Samuel Yoder

July 31, 2015

My name is Samuel Yoder, and I grew up in an Old Order Amish community. Most people associate the Amish with good food, big families, and large groups of friends that make for a great sense of community. It was for these three qualities that I loved growing up Amish.

My mom and I were always really close and had a great connection with one another, but many times, unfortunately, my father and I fought and didn’t see eye to eye. When I grew older, I became very rebellious and eventually decided to leave my family and religion behind. I wanted to go and explore the world on my own and not be bound down by so many rules and regulations. It was convenient for me to leave because my brother had left the Amish two years before me, and he was there to help me get my driver’s license and settle in. He taught me what to do and what not to do in order to fit in better into the new culture I was joining.

Even with my brother’s help and guidance, though, leaving the Amish was not easy. I left on a Sunday afternoon by simply placing a goodbye note on the table and walking out the door. Even today, I feel much guilt and sometimes even a lack of self-worth stemming from the fact that my parents disowned me upon leaving. Things have gotten better between me and my family over time, and I have even been able to go back to my home for a wedding and a church service, but things will probably never completely return to the way that they were.

Some time had passed since I left the Amish, and I began to realize that my life was missing something. After some searching, I finally realized that the thing that was missing in my life was Jesus Christ. Once I realized what He did and why He died for me, I had a desire to accept him and live my life for him, so that’s exactly what I did.

Currently, I have a dream of getting married and having a Christian family. I also really enjoy making films for fun and hope to use my talents to show the world more about the Amish one day. The Lord has been good to me and has taken great care of me over the years. I am really looking forward to seeing what He has in store for my future!!

This testimony has been published with permission from the owner.

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