Brother, sister, respected friend, have you paused to examine carefully this faith that is being highlighted again and again over these days?

This message will take a fast flight over human history from the book of Genesis until now and look again at the foundations of this FAITH! The just shall LIVE by faith… and that wasn’t just the idea of Luther and the reformers, it IS the Word of God! But wait, LIVE by faith? Is this a concept… or a life changing reality? And, as the old song states: will it “do when I am dying?”

Fallow ground is unprepared, unseeded, and unattended. It is both neglected and hardened, unable to reach its full potential. Fallow ground speaks of missed purpose, lukewarmness, apathy and slothfulness. Count on it… fallow ground never leads to abundant fruitfulness.

The call to break up fallow ground was not given to the heathen nations, but to God’s people. Repentance was the first message of Jesus as He began His preaching ministry. It is more than a one-time experience in becoming saved. Repentance is a way of life for those living in the light and are bearing glorious fruit for God.

The theme of the panel discussion is taken from 1 Corinthians 16:13.

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

—1 Corinthians 16:13, KJV

Each panelist focuses on one phrase, then wrestle through questions. Following are the four topics:

• “Watch Ye” by Harold Troyer, Belleville, PA
• “Stand Fast in the Faith” by Brandon Byler, Shippensburg, PA
• “Quit You Like Men” by Harry Argo, Virginia Beach, VA
• “Be Strong” by Kai Steinmann, Burkesville, KY

Tradition is a system of beliefs or expected behaviors passed down within a group of people with symbolic meaning or special significance…customs, ethics, values, norms, heritage and culture are nearly synonymous terms.

Traditionalism refers to a profound distrust of anything that would alter or interfere with maintaining traditions. In the extreme, this behavior becomes “reactionary,” that is, an opposition to (and rejection of) any and all innovations that cause traditions to be modified or lost.

Anabaptist commitment to a cultural heritage has been a two-edged sword. It has been a tremendous blessing… insulating our churches from many damaging societal influences… “a friend to grace to help us on to God.”

Clearly, though, an unhealthy preoccupation with the past can diminish our ability to portray the glory of Christ. It can distract us (and the watching world) from His Gospel. It can damage our compelling portrayal of His kingdom.

This sermon will attempt to consider an answer to Francis Schaeffer’s pressing question: “How, then, shall we live?”

As the focus of this conference will include the inspiring history of some courageous young men in the 1500s who took a tough stand for clear principles of the Word of God, this message for youth will jump back a few centuries earlier and gain courage and inspiration from a boy in the Bible. This boy stood firmly with faith in his God in a very absorbing and challenging cultural setting that was not entirely unlike ours today. Will you?

Asked what 500 years of Anabaptism has retained or lost, Kai Steinmann says he can't judge that for his audience. Instead he uses the Schleitheim Confession as a baseline for their self-examination, urging them out of the "middle of the road" and into God's will. On baptism, he insists there is no true baptism without faith, death to self, and incorporation into Christ's body, the church.

On excommunication, drawing on Menno Simons, he argues that neglecting the ban is a failure of love. It must be a function of the church, reserved for the unrepentant, follow biblical timelines, and aim at restoration rather than serve as a weapon.

He calls for clear separation from the world, rejects "freedom in Christ" as license, and describes ministers as servant-protectors.

Finally, citing Münster, Mennonite support for Hitler, and rising nationalism, he warns that political entanglement always harms the church, asking whether Anabaptists kept the name but lost Christ.

Marking Anabaptism's 500th anniversary, Chester Weaver traces the shared roots of the Swiss Brethren (including the Amish), Dutch-Russian Mennonites, Brethren, and Hutterites. He argues that the movement's core is wholeness: when the Holy Spirit works freely, faith and life, belief and practice, are united.

This rejects both Catholic sacramentalism and a Protestant faith that leaves life unchanged. Drawing on Michael Sattler, he contrasts servile obedience with filial obedience and warns that many churches have settled into fear-driven fundamentalism. He highlights gelassenheit, the yielded spirit that made martyrs' deaths compelling, and recounts Hans Landis forgiving his executioner. He also confesses shameful chapters, including Münster, Mennonite complicity with Nazism, and separating money-making from faith.

After reviewing key leaders and migrations, he names shared essentials: Christ and Scripture as authority, believers' baptism, discipleship, church-state separation, and two-kingdom theology. He fears these, especially two-kingdom theology, are eroding and urges their recovery.

In this message, Harry Argo shares how reading the Bible brought him to conviction and a changed life, then asks whether Christians are missing the Holy Spirit. He argues that the Spirit’s work is not emotional manipulation, spectacular experiences, or mere knowledge, but lasting conviction that turns people toward Jesus.

Warning that false spiritual claims cause real harm, he recounts a cancer patient confused by a false prophecy and points to Acts 5 on the gravity of lying to the Spirit. Surveying the Gospels, he shows that John the Baptist and Jesus promised the Spirit as a comforter who abides with believers and testifies to Christ. The Spirit’s central work is to reveal Jesus.

Argo criticizes “check-the-box” conversions and easy-believism, which can produce imitation without transformation, and contrasts them with the repentance and bold witness seen at Pentecost. He closes by urging honest, obedient prayer that seeks Christ and the Spirit’s renewed work.

What would come to be called the “Radical Reformation or Anabaptism” began in a time of unrest and upheaval. The medieval traditions and the authority of the established church were being challenged by many voices and ideas.

How could someone know the truth in such a chaotic and confusing time? If the traditional medieval church model was corrupted, should it be reformed or completely rebuilt? How should the Scriptures be interpreted and applied to give the right direction? By what process would believers determine God’s direction for their lives and how would they counsel other believers?

Those decisions were important, because they would live, and perhaps die, by what they believed and by whose voice they chose to follow.

Thousands of courageous young men willingly gave their lives to defend the “cause of freedom” in the World Wars.

Where are the men and women, young and old, who would willingly risk their lives for the cause of Spiritual Freedom today? Why aren’t we hearing about more Anabaptist people losing their lives in spreading the Gospel?

Fifty days after Christ’s resurrection, the mighty wind of the Spirit of Power roared through the midst of 120 disciples when the Day of Pentecost “was fully come.” This birthed the Church of the Firstborn, 3,000 strong, from a rag-tag band of disciples. Corruption invaded almost immediately (Acts 5) among the Brethren. This disgrace quickly “made havock of the Church… perverting its Gospel” (Gal. 1:6-9), and devastating its testimony.

The Spirit of Pentecost continued to whisper breezes of Truth among nascent reform movements through long centuries riddled with compromise and error among God’s people. Early in the 16th century, these stirrings became storm-clouds and the “rushing mighty wind” of the Spirit roared again on another tiny band of disciples. Reformers? Yes, but radicalized… doggedly determined to unleash the Spirit of Truth and the Sword of His Word. Their non-negotiable goal? A rebirth in the Church of the Firstborn.

Four men that loomed large in the early days of this Spirit-powered upheaval deserve some thoughtful consideration. Ulrich Zwingli, Felix Manz, Conrad Grebel and George Blaurock all bled and died in the early days of Anabaptism for their understanding of the Church. We do well to examine the two Spirits clashing among them… the Harlot Church, and the Church of the Living God have come to blows. This same battle rages in our day. Whose testimony will we pattern the church after in our day?

Peering through 500 years of history, how can we know what caused the Reformation? When the prophet Habakkuk lamented that he did not understand what God was doing, God replied pointedly, “I am working a work in your days which you would not believe even if someone told it to you.”

We begin with God’s promises before talking about central issues such as the believer’s church, non-participation in warfare, the nature of the Kingdom of God, and new access to Scripture. Then we discuss contributing factors such as plague and threat of invasion before returning once again to God’s promise.

Imagine a church out of touch with reality! What kind of answers could it provide for the European masses? On top of that, imagine religious ignorance born from illiteracy and followed by religious totalitarian control.

Any lessons for us?

In this talk, Kinley Coulter outlines three points to highlight the battle we are in, and how to effectively win by God’s grace:

THE INESCAPABLE REALITY:

The forces powering the conflict that is raging between the Church and the kingdoms of this world are invisible but utterly real and eternally dangerous.

OUR INFERNAL RIVAL:

The kingdoms of this world are walking in blind, faithful obedience to the God of this world. We do well to consider the ‘wiles’ and ‘devices’ of the prince of this world so that we can better perceive how he operates against us through fallen humanity, deceiving us into compromise and disobedience.

OUR INFINITE RESOURCES:

The church will, most certainly, prevail. The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord. The resurrection power we wield as the people of God is without limit, and so we are without excuse. Tragically, many Christians, many congregations, and many denominations will be ineffective, or worse, suffer needless shipwreck.

The topic ends with a call to faithfulness.

In this engaging talk, Melvin Lehman discusses how Communism and Socialism have failed. He begins with the its history and high aspirations: goals we could identify with. Yet it’s famously crumbled. Why?

Are we destined to have a society with disparate poor and wealthy classes? How can worthy goals like equality be realized today? Melvin points to the answer offered by Jesus.

This chorus of 150+ youth attendees of KFW 2024 praised the Lord in song together.

“Media” by Melvin Lehman

We do well to be wary of the negative effects digital media has on our lives. But “What hath God wrought?” to quote Samuel Morse, is an important question. How might our heavenly Father direct us to use this tool to serve the Kingdom of God in our day? We hope to look at the issues pro and con that are raised by this question.

“Business” by Leo Eby

Business and hospitality as usual? Hardly!

Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteous puts a hard reset to business and hospitality!

Business and hospitality are not in competition with apologetics or community building, or media opportunities. Instead, business and hospitality provide a perfect spring board for apologetics, community building, and media opportunities.

“Community Development” by Pete Garber

What does it look like when the truth transforms a community? Community Development believes in the inherent dignity and value of people, the latent resources and capacities within communities, and the comprehensive plan and provision of God for human flourishing. As His emissaries, we have the opportunity to be a catalyst in the work that God is doing to heal, redeem, restore a broken world. Come join the work of proclaiming the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of David!

“Apologetics” by Kinley Coulter

Apologetics is articulating a reasoned defense of Christian truth… responding to unbelievers’ objections to the faith. We are, like Paul, to be “set for the defense of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:17).

Polemics is the other cutting edge of the Christian apologist’s blade… we move beyond defense of truth and go on the offensive… pointing out errors and undermining the worldling’s irrational and anti-scriptural worldview.

We must use both cutting edges deftly, convincingly and compassionately as we obey Peter’s imperative to “Be ready, always, to give an answer to every man” (1 Peter 3:15).

Purpose, meaning, fulfillment, motivation—these are things every human longs for. But what exactly is purpose, and how do we know when we’ve truly found it? What is your reason for being? While there are no simple answers, a biblical perspective offers foundational principles to help us begin answering these questions in each of our own lives. In this talk, we will discuss the universal pursuit of meaning and purpose in life.

When our homes become hospitality centers, it’s sort of like a combination of a restaurant and a hospital with no charge.

God has given each of our homes a strength or a talent that we can offer to the people that God sends to our homes. What is a strength that God gave you to share? Do you have one specialty food that you love to make? Or you can serve cereal. We are really without excuse.

Besides food, people are hungry for acceptance and value, a listening ear, a safe place to cry. Share a song, share your children.

Be strong where it matters most – loving God and loving people. Even though we will never be the perfect hostess, we can practice on people, as if they were an angel, or as if they were Jesus himself.

Join us as we explore the reality of poverty and some of the ways to measure it. What we identify as the cause will determine what we propose as the solution.

We'll be discussing economic disparity, considering the opposite of poverty (it's not wealth), and precedents in poverty alleviation.

Imagine what the world might be like if communities applied what God has shown us of His heart for the marginalized and the vulnerable. How did the early church respond. What will it cost us, where do we begin, and what can we expect?