May 2013 MAP Update

In This Issue

Personal Message

Amish Awareness Conference

Daniel: Off to Afghanistan

Welcome, Iva Miller!

Help Me!

Question for MAP

Missionary Training School

Bible Club Update

Building Addition Progress

Peace for Daniel!

Amish Voice Conference Call

The month of May brought some major changes to our family.  Our daughter, Rachel, graduated from college with a teacher’s degree, married David Garwood and now Esther and I are, once again, empty nesters.  A great big thank you to all who came and celebrated this special day with David and Rachel.

On the other hand, our son, Jonathan, is too busy to go to college or even begin to think about marriage. He recently bought his second home, just up the road from ours. 

As you might imagine, our emotions  have been everything but normal.  But in the end, Esther and I are thankful that our one shot at raising offsprings has turned out well.  The eternal torch of Christianity has been passed on and is being lived out.  To God be the glory and praise for ever and ever.

The ministry continues to get requests, asking if we could come and teach our seminar, Amish: Our Friends, But Are They Fellow Believers?  For that reason, we are planning a two-day conference next year.  The dates are April 10 and 11, 2014. 

The heart for this two-day conference is mainly to focus on reaching your Amish neighbors with the gospel. At this point, our plans are to include workshops, testimonies, special singing groups, preaching, prayer, and Amish meals.

Mark your calendars and watch for more details.

In the meantime, we have our 3.5 hour seminar available on DVD (video) and CD (audio).  We would like to encourage church groups and individuals to order their choice package and learn how they can effectively share the gospel with their Amish friends and neighbors.

You can order from our web site by clicking here.

Or, you can place an order by calling the office at (419) 962-1515.  Major credit cards accepted.

“Well, Joe, whatever you do, don’t go to war!”

That statement came from the lips of my beloved father who had spent over a year in prison for dodging the draft during the Vietnam war.  To him, it was a heaven and hell issue. 

At the time, I was unsure what to believe about war.  I had left a culture that preached against going to war, the American flag, and getting involved in any type of governmental affairs.  Now all of a sudden, I found myself in the midst of church people who did the exact opposite.  They praised and celebrated their soldiers, pledged allegiance to the American flag inside God’s house, and voted with the rest of Americans on Election Day. 

These and many other conflicting beliefs were difficult for Esther and me as we tried to find our way in life during those early years of transition.  We had a hard time trusting anyone, fearing someone would lead us in a wrong direction.  Again and again, we searched the Scriptures for answers, which is what they had to do in the early church.

Acts 17:11 says: ...they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Recently, one of our young men, Daniel, chose to go back to Afghanistan to serve a second term in the Navy.  Before he left, we invited him and other former Amish to get together for a time of testimony and Bible study on, “What does God say about going to war?”  As you can see, we had a great turnout and a very healthy time of discussion. 

Click on “What does God say about going to war?”  When you get done reading the Bible study, we’d like to encourage you to leave a comment.

We want to welcome Iva Miller to the MAP staff.

Following is some of Iva's story:

I grew up in an Amish community in northern Indiana. I am the youngest child of four. I was ten when my 21-year-old brother died after a two-year battle with a brain tumor.  My oldest sister is married, and another one is no longer Amish.

I was taught that if I was obedient to my parents and to the Amish church, I would have hope for salvation. At the young age of 12, however, because of a summer Bible school ministry and MAP’s Bible club, I received Jesus Christ as my Savior. I remained Amish and became a baptized member of the Amish church at age 17. For the next three years, I read the Bible more. I found myself discouraged because I did not understand the Bible or even how to read it. Discipleship and Bible study are not allowed within Amish culture.

I wanted to know God more deeply, and I wanted my life to be meaningful. I turned again to the Bible, this time to study it with a real hope to find answers and to know more of God. I began to study the book of Romans. God’s Word held the answers to every question I had. I shared this with my mom one day, not expecting her extremely negative response. Her fear was that this would cause me to one day leave the Amish. She was right.

In April, I committed my life to God. Immediately following this was the most challenging season of my life. As I read the Scriptures daily, the fruit of His Spirit grew within me. My mom noticed that I was not the same person. Though I was now more patient and loving, she did not like that I was different. I would urge my parents to have devotional time with me, knowing that if Christ is the center of our family, conflict would have to leave. My mom’s response was that the Bible was brainwashing me.

One day after work, I was broken to find that my mom had taken my English Bible away from me. It became clear that I would either need to stay and submit to my parents or I would need to leave the Amish. The pressure got more intense.

In October, I had the opportunity to live in the apartment of an elderly couple. Though my parents did not think I would ever leave the Amish, on January 2nd, 2010, I left at 6:30 a.m. with my last bag, leaving only a note on the counter for my parents. As the van took me past the place where my dad was working, intense emotion filled me, and tears ran down my face. I realized the reality and seriousness of the choice I had just made.

My parents tried to get me to return. They even tried to arrange for me to become a patient at the mental facility where I was then volunteering. For two months I continued to dress Amish, but attended a non-Amish church. I was awed at the simple freedom of taking my English Bible with me to the church services. I loved the joyful songs and corporately praying freely to God instead of the written prayers given in our antiquated German language.

Another turning point in my life came in April. I was still Amish, and I was obligated to attend council and communion services. If I would not attend, my Amish church and community would know that I had left. I would be shunned. As I sought and prayed through this very important decision, I realized there was no turning back for me. I chose to no longer be part of the Amish culture.

I earned my GED in June. Desiring to know Jesus more, I began attending a Bible school in PA. I needed to know the Bible much better than I did. I recognized that I did not have a solid foundation in Christ, and I could easily fall prey to unsound doctrine. I needed to be able to differentiate what was truth and what was tradition. As I began studying and learning the Bible more, I was filled with a great love for my parents and all Amish people.

Because I had been so hurt previously, I would never have chosen to go to Indiana or to see another Amish person again. God, however, changed my heart, and now I am looking forward to working at Mission to Amish People and helping the Amish and former Amish with their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual struggles that I know so well.

I count it a great joy to have the opportunity to lead these precious people to Jesus.

Help Me!

I sent off a few weeks ago to Ohio, and I have not received my birth certificate or an answer that they had no record.

As soon as I hear from them, I will let you know. Thanks so much for your help, I had no one else to turn to. By the way, is there any way to find work while I am waiting? No one wants to give me work since I have no ID or Social Security number.

—Thanks, Abe

Question for MAP

Hello MAP,  my name is Nicole. I, in my heart, have searched deep and found my calling with the Lord and myself. I want to become Amish.

I need help with that because I don't have any clue where to start besides finding an Amish family to talk to and becoming acquainted with.

Besides siding with my Lord and Savior who can do all things through me, I need the help from someone who can help me on my path to joining the Amish and the church and giving myself to God. Please, if you can help me, please do??

I know this is my heart and mind and Jesus' calling for me, and I will do anything and give up anything I have to, in order to prove myself worthy of this, instead of just stomping in on people's lives.

God Bless You! And I pray for your reply and good health.

—Nicole

Dear Friends, Greetings in the name of our risen Savior. I want to thank you all for your continued support through prayer and financial giving. This ministry would be impossible without God’s people pulling together to make it happen.

On March 24-29, our family had the privilege of attending a missionary training school with Good Shepherd Baptist Missions in Homerville, OH. The school is sponsored by several local churches in the area who have a heart for missions.

It was an intense week of teaching on many different aspects of being an effective missionary. We were taught about the necessity and the power of prayer and the importance of being sensitive to and being led by the Holy Spirit. Time management and handling of finances were some of the other very important and practical topics which were taught. It was a huge blessing for us to sit and be taught by godly men, all of whom already have lots of experience in those areas.         

There were also classes for our children where they learned about love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, and many other things, along with getting to know other missionary kids. It is amazing what children can learn in a short period of time. Friday evening they had a short program where they recited a lot of Scripture they had learned during the week.

Victory Baptist Church graciously allowed us to stay in their prophet’s chamber at the church. It was a wonderful blessing for us to have a place where we could relax and prepare for the next day.

I would like to ask you for your continued support for this ministry of reconciliation through prayer or giving, whatever the Lord may lay on your heart.

How to support Jonas and his family:    

Send a gift to Jonas Yoder, C/O MAP Ministry, PO Box 128, Savannah OH 44874.  To have them come in and share their ministry, call Jonas’ cell number at (270) 625-6093.

The Bible Club is a very busy place, and we can always use people led by God to help us send the message of His Word to those who want to learn more about Him. I would urge you to pray and see if God is leading you to be a part of this exciting ministry. That is how I ended up here!

There are many different tasks to do here, and anyone can find a place where he or she fits in.

Not only do we open the lessons that come in, sort the lessons, enter the lessons in the computer for new labels, grade the lessons, match the lessons, and put together the old lessons with the new ones, but we also send out awards to the students after they have completed ten lessons.                                                              

Our students earn 100 points for each lesson they complete, and once they get 1,000 points, they receive a KJV New Testament Bible so they have their very own New Testament—one that they can read and use to look up passages along side the lessons they receive.

After receiving the New Testament, they receive various other prizes for each 1,000 additional points that they earn.

We have two sets of prizes—one for ages up to eleven years old, and the others for ages twelve and older.

The prizes include notebooks, stickers, coloring books, activity books, puzzles, etc. for the younger age group.  For the older group, we have books, bookmarks, small Bibles, etc. When they reach 12,000 points, they receive a large complete Bible with a special certificate.

We are excited to keep you informed about the progress of the building addition! Thank you to all who have prayed, given, and donated time and resources to help this project become a reality! The construction began on March 29, and with the many great volunteers we have had so far, construction is going well—from construction crews like those of William and Perry and Chris to individuals like Bill, Wayne, Glenn, Travis, Lawrence, Elmer, and Pastor VanHorn to entire church groups like those from Byesville, OH and Greenwood, WI—we thank God for your prayers, kindness, servanthood, and generosity.

We also thank those of you who are still planning to volunteer and for those who would have liked to volunteer but could not.

Continue to check out the building progress on our website, with news and pictures being added as the work progresses: See more pictures at Building Update.

Daniel Beachy left the Amish a few years ago at the age of 19. He was  raised by good Amish parents and continues to love his family, although, he is no longer part of his Old Order community in Michigan.

Daniel was burdened by the many rules he was expected to follow. As a child, he was taught that if he did not keep the Amish rules, he would go to hell. Daniel was basically a good Amish young man, but he never knew peace. He constantly lived in fear of not being good enough to please God or his Amish community and thought God hated him.

Finally, one day, after being under great pressure, Daniel left his family and the Amish community. For the next year and a half, he continued to struggle, thinking that God was always angry at him.

Daniel had a friend, though, named Monroe who had previously left the Amish and become a Christian after getting acquainted with Joe Keim. Monroe told Daniel about Joe and Mission to Amish People. After a series of phone calls with Joe and attending the meetings of a Christian group near where he lived, Daniel learned about true peace, forgiveness, and love in Jesus Christ. On March 1, 2013, he opened his heart and accepted God’s eternal plan of salvation for his life.  At that moment, all his fear went away, and he began his new life in Jesus.

Daniel’s parents are fully convinced their son is on his way to hell—unless he returns to the Amish.  Daniel, on the other hand, knows differently and continues to attend his church in Michigan; he spends time with God every day. 

Daniel has an older married brother who is also a Christian but has chosen to stay Amish.  The two of them greatly enjoy talking, but the rest of his family remains as Daniel once was—religious, but lost.

At the current time, Daniel likes working with horses.  He provides horse training and hoof trimming and shoeing. He hopes to base his career around farming and training horses.

Let us pray for Daniel, that he would continue to grow in Christ by reading, learning, understanding, and living out God’s word—without which a Christian will starve. Let us pray, too, for Daniel’s family, that they would see the change in his life and soon find freedom and truth and forgiveness—not in religion, but through faith in Jesus the Messiah!

Mark 10:28-30 says: Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Our first two conference calls went well. You can listen to both recordings on our website.  The first discussion was on Justification by Faith, and the second was on the Fruit of the Spirit.

Our next two conference calls are scheduled to be with John Regier as the guest speaker. Mr. Regier is a professional counselor with Caring for the Heart Ministries.  Join us as John Regier speaks about Sexual Abuse on June 2 at 8 p.m. EST and Moral Addictions on July 14 at 8 p.m. EST.

Learn how you can listen to previous conference line discussions by clicking here.

The main purpose for this Conference Call Ministry is to connect with Amish people who have access to personal and community phones.  We continue to advertise in The Amish Voice, which goes out to about 8,000 people.

To read, download, or sign up to receive notifications of the Amish Voice, please click here: