Dennis Stutzman

October 13, 2017

I didn’t really take time to consider what I liked about the Amish culture while growing up in it, but now, looking back, I realize that I enjoyed the closeness of my Old Order community; everyone helped each other out when a need arose. I also farmed and appreciate the fact that I was taught the importance of work ethic.

Growing up, I can’t say that my relationship with my parents was good, but it wasn’t bad either. In our family, there wasn’t anything that I would call closeness; we pretty much just lived and worked.

I eventually decided to leave the only culture that I knew because I noticed that some of the things the Amish were practicing went directly against scripture. In addition, certain scriptures were also being overlooked and not practiced at all.

At first, I went to the head ministers about my concerns, and within about six months they retaliated by shunning my family and I out of the church. They told us that we were understanding the Scripture incorrectly and we needed to change our thinking, or we would be “put out” of the church.

At this time, we decided to leave the Amish and began meeting with a group of people that had gone through John Regier curriculum; they offered us a lot of support. It just so happened that our new Pastor was in the group at the time as well. It was this opportunity of getting together with friends to study the Bible in depth that helped us the most.

My parents responded to our decision in an alright manner. They, of course, tried to tell us how wrong we were and reminded us that we had broken our promises. We still have some contact with them, but there is always so much darkness when we are around them that we really don't care to hang around them too much.

The toughest part of our leaving process would probably be the shunning. What makes it difficult is the fact we know what Jesus said in the Bible: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” Matthew 25:40.

It doesn’t bother us in the least that we have been shunned other than the fact that Jesus said what they do to us, they also do to him (Jesus), which really troubles my heart. I am concerned for their salvation.

I get a lot of comfort, however, in this verse that says “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37 I know that I am doing the right thing and following God’s directions by putting him first, above all else (including my family) even when that is not the easy route to take.

God has taken care of me and my family through all of life's transitions, and we trust that He will continue to take care of us in the future to come!

This testimony has been published with permission from the owner.

Note to the reader:

We would like to encourage you to leave a message for Dennis below. When you do, it will notify Dennis and be an encouragement to him. God bless you!