Nolt revises book to offer a more inclusive overview of Mennonite history

GOSHEN, Ind. – The book Through Fire and Water: An Overview of Mennonite History was first published in 1996 by Herald Press and presented the Mennonite faith story within the sweep of church history for youth and adults wanting to learn more about the denomination or their heritage. Fourteen years later it needed to be revised and updated to be more globally and ethnically inclusive. As a co-author of the original with Harry Loewen, Goshen College Professor of History Steve Nolt took that challenge to update the story and incorporate new historical research and discoveries. A newly revised version of the book was published in May 2010.

The engaging text of Through Fire and Water uses stories to trace the radical Reformation from 16th-century Europe to today's global Anabaptist family. Written in an accessible and nonacademic style, the book is an introduction to the Mennonite faith story. It was written with several audiences in mind: those wanting to learn about Anabaptists and Mennonites, churches seeking to teach youth and adults about Mennonite origins and beliefs, and students in Mennonite colleges and high schools in Canada and the United States. The revision includes many more stories from around Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as more recent North American Mennonite history.

"I hope that readers will find some stories of people like them, and who have similar questions and challenges. Some of the people they will meet in Through Fire and Water were trouble-makers who couldn't keep quiet, and others were cautious folks who lived their faith in quieter ways. Some lived through horrific wars and others faced the challenge of prosperity. They were refugees, missionaries, mothers, and peacemakers, all discerning how to live faithfully as followers of Jesus in their contexts," said Nolt. "I hope younger Mennonites and anyone coming to know the tradition will join this living conversation about discipleship, interacting with the stories in the book, and then also with those around them today."

In a review, Publishers Weekly writes, "This marvelous book traces the history and teaching of the Mennonite church from its roots in New Testament Christianity through the emergence of Anabaptism in the 16th century and the settlement of Mennonites in North America to the contemporary work of Mennonites around the world. In accessible prose, the authors recount the struggles and successes of Mennonites to establish their religious traditions in an often inhospitable world and provide a balanced and humorous overview of Mennonite history."

Nolt is the author or coauthor of eight other books, including Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy (2007), Mennonites, Amish and the American Civil War (2007) and A History of the Amish (2003). He is also a coauthor of the forthcoming North America volume in the Global Mennonite History Project.

Through Fire and Water: An Overview of Mennonite History
Originally written by Harry Loewen and Steven M. Nolt; revised by Steven M. Nolt.
2010. 336 pages.
$16.99 USD/$19.99 CAD
www.mpn.net/throughfireandwater

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

###

Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.