Mennonite Weekly Review

HARRISONBURG, Va. — In fall 1998, Google had just come on the scene. Only 24 percent of U.S. households were connected to the Internet.

And Third Way Café, the Web site designed to help the general public learn more about Mennonites, first went online with six topics and 100 or so pages.

Ten years later, Third Way Café hosts more than 3,000 pages of Mennonite information, audio files, video clips, essays, Scripture and conversation. Mennonite Media, the site’s producer, has created seven additional ministry Web sites on specific social issues since then.

Early finders of the site were Paul and Sarah Hebblethwaite, who in 1998 desired a church home and committed Christian discipleship. After finding Third Way Café, they also found Mennonite Voluntary Service and served a term in Fresno, Calif.

Eventually the Hebblethwaites found Pasadena Mennonite Church. They learned from the leadership style and enjoyed the liturgical worship style.

Sarah Hebblethwaite has completed seminary studies at Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently in discernment for Holy Orders in the Episcopal tradition. She identifies herself as Anabaptist theologically and maintains ties to the Center for Anabaptist Leadership of Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference.

Todd and Andrea Grotenhuis are another couple who attended a local Mennonite Church after reading Third Way Café.

Todd Grotenhuis, an information security specialist, and Andrea Grotenhuis, a chemist, both in their mid-20s, researched churches over a period of years.

Both of them have Protestant roots but became interested in finding a local church that more closely matched their beliefs. When they were looking for a new church home in Indianapolis, Todd Grotenhuis checked out Third Way Café.

“Sometimes it is hard to get basic beliefs out of a denomination,” Grotenhuis said. “Beliefs are a touchy subject and groups almost hide them.” But at Third Way, he he found “a clear statement about what is commonly believed. I appreciated the honesty and openness.”