November 2012 Newsletter

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In January—2007, we mailed our first 3,000 copies of the Amish Voice. Since then, the bi-monthly publication has grown to 7,500. About 20-25 individuals and churches sponsor a certain number of Amish families by paying for the printing and postage.

Through this publication, we have gained many healthy and strong relationships with Amish, started a prayer meeting, and received some powerful testimonies. Here is a recent testimony:

Hi Joe, I don't know if you remember, but we met in 2003. Anyway I just wanted to thank you for the work you do. I got saved and left the Amish in February of 2003. No one else in my family would have anything to do with my newfound faith, that is until last week. My older sister called me and said that she and her husband got saved and are basically in the same shoes that I was in just before I left. She said they had been getting the Amish Voice for a long time already, and they used to just throw it away without reading it, but now they look forward to getting it.

Several years ago, Jonas and Mary Yoder from KY started receiving the Amish Voice while they were still Amish. In time, they both got saved and left their community.

One day, Jonas called to get more details on MAP. From that day on, our relationship grew quickly. As the weeks went by, it became more and more obvious that God was leading them in a partnership with MAP. In October of this year, they met before the MAP Board for a time of interviewing. Both MAP and the Yoders felt confident that God was leading. The Yoders were approved as missionary partners and are working toward raising their support to go full time.

Below is an article that was written by Jonas. Be encouraged and rejoice in the Lord!

Greetings in the name of Jesus. My name is Jonas and my wife’s name is Mary. I grew up in an Old Order Amish community, located in central MO. Mary and I got married in Feb of 1999. Since then, the Lord has blessed us with seven beautiful children—four boys and three girls, in that order.

In early 2004, the Lord convicted me of my lost state of being and, in the process, allowed me to get my hands on some good biblical teaching of salvation in the book of Romans. When we discovered that salvation was through faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we immediately accepted that and received salvation.

In 2007, we moved to western KY and joined a New Order Amish community. At the time, we were searching for a church that provided more scriptural beliefs. Before long, though, we discovered that the New Order church group was quite similar to the Old Order system, just on a different level.

In 2009, much to my dismay, we saw that we only had two options: compromise our beliefs and remain Amish or stand firm in what we believed the Bible taught and move on in life. Obviously, we chose the latter of the two options.

Soon after leaving the Amish system, the Lord began to give me a burden for my people, the Amish. However, I really had no clue as to how I should reach out to them since they are such a closed people. About that time, I became aware of a local prison ministry, H.R. Ministries. Almost immediately, I started serving in that ministry, going to prison once a week to coach Malachi Dad classes. Our ultimate goal is to help the inmates understand how they can have salvation in Christ and be discipled in God’s Word. We also help the inmates rebuild relationships with their children and prepare to re-enter society.

As I ministered among the prisoners, the Lord continued laying on my heart the need to reach out to my own people, the Amish.

About six months ago, I came in contact with Joe Keim and almost immediately there was a connection between us due to us both having a burden for the Amish. We began discussing and praying about ways to partner in ministry to the Amish.

This summer we took a weekend trip back to MO to spend some time encouraging a young couple that also left the Amish but were struggling to find good fellowship where they were at.

While driving toward MO, we texted Joe and let him know what we were doing so he could be in prayer for us. In the course of our conversation, he mentioned that some Amish folks in the northern end of MO had contacted him concerning the Amish Voice they had received in the mail. He said they were hesitant but seemed open and mentioned that it would be good if someone stopped by to see them. My response to Joe: I would be willing to go if they’re open to us coming to see them, and if the Lord works it out that we can. Long story short, the Lord worked it out in a miraculous way; we were able to travel 3½ hours out of our way to see and encourage them.

They are a young couple with a small family and have an awesome testimony of coming to know Jesus as their Savior. We spent a wonderful evening sharing what the Lord had done for us and encouraging one another.

This past October, Joe invited us to come to Ohio and take a tour of the ministry, meet with his board and discuss in more detail about partnering in ministry with MAP. We had a wonderful weekend getting to know Joe, his wife and family and the MAP board.

Our goal is to train and become actively involved in doing presentations at churches to educate folks about the Amish culture and their beliefs.

In closing, I would like to ask you to be in prayer for us as we begin a new chapter of our lives. Pray that God would open new doors of opportunity in ministry. Also pray about how the Lord might have you support our ministry.

You can contact me directly at (270) 625-6093 or Jonas@MapMinistry.org.

Note from Joe: If the Lord should burden you to help the Yoders in their ministry, please send your support to MAP, PO Box 128, Savannah OH 44874, C/O of Jonas and Mary. Their start up expenses are $1,000. I would also like to encourage churches to invite them to come and do a presentation.

Give toward Jonas and Mary's start up expenses

The Bible Club is not only a blessing to the students that receive their lessons through the mail but a blessing to those of us who have been given the privilege of working in this ministry. It takes much work and many hands to prepare the Bible lessons from the time they are picked up at the Post Office until they are ready to go back out in the mail.

This would not be possible without the many volunteers who give so unselfishly of their time.

Since our Bible lessons are sent out on a bi-weekly basis, volunteers come two days one week and three days on the mailing week.

We have our openers, graders, sorters, matchers and our put-together people, and various other jobs that are too numerous to name. Norma picks up the lessons from the Post Office; she is also a grader along with Miriam, Phyllis, Linda, Robyn, Esther, Rose and Jane. Bob does a lot of the cutting for the inserts that go into the lessons, along with Herman who does whatever needs to be done. Darlene is one of our many put-together people. Dallas, Wanda, Lenore and Gene are the main stampers for the Bible lessons. Lori, Bea and myself are the main computer entry people. Robyn does our Awards Program and the list goes on and on.

In September, the Lord blessed the Bible Club with a $5,000 grant from In His Steps Foundation. In order to get this grant, we had to submit a “Promotion Project” that helps the Bible Club grow. This project involved writing a 4-page Bible Club newsletter that went out to 6,000 Amish students. In the newsletter we asked our students to send us new names for the Club. In exchange for the names, we send them a small prize.

We are already seeing results from that promotion. So far, twenty one students have sent us 300 new names! Praise the Lord!! We are less than a month into the promotion and already feel the promotion is a success.

We have a large group that comes every other week from the Smithville OH area to fold and tape all the Bible lessons that are ready to be mailed.

In no way can we leave our faithful supporters out—without you, none of this could be possible. Praise God for all of you. You are worth more than you will ever know.

As of November, we have mailed out 46,322 Bible lessons and have recorded 174 salvation decisions. We only count the students that give a clear testimony of their salvation.

We are so thankful to the folks who have given toward the new office addition. To see a list of all the people and churches that have partnered with God in this area of giving, please go to our home page. While you are at the web site, you can also see what areas of the building have been paid for and what areas have not.

Here is a special testimony that was attached with one of the donations that came in for the building addition.

Hi, my name is Linda. I am 27 years old, former Amish and single. I was born in Maysville OH. At the age of two, my parents moved to PA where I was raised and still live.

During my growing up years as an Amish girl, I always wondered why we lived so different from the English people. I attended a one room school house for eight years and went to an Amish church which was held at people’s houses.

When I was 15 years old, I started working for a non-Amish man whose name is Donald. One day, he asked me to go to church with him. I knew my parents would not allow me to go; however, after much coaxing, my parents said I could go with him. It wasn’t until that very same Sunday that I heard the true Gospel for the first time.

From that Sunday on, I kept attending the Amish church, knowing what they were teaching was not all scripturally true.

Some years went by and it kept bothering me that I wasn’t attending a church where the true Gospel was being preached and taught. Finally, after four years, I left the Amish. The guy I work for helped me get my driver’s license and taught me how to drive.

I am now Mennonite and attend a Mennonite church. Here is a $5,000 check from the guy I work for to help with the 40 x 40 addition.

I would like to invite you to join Linda, Donald and the many others who have invested in the building expansion to help the former Amish get on their feet emotionally, spiritually and physically.

In order to build the 40x40 addition, we need to raise a grand total of $33,906. This covers everything but the labor, which will be minimal. Several churches are waiting for the go-ahead to come and start building. We are hoping to be all set to start by spring, 2013.

Chart on right: Solid circles are paid for. Total Given: $16,305 (solid circles)  Total Needed: $17, 601 (empty circles)

A member of the MAP family sent us about 100 home-made bookmarks (pictured above). Per their suggestion, we would like to offer one to each person who donates $25 or more toward the building project.

Should the Lord burden you to give toward this project,
please go to our home page and follow instructions

Samuel Girod was Amish for 30 years.  He was in a business partnership with his dad and owned two properties.  He had everything an Amish man could ever want; however, deep down he felt a void—a void that would finally drive him to leave his family, community and all that he owned. 

Just before midnight on September 22, 2012, Samuel walked away with two duffel bags and moved from Indiana to Ohio. 

On September 24, just two days after Samuel left the Amish, he was shown from God’s Word how he could be saved from all his sins and receive everlasting life.  It was on that very same day that he reached out to Jesus Christ—the Lord Jesus reached out to Samuel and washed his sins away and welcomed him into His family.  What a joyful day that was.  We will never forget!

In the weeks following, Samuel and I have had some of the best Bible studies anybody could ever have. What's even more exciting, God seems to be leading Samuel in a ministry partnership with MAP. His burden is to provide housing and help those who are leaving the culture and need help. This is a huge need in our area. Please pray for Samuel as all of us seek further direction from God.

—Joe Keim

The following letter was written by Samuel, several weeks after he left.

Dear Dad & Mom: Greetings of Love in Christ and our Lord above. I’m not going ask how you all are doing because I can only imagine that you all are crying for me and hurting. I know because I am too. But I had to do this because I always wondered if there is a way to get to Heaven other than being Amish. Well there is, and that is keeping the Word of God; nothing else will get you to Heaven, for we are all sinners and need to be born again.

I’m staying with some very Christian people. I have been blessed with all the friends and people I’ve met. They have all supported me in every way possible.

I’ve got 30 years of Amish man-made rules put into me and it works on me every day. But what is most important of all, is the word of God. And I know I was taught right about the Word of God; there is no doubt in my mind at all. I praise our Lord that my Dad taught me all of that, and I have a lot more to learn because we are not perfect. God does not care about materialistic things at all. All God cares about is our love, and the rules of the Word of God. Dad and Mom, I love you with all my heart, and the whole family, but most important of all is our Lord.

I never thought I’d leave, and most of you didn’t think so either. It was in the last 6 months that I really thought about it. It crossed my mind a lot of times before but I always pushed it aside. But I know God was speaking to me; there is no doubt in my mind.

The Amish teaching was handed down generation after generation in the Amish culture and most of it was all about outward appearances. We have had walls built up around our hearts all of our life, and that is blocking everything out from the outside. Now that I’m out of the box it is so clear to me. The more I write, I fear, it’ll make you think the worst of me. But I know in my heart that you know how much I love my family and always will.

While growing up, I always heard there is no hope for those who leave the Amish, and I believe for the most part it was because they didn't have Christ in them. All they want to do is party and do stuff against God’s commandments. Well, I never had that desire, and you know that Dad. I value that in my heart. The only thing that is going to keep me from having fellowship with my family is the man-made rules and my outward appearance. It is not what we have or do that gets us to Heaven; it’s who lives in our heart.

I did not do this to make anyone look bad. If anyone thinks so then I think they have a problem that will have to be taken care of with God. And I know Dad, you are blaming yourself about all this. But do not. It was all my choice.

I know the Amish will look at all the worldly things, but what is most important of all, Dad, is what you taught me about the word of God. So Pray for me; not to come home, but so Christ lives in me.

My heart goes out to my family so much and I wish you could understand. But, as long as you don’t want to, you will always put that wall up so much higher.

After I left, reality hit me that what is most important in life is Christ. I could quote scripture and everything, but nobody knows it better than you Dad. Believe the truth Dad, please do. You would make my day if you would just realize it. I pray every day that I could be the foundation of my family someday, and maybe I am, but God only knows. I don’t have anything else to say but ask you to pray that God would lead me on.

It was really, really hard for me to ignore your calls. The only reason I did was for my sake, not anyone else.

Everyone can believe and say what they want, but I know in my heart, God knows what is best for me, and I trust that 100 percent.

All I needed was some time to clear my head and be open minded to the true gospel. Dad, be careful what you think and say about anyone or me, because I know, I was in that stage myself. So please do that for me, Dad and Mom. I love you so much and I will miss you all so, so, so much. My family means so much to me and always will.

—Your loving son, Samuel

To leave Samuel a comment, go to his page