Name: People of Peace: A History of the Virginia Mennonite Conference: Steven M. Nolt and Elwood E. Yoder: 9798896740209: Masthof: Books
Brand: Steven M. Nolt and Elwood E. Yoder
Price: 29.00 USD
Availability: InStock

People of Peace: A History of the Virginia Mennonite Conference

Steven M. Nolt and Elwood E. Yoder

29⁰⁰

ISBN/Barcode:

This book traces the unique story of Mennonites in Virginia and surrounding regions—from their early migration in the 1700s through the upheaval of the Civil War, to their resurgence in mission, service, and peace building. As the only Mennonite community in the Confederacy, their experience offers a rare lens on faith under pressure. Blending history, theology, and social insight, authors Steven Nolt and Elwood Yoder reveal how these communities adapted, grew, and sometimes divided—shaping a diverse Anabaptist presence that continues to evolve today. A fresh and accessible account grounded in decades of scholarship, this book is both a tribute to the past and a reflection on the challenges of faith in changing times.

"I give thanks for devoted storytellers Nolt and Yoder, who mine the rich veins of our Virginia Mennonite faith story, unearthing countless gems to remind us who we have been as a people of peace—for better and for worse. The artistry of selection leaves out many stories, but their masterful synthesis renews the imagination and empowers fresh courage to walk in peace today."
-Sara Wenger Shenk, President Emerita, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary

(537pp. illus. index. hardcover with dust jacket. Masthof Press, 2025)

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Bravo!

The author's have done masterful work explaining roughly three hundred years of the complicated and changing Virginia Mennonite Conference. Their writing is readable, fluid and clear; a joy to read. Vignettes of those who lived those years illustrate the grand panorama of personalities and events that shaped the beliefs and actions of the conference’s churches. Granular descriptions of the individual congregations are included. Though I joined the Mt Pleasant Mennonite Church in my youth and am yet a member six plus decades later and experienced much of what they wrote, it is illuminating to learn the background I didn’t know. The book is a fitting addition to Brunk’s earlier two volume history, adding new material and covering an additional sixty four years. I heartily recommend the book to anyone with an interest in Mennonite history in general, and Virginia in particular.