Elwood E. Yoder

Margaret's Print Shop Elwood E. Yoder

A third generation printer, Margaret runs a small, but respected print shop in Strasbourg, Germany. As new Christian ideas and beliefs spring from the Lutherans and Anabaptists, she willingly prints literature for them and sees herself being pulled closer and closer to the Anabaptist faith.

When Balthasar Beck, a fellow printer, comes to town in the spring of 1525, Margaret and Beck quickly become friends. Together they learn about and discuss the new religious ideas, and in the process, they discover their love for one another.

Outside the city walls, Margaret and Beck meet Conrad Grebel, the fiery-red-bearded Swiss Anabaptist who invites them to accept believers baptism. They also meet George Blaurock, Hans Hut, and many other influential Anabaptists. In December of 1525, the Strasbourg City Council discovers the pamphlets Margaret has printed for Conrad Grebel. On a cold and snowy night, at a huge blaze on Clement Ziegler?s farm, the authorities burn her pamphlets. In spite of this, Margaret remains determined to continue to print materials that will build up the struggling Anabaptists.