is both strong and welcoming comes with challenges, Melvin encourages us to embrace the task.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E29ZKKed9eE
https://www.fbep.org/people/melvin-lehman/
https://anabaptistperspectives.org/people/melvin-lehman/
https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/how-does-revelation-14-depict-the-people-of-god/
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/514137/Iran-s-population-growth-rate-plunges
TEMPORARY LINKS:
From Muslim to Catholic: Islam Is the Heresy of Heresies (Ismail Youssef) | Ep. 518
713K subscribers
426,988 views Premiered Apr 3, 2025 Full Length Episodes
Ismail Youssef, also known as Ish of Arabia, a former Muslim who left Islam to embrace Catholicism, rejecting what he sees as the contradictions, injustices, and oppressive teachings of Muhammad. Now, he dedicates his life to exposing the flaws of Islam and bringing the truth of Christianity to Muslims worldwide. Ismail produces hard-hitting videos that challenge Islamic doctrines and reveal the historical and theological problems within the faith. He is currently writing Thirst for a Life-Giving Water, a powerful account of his journey out of Islam and into the freedom of Christ. His work is a stand for truth, no matter the cost. Youtube: @ishofarabia Instagram: @ishofarabia
Grab your favorite PWA gear here: https://shop.pintswithaquinas.com
00:00 Introduction
03:00 Growing Up as a Muslim
08:03 Family’s Commitment to Islam
12:23 Questioning Islam
25:30 Engaging with Other Religions
30:17 Questioning Muhammad
35:05 Reevaluating Muhammad’s Life
45:48 Unraveling the Truth of Islam
50:07 Aquinas’ Perspective on Muhammad
51:50 Departing from Islam
1:00:50 Parents’ Response to Leaving Islam
1:03:10 The Journey Toward Christianity
1:10:35 First Experience of the Mass
1:13:15 Discovering Prayer
1:17:40 Embracing Christianity
1:32:09 Leaving Everything Behind for Christ
1:38:40 Why Catholicism?
1:40:43 Why Muslims Are Converting to Christianity
1:46:16 Influencing Muslim Conversions
1:50:20 Advice for Muslims
1:55:04 The Qur'an's view of Jesus
2:01:06 Viewing Islam as a Heresy
2:04:50 Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?
2:11:16 What Islam Gets Right
2:13:20 How to Evangelize Muslims
2:15:15 Polygamy
2:15:50 Is Islam Inherently Violent
2:16:40 Misunderstandings Among Catholics About Islam
2:18:10 Is There a Sense of Sacramentality in Islam
2:19:39 Deciphering the Mystery of the Trinity
2:23:30 Lessons Catholics Can Learn from Muslim Devotion
2:30:30 Conclusion
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6apiJXfUAgc&t=769s
How Christ Saved Me From Islam (Ismail Youssef)
VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4_kyMx6i7s&t=4s
