During the twentieth century, the number of Christians in Africa grew from an estimated 4 million to more than 300 million. One of the forces that has propelled the church's remarkable growth is its liturgical music, which has been heavily influenced by indigenous musical traditions. This rewarding book takes readers ""inside the music"" for the first time. By examining the central role of indigenous music in promoting Christianity and in giving voice to local theologies, the authors seek to energize conversations between music, culture, and the church. Furthermore, they extract useful lessons for fostering faith communities around the globe.

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. "With the art of a storyteller, the heart of a pastor, and the acumen of a leader, Lehman narrates the Amish and Mennonite presence in the Southeast in this first of two volumes." says John E. Sharp, Author, A School on the Prairie: A Centennial History of Hesston College, 1909-2009. James R. Krabill, Senior Executive for Global Ministries, Mennonite Mission Network, observes that "We have much to learn as God's people and Roots and Branches can help us in doing just that." Richard K. MacMaster, Author, Land, Piety, Peoplehood: The Establishment of Mennonite Communities in America, 1683-1790 thinks "This is grass roots history at its best, telling the story of the men and women who nurtured an Anabaptist presence in Florida and Georgia." John. L. Ruth, Author, The Earth Is the Lord's: A Narrative History of Lancaster Mennonite Conference, believes that "key moments and personalities, insightfully recalled, will help new members gain important understandings of Southeast Mennonite Conference as well as its neighbor churches, and historians of the larger Mennonite scene will need this book for their own interpretive work." And Irene Bechler, a former urban church planter, sees "The evident working of the Holy Spirit" in the stories Lehman tells.