Hutterites: Our Story to Freedom

by The Nine

This is the story of how NINE courageous people came to make their decision to forsake all and find their new life in Jesus Christ and in society.

They left the Hutterite system which is a branch of Anabaptists similar to the Amish and Mennonites.

Each of "THE NINE" have committed to paper a personal chapter where they share their testimonies of their life-changing decision...

Genres: Biography

170 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2013

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this book should be rated one star but I gave it the benefit of the doubt. The title is misleading. It is not a story to "freedom," so much as a story of leaving one dogmatic church culture for another dogmatic church culture. The whole thing reads like the "nine" were told what to write, or it was heavily edited by someone who was dictating what they should write.

[Yolo Yearwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would have been much more interesting and enlightening had it been more about the Hutterites way of life and less about biblical scripture. Half of the book was bible verses, which took away from the Nine's on words. The two main points I took away from it was the lack of religious zeal of the Hutterites, which is not what I've experienced with living in a town that has three Hutterite communities. We regularly have Hutterite women who come into town and are prophesying about Christianity. I work at the library here at they are always looking for books on Christian romance and nonfiction bible stories about men/women of the biblical days. Next it was said that the people had to pay back taxes on their earnings from the colony. I personally know several Hutterites who left the colony when they turned 17 and they did not have to pay back taxes on earnings of the colony. Of course all colonies are different, and some may have different ways of handling their finances. Unfortunately these are the two main things I took from the book, and the two main ideas I feel like the Nine were trying to portray, and they are superficial in my opinion.

Next I'm going to read "I am Hutterite," to see if there is any connection or differences in opinions.

[Bj Kuzmack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

[Eirika · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not the main audience for this book. Any Hutterite contemplating leaving the lifestyle and ex-Hutterites will get much more out of this book then I did.

[JLD · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm… Not really a book i would recommend I don’t think. Although it is not very long, it is incredibly repetitious. There are 9 separate accounts from 9 different people who left the Hutterite colonies. The problem is; they are all practically the same story.

You could easily get everything you would need out of this book by reading the intro and then picking one of the 9 accounts at random.

It is somewhat interesting if you have any fascination with how religions or cults work. Although this is a very pro christian book. A couple of the writers get a little heavy handed and preachy, which just isn’t interesting as it offers no information or insight.

“If people are never told the truth how can they choose anything other than what they know?”-This does remind of the current trend of far right christians to homeschool. Ironic as all 9 of the storytellers left their colonies to still be devout christians.

It seems these people traded their old cult in for a new one.

Im soo glad I don’t believe in flat earth anymore! Ive been enlightened by the CUBE earth philosophy! Or something like that.

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

While this story appealed to me because it was set in North Dakota, I found that it was poorly edited and would have been much better if all stories were combined into one with a chronological story line. There was simply much too much repetition. I did enjoy learning about the Hutterite life style and religious beliefs.

[Ms · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too shallow in content with so-so-grammar quality. I could not rate this book above two stars.

[ReadingTheDots · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Hutterites: Our Story to Freedom by The Nine on July 4, 2015. What a fitting day to read this book. The book was given to me, months ago, by a friend, and I didn't get around to reading it until now.

It's a story I shall never forget because it's the true story of how nine courageous people left their homes, and, in some cases, their families, to walk boldly in the truth of Jesus Christ to stand against oppression by the Hutterite colonies where they lived.

Each of these nine have had struggles in their spiritual walk towards the freedom of God's truth, but they have kept walking boldly on in their search for God's truth, and they are sharing that truth with others.

I do not know any of them, personally, but they are each one a hero to me because they are standing for Jesus and speaking out against oppression and legalism, so common today in many Christian church settings.

I will definitely read the second book in the series, Since We Told The Truth: Our Life Can Never Be The Same (The Nine Book 2)

[Grace Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freedom and Life

We, as Christians and Americans, somewhat take our way of life for granted until we see what can happen when our freedom is taken away. Our forefathers came to the States in order to live their life without reprisals from church or government and what the Hutterite colonies have done is weave their selfish weaknesses into their daily lives and using God's name for their own purposes. I cannot honestly say only the Hutterites have done this; most of mankind has, in one way or another. If we all lived as Jesus did and kept God's commandments; the world would be a better place to live. Unfortunately, the biggest problem encountered today is greed and the dishonestly that goes with it. We do not treat others as we ourselves wish to be treated. After reading this book, I feel there is hope for the next generation to see, live, and teach that Jesus will hear if you allow yourself to reach out to him.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a chapter written by each of the nine. While I did feel I learned something, I felt the book could have been written much better. I felt it was an advertisement for the nine's current fellowship, and a plea to Hutterites still at colonies to leave. It was full of scripture, and complaints about the Hutterite Faith, that it doesn't follow scripture, yet calls the Faith Christian. I get that, but the constant scripture, and similar stories repeated again and again lost my interest. It wasn't very detailed for those of us wanting to learn more about the culture. I wish there had also been more info about their departure from the colonies, and how their stories all tied together.

[Mishon · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up because I didn’t think it was fair to rate it low mostly because it was not at all what I expected. I was thinking it would be more memoir-like. This read like a speech. Some parts were interesting and gave a wee glimpse into life in the colony, but I don’t feel like a really learned a lot about Hutterite culture, which is what I was hoping for.
I’ve read other books my ex-hutterites and some of those colony’s didn’t seem as bad as these so it makes me think each colony must be - depending on who is in charge - potentially quite different from the others

[Pam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written, and as for "escaping" from a "cult" it sounds like they're in one now. I have read several books on Hutterites and met a few, and while a colony is not utopia, it's a far cry from the claims made by these ex members. Skip this and read the excellent books offered about this unique community. Mary Ann Kirkby is a good author to start with, and she is also an ex-Hutterite.

[Amanda Fanger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting considering that my great-great grandparents had been born into the colony and both left. This fact has lead me to have great curiosity as to what it would have been like if they had never left. Also makes me wonder if the "system" has always been as the nine describe it or if it started out with true good intentions when my ancestors lived that lifestyle last.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was presented in a different way than I expected. It was interesting to read and to see how grateful the nine were to be outside of the Hutterite colony. They commented on their lives before and after. The truth has set them free.

[Agatha Krahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting story of the life on some Hutterite Colonies. How nine Hutterites had the courage to leave the Colony and live in the modern society. The adjustments and challenges & how they worked through them. How the Colony is all about control by certain individuals in the Colony.

[Alissa Jo Toering · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. eyes opened!

The bondage within the Hutterite colonies exposed. What a beautiful read! It angers me to read of the abuse, blatant disregard, and oppression of these precious people. Praying for Gods leading on how to reach these people.