Born Amish Then Shunned: How I Reunited with My Amish Family

One of five children, I was born in 1979 to an Amish Family. My parents decided to leave the Old Order Community in Central Pennsylvania to make a new life. Upon leaving they took their children with them. When my parents left they were "shunned." Shunning practices vary within each Amish Community. Generally, Old Order Communities tend to shun severely (you don't exist to them), while more modern communities tend to do so with less harshness.

Not long after my parents left the Amish, they also got divorced. At this point, my siblings and I were alone, with only our mother to guide and protect us. An Old Order Amish woman for 30 years, would now be raising five children in an "English" world, with no familial supports. She would raise us alone. For various reasons, we had no extended family and no father.

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"Before you came to speak, I mistakenly assumed that the Amish had a good sense of the Bible and how important it is to be saved. Because of my assumption, I didn’t worry about them and did not include them in my prayers. I didn’t think I needed to. Now, I know differently. Thank you for opening my eyes to their plight. I will be praying for you and your family and your mission. "

- Ravenna, OH Read More »