Stephen Szabados

A novel of faith, flight, and the quiet courage of a family seeking peace in their Quaker faith. In 1687, as religious pressures tighten in the village of Krefeld in the Rhineland, Matthias and Maria Schmidt make a choice that will alter the course of their family forever. With their children-Hans, Greta, and Peter-they slip away from their home, carrying only a few treasured belongings and the hope that William Penn's new province might offer what Europe no longer can: a life lived openly in the Light. Their journey across the Atlantic is fraught with danger, loss, and moments of unexpected grace.
Yet the true test begins when they reach Germantown, a fledgling settlement of Quakers, Mennonites, and German families carving homes from the Pennsylvania wilderness. Here the Schmidts must learn to rebuild-plowing unfamiliar soil, forging new friendships, and discovering what peace truly demands. As Matthias and Maria guide their children through hardship and renewal, they confront the memories of what they left behind and the promise of what lies ahead.
Through seasons of struggle, quiet worship, and the slow weaving of community, the Schmidts find that peace is not merely a place, but a way of living faithfully in the face of uncertainty. Rich in historical detail and grounded in the gentle strength of Quaker life, Quaker Hearts in Search of Peace is a moving portrait of a family's courage, devotion, and the enduring hope that carried them from the banks of the Rhine to the heart of Pennsylvania.