Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom.
Our Vision
Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom.
Our Mission
- Engage with questions important for faithful living in ways that are biblically, historically, and theologically informed.
- Share stories and history (especially from the Anabaptist movement) as a source of understanding and inspiration for serving the King.
- Publish content regularly on major platforms, interact with audience responses, and build an expanding resource library.
Our
Conversations
Anabaptist Perspectives presents conversations which explore a variety of topics surrounding God, the church, and radical discipleship.
Read More →Our
Story
In this video, Jaran and Reagan, reflect on the beginnings of Anabaptist Perspectives, and what makes them excited about Anabaptist Perspectives today.
Watch Now →The Topics We Cover
Tools, techniques, and theology of Bible study and interpretation—anything from the history of the biblical text, to the relationship between the old and new covenants, to profiles of specific study tools.
Biblical exegesis—illuminating exposition of a Biblical book, passage, term, or theme.
Life experience—lessons and observations from the author’s life and endeavors in missions, study, church life, business, parenting, education, and in general doing good.
Philosophy and theology—attempts to understand and describe God and his creation through exploring ideas.
History and culture—attempts to understand our past and present context in terms of events, people, practices, and ideas. This may be the specific context of North American Anabaptists, or something as broad as global history.
Lifestyle, practices, and virtues—suggestions for wise living as individuals and communities or discussions of Christian character.
Our Values and Approach
- We represent Christianity as understood and lived by those who
- Focus on the life and teachings of Jesus,
- Attempt to straightforwardly live out New Testament teachings, both individually and as churches,
- And whose allegiance is to the global, upside down, kingdom of Christ, rather than to national or ethnic identity.
- Views expressed by contributors do not necessarily reflect an official position of Anabaptist Perspectives. This project is to encourage discussion and contemplation. However, we recognize the need for discretion as our platform has influence.
- Contributors come primarily from moderately conservative Anabaptist circles. We are open to other contributors who share key beliefs, values, and practices.
- We define the center rather than police the periphery. Rather than defining exact boundaries for which contributors or viewpoints are on Anabaptist Perspectives, we focus on pulling the majority of contributors from squarely within the beliefs, values, and practices we represent.
- Contributors should have the experience, knowledge, and maturity needed for their topic. Credible life experience is important for difficult or contentious topics. A potential contributor’s way of engaging with others, including on social media, is a significant factor.
- We approach contentious topics in the most helpful way we can. We do not want to be inflammatory or “answer a fool according to his folly,” but we do believe in helpful dialogue as well as clear statements when clear statements are needed. Furthermore, we welcome productive conversations between differing viewpoints, but not adversarial debates.
- We attempt an honest, realistic approach to problems in and critiques of Anabaptist beliefs and practices, neither whitewashing problems nor exaggerating them.
Our Reach
“
I’m not sure how I stumbled onto your channel, but I have enjoyed learning about Anabaptist history and the unique perspective Anabaptist’s can provide Christians today. I think a lot of Christians are looking for the “third way” these days because of the polarization of American evangelicalism… I always learn something new, and I look forward to your new videos…
”
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Our Team
Reagan Schrock
Co-founder & Podcast Host
Reagan is a member of Wellspring Mennonite Church and lives with his wife Patricia in southeast Tennessee. Reagan, along with Jaran, started Anabaptist Perspectives in 2017, and serves in leadership in the organization, in addition to being deeply involved in overseas missions work.
Marlin Sommers
Executive Director
Marlin lives in Southeast TN. He is married to Meredith and father to Zadok, Katherine, Job, Jude, and Charis. He is a philosopher and carpenter by training and currently serves with Anabaptist Perspectives and Starr Mountain Academy. The tagline for the latter organization expresses what he wants to be and wants to help others be: a worshipful knower and servant king.
Jaran Miller
Co-founder & Editorial Director
Jaran Miller is a resident of Pennsylvania and a native of Tennessee. He received his K-12 education via homeschool, his college education at Lee University, and his most important education through the books he’s read and the human relationships he’s been privileged to have. Jaran enjoys living with his wife Sara. Together they engage in pursuits like playing the piano, reading books, and developing hospitality skills.
Carl Yoder
Media Editor
Carl Yoder lives in Athens, TN with his wife, Monica. He is part of Wellspring Mennonite Church, and enjoys living in and serving his church and community.
Our Board of Directors
Vinson Miller
Vinson is a member of Wellspring Mennonite Church in Athens, Tennessee. He enjoys his occupation as a small engine repair technician and appreciates spending his evening in a variety of ways.
Jason Eby
“Jason and his wife Gloria and their four children call Athens, TN, home. Jason has experience with website design, sales, and social media marketing. He enjoys one-on-one discussions about truth, honesty, and the realities of living in a broken world. Jason attempts to bring beauty to the world through his business pursuits in design, real estate, and manufacturing.”
Geryll Zehr
Geryll lives with his wife and four children in Meadville, PA, and is a member at Meadville Mennonite Chapel. He is a small business owner (residential and commercial rental properties), and additionally does video and photography work as a side line.
Duane Wadel
Duane lives in Covington, TX with his wife Joyce, and their three daughters. He is involved with various projects at Osceola Christian Fellowship and enjoys all things A/V and IT related.
Chester Weaver
Chester Weaver has been involved in Christian education for almost all of his adult life, serving as full-time Christian school teacher for 38 years. He also has taught at short term youth Bible schools for 20 years. He has paid particular attention to Christian history, especially Anabaptist history and theology. He and his wife Barbara, parents of eight children, reside in Itasca, Texas, near the families of two of their sons. One son and two daughters, with their families, live in California while two more children live in Virginia. One son with his family lives in Ireland.
Byron Miller
Byron Miller owns and operates Miller’s Small Engines of Englewood, Tennessee. He and his wife Carmen are members of Wellspring Mennonite Church.
Arlyn Kauffman
Arlyn and Sue have 5 children and live on a farm near Weldon, IA. Their family farm produces a little grain, hay, beef, goats, lots of eggs, and many opportunities for work and play. They enjoy life together with their church community, Leon Salem Mennonite, and their neighbors. They enjoy singing, reading, and outdoor activities like camping.
Our Process
1. Planning
Before an idea becomes an episode, much work goes into planning the content and finding a guest for the conversation.
2. Filming
Once the episode has been planned, our filming team meets with the guest, either in person or remotely.
3. Editing
Here the episode receives hours of editing, review, and preparation to be released on our platforms.
4. Publishing
In this final step, thumbnails, subtitles, descriptions, and SEO are all developed for a smooth release of the episode.
“Using digital media to encourage allegiance to Jesus’ sacrificial kingdom.”
