November 2020 Update
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| 575 US Highway 250 | Greenwich, OH 44837 | Office: (419) 962-1515 |
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Ministry in the Trenches Ministry and Family
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| Ministry in the Trenches |
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Several months ago, I was feeling overwhelmed with all that was going on in the ministry. The stress of having to deal with people, situations, phone calls, texts, and emails got the best of me. I felt empty and more like a robot than one called of God to serve and minister to people. I thought back to when it was just Esther and myself. We had so much more time and freedom to connect with people and disciple those who were making decisions for Christ and wanting to grow in their faith. Back then, relationships were fewer and more intimate. But here we are, 20 years later, and I wake up and it seems as if we have an army of staff, volunteers, prayer warriors, donors, pastors and churches who have become acquainted with MAP and are serving with us. On one hand, so much more is being accomplished for the sake of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. On the other hand, some days I would love to hand about two thirds of my responsibilities over to someone else and go back to just ‘Joe and Esther.’ Free At Last
We helped Lamar get his apartment set up with furniture, helped him get his driving permit, picked him up for Sunday school and church, took him out to eat and planted some seeds along the way. On Sunday, October 18, I couldn’t hold back. It felt like the right time to share God’s plan of salvation with Lamar. As soon as the church service was over, I walked up to Lamar and asked if he was prepared to die and meet God face to face. He said, “No.” I asked if he would like to know. He said, “Yes.” We brought Lamar to our house and the two of us sat down in my office. While others were praying, we read through various scriptures in Romans, Ephesians and 1st John. When I asked if he would like to go to Jesus and ask Him to save his soul, he immediately said, “Yes.” Right there in my office, Lamar stopped trusting in his dead works and placed his faith in Jesus. Lamar and six other former Amish are open to letting me start a Bible study with them. I couldn’t be more excited and hope to get started soon. Velda Miller and New Beginnings
By September 2018, Velda moved to Ohio and became the mentor for about 15 girls who have lived at New Beginnings. I cannot put in words how much of a blessing she has been to all of us and to the young women she cares for daily. Velda taxies the girls back and forth to work until they get their license and car, helps with personal issues, provides counseling, has fun nights and studies the Bible with them. She has an office at MAP and serves at Beyond Measure Market. After moving to Ohio, Velda continued Bible college online. In September of this year, Esther and I traveled to KY and watched Velda graduate summa cum laude. We are so proud of her hard work and accomplishment. Pssst!!! Velda recently connected with a God-fearing man, also former Amish. His name is Emanuel. That’s a whole other story for another update. |
For the past four months, I have been cultivating a relationship with Lamar who chose to leave the horse-and-buggy Mennonite church and get a car. He was frustrated with the church rules and splits over computers, cell phones and internet access. He did not feel like he fit in with the young people. 
When I opened my email on May 19, 2018, I read: This is Velda (I go to a college in KY; and I talked with you at the beginning of March). On May 19, I will be heading home to MI after school lets out, and I was wondering if it would be all right if I would stop by. Ever since we talked on the phone many weeks ago, I have wanted to visit and see what MAP is all about. It’s just been on my heart, and I would like to check it out if that would be okay? —Velda Kaye Miller| Ministry and Family |
Dear Friend, Greetings in the name of our Savior! 2020 is coming to an end and it is amazing how blessed of a year we have had 
The Amish Awareness Conference at Hope Baptist Church, Dillsboro, IN was a success! Although we didn’t have as many people as I had hoped for, we had a great time with those who came. We heard some really great testimonies from former Amish—one that had left the Amish 35 years ago, another one left 2 years ago, and a young couple that left this year and got saved! We had the privilege of hearing their testimonies of how they came to Christ, despite all the chaos of Covid! We have been so busy all year - more with the construction company than with the ministry. Due to Covid, we had several cancellations this year, but are scheduled to present again near the end of October. A local Pastor came to the Amish Awareness Conference and learned so much about my people. He happens to be friends with my parents. The way my father is connecting is huge progress compared to what it was like 8 years ago! I’d like to ask you to pray for God to use this pastor in a mighty way—that my parents would become born again. IT’S A GIRL!
After being born, Twila was not breathing, so the EMT did CPR on her and she was rushed to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Twila was underweight (5.2#), is being fed through an NG tube, and is now improving. Doctors took many tests, including a genetics test. Based on how the delivery went and certain features, Twila may have I-cell disease like Loretta and Joanna - although we won’t know for sure until test results come back in two weeks. Please pray for Twila and also for us as a family. We don’t know the future, but we do know Who holds it. I praise God for His wonderful grace and mercy! Without that, we are nothing. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). May God be with you, Samuel and Polly Girod |
Twila Tiffany Girod was born October 21, 2020! We had a home-birth. Poly was barely in labor for half an hour before Twila came! A neighbor, who is an EMT, and I delivered her!
