July 2021 MAP Update

In This Issue

Lily Gets Baptized                         A Wedding and Apartment Update      

Graduates

In spite of the deeply rooted worldly corruption and evil that pushes hard against us daily … be encouraged.  The Spirit of God is working.  He never stops.  He is always working. 

Over the past several weeks, seven people chose to follow God’s command and get baptized.  Now, I know people who have said, “I am saved, but don’t really see the need to get baptized.” This has always puzzled me, and it is obvious that those who do not get baptized, miss out on a huge blessing from God and never really become strong in their walk with Jesus. 

During one of the baptisms, it hit me that during Jesus’ ministry on earth, the Father’s voice burst through the heavens loud, clear, and physically for all to hear, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The Father wanted it known that He was very pleased with Jesus’ decision to be baptized.

In another update, we’ll share testimonies from the ones who Esther and I have been discipling each week.  But this month, it is not only my desire, but great honor and blessing, to focus on the baptism of Lily, our oldest grandchild.  Grampy was so humbled and pleased when Lily and her parents (David and Rachel) asked him to do the baptizing.  What our families experienced on June  5th was everlasting fruit that only comes from many years of prayer and hard consistent labor.  Grand parents on both sides continue to be so very, very  proud of our children for passing on the precious faith.  Glory be to God!

—Grampy and Grammy

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Getting a High School General Equivalency Diploma can be difficult and scary. One of the most common reasons that former Amish do not pursue getting their diploma is because they feel like they do not need it. Some are able to obtain employment without it and some are in business for themselves.

Not only does having a G.E.D. open career opportunities, it also builds confidence! Students often come to class with negative thoughts and / or misconceptions about how smart they are. Almost all of the students I have had here at M.A.P. just needed  compassion and encouragement. Being supportive of their needs and helping them see that they can succeed, goes a long way. Let me share a few of this year’s success stories with you!

Miss Mary Ann Miller is one of the hardest working students I have met. She came to my class in 2020. Mary was nervous about the G.E.D. test and was unsure she could pass the Math test. Like many students, the test can be nerve racking as it is not familiar.  Mary attended classes regularly while working, and studied hard. This helped build her confidence and she not only earned her high school diploma, she just got accepted at Ozark Christian College - Joplin, Missouri!

Anna Hershberger also worked hard to obtain her diploma. She came to class after working at Beyond Measure Market and studied at home during our Covid shut down. She was also nervous about the test, but with some encouragement, she started taking one subject at a time. Once she realized how smart she truly is, and that she could pass the exams, she did great! Anna is currently a lead employee at Beyond Measure Market. Whatever Anna chooses to do in life, she will be successful!

Last, a young lady, Leslie, came to class in August of 2020. She had a desire to become a nurse. She needed to get her diploma fast as she was wanting to start classes in just a few weeks. She studied  hard and was able to get her G.E.D. in just four weeks! She currently is at the half way mark in her pursuit to become a nurse!

Congrats to all our graduates this year! In all, we had nine wonderful students who each worked hard to achieve their goals! Thank you to everyone who supported us as well. We could not do what we do without all of you.

— Rachel Arnold

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Dear Friend,

“And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”  Matthew 19:29

Several weeks ago I was telling Polly that it seems as if God answers our prayers for almost anything except when we pray for someone from our family to get saved or leave the Amish. Though I rejoice when other families see answered prayer, I was honestly frustrated and a bit envious.

On Sunday, April 25th, I was taking sermon notes and I made a note about that, and also that we are to trust God no matter what. By God’s grace, the very next day, my first cousin left from the same Amish community that I came from.

Prior to leaving, she was talking to a young man for about six months and fell in love. Five and a half weeks later, they got married and today they are Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Cooper! I was able to sit down with her and share the gospel!

As we were finishing up the apartment, I said a short prayer under my breath asking God to bless it, now that it’s finished. That very day, I received a text from a young man that lives three hours away and wanted to leave the Amish. He showed up the very next day, and now we are ministering to him. That same weekend, we went to a Camp meeting in Ohio for three days and this young man heard the true gospel and received Christ as His Lord and Savior!

I received another message from an English Grandmother whose daughter had married Amish and had Amish children. One of her granddaughters is wanting to leave and she was wondering if we would have room for her when she leaves. This young lady is in a community that is very conservative and doesn’t have access to a phone for three miles. The Lord is so good!                 

—Samuel & Polly Girod

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