The Value Of Literacy

from Issue #1, April 2016, page # 25

by Kendall Myers

For judgment I have come into the world, that those who do not see may see. — John 9:39.

A picture that I’ve posted on the wall behind my desk at school reminds me of the profound value of literacy. The black and white sketch depicts a woman that I would guess to be in her sixties bent over a booklet, tracing its lines carefully with her finger. Every line on her face speaks to the intensity of her desire to make out the meaning of the text on the page before her. In my mind, she is someone who has just been taught the rudimentary elements of reading, probably for the purpose of reading the Scriptures. For her entire life, a transparent yet impenetrable space has existed between her eyes and words on a page and now, though it is hard work, her face shows the joy of being able to see the pictures that emerge as she pieces together the textual puzzle.
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A Character Sketch: William Tyndale

from Issue #1, April 2016, page # 22

by Alice I. Brewer

This article is located at www.tyndalearchive.com and adapted for use here. -AV

To a 15th-century farmer, the Bible was just a big book full of unreadable words and made-up rules. This was because priests in those times insisted on the Bible being in Latin. They said the Bible was a holy book, and not just any peasant should be allowed to read it. Really, they wanted it to be in a language only they could understand so they could make up a bunch of laws to suit themselves. In that way they could get away with it by saying “It says so in the Bible.” They thought no one would ever know different, and no one would ever try and reveal the truth. Then God raised up William Tyndale.
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The Planting of an Anabaptist Church: Nova Scotia

from Issue #1, April 2016, page # 14

by: Galen Weber

Editorial Note: Galen Weber of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada wrote a 50-page history of the Lighthouse Mennonite Church. Recognizing Galen’s powerful choice of words and keen insights, I asked Galen if he would write an account of one of the New Testament churches, and then a shorter version of the Lighthouse Mennonite Church story (2000 words).

Galen’s Response: “Thank you for the research/writing assignment. I intend to take it up. Mark you, however, the last glorious article I produced was rejected, without comment, by the editor.”

Writing Challenge to the Readers: Write the story of an Anabaptist church that you know personally, and share it with the readers of Anabaptist Voice. Pictures could be included.

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Crowned With The Cross

from Issue #1, April 2016, page # 12

by: Peter Hoover

King Otto, with his great power and wealth, wanted to carry the greatest and most dazzling crown on earth. Since he was a “devout Christian,” he insisted that the cross of Christ needed to be the “crown of his crown.”

A gifted monk spent a long time crafting King Otto’s crown, with all the largest and brightest jewels, the most expensive pearls, and more gold and velvet than what any crown had ever sported before. The king was immensely pleased. Even though the crown was heavy and uncomfortable, he loved to wear it on all important occasions. But, did he miss anything?
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The New vs. The Old

from Issue #1, April 2016, page # 10

by Chester Weaver

Are the Old and New Testaments at variance with each other? What is better about the New Testament compared with the Old Testament? Did God change His intentions with the change in testaments, or did He raise the standards of expectation in the New? Are the Old and New Testaments opposed to each other? Is the Old Testament for the Jews and the New Testament for the Christians?
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Who Is an Anabaptist?

from Issue #1, April 2016, page # 6

by James G. Landis

In 1927, the M.B. Bergey Company in Souderton, Pennsylvania, owned a hosiery mill that manufactured stockings for women.  According to my father, the Bergey company bought the name “Granite Hosiery” from a New York company for $10,000.  Think of it—$10,000 redeemable in one-ounce gold coins worth $20 each.  Those 500 gold coins today are worth $1200 each or $600,000 – for just a name!

Maybe the name “Granite Hosiery” was worth $600,000 because of what it represented.  Maybe not.  But our interest here is: What is a good name to describe a Bible-believing, Bible-practicing follower of Jesus in today’s world?  Is “Anabaptist” a good name to describe such a believer?

So what does the name “Anabaptist” mean to us?  Who is an Anabaptist? First, I shall define who an Anabaptist is by looking at what the historic Anabaptists believed and practiced in the sixteenth century.  Then I will discuss what it means to be an Anabaptist today.
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