April 2020 Update

In This Issue

We're Open - With a Few Changes                                 Amish Awareness Conference 2020

 Wedding Bells in March                                              

COVID19 sure has brought some interesting changes to the way people are getting things done in our country! Who would have guessed that most of us would find ourselves sitting in our living rooms watching our pastor preach his Sunday morning service on our computer screens? The Coronavirus restrictions have also affected the way that MAP accomplishes its daily tasks, but it has not shut down the office, the Bible Club, Amish Voice, New Beginnings, or Beyond Measure Market! In fact, it has been quite the opposite.  We are busier than ever!

During an online meeting with the MAP board, and again in a staff meeting, I asked the question: What would it take for MAP to shut the gospel down? I couldn’t help but think of our forefathers who stopped at nothing.  Currently, our lives might not be in danger of any physical harm, but we do have a global virus situation that could claim lives.

During our board meeting, we discussed what changes should be implemented to protect our employees, volunteers, and the general public that we come in contact with. Many of our volunteers that gather weekly at the MAP office fall into the at-risk category of being “elderly” - or “senior saints” as we would rather call them! We certainly don’t want to put any of them in jeopardy of illness. It was decided that the MAP office should close for two weeks to protect these dear friends of the ministry.

The following day, I broke the news to my staff who were at the office…to much resistance! “Absolutely NOT”, “We are NOT shutting down!” “The gospel is going out and a virus will NOT stop it!” These are but a few examples of the push-back that I immediately received!  I was reminded that there is a calling of God and fierce determination present within our staff to get the gospel out to the Amish under any circumstance!

A few days after the board met, new mandates were presented from our governor, along with a definition of what “essential” businesses could remain open—with certain restrictions. We are praising the Lord that the MAP office fits the definition of being “essential”! With that in mind, we want you to know: MAP is fully operating…yet with a skeleton-staff in the office.

Our Bible Club lessons go out bi-weekly to between 4,000 and 5,000 people. Many volunteers are needed to grade the tests, write a personal note, enter the data into our computers, and mail out the next lesson in the series. How are we accomplishing this? We have found that it is not only our employees that have a calling, commitment, and fierce determination—it is also our volunteers! Our skeleton office staff is leaving boxes of work beside our front door for volunteers to pick up and complete at home! Although these volunteers will not enjoy socializing with others at the MAP office while they work, they are determined to do their part! What a tremendous treasure and blessing these unsung, unpaid volunteers are to MAP and the kingdom!

The Amish Voice is a 16-page publication that goes out bi-monthly, free of charge, to 8,000 Amish addresses from our database. This month, due to some advertising and sponsoring, we are putting together an Amish Voice mailing that will go out to 13,000 Amish families! That is a 63% increase over our regular mailing. Our team of incredible volunteers will be taking boxes of work home to affix address labels and put tab closures on each publication in preparation for mailing!

Last month, we introduced a brochure to you entitled, Why Should You Vote?, to reproduce and pass on to your Amish neighbors. We have had several churches and individuals take on this challenge to become involved in our ministry! We are serious about educating and encouraging the Plain communities to vote. Won’t you please  visit our website (MapMinistry.org) and print a few copies to hand out to your Amish neighbors? If you are unable to print the brochure, let us know and we will be happy to print and mail them to you!

New Beginnings Homestead continues to be a haven for former-Amish girls who are in need of a place to live as they acclimate to life in the English world. Besides living accommodations, help with obtaining employment, a GED and a driver’s license, each girl is counseled from God’s Word and offered the very words of life! We currently have space to house 3 additional girls; although, just yesterday, we received calls from two young women who are wanting more details and are considering moving into New Beginnings. Please contact the office if you are aware of any Amish or former Amish girl who is in need of housing and help with navigating the English world. We would love to assist with their physical needs as well as offer them the greatest gift—salvation!

Beyond Measure Market saw record sales in March.  Our staff of 10 could hardly keep up. 

I do have three very important prayer requests:  (1) for God to protect our staff from the virus, while they serve the community;  (2) for God to give us a qualified store manager with grocery experience; (3) for God to provide financially.          

Thank you! 

— Joe Keim

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The end of March found me traveling to Kentucky to perform another wedding! Years ago, a young man from an Amish community in New York, came to live at our home. When he arrived, I told Daniel that Esther and I believe that God brings people to us because He has a message for them. I instructed him to let me know when he was ready to hear it.

It was pretty amazing how it came together. It took about two months for Daniel to come to me and ask what the message was that God wanted him to hear.

I took Daniel upstairs to my home office and opened God’s Word with him. That night, Daniel gave his life to Christ!

It is for this very reason we take people into our home and New Beginnings Homestead. Sure, we offer to meet their physical needs: a roof, a bed, and a job. But we also offer them something of much greater value—the Gospel!

For the next couple of years, I met off and on with Daniel for discipleship. He was baptized in our home church in Savannah, OH.

In time, Daniel met Amanda, also former Amish, from Kentucky.  Their love for each other continued to grow strong and on March 29, the two made a vow to forsake all others and cleave only to each other.  Because of the virus, their list of wedding guests went from about 300 to 20. 

Esther and I were honored to provide premarital counseling to Daniel and Amanda—most of it was done via Skype!

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Learn more and register by visiting www.AmishAwareness.com

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