Roots And Branches

This book tells the story of Southeast Mennonite Conference (SMC), a diverse Mennonite denominational body that, from its inception, included small churches rooted in missions and larger congregations of Sarasota, Florida, begun by Mennonites who moved south for sunshine and business opportunities.

Roots and Branches recounts decade by decade the century-long history of Amish and Mennonites in the Southeast United States. With gentle candor Lehman, storyteller as well as historian, examines southeast Mennonites’ clashes of conscience as their subculture was challenged by the diverse cultures of the people they sought to serve.

Although the focus is on SMC, not Lehman, the history does touch on Lehman’s own transformation from youthful pastor to experienced churchman eager for the church to learn from its past and move into the future with deepened vision, courage, and hope.

John S. Coffman, pioneer evangelist and educator, traveled by train in 1895 to visit the five Mennonite families scattered throughout Florida. He held meetings in their homes, baptized their children, and preached in the community churches they attended. Twenty-eight years later, six Amish boys from Ohio camped their way to Florida. They were soon followed by Amish and Mennonite pioneers who raised celery in the muck fields east of Sarasota and worshiped together in a union Sunday school during the winter season.

Another root resulted from the activities of the Eastern Mennonite Mission in Salunga, Pennsylvania. Eastern Mennonite Missions sent units of youthful volunteers to Atlanta, Miami, and rural migrant communities in south Florida.