October 2023
God's Goodness
Greetings in the name of our Savior. Polly and I are very grateful for your support.
Susanna Serena Girod was born on August 2, weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. She is a healthy baby, and we are very blessed to have her.
It is always exciting when churches invite us to present our ministry and teach about Amish beliefs. Please pray for us as we travel to Wisconsin in October, Mississippi and Florida in January, and Maine in April.
I have been meeting weekly with a group of men to go through a video series on authentic manhood by Robert Lewis titled “Raising a Modern Day Knight.” Polly and the children have been busy harvesting an abundant garden, along with raspberries and blackberries. We also hatched chicks this spring and are now enjoying fresh eggs.
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2)
Blessings,
Samuel, Polly, and Family
New Beginnings
This month, three new girls arrived at New Beginnings Homestead, bringing our apartments to full capacity. All eight bedrooms are now filled. What a blessing it is to encourage, mentor, and walk alongside these young women.
Our program is designed to help former Amish women grow in their relationship with God while adjusting to life in the English culture. The girls attend Sunday School and worship services at Bethel Baptist Church, and they also participate in Bible studies and small group lessons.
In recent weeks, our small group time has focused on apologetics, helping equip the girls to better share and defend their faith.
We also provide outreach opportunities so they can actively serve their community. One recent event took place at the Ashland County Fair, where New Beginnings partnered with Beyond Measure Market to operate a booth and share the mission with visitors.
The girls spent time working together, building stronger relationships, and enjoying the experience of serving side by side. Opportunities like this bring unity and joy while serving others.
During our next outreach event, we plan to apply what we’ve learned in apologetics through open-air evangelism. The girls are excited to share their faith with others.
Plowman's Academy - Online
In June, Justice and I moved into New Beginnings Homestead as house parents. Along with my responsibilities there, I have also been helping with maintenance around the property. As we became more involved with Mission to Amish People, it became clear that Joe had a strong vision for starting a Bible school, and now that vision is becoming a reality.
I was excited when Joe invited me to be part of the online school. I love studying the Bible and teaching others, and my long-term goal is to graduate from seminary and teach at the college level. This opportunity gives me a valuable starting point toward that goal.
In general, Amish education ends after eight years in a one-room schoolhouse, and many do not pursue further education. Additionally, the Bible found in most Amish homes is written in German rather than Pennsylvania Dutch, making it feel distant rather than personal.
Joe’s vision for the online Plowman’s Academy is to create a place where Amish and former Amish individuals can study Scripture at their own pace, with strong support from instructors. The goal is to make Biblical education both accessible and affordable.
Although the Academy is still in its early stages, we already have four students and are currently studying Dynamic Christian Spirituality.
Looking ahead, we would love to see the Academy grow into an on-site school and eventually offer some form of accreditation. We believe these goals can be achieved through prayer, dedication, and trust in the Lord.
Please pray for Jonas and me as we guide students who are eager to learn more about God’s Word. We will continue to share updates as the school grows. Thank you for your support.
The ABC Project has Launched
We are incredibly thankful for the many volunteers who made it a priority to help send The ABC’s for Christian Growth into the mailboxes of 32,000 Amish homes. Over 30 volunteers gathered across six days to complete this effort.
Volunteers came from many different areas, including Cleveland, Ashtabula, Wooster, Walnut Creek, Pennsylvania, and several supporting churches across multiple counties.
Please pray for these 32,000 Amish families. The lessons are designed so that the teaching comes directly from Scripture. Pray that individuals will be interested, curious, and willing to take time out of their busy routines to study God’s Word.
We still have 49,000 Amish addresses in our database that have not yet received the first lesson. Please pray for continued opportunities to expand this outreach.