When you look at this empty room, it looks like any other room. A few minutes earlier, every chair was filled with ministry leaders from the Holmes County, Ohio, area. There were local pastors from Amish, Mennonite, and English backgrounds gathered together for one purpose: to discuss what has to happen for us to tear down the walls of division and for the gospel of grace to move forward. I was blessed to have been invited and to have been part of it all.

As each man shared Scripture and what the Lord had placed on his heart, one truth kept coming back to us.

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it…” Psalm 127:1

Far too often, ministry leaders can become focused on what is in it for them, their ministry, or their own camp. That was not what any of us were after. We want this move of God to be His move, not ours.

We talked about the great spiritual need in the second-largest Amish community in America. One Amish preacher shared that during any given week, the different groups work together and help each other. But on Sunday, those same groups separate, attend their own churches, and hold tightly to their own traditions and preferences.

Many have become so attached to their religious system that they are unwilling to open the Bible with anyone who might challenge what they have always been taught. Again and again, it was said that pride, control, and fear are three of the main reasons the Amish church system remains intact.

Security is often deeper than the religious system itself. In many Amish and Mennonite communities, security is also tied to hard work, business success, land, money, and what they have built with their own hands. Many are known for being very hard workers, and in some cases, that work ethic has produced great wealth. But when money, property, and success become a person’s security, these things can become just as strong of a wall as tradition or religion.

But we also believe God is working.

For years, we have sensed that revival is coming. The cracks are showing. Eyes are being opened. Bible studies and gospel-preaching churches are spreading, not only in larger Amish communities, but also in smaller communities across America. This is happening among the younger generation as well as among some leaders.

Forty years ago, we saw very little movement. Even twenty years ago, we wondered if we would ever live to see the day when revival would come among the Amish. In the last five years, God has been doing a work that is far bigger than men could put together on their own.

Not only do we believe that unless the Lord builds the house, men labor in vain, but it was also brought up again and again that if we want to see true revival, we must get on our knees and cry out to God. Like the children of Israel in Egypt, we must cry out and trust that God will hear.

This meeting reminded me of the upper room. We need to come together, let go of pride, lay aside control, and stop building our own little kingdoms. The saints do not belong to ministry leaders. They belong to Jesus.

Yes, unity can feel scary. Letting go of control can be hard. But while we hold tightly to our own preferences and traditions, people are dying every minute of every day and going to hell right under our noses, including many of our own people.

One of the greatest encouragements of the day was hearing Amish bishops and deacons speak with passion and zeal about getting the truth to their own people. They know the fear, control, and condemnation are real. They know the battle is hard. But they also know God is able.

We prayed over one Amish preacher I had spoken with by phone about three years ago when the Lord first began opening his eyes. Today, I met him in person for the first time. Hearing him speak of the fear he has faced, and then watching men gather around him and pray for God’s power and anointing on his life was so powerful and moving.

We left the meeting encouraged, but also careful. We did not want to plan another meeting just for the sake of meeting again. We all agreed that if God is in this, He will lead, and it will come to pass.

Everyone agreed that we do not need more meetings filled with talk. We need prayer. Real prayer.

Too often, we say we are having a prayer meeting, but we spend most of the time talking about everything except prayer. A true prayer meeting is when God’s people gather with purpose, humble themselves, and cry out to Him.

Jesus said, “…My house shall be called the house of prayer…” Matthew 21:13

Gospel-preaching churches in America have accomplished many great things in the world, but we must get back to prayer. We must cry out to God. We must let go of pride. We must lay down control. We must seek unity around the gospel of Jesus Christ. If for no other reason, remember this: people are dying and going to hell. We must rise up, make ourselves available, and let God use us in this generation.

Join us on Wednesday Mornings

If you would like to join a group of believers who gather on Zoom each Wednesday morning to pray, I would love to invite you. We meet from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. Eastern to pray for Mission to Amish People, for one another, and for the many people the ministry is in direct contact with.

Each week, we pray through a list of specific needs and ask God to intervene in people’s lives. Far too many have lived and died without ever knowing Jesus Christ. God has entrusted us with the truth of the gospel, and we have the privilege and responsibility to share that message with our Amish friends, neighbors, and family members.

If you would like to pray with us, simply let me know, and I will be happy to send you the link.