July 2024 MAP Update

In This Issue

Ninety Days with MAP                                       Great is His Faithfulness                  

Much of my experience is wrapped up in one word: Wow! Before I tell you why the “wow,” I will share a bit about myself. I grew up in a non-Christian home and got saved in September 2021. Due to my upbringing and knowing next to nothing about Christ and the Bible, my first few months were characterized by continual reading and learning. Within these early months, I was convicted about laying up knowledge without actively seeking anyone to share the good news with. With time and the Lord’s faithfulness, equipping and opportunities to share my faith were provided.

Why the Amish? Upon hearing Glen Yoder’s testimony and watching Breaking the Silence, my heart ached for those who desire to know truth yet are hindered by the traditions of the elders (Mt. 23:13, Lk. 11:52). To those who have built their lives around the things of God, yet do not know Christ seems to be one of the most twisted things that the devil has ever done. My burden is that the Amish would recognize the inadequacy of religion, exalt the Word of God above tradition, and see the riches found in Christ and His offer of the gift of eternal life.

The first “wow” has been MAP's reach in America and Canada. The next has been hearing Joe Keim’s vision for expanding ministry operations. His faith in God providing in accordance with His divine will has been a challenge for me and leads me to pray similar to what is requested in Luke 17:5. The next “wow” has been seeing those who have left the Amish grow in boldness to discuss the Word with their parents and people they know from their background. The following “wow” has been the way God has answered prayer by connecting me with the Amish who are seeking and the doors of utterance that have been opened to me. A challenge that I need God’s grace for is patience and moderation in declaring the gospel and forming relationships. I would love to preach the great news to them as soon as I meet them, but their religious conditioning seems to be a barrier, and it may be unwise for me to rush into presenting the gospel. Praise God for those I have already shared the gospel with! Pray that I would discern when to tie in the conversation to the spiritual and act according to the Spirit.

After hearing Glen Yoder's testimony in June 2023, I was introduced to the MAP ministry because of a link in the YouTube video's description. After seeing the clarity of the gospel presentation, I began to pray about what part God would have me to be in with this ministry. Upon my first expression of interest in the MAP ministry, I was informed that the capacity to serve would be in office work. Honestly, when I first heard that, my heart sank because it was not what I expected. I thought I would be continually going out, doing lots of face-to-face interactions, knocking on doors, and being among the Amish. After seeking godly counsel, I realized that if the need is office work and that it is a proven way to get the gospel to the Amish, then I must humble myself and do that which I may not deem to be exciting or the way I want to do things. After all, my Lord humbled Himself and took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). When I submitted my application to MAP, Joe and I discussed how I would serve in MAP. He said the primary need is work done in the office with the Bible study correspondence courses and assisting with the Amish Voice. At the same time, I emphasized my desire and equipping for more personal, relational work. In response, Joe said we could work together and see if anything came up. I was prepared to do what was needed and asked God to give me a servant’s heart. Upon that yielding, God opened up the doors of meeting with people who had left the strict Plain systems, and I was able to show them the gospel and what the Scriptures say about eternal life. If we submit to God and delight in Him, and pray in accordance with His will, He gives us the desires of our heart (Ps. 37:4, Jam. 2:3, 1 Jn. 3:22)! The opportunity for taxiing the Amish has also allowed me to share the gospel and leave literature with a man who is questioning the validity of his religious system. Please pray for this fellow; he desires truth and is seeking. Another way God is establishing in-person interaction with the Amish is to further engage with those who have received the Bible study lessons yet have not responded. We have crafted a plan to approach Amish homes and establish relationships. We pray to bring good news in a future ministry update!

I have committed to at least two more years with MAP (which could very well be my whole life in accordance with the Spirit’s leading), starting in September 2024.

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A verse that has come up constantly in conversations with the young women at New Beginnings is Philippians 1:6.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

As we face together the struggles of living in a new culture, striving towards growth and independence, this verse has been a comfort to my heart and to the residents. If God is the one who started this good work in us, then we can rest in knowing that He is also entirely invested in presenting us whole and complete before Him on the day we see Jesus face to face.

As a house parent, this knowledge pushes me to continue investing in these young women because I know that my work is just me joining in on what our Father is already doing in their lives. This was extremely evident in Linda, one of our residents who decided to trust Jesus as her Savior shortly before moving to New Beginnings. When she moved in, she had little hope or direction for her life, and it seemed like she didn’t want to think about her past because of the pain associated with it. Throughout her time here, as we have had countless conversations, group Bible studies, and devotions, and through her involvement in the local church, I have seen her come alive and become hopeful of how God could use her just as He has made her. When we talk about her past now, she recognizes the pain but is able to see how God is the One who wrote her story and is redeeming it. Regarding her future, Linda plans to go on a mission trip in the fall, where she will be sharing her testimony of what her life was like when she was Amish and how God saved her and brought her into His family. Linda has shared how she is excited to see how God could use her on the mission field in the future, as she has seen how the gospel changed her life and desires for others to have that opportunity as well.

Linda’s story is just one of those I have witnessed through my time at New Beginnings. Each young woman here has also witnessed it, and they also have a story of their own that shines God’s glory through His faithfulness in their lives. I ask that you pray for us, that God would bless the new beginnings He has started, and that He would continue to transform us through the renewing of our minds, that we would love Him and others more.

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