Samuel Heinrich Fröhlich
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Samuel Heinrich Froehlich (1803–1857) was an Anabaptist evangelist responsible for organizing the Evangelical Baptist Church in Western Europe, which eventually spread to become known as the Nazarenes of Eastern Europe[1] and the Apostolic Christian Church in the United States, Mexico, Argentina and Canada. Froehlich, a young seminary student in Switzerland, experienced a dramatic conversion, causing him to come into conflict with the state-church. He was excommunicated in the aftermath of his refusal to submit to an order that required the Heidelberg Catechism to be replaced by a new rationalistic catechism. He had sympathies with the Mennonite faith, but soon became convinced they were in a lukewarm state. Some of the Reformed and Mennonite persuasions followed Froehlich and were soon known as "Neu-Taufer". They later adopted the official name of Evangelical Baptist Church.
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During this time he became affiliated with Anabaptist workers, such as Mennonites.[2] He was re-baptized in February 1832, as an adult. Through preaching in private meetings, new churches were planted. The work continued and in thirty-five years an estimated 110 congregations were established. [citation needed]
As a former minister in the Reformed Church, Froehlich became deeply influenced by the Anabaptists, who were known as the radical reformers in sixteenth century Europe. He embraced the following Anabaptist teachings:
- Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone is the sole rule of faith and practical living.
- Separation of Church and State
- Believers' Baptism - adult baptism as opposed to infant baptism.
- Holiness of Life
- Nonviolence - Opposed killing another human, even in self-defense
Froehlich sent Benedict Weyeneth (1819–1887) to America at the request of Joseph Virkler, thus encouraging the foundation of the Anabaptist denomination in the United States known as the Apostolic Christian Church. The church spread as Nazarénusok (Nazarener-Gemeinde) in Hungary through the work of a young locksmith Lajos Hencsey (1814–1844) and 1,000 members survive today in Romania.