Jacob Jobs was a Dutch Mennonite elder, serving the congregation of the Jan-Jacobsz group on the island of Ameland. In 1765 he was chosen preacher, in 1769 appointed elder, serving until his death in 1804. He was a lay preacher, having received no special theological training and governing the congregation "according to God's Word and the Mennonite usage," maintaining the old principles and even the ban, which was then quite unusual in Dutch congregations. By this maintenance of old customs he sometimes came into conflict with his congregation, especially with his co-elder Cornelis Pieters Sorgdrager, who introduced some new practices in the congregation like the "audible prayer," only silent prayers then being usual. Jacob Jobs was one of the last elders in the Netherlands who strictly maintained the Mennonite principles and customs of the 17th century.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 111. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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