Perspectives (Anabaptism@500 activities)
Walking tour & Story trails
My tour to Zurich first points to my immediate feelings as we approached the bus stop and at a last corner, pointed the river in which Felix Manz was drowned.
At once and out of nowhere did I have my emotions rise with little body sweats for minutes. Taking it that I was actually witnessing the drowning “ceremony” helplessly, I sobbed in silence.
This massive event had in attendance people of all races from across the continents of the world with majority being Anabaptists. Others like ecumenical guests, Catholics, Lutherans and believers of the World Communion of Reformed Churches and others as passers-by joined the session.
The Anabaptist case scenarios awakened my feelings with fresh thoughts of what I could have done. Learning about the Anabaptists’ differing concerns – to a point of disowning others as erring groups – makes me see the current world in which we equally hold different analogies but coexist in the same community as religiously free.
Often we sit in tough religious discussions or theological debates. In such topics, as we wrestle in all the differences from each other as emerge, may it be clear for all that the mission for which we are called is not ours but God’s.
The origin of Anabaptism feels to call me to a full commitment to Christ in all the circumstances. It is very painful the blood baptism given Manz. However, the fact that he prayed his last in forgiveness is so overwhelming and I desire all the believers grew to accepting Jesus despite what ‘comes-may’!
The 500th anniversary of Anabaptism calls to an appreciation of our other members in Christ, and that our aim is to embrace them with their differences and with prayers that God shall speak to them. We ought to embrace them, extend our love unto them, noting our differences but appreciating their mission as it is true to Christ.
—Nyangore Christopher is a member of Kenya Mennonite Church. He served as the YABs delegate for his church in the meetings in 2025.