January 2014 MAP Update

In This Issue

Personal Greetings                                         Continuing the Lord's Work

Our Goals and Vision for 2014                          PBS Special on February 04

2013 Ministry Highlights                                   David Lee, Missionary and MAP Volunteer

Thank You!                                                      Broken for God's Glory

Amish Awareness Conference                                                 

I would like to start out with saying thank you. Esther I have been thoroughly encouraged and feel so blessed by all the Christmas notes, cards and personal gifts you sent our family. Wow! You are all so awesome, kind and generous. We are both humbled and speechless. Our tanks are full!

It is our desire and prayer that God would accomplish even greater and mightier works through you and us in 2014. Yes! And that He would fill you and us with His power and boldness to proclaim the message of hope and everlasting life.

This year, let’s be open and available vessels together. By God’s grace, we have been saved from eternal judgment and given the very life of Jesus Christ—life that keeps giving past the grave and eternities upon eternities to come. With God and His great power within us, let us yield to God’s instructions and continue spreading the great news to every tribe, tongue and land. Let’s do it together in 2014.

— Joe Keim

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Greetings from Ohio!

At this time, Jonas, Melvin and I would like to share our vision and goals for MAP in 2014. To all the ones who have been called of God to pray regularly for us and this ministry, we seek and cherish your intersession on our behalf and the goals that are set before us.

Goal 1: Amish Awareness Conference: We are praying that God would use this two day conference to train and equip His people to evangelize and disciple the Amish culture. Go to AmishAwareness.com and join our mailing list and register for the conference, April 10-11. Early bird discounts are available.

Goal 2: Plowman’s Academy: For years, I have envisioned a physical school of ministry and, Lord willing, someday it will happen. But for now, our own Paul Miller has been putting adult level Bible study courses together and making them available to Amish who have a desire to get involved in deeper studies of God’s word. At this point, we are running about 25 students. We have been making special efforts to promote this ministry and believe it will easily triple by the end of the year.

Goal 3: Amish Voice Conference Line: This ministry outreach was started in 2013 and continues to be used of God to draw both Amish and former Amish together for healthy discussions that vary from abuse, ministry opportunities, family rearing, addictions and Bible topics. Some of our special guests are prominent leaders and authors, such as John Regier, Bruce Lengeman, and Michael Pearl. Every discussion is recorded and made available via phone line and web site. This allows Amish people to call in at a later date and listen to previous discussions more than once.

Goal 4: Housing: This goal seems so huge and costly; however, it is a need and could be greatly used of God as a tool to minister to young adults who come to MAP for help. We will continue to seek God and wait. If God provides, we will forever be grateful. If not, we will continue to make do with what God has given us.

Goal 5: Continue Other Ministries: With the help of God and His army of supporting people, we hope to grow and expand the Bible Club and Amish Voice. We will also continue the weekly Bible classes, prayer meetings, help with birth certificates, Cross-Point activities, Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, prison ministry, housing, jobs, counseling and speaking in churches.

Goal 6: Increase Financial Support: As the ministry spreads out and grows, so does the need for finances. As much as I’d like to just focus on ministry and leave this part entirely up to God, I also recognize the fact that God included this as something we must do as part of our day to day ministry.

— Joe Keim

Greetings from Kentucky!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations (Psalm 100).

As we enter yet another year, I want to give you an update on the goals I set for myself last year.

1. Sharing with churches about the history, culture, and beliefs of the Amish and how to effectively witness to them. We have had the opportunity to share in several churches in the past year. It has been a great blessing for us to be able to share with you our burden for the Amish people. We plan to continue sharing with churches and groups, so if your church would like to have us, we would be glad to come.
2. Building our financial support. We are still quite a ways from full financial support, but the Lord continues to bless us in that area in different ways.
3. Setting up office space. Completed
4. Increasing personal Bible study time. Pray for me in this area, as I still need improvement. I must follow the example of our Lord and spend time with God early each morning—before the distractions and business of the day arrive.
5. Witnessing to Amish. This part of the ministry is definitely on the rise as I have been able to connect with several local Amish families.

Goals for 2014

Goal 1: Becoming more active in witnessing among the Amish.

Goal 2: To love Jesus more is to love the lost more, and to love the lost more means that I will witness more actively. Pray that I would love Jesus more each day.

Goal 3: Continue speaking in churches. If you would like to hear more about how you can help reach the Amish for Jesus, please contact me and I would be glad to share our heart’s burden with your church.

Goal 4: Build up my financial support. Please pray about how God would have you support this ministry. I do not know many who like to ask others for money, and that is why I count it an honor to be able to go to God and give our needs over to Him. I pray that God would cause the hearts of many of you to share our burden and partner with us financially, freeing us up to be able to spread the Gospel.

— Jonas Yoder

Greetings from Wisconsin!

I want to update you about the Lord’s work in our lives. We are grateful for all of your prayers, and we want to keep you informed so that you can continue to pray for us daily.

In September of 2013, we presented the ministry for the very first time. It was a good experience, and we hope that was only the first of many, many more opportunities we have to share MAP Ministry with churches, seeing them get excited, and joining with us as we take God’s love and truth to the Amish.

As most of you know. God expects us to be working for Him, and that requires much prayer, effort, diligence, sacrifice, and hard work. However, knowing what Jesus did for us, we cannot imagine anything that would be too much for us to give for Him. Up until October 2013, we were dairy farmers. On October 17 we had an auction. We sold our livestock, machinery, and most of our land. We miss the cows and farming, but now we are better able to focus on serving God and ministering to the Amish and former Amish. Although we have sold the farm, I still have a part-time business and a part-time job for now.

My goal for the rest of 2013 was to do one presentation per month, but the Lord blessed us with more. We were able to speak at seven churches in the last part of the year. We already have a few scheduled for 2014. If you are interested in learning more about MAP Ministry and our missionary work among the Amish—especially if you are anywhere near our home area of Turtle Lake, WI—please contact us.

Our goal for 2014 is to do two church presentations a month, and also to be able to quit my part-time job in order to free up more time for the ministry. Your prayers and support can help us reach that goal soon. We thank God daily for those of you who already support us, and we already thank God for those who will begin supporting us in 2014.

If you have any interest in having us come and speak at your church, if you have any questions, or if you would like to know more about how you can pray for us or support us, by all means contact us.

You can find more information about us on the MAP website, or you can email me directly at mel@mapministy.org.

—Melvin Schrock

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1. Gave our daughter, Rachel, away to David, one of the best young men in the world.
2. 1,600 sq. ft. office expansion, costing $41,406 (completed and paid for). We still marvel at the thought of so many who rolled their sleeves up and got involved in this project. We love every inch of the new addition!
3. Presented MAP 18 times.
4. Rosa Werner became the new accountant after Forrest Conrad served for 6 years.
5. Did a complete overhaul of the ministry’s by-laws.
6. Sent 79,331 Bible lessons—10,000 more then ever before in history.
7. Recorded 289 salvations.
8. Provided physical, emotional and spiritual support for about 75-100 Amish individuals and families.
9. 348 individuals/churches/ grants gave $287,276. Expenses were $301,969.
10. Esther and I opened our home to five young girls.
11. Started a weekly Sunday school class.

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During December, the ministry received a ton of cards and various types of gifts that ranged from money to chocolate candy. It was awesome! We didn't want it to end. And as you can imagine, you love and gifts made us realize how special the family of God is to one another.

One of our wonderful donors and friends, Jeanette, from NC send us a card that read: “Please know that I pray for you guys individually and as a group. You are doing an awesome work for the kingdom. Love to you all. Merry Christmas!”

Thank you, Jeanette! We appreciate your prayers, and card, and we also really appreciate the chocolate that you sent for each of us!

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Two Full Days of Teaching On:

• Anabaptist History
• Statistics
• Culture and Traditions
• Beliefs
• Effects of Legalism
• How to Evangelize
• Helping Those Who Leave
• MAP Ministry
• Former Amish Testimonies
• Questions and Answer Times

Register Online: AmishAwareness.com or call (419) 962-1515

Schedule Layout: Click here

Costs: Before March 1, individuals: $40 (four or more: $30 each)

Free promotional materials, call us—DVD, Bulletin inserts and posters

Download from AmishAwareness.com/Promotional-Materials

Effective Teaching Sessions!
Amish Style Cooked Meals!
Tour of the Ministry
Receive your own Workbook!
Bluegrass Music!

Come learn how to share the Gospel with your Amish Friends and Neighbors!

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1. Trusts: Set up a trust that may offer tax advantages and allow you to give. Trusts come in many forms including: revocable, irrevocable, and living.
2. Estate Planning: Choose to name our ministry in your will. 
3. Life insurance: It is often set up so the premiums are tax deductible.
4. Annuities: Annuities can be set up so that you keep the principle and the ministry receives the interest.

Trained estate and tax planners can assist you in this area. Thank you for considering how you will be a good steward of God’s blessings. 

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See MAP in action on the upcoming the PBS special, The Amish: Shunned, airing on February 04 at 8Eastern/9Central.

PBS describes the film as: what is it like to be cut off from your faith and your family? The Amish: Shunned follows seven people who have chosen to leave their closed and tightly-knit communities for the outside world, knowing they may never return. Each has paid deeply for their decision. Estranged from loved ones, these former Amish find themselves struggling to make their way in modern America.”

Details, click here.

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Hello. My name is David Lee. Lately, I have been promoting the Amish Awareness Conference that will be held in Savannah, OH on April 10-11. I have enjoyed getting the word out, because it is going to be a great experience for all who participate.

I and my wife are missionaries to Romania. We have ministered there for four years. There, we minister among street children and other troubled youth. We teach them the Gospel and principles from God’s word to comfort and guide them. We also tutor them in math and reading and send young adults for school and job training. It is not easy work, but God has moved in the hearts of several of the young people to whom we have reached out.

Currently, we are in Ohio on furlough. We are excited to help MAP as much as we can because it is a ministry that changes lives. Thousands of children learn the word of God through the Bible Club. MAP also helps many young adults who leave the Amish community. Many of these are young people persecuted for their faith in Christ.

It is an honor to serve Jesus Christ no matter where we are—in Romania or here in Ohio. I hope you will consider attending the Amish Awareness conference so that you can learn more about these precious people and how to love them more, pray for them, and help to reach them with the glorious Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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From Joe: We have thoroughly appreciated all the hard work and long hours Dave has put into MAP these past four months. He has gone beyond the call of duty and volunteered many hours. Like so many others who give their finances, time and talents for the sake of God and others, Dave will receive his due reward some day. God bless you Dave! You will be missed!!!

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Dear Joe: I have been having problems with my computer this week. Last evening it froze and wouldn't do anything. I laid my hands on it and asked God to remove whatever is in there that keeps it from working. I promised God that if I didn't have to buy a new computer I would send MAP $500.00. The computer came back on and it's been working pretty well. Hallelujah! God is faithful!!!

Here at Mission to Amish People, we do not usually pray for computers to break down, but we thanked God for this broken computer that we were told about in the email above—and for it working again. It is good to know that God can use broken computers—and broken lives—for His glory.

Bible Club: Greetings to you in Jesus Holy name: Thanks for the 5 pieces of gum. As soon as I got it my little sisters right away wanted some. So I took a half piece for myself and divided the rest among the other 8 people that are in my family.

Bible Club: Although I have already taken Jesus as my Savior doing your lessons still encourage me a lot to keep strong in God and spend some time with Him each day.

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We'd like to leave you with an opportunity to partner with Mission to Amish People by giving a gift on behalf of the many who are searching for purpose and everlasting life.

1. Give to Joe and Esther Keim in OH: Click here
2. Give to Jonas and Mary Yoder in KY: Click here
3. Give to Melvin and Ella Schrock in WI: Click here

All gifts are tax deductible