Former Amish Testimonies
As most of you know I am former Amish. I was 21 yrs. old when I converted. I felt like I got off the leash. I got into partying and drinking and had no idea where I was heading. I sure had my share of problems. At one point I was like I might as well enjoy life while I can. I couldn't figure out why things were going wrong for me.
When Albert & I got married, the first week was so good; this was 13 years ago. Then I began to notice the anger and resentment that Albert had toward the Amish preachers and at times he would direct it toward me. So many years I lived in fear and depression; many a sleepless night, praying to God that He would help me, and to touch Albert's heart, as his heart had grown very hard.
I joined the Amish church at the age of 18 and lived the lifestyle until I was 49 years old. For many years I wondered what was wrong with me that I dreaded going to church. The preachers always said one only gets out of church what one puts in.
I too was raised in an Amish home and married an Amish girl, (Dorothy Stutzman). We had 3 children when we left the Amish and have had 3 more since then. I met the Lord beside my bed, through an old book when I was 16 years old. I had bought this box of old books at an auction and in it were a lot of books on the Christian life, including a couple of Bibles.
My name is Jonas Yoder but I like to be called JD. I left the Amish on January 22, 2007. The reason I left the Amish church is because I did not like all the rules that the church put on me.Amish life was also very boring and lonely at times ----- I had nothing to live for.
I left the Amish on Sept. 11, 2005 because I never liked the man-made rules. Sometimes (I told myself) I was born with English blood.
I knew of Jesus when I was Amish but I never really learned about him until four months after I left the Amish.
I was raised Amish, under a strict law and thought as long as I follow the rules as good as I can I could hope to be in Heaven sometime. But their were a lot of things that didn't make sense and always brought me to the Bible. I kept searching and trusting in the words "seek and you will find" till one Wednesday evening, January 2005 I put all my junk mail aside and read the Bible which was unusual cause our practice was to only read the Bible on Sunday.
A few weeks before we left the Amish I had a few scares that I can't get to heaven! But just thought I have to be more strict in the Amish law. But then 4 weeks after we left I realized I can't get to heaven by good works and thought that saved me.
I was born to a very Old Order Amish family in Ohio with no indoor plumbing, electric or modern conveniences. Our Ordnung was very strict; we were not even allowed to see a doctor or dentist except in cases of extreme emergency. I was born at home by a local lay-midwife, the first born to my parents John and Mary Hostettler.
I greet you in JESUS beautiful name from our little settlement of ex-Hutterites here in central Manitoba, in western Canada, just above the North Dakota border. What a joy to hear from you and to learn more about MAP and your wonderful outreach to "our people". Although not Amish, Hutterites have always considered Amish and conservative-type Mennonites "our people", primarily because of our common origin in the Anabaptist movement of the sixteenth century.
I was born and raised in Holmes/Wayne County. Ever since I was around 10 years old I purposed to know and find the Truth, and I knew the Truth is in the Bible. I also purposed I will never leave the Amish because I'd have no chance of getting to heaven if I left them.
My husband and I came out of the Amish 3 years ago and we accepted Christ into our hearts.
I was born and raised on a farm. Growing up as a young lad, I always thought, "If only I would have been an animal or something other than what I was, then I would never have had to see this dark picture painted in my mind of how a person gets to heaven."
I grew up the oldest child in an Amish family in a rural community about 45 minutes east of Cleveland, Ohio. When I was born my father worked as a construction worker. He worked in this trade until I was 8 years old. He decided he wanted to try a new career as a farmer.
I was 19 years old when I left the Amish. Why? I got in trouble with the church and so for that reason I was rebelling against my parents and didn't have a desire to change.
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I was raised in an Amish home and was never shown the plan of Salvation while growing up. At the age of 18 I decided to run away from home, against the wishes of my parents. Soon after that, my uncle (who left the Amish several years before) explained the gospel to me and shared the good news about Jesus Christ and why He came to the world.
I grew up in an Old Order Amish community in Pa., believing that if I remained steadfast in the keeping of the ordinances I would surely go to Heaven when I die. As long as I did not commit any of the "big sins", I should be all right. I went to church every two weeks as was required. I didn't drink or smoke. I was a pretty good boy in public.
I was born in 1938 and raised in Holmes County, Ohio and went to school at Buena Vista school, which was closed in 1957. My father decided to move to Canada at that time as some of our people, the Abe Troyer branch of Amish had already done so. There are quite a few different types of Amish around Ontario, but the thinking is the same in all of them. I could write reams on what they have done to me and others who have dared to disagree, but maybe some other time.
I left the Amish religion in November of 1992, after leaving a marriage of emotional, mental and religious abuse. The Lord gave me a sign that I needed to leave and I left. Three years after I left, I got a divorce so I could go on with my life. I felt lost and I was looking for a church.
We were 53 and 55 years old. Four years ago when we left a strict Amish church of man made rules it was an awful awakening to find out the truth in the Bible.
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Contact Us "Thank you, Joe and Esther, for giving of your time and sharing with us about the MAP Ministry. We sure learned a lot about the Amish folks. I watched and have listened to the CD’s. I was impressed about your love and concern for the Amish People. My wife and I would like to support the ministry on a monthly basis. Will also pray for you’s. Thank you for the 1st class ministry that you run. "
