September 2014 Newsletter

In This Issue

Personal Greetings                                    Ten, Twenty, Thirty Baptisms

Former Amish Reunion                             Wayne and Chris Vallowe - True Servants of God

The Heart of the Kunharts                       Creative Caring

Melvin Schrock Family Update                Assuredly Misunderstood

Jonas Yoder Family Update                     A Night of Worship and Testimonies

Bibles for Amish                                     

We want to give you some greatly deserved thanks for the valuable part you play in the MAP Ministry. Your role as a team member is so vital to us, and it’s greatly appreciated!

Financially, the needs are being met this summer, which makes ministry so much easier and a lot less stressful. We especially appreciated the donations that came through for the table and chair project. Wow! More on that in another column.

Family Vacation: In September, our family pulled together and took some time off. It felt great getting away from all the phone calls, text messages, emails and daily schedule of ministry. We would like to publicly thank our California missionary friends who gave our family most of the funds to take a vacation this year. We are still trying to get over the wonderful shock.

Let another generation begin: This past Father’s Day, we were informed by David and (dau) Rachel that we are going to be grandparents early next year. I believe it’s fair to say, we’re both ready and excited to enter this new stage in life.  

— Joe Keim

Top of Page

Twenty years ago, former Amish reunions were unheard of. Today, there are quite a few that take place throughout the country. While some are more Christ centered than others, the goal is to come together and share our stories. It seems, many share the same struggles and accomplishments. This picture shows the one we had in Ohio, earlier this year. Notice anything funny?

Top of Page

Top of Page

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not (I John 3:1).

What a privilege and honor it is to be a child of God! My desire is to share the gospel with others that they may become children of God, too, by putting their faith in Christ. It is also our continued prayer and desire that God will use us as full-time MAP missionaries to the Amish. In the meantime, though, I am working full-time as a truck driver in order to support my family, which limits the amount of time I am able to devote to trying to raise more missionary support.

You can pray for us, as well as get involved in the following ways:

1. Schedule a ministry presentation: Invite our family to come to your church and present MAP, hear our testimonies, and learn more of what God is doing among the Amish. We can be reached at (715) 558-2883 or Mel@MapMinistry.org.

2. Computer and printer need: In order for us to continue presenting the ministry to churches and staying organized and connected with donors and co-laborers, we really need to upgrade to a new laptop computer and printer. We estimate our computer/printer update need at right around $1,000. You can give specifically to our computer need or support us monthly, by sending your donation to:

MAP Ministry, C/O Schrocks
PO Box 128, Savannah, OH 44874

Give online now

I cannot put into words how incredibly encouraging it is for us when we hear from you that you are praying for us or that you want to support us as we serve God together. We want you to know that we are praying for you, too!

— Melvin Schrock

Top of Page

Greetings in our Savior’s name. I would like to thank each one of you for your continued prayer and financial support. It would be impossible for us to accomplish what we do without your support. May God richly bless you!

This summer we were privileged to take a short vacation to Georgia with a family that has been supporting us in our ministry efforts. We shared with their church about Mission to Amish People on Sunday, and then took a few days to play in the water and see some local sights. It was a great time of refreshment and hanging out with my family!

God has directed us to several Amish and Mennonite people this past summer who are struggling spiritually and seeking God’s will for their lives. Religion is a tremendous stronghold from which it is hard to break away. I ask that you continue to lift these people up in prayer as the Lord deals with their hearts.
We have several mission trips coming up this fall to churches who have asked us to come and do short seminars on how to reach their Amish communities.

Pray for us as a family as we continue to minister to the Amish people in our area. Also pray about our need for a good dependable van for long distance mission trips with the family. May God bless you as you continue to serve Him.

—Jonas Yoder

Top of Page

Grace Brethren of Homerville, OH (pictured) and Faith Baptist of Bidwell, OH adopted MAP as their ministry to raise funds for during VBS time. Thank you! Because of your help, we were able to purchase 1,200 New Testaments which will be given out to Bible Club students who earn a certain number of points. This covers for more than half the number of Bibles we need for the year.

Top of Page

The Lord is moving in some of the local Amish communities where the gospel has been hidden for generations. More and more eyes are being opened to the truth. As eyes are opened and salvation becomes reality, Bible studies are started.

Recently, thirty baptisms took place within a 30 mile radius. Quite a few of the ones that were baptized are still Amish. Even more interesting is the fact that God is using multiple churches to evangelize and disciple these Amish communities.

Amongst all the wonderful excitement, comes the call for God’s people to pray. Why? Because 2014 AD is no different than 50 AD. Satan is lurking in the shadows, even using some of God’s own to confuse and steal seeking hearts from the truth.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Acts 20:

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Top of Page

In 2006, I received a Dear Joe letter that said something like:

Hi, my name is Wayne; you don't know me, but I know you.

Soon thereafter, Wayne and his wife Chris met at our house for the first time. Neither they or us had much of an idea what God had in store, only that they had a burden for the Amish and wanted to see about joining MAP as volunteers.

Almost immediately after that meeting, the Vallowes started driving an hour every week to come to our prayer meetings. Then they started their own prayer meeting, and soon they became board members and started teaching former Amish Bible studies in their home.

By 2012, it was becoming more and more obvious that Wayne and Chris may as well move to our area, because MAP is where their heart was and where God was using them. They sold their house in Elyria and moved to Ashland.

The Vallowes have been faithful donors from day one, they oversee the Benevolent fund and have traveled all over the country updating and speaking in churches on behalf of MAP.

In case you wonder how much MAP pays them for their time and mileage, the answer is nothing.

Wayne and Chris, we love you dearly and thank you for all you have done to make the outreach of MAP what it is today. Your eternal reward will be massive!

Top of Page

Dear Joe, My friend’s neighborhood had their annual yard sale. Unlike last year, the weather was nice, so I was able to make a killing at my MAP Bake Sale. I sold three different kinds of cookies, three different kinds of cupcakes, and banana bread. I think I had about 150-175 items for sale. At the end of the day, I had approximately seven cupcakes left. It pays to pray before you have a bake sale! Next year, I’ll bake more cookies and banana bread so that my check to you will be larger. The baked goods went fast and furiously!

I was touched by the responses of some of my customers concerning the Amish. Several told me to keep the change that they were owed so that I could send more to MAP. (I had made a sign and slips of paper with MAP’s website, and had placed them on the table. One woman said that her once-Amish neighbors were having a very difficult time adjusting to life outside the fold. She said that they were in WI, but did not give me too much information. Apparently, it was a woman and her children who had left. I gave MAP’s information to them. I do not know if she will contact you, but God willing, she will. She gave a $10.00 donation for MAP.

I’ve learned so much about the Amish in the past two years. I never knew before the heartache that came about from shunning or the power that the Ordnung wielded. I’m so grateful for MAP and the help it has provided to so many.

— Fran

Top of Page

Letter from an Amish Voice reader—and another reason why we need to continue working in the harvest field:

We have received several of your newsletters and you have some good literature. One point I would like to point out is: You sound too sure of the salvation part. “Once saved always saved” is not Biblical. Yes, we hope (hofnung) we’ll get to Heaven, but we need to not be too sure (that is, God needs to judge and decide). As the Bible says, Many will say Herr, Herr (Lord, Lord) and will be disappointed when the Lord says, “Depart from me for I never knew you.” Some people will think they are serving the Lord, but are serving self more than they even realize.

“Gehavsam sei ist besser don opher.” (Obedience is better than sacrifice) Maybe we think we are doing great things for the Lord (sacrifice) but neglect to be (obedient) to staying in our place in the church.

God (first), Man (the head of the wife), and then Wife is to be a keeper at home is the Biblical order.

Ouz liebe (out of love)

Mrs. Miller

Top of Page

In July, we mentioned our need for tables and chairs. The update had barely gone out before donations started coming in. Some bought chairs, others bought tables, and one or two bought storage carts. It was amazing how quickly the project was paid for. Even than, people continued to call and ask: how much do you still need. It felt great to say: we have more than enough.

Thanks to all who jumped in and gave. You get a big pat on your back!

For about a year, we had to borrow tables and chairs, and than haul them back and forth. It was a chore and a headache. Now we have them at the location we meet at for worship, testimonies and food.

Recently, we had two Amish men from Holmes County stop by and share their testimonies during a Friday night gathering. Undoubtedly, both men understood the gospel well. They also had a good understanding of Anabaptist history and were able to share some of what our forefathers went through to stand for what they believed.

Two things stood out to me that night:

1. One of the men shared his upbringing within the Catholic church. At the age of 15, an Amish man influenced him to follow Christ, and he left his family and Catholic church and joined the Amish church.

2. We were also told the difference between Amish and non-Amish church people is:

• Amish are ONE voice
• Non-Amish are INDIVIDUAL voices

Later, when I asked what was meant by one voice vs. individual voices, it was explained in the following manner:

Every Sunday morning, at about 9am, 550 Amish churches across America open their hymn books to a certain page and sing Das Lob Leid (The Worship Song). And with one great voice, the Plain church, all across America, offers praise to God in one accord.

In later weeks, I began to think about some other traditions and beliefs that we practiced within the Amish church.

• During communion services, the congregation breaks bread from one loaf and drinks wine from one cup.
• Amish take communion as one body before God; not as individuals.
• Clothes patterns, buggy styles, work habits and hair cuts are all done the same exact way.

Is that the type of unity Jesus was talking about in John 17:21, when He said: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

The Amish say yes!

What do you say?

Top of Page