Anabaptists prove difficult to eradicate, still planting churches in 21st Century

When I hear the word, “Anabaptist,” my mind races back to a paradigm-shifting class on “The History of Christianity” by Tom Nettles, professor of church history at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in 1984. I even took another course under my mentor and friend, in which we were required to read a book, Calvin and the Anabaptist Radicals,as well as The Anabaptist Story: An Introduction to Sixteenth-Century Anabaptism.But that was the early 1980′s and I don’t recall anyone telling me that Anabaptists were still lurking around in a present-day incarnation. But then I saw a book listed on Ed Stetzer’s book recommendations list by Stuart Murray, entitled Church Plantingand I purchased it here in the UK. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Stuart Murray is also known as Stuart Murray Williams, a leader in the Anabaptist Network. Here’s a brief description from their website:

Stuart Murray Williams works as a trainer and consultant under the auspices of the Anabaptist Network. Based in Oxford, he travels widely in the UK and overseas and works with local churches, mission agencies, denominational leaders, conferences and individuals. He has worked with at least 25 denominations in recent years. His particular areas of expertise are in: church planting, emerging church, urban mission, mission in post-Christendom, Anabaptist history and theology.

Here’s a one-minute video clip featuring Williams, articulating their vision for urban church planting:

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If your friends sometimes call you “Curious George,” perhaps you would like to watch more free video excerpts from the Anabaptist Network’s DVD, Cloud of Witnesses: Rediscovering Anabaptism. You may also like to visit the website of an emerging church (Peace Church) in Birmingham, England, that has been planted on Anabaptist principles and has spread to three other cities in Britain. Personally, I find this very intriguing and would welcome some online dialog regarding these brothers and sisters in Christ.