Former Amish Testimonies
Martha Ross
| October 18, 2025I, the co-owner of this Facebook page The Amish Way, was born and raised Old Order Amish in the Middlefield, Ohio Amish community, which is the fourth largest Amish community in the world. Being Amish was all I knew for the first 22 years of my life. I was taught how to be Amish, how to stay Amish, and how to follow what everyone else in our community did.
Jesse Kauffman
| August 27, 2025For most of my life, I judged and rejected masculinity. As a boy, I was bullied and mocked by other boys. Many of the male authority figures in my life also felt harsh and cruel.
Miriam Mast
| April 21, 2025Hi. My name is Miriam, and I have been at New Beginnings since the second week in November of 2024. I had just left the Amish religion and felt I needed a place to get my bearings and grow in my newfound faith.
From Darkness to Light: My Journey to the Saving Grace of Jesus Christ
| February 4, 2025I never imagined my life turning out the way it has. If you had told me years ago that Id be where I am today free, forgiven, and walking in the grace of Jesus—I would have struggled to believe it.
Mary Glick
| January 15, 2025I worked at Beyond Measure Market with some really good people. I made great connections with the customers, my coworkers, and the girls at the apartment. I am thankful for all the friends I made and the memories I’ve created.
Sadie Miller's Newsletter (January 2024)
| January 1, 2025 I am excited to share God’s call on my life to return to Nicaragua and minister to the nationals, specifically the children. The Lord has brought opportunities and established my goings to get the gospel to Nicaragua.
Marilyn Esh
| August 15, 2024Before I left my community, my life as an Amish person was fulfilling in many ways. I had friends, family, and a pretty good education, but my focus was on salvation. However, I eventually left my community.
Lydia Flora
| August 15, 2024Before I left my community, my life felt trapped, hopeless, and pointless, even though I had no fear of physical or sexual abuse. I eventually left because I found the truth of God in John 14:6.
Sadie Miller
| July 9, 2024What brought me to New Beginnings was my sister; she wanted to come but wouldn't without me. So, I thought, "Why not?" As I considered it more, I realized it would also benefit my future ministry.
Linda Yoder
| July 3, 2024My life before I left my community was dark, monotonous, depressing, and sad. The rules made me feel like I couldn’t be myself 100%, and I wanted my own independence.
Sylvia Miller
| July 3, 2024Before I left my community, my life was characterized by fear, confusion, and anxiety. This environment made it impossible for me to live out God's love and will, as life there revolved around the fear of man.
Mary Yoder
| February 21, 2023I was 16 and struggling with depression, addiction and immorality. Full of anger and bitterness. In my depression and anger I searched for love in all the wrong places and all of these things only drove me deeper into depression and despair.
Levi Mast
| August 23, 2022I grew up in an Old Order Amish community. Three things I enjoyed about growing up Amish was spending time with my family, living off the land, and developing a good work ethic. My relationship was challenging with my parents. )
Aaron Yoder
| April 14, 2022When I look back at the years I spent growing up in my Old Order Amish community, there’s not much I remember liking. My relationship with my parents was shallow. They were the cat, and I was the mouse.
Ivan Jess
| February 11, 2022I was born into an Amish family in a farmhouse, delivered by my grandmother. I attended church every Sunday, with few exceptions from the time I was born. I remember hearing about the second coming of Christ and an eternal heaven to follow.
Martha Burkholder
| February 7, 2022We got up like we normally do. I made coffee and Ray’s tea. I usually read and study for a while, then lay back down and rest my eyes. This morning, I started thinking about how the Amish stuff is such an idol.
Maddie Miller
| August 30, 2021My name is Mattie E. Miller, and I left home, my family, and my friends three years ago on October 9, 2018. For twenty-six years of my life, I was born and raised in the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio.
Rosella Graber
| July 15, 2021Before I left the Amish, I was so depressed that most days, all I did was get out of bed and go to work, come home, and go to sleep. I had no desire to socialize with anyone and did not want to cause conflict between my parents, so I spent most of my time in my room sleeping and reading.
Duane Miller
| July 15, 2021Growing up, I was told a lot about God and the life of Jesus Christ, but I didn’t take the time to study the Bible a whole lot. I have always desired a close relationship with God but let life make me too busy.
Ann Miller
| February 2, 2021I was born and raised in the Amish culture for thirteen years. My Dad started reading his Bible and saw that Salvation is not received by being Amish or by doing good works; it's only received through the precious blood of Jesus Christ!
My Story on Leaving the Amish Community
| January 20, 2021My story on leaving the Amish community in northern Indiana and moving to Idaho.
Mary Yoder
| January 4, 2021A poem written by a former Amish woman about following Christ and receiving the healing that only He can offer.
Enos Miller
| December 7, 2020When I was born, my dad and mom were experienced parents. My mom was forty, and I was baby number eight for her. Live was good for me as a young boy in an old order Amish setting. My dad was a good dad, who treated me well. When I reached the age of fourteen, I began working in a parts shop. I was living with some double standards, which is pretty common for Amish youth. Outwardly, I was Amish, but inwardly, I was not following the teaching or honoring authority.
David Renno
| June 18, 2020The Bible became really alive with many things explained that I didn’t know were there! I then realized how much we as an Amish community were actually missing. My eyes opened to being involved in occultist practices, and I realized that my sins were actually not taken care of (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Colossians 2:20-22, Ephesians 2:14-15,5:6-14, 2Corinthians 4:3-4, 10:4-6, 1 John 5:13). Jesus is the ONLY door!!
Ben Girod
| May 26, 2020At the age of 17, I, with others was baptized and became a member of the Amish church. Even so, from this point on I lived in much fear and heavy conviction of my sin. Not knowing the destiny of my soul, I lived in deep anguish—often driving me to my knees while in the barn doing my chores, or out in the field working with a team of horses.
Erma Mast
| November 27, 2019I grew up in an old order Amish home. I loved having animals, the slower simplistic lifestyle and the Amish community when it came to everyone working together and helping each other in time of need . It was ‘normal’ to live that life.
Andrew Bye
| September 28, 2019Growing up in an Old Order Amish community was a great experience for me. I really enjoyed being on the farm and spending time with all our animals. Life was simple, and I had two really wonderful parents, who I always had a really good relationship with.
Harry Troyer
| September 28, 2019I grew up in an Old Order Amish community. Even though the first word that comes to my mind when I think about my parents is “disciplinarians,” I did really enjoy the childhood that I got to experience. I liked the simplicity and community I was surrounded by; it gave me a sense of security.
John Miller
| May 6, 2019My name is John Miller, and I grew up in an Old Order Amish community in the small town of Cashton, Wisconsin. I loved living close to family and being able to feel connected to nature through my farming. I also loved driving horses!
Dennis Stoltzfoos
| April 15, 2019My name is Dennis Stoltzfoos. Growing up as a young Beachy Amish boy, I really enjoyed the simplicity and community that came along with the Amish culture. I also really took to the farm life and had fun helping with chores around the house.
