Meet the Staff and Volunteers

Hi, my name is Jennifer, and I am the office manager at Mission to Amish People (MAP). My husband and I have been married for over 30 years and have four daughters ranging in age from 17 to 27. I previously worked in banking for 20 years and "retired" at age 39 to focus on our family.

I grew up attending Sunday School and church, and gave my life to Christ at nine years old. In recent years, my husband and I have taught Sunday School to children, teenagers, and young adults, and we are active in various church roles.

When I returned to the workforce, I wanted a Christ-centered position. My journey with MAP started as a cashier at Beyond Measure Market, then assisting with the deli and café staff. I was later asked to temporarily step into the office manager role at MAP. As I saw the Lord's hand in this ministry, I truly felt at home.

I work alongside staff and precious volunteers who freely give their time and talents to the SonLight Club. New lessons reach children every other week, and it is an honor to be part of making sure these students receive Bible lessons and encouragement. If you would like Amish or Mennonite children to be part of the SonLight Club, please email their name, address, and age to: Jennifer@mapministry.org.

Scarlett was born and raised in Alabama and spent most of her life in the South. As a child, she was fortunate enough to be taught about the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Having a deep desire to serve God as an adult, she earned a Bible College degree and spent many years in ministry teaching in Christian schools and eventually as a missionary in East Africa. However, after nearly two decades of serving in that capacity, she realized how legalistic both she and the denomination she had been affiliated with had become.

It was only after making the difficult decision to leave that she began to experience the love of God on a deeper level. She has spent the last few years rebuilding her relationship with God on a new foundation free from performance-driven works.

She fell in love with the Ashland area while visiting friends in November of 2024. Following the peace of God, she returned home to Mississippi and decided to quit her job and sell her house, four months later making Ohio her home. She had been interested in the MAP Ministry for years, and it was only after moving that she discovered it was in the same area she had moved to.

Scarlett knows without a doubt God led her to serve in the MAP ministry and attributes her move to Ohio as part of God's plan to prepare her for service in it.

Jennifer (Jen) grew up in a small rural Ohio town. She had a fondness for the Amish from a very young age. Her favorite place to visit was Amish Country in Holmes County, and she spent her free time poring through Beverly Lewis books. At 19, she married Matt. They raise their 3 children (ages 13–19) on a small hobby farm in Ashland.

Jen's family started going to church regularly when she was 12, and the first time she heard the gospel, she knew instantly she wanted to say yes to Jesus. So, on November 21, 1996, she did. Jen struggled to fully accept the depth of Christ's love, which led to years of shame and kept her from experiencing true peace. Later in life, the Lord revealed His love to her in a deeper way, transforming her heart and giving her compassion for those who are hurting. Through faithfully reading the Bible each year, she has found lasting peace in her Father's love.

At MAP, Jen oversees the New Beginnings Homestead, where she mentors the young women who have left the Amish. She teaches life skills classes and assists with getting driver's licenses, cars, health insurance, and other important adult necessities! She also oversees the Plowman's Academy, our correspondence Bible Study for adults.

Jen says it is a great joy and privilege to work at MAP and to stand in the gap for others.

In 2023, Ed and Gail Lehto retired from their jobs in corporate America. They enjoyed retirement by traveling around the United States. Although they were already very involved in their local church, serving in various roles, they wanted to use some of their free time to serve the Lord even more.

MAP Ministry advertised a need for a Ministry Representative to visit supporting churches, share reports about the good things God is doing through the ministry, and introduce Mission to Amish People to new churches. After praying about the opportunity, Ed and Gail responded and were accepted.

Ed and Gail also help MAP Ministry by coming into the office one day each week to assist with bookkeeping. They are very happy to be part of the MAP team and to help make a positive impact for Christ.

Laina grew up in a Christian home and attended Awana as a child. At five, she prayed with her mom to accept Jesus after hearing about hell. At seven, she was baptized, but fear of not being saved led her to repeatedly re-invite Jesus into her heart and even baptize herself for reassurance.

As she grew older, she became legalistic and punished herself for sin. She served in church activities and missions but lived in constant fear of not being good enough for God. In college, she judged others for not being strict and eventually felt that God hated her. While serving as a missionary in East Asia, she faced deep spiritual oppression and returned home early after a breakdown.

In the years since, God has healed her heart. She stopped trying to earn His favor and finally understood that Christ bore her punishment and cleansed her completely. A documentary about a family leaving the Amish and coming to Christ rekindled her interest in the Amish, and she later discovered MAP Ministry and sensed God leading her to apply.

Today, Laina is grateful to serve with MAP Ministry and share the gospel with the Amish and others.

Rachel and her husband, David, have four children and enjoy spending time together as a family. Rachel began serving at MAP by helping in the office during her high school and college years.

After marrying and moving to the Columbus, Ohio area in May 2013, she began managing the ministry's website and social media from home. As Joe Keim's daughter, Rachel appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the ministry's work each day.

David began his internship with Mission to Amish People in August 2011 while attending Malone University. After graduating, he continued assisting the ministry by offering his graphic design and video production expertise.

David is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful organization centered on spreading the gospel.

Paige grew up in a Christian home and regularly attended church and church camp. She has been married to her college sweetheart for 21 years, and together they have two amazing sons.

In November 2010, Paige suffered a stroke and faced many obstacles to overcome. During that difficult season, her faith grew stronger than ever. Later, she decided to quit her job and raise their son. Around 2014, their family decided to foster, experiencing many joyful times, hard times, and eventually adopting one of their sons.

Throughout this journey, Paige has had a few mentors who would meet with her each week to go over what they had studied from the Bible. Today, she and her family hold a weekly Bible study for their son and the boys in his youth group.

In recent years, as her boys have grown, Paige's sense of purpose shifted. She felt the Lord calling her into ministry outside the home, but nothing felt quite right until she received a call about MAP needing someone to input lessons. She thought, "Yes, this is it!"

Marion was born and raised in a large Amish family in Middlefield, OH. When she was 23 years old, she left the Amish and came to New Beginnings Homestead at MAP Ministry. The Lord used her time here to help her grow in her faith and learn necessary life skills for life outside of the Amish.

Marion began seeking answers in the Bible shortly after moving to New Beginnings to answer some long-awaited questions she had about the faith. The Lord stirred in her heart, and she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in October of 2025.

She successfully graduated from our program in June 2026, ready to begin her new life with her now husband, Danny Ray.

Marion began working at MAP in March 2026 with the SonLight Club where she helps receive, sort, and send out new lessons to our students.

She now resides close by with her husband and is enjoying being a new wife!

Marion says her favorite part about working at MAP is sending out new lessons and celebrating the salvations of our precious students!