Anabaptist Perspectives
Providing Anabaptist insight and teaching through videos, podcasts, and our website.
I Was Raised Mennonite. By 18, I Was in Prison. - Pete Schmitt
Pete Schmitt was raised in an Old Colony Russian Mennonite community. At 16, he decided to leave the church. After getting involved in drugs and other destructive behaviors, Pete found himself in prison for accidentally taking another person’s life. All throughout this time, he was ignoring God’s attempts to get his attention. It was only after spending time in prison that Pete finally came back to Christianity and found healing for the pain and evil that had been controlling his life.
Listen to Patrick Matthew’s testimony.
This is the 333rd episode of Anabaptist Perspe...
What Did Patriotism Look Like for Mennonites in 1776? - Romaine Stauffer
When the American colonies rebelled against the British Empire, Mennonites and other nonresistant peoples were caught in a difficult situation. Romaine Stauffer explains how refusing to bear arms in the Revolutionary War affected the Mennonites, including her direct ancestor, Christian Burkholder. Romaine describes how the Mennonites stood for their beliefs, even at great cost.
Romaine’s book, Loyalty Test
Address to Youth by Christian Burkholder (His book is incorporated into the volume Christian Spiritual Conversation on Saving Faith. Christian’s work begins on page 179 of the text.)
Harmonia Sacra by Joseph Funk
Jo...
What Happened to Nonresistant People During World War I? - Chester Weaver
In 1918, America joined World War I. At that time, there were not options for Mennonites that refused to fight. What happened to the thousands of Mennonite young men that were drafted into the war effort? Chester Weaver tells the stories of the persecution and threats they endured for refusing to take up the sword; two of these men became some of the last Anabaptist martyrs in America.
Tania’s Story
A First-Class Fighting Man
American Mennonites and the Great War
Coals of Fire
"Joseph and Michael Hofer"
No...
What It Actually Feels Like to Live with Bipolar Disorder
At age 13, Arlyn Kauffman started to experience some symptoms of depression, but he did not know what was happening. At age 18, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Arlyn explains what it is like for him to live with bipolar disorder, what he has discovered through the process, and how it affects him to this day.
Episode with Michael Hochstetler on relating to those who have experienced trauma
This is the 330th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
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Scripture Lectors, Evangelists, & Martyrs: Early Anabaptist Women - Carita Keim
Many early Anabaptist martyrs were women. Who were they and why did they give their lives for what they believed? What can we learn from their stories of faithfulness? Carita Kiem explains who these women were and helps us to see what their lives were like. She discusses the sources that tell us what we know about their suffering, including the writings of those who were persecuting them.
Conrad Grebel: Partier & Rising Star to Hunted Radical - John Ruth
Women in Early Austrian Anabaptism
Profiles of Anabaptist Women
The Martyrs Mirror<...
Abuse, Crime, Prison. Now I Minister to the World I Came From. - Patrick Matthews
Patrick Matthews came from a hard life on the streets. Involved in gangs and crime from an early age, he eventually landed in prison for his choices. While there, God finally broke through his hard heart, and Patrick experienced redemption. In this episode, Patrick shares how his life has changed and how he is now on a journey to continual healing despite his difficult past. Now, Patrick focuses on ministering to the world he left behind.
Tentmaker Travels
Hearken House
Fred Saldana’s story
This is the 328th episode of Anabaptist Pe...
Here’s Why the 500-Year-Old Anabaptist Story Matters Now - Dean Taylor and Stephen Russell
Anabaptist Perspectives has produced a 10-part documentary series about the first 100 years of Anabaptism. In this roundtable, Dean Taylor and Stephen Russell explain why this story from 500 years ago deeply matters to us today. What were the critical choices these radical reformers made that challenge us in our daily walk with Christ? How can their decisions inform our lives and how we relate to society?
The Anabaptist Origins Website: https://anabaptistorigins.org/
The Anabaptist Origins YouTube Channel
A Change of Allegiance by Dean Taylor
Overcoming Evil God’s Way by Stephen Ru...
I Sacrificed Children as a Witch Doctor. Now I Serve Jesus. - Mambadu
Mambadu was a witch doctor and animist priest in Sierra Leone for 11 years and was overseer of 13 villages and their priests for six of those years. When Mambadu lived in darkness, he was involved in sacrificing children, calling down curses, and using dark powers to control the natural elements.
Mambadu tells how the Gospel arrived in his village for the first time and how the power of Christ transformed his life. Mambadu has now committed his life to reaching his own people with the Gospel.
To support the work of Mambadu and other missionaries, click...
Millions of Christians Can’t Get a Bible. What Happens When You Change That? - Joe Fleming
What would your faith be like if you didn’t have access to the Bible? Joe Fleming explains how (and why) this is reality for countless Christians across West Africa and beyond. Joe shares stories from his years of missions experience, where he has witnessed the power of God’s Word to bring people to Christ and into spiritual maturity. The Word of God is living and powerful, and we should never take it for granted.
Learn more about the audio Bible project.
Learn more about the print Bible project with Heralds of Hope.
An...
History of the Mennonites in Central America (1968-2026) - Phil Yoder
Phil Yoder moved with his family to Costa Rica in 1968, when he was a teenager. The early days after moving were difficult. Shortly after his family arrived, a volcanic eruption forced them out of their home. Their business venture didn’t work out, and they struggled to find somewhere to live. All of this was in addition to the challenges that come with adapting to a new culture and language. From those beginnings, the first communities of Mennonites formed in Costa Rica. Phil shares the story of those communities as well as some lessons in missions and church planting th...
I Was Born Hindu in India’s Lowest Caste. The Gospel Brings Persecution. - Markus Meena
Markus Meena was born into a difficult situation in northern India. His parents were unable to care well for him and sent him to an orphanage, hoping he would have a better life there. Markus tells the story of how he found Christ and gave his life to ministry. He explains the basics of Hindu beliefs and tells about the suffering that came to him and his family as a result of their conversion to Christian faith and their work in ministry. He also describes how God is moving in northern India and challenges the American church to practice...
What’s Actually Worth a Church Split? We Need Theological Triage - Paul Lamicela
Are all theological issues of equal importance? Or should we give greater emphasis to some issues, and be more willing to give and take on others? Paul Lamicela makes the case for theological triage, a framework that defines how core various theological concepts are to orthodox Christianity.
The study center Paul started (Lancaster Anabaptist Study Center)
“A Call for Theological Triage and Christian Maturity” by Albert Mohler
Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage by Gavin Ortlund
Listen to another episode with Paul
This is t...
We Need Catechesis! Quit Baptizing People Before They Are Ready! - Stephen Russell
What is catechesis, and why does it matter for our churches? Mr. Russell returns to the podcast to discuss how we prepare people for joining the church, how the early church did this, and what he believes that preparation process should look like.
Here is a previous episode with David Bercot on infant baptism
This is the xxxth episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
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I Was the Result of Abuse. God Gave Me Purpose and Helped Me Forgive My Biological Dad - Grant Bontrager
What would it be like to feel like your whole life was an accident? What if you didn’t know who you really were? Grant Bontrager always knew as a child that he was different. One day, the reality of just how different he really was crashed into his life. Born as the result of abuse, Grant tells how Christ redeemed his story by entering into the intense pain that came to Grant and his family through the circumstances of his life.
Faith Child (book about Grant’s story)
This is the 320th episode of Anab...
Is the World Actually Getting Better? - Jaran Miller & Marlin Sommers
It is common to hear people lament about how the world is getting worse and worse, and as we look at the news and what is happening around the world. Yet there are secular optimists who make a strong, data-driven case that in many ways the world is better than in the past. Marlin and Jaran engage with this idea and the concept of Christian optimism. They also look at how this interacts with historical events.
A previous episode on thinking well about global politics
A Rival Nations article on Christian optimism
“Christian Fu...
The Human Way God Gave Us the Bible. What About the Apocrypha? - Stephen Russell
How did we get the Bible that we have today? What are the “missing books” of the Bible? Can we trust that the Bible we have is accurate and complete? Stephen Russell explores how we got the Bible in its present form and how the canon of Scripture was recognized.
Church History in Plain Language
The Bible Was Not Written in English. Why Is That Important? - Andrew Lamicela
Here is a previous episode with Stephen Russell
This is the 318th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that...
The Rich Sacramental Theology of Persecuted Anabaptists (While Reformation Wars Raged) - Dean Taylor
The sacraments of the church were some of the most fundamental issues in the Reformation debates. Dean Taylor explains how intense these differences in theology were and how the Anabaptists were often persecuted and executed for not fitting with the standard Catholic or Protestant teaching of the time. So, what did the first Anabaptists believe about the sacraments?
Dean’s previous episode on the atonement
Our documentary channel on early Anabaptism
The Eucharistic Theology and Ethics of Balthasar Hubmaier
Russian Nuclear Orthodoxy: Religion, Politics, and Strategy
This is the 317th...
An Anabaptist Defense of Dispensationalism (You Don’t Have to Be Zionist) - Julian Stoltzfus
Does God still have special plans for ethnic Israel? Julian Stoltzfus argues that God made specific promises to Abraham and David that will be fulfilled in a future millennium. This will involve genuine heart revival and faith in Christ on the part of Israel and will happen in God’s time not ours. There is no reason Christians should politically support the current Israeli nation state.
Article on Julian’s blog
Julian’s article in The Sword and Trumpet
Another relevant article from Julian’s blog
The Sword and Trumpet position statemen...
Why I Left the Catholics, and How We Misunderstand Them. - Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell was raised a Roman Catholic and had ambitions of becoming a priest but ultimately left and joined the Anabaptists. In this episode, he explains the key doctrines that caused him to leave and where the Catholic church got several important points wrong. Mr. Russell explains some of the core Catholic beliefs, such as prayer to the saints and the Eucharist, while also showing how we oftentimes misunderstand key points of Catholic theology.
"The Nicene Creed Guards the Bedrock of Our Faith"
The Creed in the Ausbund
This is the 315th episode...
Early Church Texts Led Me to Adopt, then Reject, Infant Baptism - David Bercot
When David Bercot was an Anglican priest, he believed in infant baptism and thought this was the position of the early church. Over time, he reevaluated this belief. In this episode he describes why he became convinced infant baptism was not the position of the early church.
David Bercot's faith story
Origen’s Commentary on Romans volume 1
Origen's Commentary on Romans volume 2
The Ante-Nicene Fathers
David Bercot’s lecture, “What the Early Church Believed About Baptism”
The Catacombs of St. Callixtus: History, Archaeology, Faith by Antonio Baruffa
Thi...
Shamanism, Drugs, Atheism, and Finding God in China - Nils
Nils grew up in the Netherlands and was militantly against Christianity; he fell deeply into the occult, drugs, and atheism. He explains why he believed this way and describes the darkness that comes from a life removed from Christ. Eventually, God redeemed Nils while he was living in Shanghai, China, though the whole of his journey into the church spanned across two continents.
Saher’s Story
Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up? by David Bercot
The Anabaptist Story by William Estep
Special thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming lo...
Communism’s “Utopia” Couldn’t Fill the Void. Neither Could Capitalism. - Saimir Braho
Saimir Braho lived under the extreme Communist rule in Albania, sometimes called the “North Korea” of Europe. Saimir experienced the tragedy of how far an atheistic worldview can drive a country away from the good God intends. For many years, Saimir himself did not believe in Christ, but over time he began to realize the deep failures of mankind when it turns its back on God and religion. In this episode, Saimir exposes the terrible fruit that grows from the lie that humanity can fix itself and does not need God.
Saimir’s story
Special thanks...
Why America is at War with Iran, the End Times, and the Quran - Chris Stoltzfus
On February 28, America and Israel began attacks on Iran. But why did this war start? What happened in the past to lead the world up to this moment? Chris Stoltzfus has studied Islam and the Middle East for years and he has spent time in Iran. He brings his extensive study and experience in the Middle East to this interview to bring clarity to a complex situation. Chris explains how we should respond to this war, how we can pray, and how we can engage with the Muslims we encounter.
Video of Muslim imam discussing problems with...
Does Indigenous Church Planting Undermine Discipleship and Fellowship
Jaran has been reading about Indigenous Church Planting, and Marlin has been thinking about it. In this episode, we wrestle with strategy, definitions of success, and whether Indigenous Church Planting offers a better path than other familiar models.
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (organization): https://perspectives.org/
Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (textbook): https://a.co/d/0in4l1n0
The Joshua Project: https://joshuaproject.net/
Jesus and the Mennonites: https://strengthtostrength.org/jesus-and-the-mennonites/
This is the xxxth episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube...
Brazilian Jui Jitsu
We engage with a listener’s question: “I wonder if Brazilian Jiu Jitsu could be a part of the non resistant toolbelt?”
Get in the Way of Evil by Val Yoder (audio): https://www.thedockforlearning.org/content/get-in-the-way-of-evil
Get in the Way of Evil by Val Yoder (transcript): https://anabaptistperspectives.org/episodes/get-in-the-way-of-evil/
This is the xxxth episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content!
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Did God Authorize America to Wreak Vengeance on the World? - Marlin Sommers and Jaran Miller
How should we engage with, and respond to, the many hot-button current issues, such as the American abduction of the president of Venezuela? The endless news cycle adds much confusion, and it can be hard to know how to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom, while also living within earthly kingdoms in this world. And what does Romans 13 have to do with this? Jaran and Marlin examine several recent events and how they view these events.
Report about US military commander
Milton’s Paradise Lost
Hans Mast, “Newslines.” Sword and Trumpet, January 2026
Han...
Why We Publish Disagreements and Divergent Experiences
We respond to a pointed listener rebuke of one of our testimony episodes. What should we do when someone tells their story in ways we doubt or disagree with? Are testimonies meant to be evaluated for precision and balance, or received as accounts of lived experience? We discuss concerns about truthfulness and contradiction, and engage with the question of how Christians can listen when stories are shaped more by experience than by argument.
This is the xxxth episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
Extend Your Tables into the Wilderness of the World - Bryant Martin
Bryant Martin unpacks a theology of hospitality and gives practical ways we can “extend our tables in the wilderness” to reach into a broken and hopeless world. How can hospitality be effective ministry? How can we create life-giving spaces for the world around us?
Bryant started Sowers Harvest Cafe; find more info here.
Extend Cafés.
The Ideal Resistance
Doing Business Differently by Bryant Martin
Reaching America by Gary Miller.
The Six Conversations by Heather Holleman
Beautiful Resistance by Jon Tyson
The Gospel Comes...
What the Early Church Taught on Sacraments (what the sources say) - Dean Taylor
There are many different interpretations of the sacraments throughout church history. Dean Taylor takes us on a journey through what the early church believed about baptism and the eucharist (Lord’s supper) and helps us think about how their beliefs can inform our lives and churches today.
Dean’s previous episode on the sacraments
Ante-Nicene Fathers (online for free)
Origen’s Commentary on Romans (Volume 1)
Origen’s Commentary on Romans (Volume 2)
The Didache
This is the 308th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that exa...
40 Years Inside America’s Military-Industrial Complex (I Had Above “Top Secret” Clearance) - Vince Lewis
Vince Lewis completed two years of officer training followed by 24 years of being an officer in the United States Air Force. He then worked for 14 years in weapons development for the Department of Defense on projects such as the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Eventually, Vince came to a different understanding of war and saw how Christ’s followers are instead to love their enemies. Vince draws from his experiences to take us inside America’s military industrial system. The kingdoms of this world use warfare for power, dominance, and control, while Christ’s kingdom wields self-sacrificial love.
Christianity, War, a...
Mennonite Communion Anxiety: Causes and Solutions - Marlin Sommers and Verlon Miller
Sometimes communion services in Mennonite churches can be a time of anxiety and bring up questions about assurance of salvation. Why is that? What is a proper way to think about and prepare for communion? Verlon Miller and Marlin Sommers explain how Mennonite churches traditionally have observed communion, and how we can come to the Lord’s Supper with joy rather than fear.
Anabaptists and the Sacraments: It’s Complicated! - Dean Taylor
This is the 306th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and...
Jesus Didn’t Invent “Kingdom of God” in 30 A.D. What Did It Mean Before? - Paul Lamicela
Paul Lamicela makes the case that we often oversimplify the kingdom of God. He takes us on a journey through Scripture to discover a fuller picture of God’s kingdom. What did this kingdom mean to the Old Testament saints and the New Testament church? What does it mean today?
Exile and the Storyline of the Bible
The Crucified King by Jeremy R. Treat
Biblical Storyline Academy
This is the 305th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
...Life, Death, Chemo, and Cancer - Arvin Martin
Cancer affects or will affect most of us, whether it comes to us personally or to someone we love. Arvin Martin reflects on his own journey with cancer and offers some ways to think about God’s love and care through the pain cancer brings.
Walking the Talk by Arvin Martin
Cancer Statistics
Losing Linda Mae: A Cancer Caregiving Memoir
Trauma-Informed Churches - Janelle Glick
This is the 304th episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.
...Anabaptists and the Sacraments: It’s Complicated! - Dean Taylor
Dean Taylor returns to the podcast to explain the sacraments and what this means for the life of the church. Historically, the Anabaptist view of the sacraments was a major issue in their breaking from the Catholics and Protestants. What were the issues at stake in those debates? What is the Anabaptist view of the sacraments? How should this inform how we live and do church?
Dean’s episode on the atonement
Ausbund
Doctrines of the Bible ed. by Daniel Kauffman
The Shape of the Liturgy by Gregory Dix
Th...
I Grew Up in the North Korea of Europe - Saimir Braho
Albania was once the strictest and most isolated of the Communist countries and was sometimes called the “North Korea” of Europe. Saimir Braho was born in Albania during the Communist regime and witnessed the period of religious turmoil that came after the collapse of Communism. Saimir eventually embraced the truth of Christianity, despite living in a country in which talking about God had been grounds for imprisonment and believing in Christ had been illegal.
The Reformers and Their Stepchildren
Yuriy Kravets' Story
Special thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hosp...
The Nicene Creed Guards the Bedrock of Our Faith - Stephen Russell
The Nicene Creed has been a bedrock of Christian orthodoxy for 1700 years. But what is it and why was it written? Does the Nicene Creed still matter today? Stephen Russell describes what led to the formation of the Nicene Creed. He argues that we, like the early Anabaptists, should affirm and use the Nicene Creed in our lives and churches.
In this episode Stephen briefly mentions catechesis (instruction class). Subscribe to catch the upcoming episode which will further explore catechesis.
The Nicene Creed
The Apostles’ Creed
The Way to Nicaea
...
Islam Explained by a Former Muslim - John Ghanim
John Ghanim was born to a conservative Muslim family and community in Yemen. Eventually, John left Islam and fled Yemen as a refugee. In this episode, John describes what Muslims believe, how we can better reach out to Muslims, and what showed him that Islam is a false religion.
John’s testimony
John’s website
Jay Smith on Islam’s Origins
Special thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hospitality. This episode was recorded at the Kingdom Connect Conference in Switzerland; find more information at https://kingdomconnecteurope.org.
T...
I Came to Christ. My Hippie Husband Was Indifferent - Heiko and Sabine Klien
Heiko and Sabine grew up in Germany in homes that did not foster relationship with Christ. Together they tell the story of their journey towards Christ. Before conversion, they experienced love from Christians which pointed to the truth of Christianity. After conversion, Scripture became a powerful force for change in their lives, and Jesus’ redemptive work saved their marriage.
Special thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hospitality. This episode was recorded at the Kingdom Connect Conference in Switzerland; find more information at https://kingdomconnecteurope.org.
This is the 299th episode of An...
I Grew Up in a Mennonite Church but Missed the Point - Sam Baer
Sam Baer was raised in a Mennonite home, but he left Christianity altogether as a young man. Living in sin and in the world, Sam eventually came face to face with the reality of who Christ is. Sam explains how Christ brought him back, and how he experienced rejoining the church.
The Bible Project
Christina's Story
Special thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hospitality. This episode was recorded at the Kingdom Connect Conference in Switzerland; find more information at https://kingdomconnecteurope.org.
This is the 298th episode...
Redeeming the World Instead of Preserving America - Bryant Martin
Americans are fascinated with politics. How can we engage our communities and neighbors in political topics while we hold to a faith tradition that embraces nonviolence and non-governmental participation? Bryant Martin tells how he was embarrassed about these beliefs in the past, and how he came to a clear understanding of serving society by engaging with it in nonpolitical ways. Bryant outlines ways we can serve our communities and engage well with political issues, while also being aware of the fallacy that America is a “Christian nation.”
Reaching America by Gary Miller
Sidetracked by Gary Mill...
