Anabaptism
The First 500 Years.
The object of this commemoration is to inspire a thirst for truth, reignite the vision and fan the flame of faith demonstrated by our spiritual forefathers, many of whom gave up their lives rather than renounce their commitment of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” – Jesus’ words from Matt 5:6
Event Details
When?
April 12, 2025
Starting time: 9:30am
Closing: ~9:00pm
Where?
Ephrata Business Center
400 US-322, Ephrata, PA 17522
About the Event
Why did the Anabaptist movement begin? What defines and Anabaptist? How can we preserve the faith for the next generation?
Join us for a day of reflecting on the early Anabaptist movement and how we can pass on the faith for following generations.
Displays will be set up with content from various of the speakers and other historical societies with books available for purchase.
Lunch and dinner will be provided. Donations are recommended to help cover the cost of the meals.
Meet the Speakers
Chester Weaver
Chester has been involved in Christian education for almost all of his adult life, serving as a full-time Christian school teacher for 40 years. He has paid particular attention to Christian history, especially Anabaptist history and theology. He and his wife Barbara are parents of eight children and reside in Itasca, Texas. He contributes extensively to the content of the Anabaptist Perspectives website.
Assigned Topics
- The State Church and Its Spiritual Darkness (Pre-Reformation)
- The Anabaptist Vision/Theology
Lester Burkholder
Lester is the product of Christian education and has served in the classroom for 12 years. He has a strong interest in church history, especially Anabaptist history and the history of Christian education. He has also served as pastor of a city mission church and has spent some years in foreign missions. He and his wife, Martha, live in Myerstown, PA They are parents of five children.
Assigned Topic
- The Early Reformers: Luther, Zwingli, Etc.
Andrew Ste. Marie
Andrew is an Anabaptist author and historian. He has authored/co-authored several books, including titles such as: Grounded upon God’s Word: The Life and Labors of Jakob Ammann and I Appeal to Scripture! The Life and Writings of Michael Sattler. His articles have appeared in several publications, including Mennonite Quarterly Review, Anabaptist Voice, and The Pilgrim Witness. He has served as a historical reviewer for TGS International/CAM Books. He is a member of The Mennonite Historical Society and was editor of The Witness for over fifteen years. He lives with his family in Michigan and is a member of Lenawee Mennonite Church.
Assigned Topic
- The Anabaptist Reformer’s Baptism of 1525 and Stories of those Involved.
Lloyd Weiler
Lloyd Weiler is married and the father of 9 children. He recently retired from his construction business and now works full time at the Muddy Creek Farm Library. At an early age he became interested in Anabaptist and Mennonite history. Through his studies he was inspired to build his own collection of Mennonite literature. Lloyd serves as the board chairman for the Muddy Creek Farm Library, which is a specialized archival and library collection of early Anabaptist and Mennonite literature. Lloyd is employed as a collection manager and works with the early Anabaptist source material.
Assigned Topic
- Differing Beliefs Between the Anabaptists and the Protestants during the Reformation
Gary Miller
Gary was raised in California and today lives with his wife Patty and family in Idaho. He works with the SALT program for Christian Aid Ministries, and has authored several books addressing prevalent issues facing the 21’st century church. Titles include: “Church Matters”, “Surviving the Tech Tsunami”, “Tech Talk,” and most recently “Sidetracked.”
Assigned Topic
- Preserving the Faith for Generations to Come.