Through Fire and Water presents the Mennonite faith story within the sweep of church history. This engaging text uses stories of men and women, peasants and pastors, heroes and rascals, to trace the radical Reformation from sixteenth-century Europe to today's global Anabaptist family. Written in an accessible and nonacademic style, this revised edition updates the story and incorporates new historical research and discoveries.

"A superbly written introduction to Anabaptist-Mennonite history in contexts ranging from Kansas to Congo."
—Perry Bush, Bluffton University

"An accessible and engaging read for those who know little about Mennonites, and also for those who think they are familiar with this complex story of faith, culture, and action."
—Marlene Epp, Conrad Grebel University College

"Captivating personal stories, set alongside an honest portrayal of the Mennonite journey."
—Doug Heidebrecht, Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies

"The Anabaptist tradition -- a radical reforming movement -- dates itself to 1525, soon after Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on a cathedral door and, without exactly meaning to, kicked off the Protestant Reformation. The Anabaptists weren't happy with several aspects of the Reformation, but primarily insisted that infant baptism was wrong. Rather, baptism should not happen until a person was old enough to make that choice. Today there are Anabaptists all over the world -- mostly Mennonites and the Amish, and their commitment to being peacemakers and to standing for justice today is much better known than their aversion to infant baptism. This book is a revised edition of one that first was published in 1996. It has been updated in various ways and offers a highly readable, non-academic account of Mennonite history, though set in the broader context of Christian history. It says it's written primarily for Anabaptists, but it's really a helpful read for anyone who wants to understand this vibrant branch of the Christian family."
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