January 2024 MAP Update

In This Issue

Bible Club Year End Review                                           GED Program

Amish Voice                                                                         Step Out of the Boat Conference

MAP, Indiana                                             

Happy New Year! In 2023, the Bible Club sent out 96,562 lessons and recorded 245 salvation decisions! Praise the Lord! Following are two short testimonies from students:

I felt as if Jesus was knocking at my door, so I fell on my knees.

—Marie Eberly

Thank you so much for sending me lessons. I found it very helpful to read that Jesus is my special best friend. And He is! About a month ago, I found Jesus as my Savior. Even though I still sometimes slip, Jesus helps me up again. Thank you so much! Love your pupil

—Heidi Ann

When I saw this year’s numbers, I thought we did great... until I realized that we were down compared to last year. My mind went to negative thoughts. Why were we down? What did I change that the students didn’t like?  Did I not push hard enough? Was it the increase in postage? These thoughts plagued me for a couple of days.

One day, while I was praying, something came to me. Why was I worried? Why was I obsessed over numbers? I had lost sight of the blessing of 245 students that had come to know the Lord! I had forgotten the powerful testimonies we received. I had forgotten the questions that our students were beginning to ask, and most importantly, I had forgotten that the first thing I should have done was to praise God for the students who came to know Him!

God has a way of saying, “I’m right here and am listening and watching over you.” He wiped away the concerns that had troubled me and encouraged me to look at what was gained instead of focusing on what wasn’t. I felt ashamed that I had lost sight of what He had done for both me and our students this year.

Looking back at 2023, I challenge you to  focus on what God has done. Praise Him for the big things, the small things, and the accomplishments made in the year. Praise Him for what He has done in your life. Praise God for what He has done for the Bible Club!

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The Amish Voice is a 16-page bi-monthly publication. Last year, 81,437 copies were mailed to Amish addresses across the United States. The Amish Voice consistently emphasizes checking religious beliefs against Scripture as the ultimate authority.

We often get requests to cancel subscriptions along with notes calling us “wolves in sheep’s clothing” or telling us that our publication doesn’t measure up to the way the Amish have believed for centuries. But sometimes, we get beautiful notes from dear saints who are eager to have their soul filled with truth from Scripture.

“We are former Amish. We got put out of the church last year for attending Bible studies and I feel responsible to share the truth even if we get rejected. We just pray that more people will find Jesus in a real and personal way!”

Through their children’s Bible Club lessons, this family realized their Amish beliefs were “amiss” and have now signed up for our adult Bible study course as well!

“We left the Swartzentruber Amish group in February a year ago. So we are excited to start with these courses. So here we are very thankful for the journey God has us on. And thankful for people like you. God bless you and the work you do.”

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Greetings to you in the name of our Savior!

In October, we met a lady and her adult daughter at a church in Wisconsin. Twenty years previously, her husband had left her with eight children to raise alone. Ten years later, she left the Amish. She has made a living by raising black chickens for the Hmong people.

We also met a lady who had witnessed to a dying Amish lady several years ago. After she passed, the Amish husband asked what she had said to his wife because while she was dying, she was telling him and their children that they needed to believe on Jesus. She had passed to eternity in peace and with a smile on her face. You never know who you can be a witness to!

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

—Blessings, Samuel and Family

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2023 started slowly with just one student, but quickly gained momentum as the seasons changed.  We had twelve students come through our G.E.D. program. To date, eight of them have graduated. On average, it takes three months for students to study and take all four tests on the G.E.D. exam. We have had students both in the classroom and online studying to complete their tests.

Over the past ten years I have seen many faces. I enjoy meeting new students and helping them reach their goals. I am thankful that God has allowed me to keep teaching and helping individuals reach their educational goals.  

I want to say thank you to everyone who has prayed for me and the students! Your support means the world to me.

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