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?

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?