Global Mennonite History

The Anabaptist movement had its beginning in scattered places throughout Europe during the 16th century. Today these Anabaptist-descended Mennonite churches are declining in membership, but they are not without reinvigorated faith and hope. Frequent wars during the past 480 years strained these Mennonite churches immeasurably, especially when their governments battled each other. This volume recounts those torturous and formative experiences. Seldom have the distinguishing features of the Dutch, the French, the German, the Swiss, the Russian -- and more recently, the U.K. and the Spanish-Mennonite churches been examined. These churches' cultural and historical differences are significantly unique, and they are a key part of the history told in these chapters by European Mennonite historians and church leaders. The Umsiedler, with their sheer numbers and religious vigor, are a current force included in this ongoing story. Testing Faith and Tradition is the second volume in the Global Mennonite History Series.

Churches Engage Asian Traditions is the first comprehensive history of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Asia. From the first Mennonite church in Asia in 1851, to 265,000 Mennonites and Brethren in Christ church members in 13 countries today. From the Introduction to the volume: This vast and fascinating area, with its many centuries-old cultures and languages, its huge problems mastering the elements of nature, its immense population (problematic but also an asset), and its serious globalization efforts, is home to many competing, clashing or more often harmoniously cooperating religions. In [this book] we will see how and why Christians, and particularly Mennonites, arrived on the scene and how they have accommodated to the specific contexts of the Asian countries where they are at home.