September 2012 Newsletter

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Dear Friends:

I have been contemplating for several weeks what our Ministry Update should look like this time around.  In the past, my ultimate goal has always been to  give donors and prayer warriors a detailed description on everything the Lord is doing through MAP. This time, however, I would like to begin by sharing two pressing needs. The first one on the list is the overwhelming need to…

Train and Equip Former Amish for Ministry

Here are some reasons why:

• The Amish population is exploding throughout North America—doubling in size every 20 years.

• As of July 2012, the population exceeds 270,000.  By 2050, the population will have grown to 1,000,000.

• Amish settlements are scattered throughout 31 states and Canada.

• On average, every 3-1/2 weeks a new settlement starts up in North America.

• As the Amish population increases, a greater number are leaving the culture—some because of spiritual reasons, others because of broken marriages and/or dissatisfaction and frustration over rules.

• Some are turning to open atheism and have web sites to prove it; others are falling in the trap of Mormonism, Jehovah Witness and other forms of legalism and doctrinal error.

• Many who leave and come to our ministry for help, do so with little more than the clothes on their back.  Far too many are frustrated with the religious system and every type of organized or structured church.  Only a few actually settle down in one church, become members and get involved in a local ministry.

• Many struggle from various types of abuse, rejection, rebellion, living double lives, alcohol, anger and bitterness. The emotional needs are often huge and difficult for trained counselors to understand.

• Because of the desperate need for acceptance and love, many young people  give into peer pressure, such as living together before marriage and attending wild parties.

By sharing these things, I don't mean to sound negative.  My goal is to help you better understand why we need to train and equip men and women for this type of ministry.  There are not enough Joe and Esther Keims to go around, and if we don’t start training and equipping others for full time ministry to Amish and former Amish, we will loose the battle even more.

Most days, our ministry receives an average of 40-50 emails, phone calls and letters from people all over the United States and Canada.  Some come from Amish and former Amish people who need help or advice.  Others come from individual donors, supporting churches and people who want to know how they can reach out to Amish communities in their area. 

About five years ago, I started thinking about the need of starting a Bible school that provides students with a solid understanding of the Old and New Testament, Bible doctrines, evangelism, discipleship and a practical hands on training ministry.

As time went by, my burden became heavier and heavier to bear.  In fact, there are times that the burden becomes so heavy that if I’d continue to hold my peace, the stones would cry out. 

Having shared my burden, let me also tell you about the four needs we have, before we can even start with this ministry: 

1. We need students, called of God to step out in faith and make a commitment in letting us train and equip them for a life of ministry. 
2. We need a teacher/director, called of God to run the school. Note: Concerning curriculum, I am not looking to reinvent any wheels, but rather use what is already available through other God ordained ministries. 
3. We need donors—small and great, called of God to come along side us and make a one year commitment.  After one year, we’ll stop and evaluate where we are at in the process.
4. We need prayer warriors, called of God to pray and pray hard every day that God would move in the hearts of potential students, a director/teacher and donors.

This all seems like a huge undertaking but I believe in my heart that now is the time to get the word out and let you know what is going on.  If you have advice or would like to get involved as a student, teacher or donor, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  This is our generation; our turn to make a difference for the Kingdom of God!

In conclusion, let me share a scripture passage with you that God placed on my heart.  Will you claim it too?

Hebrews 10:35-39 says: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

We have been working on adding a 40x40 addition to our office building.  Originally, our hopes were to have it built by this fall, however, the summer got very busy with other ministry activities.  Even more importantly, we are waiting to start until the funds  have been raised. 

At this point, a total of $7,375 has come in.  As soon as we reach the $12,000 mark, we would like to put the shell up.

The addition will include an inventory room,  three offices and a class room. 

At this point, I would like to show you the breakdown of costs that Bill Dunn put together for us.  Would you consider contributing toward one of the building packages, listed below? 

Concrete floor, 10 gage wire, finish, sealed and cut
• Package 1	$4,700
Building Material
• Package 1	$2,300
• Package 2	$2,300
• Package 3	$2,300
• Package 4	$2,300
• Package 5	$2,300
Drywall
• Package 1	$1,128
• Package 2	$1,128	Electrical
• Package 3	$1,128	• Wiring	$136
• Package 4	$1,128	• 19 Lights	$1,156
Three Office Windows		• Outlets	$45
• Window 1	$163	• Switches	$19
• Window 2	$163	• 100 amp box	$60
• Window 3	$163	HVAC (heating and air conditioning)
Five Doors		• Unit 1	$2,500
• Inside Door 1	$138	• Unit 2	$2,500
• Inside Door 2	$138	• Unit 3	$2,500
• Inside Door 3	$138	• Unit 4	$2,500
• Inside Door 4	$138	Gravel
• Outside Door	$170	• Package 1	$200
Lock Sets		Gutters
• Lock 1	$30	• Package 1	$200
• Lock 2	$30	Lock Sets
• Lock 3	$30	• Lock 6	$30
• Lock 4	$30	• Lock 7 - Outside	$40
• Lock 5	$30

You can give in the following ways:

1. Online via credit card or PayPal by pointing your web browser to MapMinistry.org/get-involved/give-online. Note: Please choose General Fund and make a note in the comments section that you want your gift to go toward your desired building package. 
2. Personal check, made out to: MAP, PO Box 128, Savannah OH 44874. Note: Remember to list the package you are buying.

If you have questions, please call our office (419) 962-1515.  Otherwise, here is a list of items to choose from—that is, if the Lord leads you to do so. 

To find out where we are at on this project, please go to our home page

We would like to publicly thank Burnell Martin, Perry and William Keim, Bill Dunn and Portage Community Church of Ravenna OH for donating the following:

Tons and tons of fill dirt, leveling the dirt, drawing up prints and getting a list of  building items and pricing. 

Thanks to all the individuals and churches who have already jumped on board and given over seven thousand dollars.  May the Lord bless you richly.

Jonathan (son) and I had the privilege of speaking at a Father-Son banquet.  What a joy to minister along side my son! 

Rachel (dau) headed back to college for one last year of education. This summer, she helped us out at the ministry.

Esther (wife) has been working a lot of overtime, but also going with me on ministry trips whenever  possible.  The two of us took a 10-day vacation, in celebration of our 25th anniversary.

Several weeks ago, Benji walked into a morning church service, heard the gospel and went forward during the invitation and gave his heart to the Lord.  Prior to this, he and I started a weekly Bible study at his house.

His father, who lives in PA told him, “I would rather see you run with a drug gang then to get caught up in Bible study with Joe Keim.”

Please pray for Benji and his buddy John who live in a drug infested area of Mansfield. Their house has been broken into several times.  The thieves have raided their fridge, thrown a brick through the window—barely missing John’s head. They have also been threatened physically and had $1,300 stolen from their house.  Recently, when I stopped by for a Bible study and Benji had a ball bat, a knife and a pistol setting next to his couch. 

Two young men, Marvin (left) and Jonas (right) got baptized.  Both stayed in our home for several months before moving on in August and getting their own apartment.  They work together, building barns.

Once a month, Alton and I meet for breakfast and a Bible study at Bob Evans in Wooster.  He was a former Amish minister and, at times, desires to preach again. 

I also meet with six other men on a weekly basis, discipling them in the Word of God and mentoring them in life.  Two are considering ministry.  Thanks to other Christians who are also meeting with young people on a regular basis. 

In July, we held our 14th Former Amish Reunion in Apple Creek OH.  Thanks to Ada Lendon who does all the organizing.

So far this year, we have shared MAP in 29 churches; 14 more are on the schedule.  We continue to get calls from churches as far away as Oklahoma, asking if we can come and teach them how to reach out to their Amish community. 

As you can imagine, I am no longer able to keep up with the ministry at home and do ministry presentations on the weekend.  Please pray that God would raise up someone to help me out in this area.  Regretfully, I’ve had to cancel two appointments in IA and MO.  

Special Notes: On Friday, September 21,  Andy Geesey from Plain New Life and I are putting on a seminar in Blanchard PA for surrounding churches who have a desire to reach their Amish community for Christ.  Our goal is to film the event and make it available for individuals and churches. 

On March 3, 2013, Andy Geesey and I will do a similar seminar in Fort Scott Kansas.  If you are interested, please mark your calendar.  We would love to see you there.

For the second time this year, a young man died because of an accident.  The first time it involved a car; this time a four wheeler. In both cases, the body was taken back to their family.

The community that Alvin Keim belonged to, took his body back and buried him in an Amish cemetery.  This often brings about an enormous amount of tension between the ones who remain Amish and those who have left.  In Alvin’s case, the Amish were very kind and allowed well over a hundred of the former Amish to attend the viewing and funeral.

Over the past few months, MAP has helped people with the following needs: driver’s licenses, jobs, Social security numbers, apartments, counseling, US Citizenship and bank accounts. 

We also helped two young girls go on to college, as well as helped two mothers receive protection and financial aide. One was thrown out on the street with only the clothes on her back.

With some help from his sister Maryann, John was finally able to get his US Citizenship.  His family was originally from Canada.  The picture shows John holding his US citizenship certificate, after he and I drove to Cleveland to finish the paperwork at the immigration office.  John got saved several months ago and has been faithfully meeting for discipleship.  He and I are going through the book: The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus.

In September, we started our own GED classes with 8 in attendance.  The goal is to create a spiritual atmosphere, by starting out with prayer and a scripture. Thanks to our teachers, Doug Plice, Al Eaton and Aaron Wolfe who are volunteering their time two nights a week.  They are doing a great job!

Two mothers are going after their GED so they can home school their children.  Others are pursuing a higher education and possibly going on to college.

Norma has for years volunteered two days a week at MAP. She is one of the most easygoing ladies you could ever find and loves the Lord with all her heart.  She is also a prayer warrior and piano player at First Baptist Church in West Salem OH.  Earlier this year, several former Amish ladies started attending the same church. When I asked her if she would be willing to disciple two of the ladies, she was all ears and excited. They are just about done with their twentieth lesson, where they studied most doctrines of the faith.  Thank you, Norma, for giving your life in such a powerful way!

The need for an activity night for singles has been great.  Thanks to John and Miriam  Keim who have worked very hard over the years to make this out reach happen.

Recently, more adult leaders joined the ranks of making this ministry out-reach a greater priority.  The group meets every other Saturday evening to give young people an opportunity to do something other than live the party life.  As we sat around the bon fire on this particular night, we discussed where each person wanted to be at in five years.