Question #6: Many of our church drive for the Amish.  How can a driver have an influence for Christ among the Amish?

Many of our church drive for the Amish.  How can a driver have an influence for Christ among the Amish?

1. Ask questions, and more questions, and more and more questions. Try to learn who your Amish passenger is and what they believe and why.  Never speak down to or ridicule an Amish person if s/he gives a wrong answer.  Keep in mind, many Amish people are empty inside, searching for answers and crying out for help.  No one has better opportunities to spend time and share Agape love and truth than a taxi driver.  Play soft Christian music in the background. 
2. Be led by the Spirit, and ask questions to cause different thinking.
3. Go visit the Amish in a respectable way, and try to share the gospel.
4. Living a Biblical, Godly life helps a driver gain Amish respect. Then, after that, gently and slowly start sharing the gospel and asking the Amish person questions about their beliefs; respectfully challenge their answers if needed.
5. Give praise to God for everything.
6. Be consistently good to your word, and admit it when you fail.
7. Ask what they believe and where they are going when they die. Ask them if they have the assurance of salvation
8. Ask them thought-provoking questions about certain passages in the Bible, or ask if they have a prayer request or if you may pray for them. Maybe lay your hands on them and pray after you asked permission. Have good sermons or gospel music playing on the CD player or radio. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you to know what to say or do to reach their heart; He knows what each individual needs at the moment.
9. Be considerate of their ways, but also attend their gatherings, and then invite the Amish to your own Bible studies etc.
10. Encourage Bible study and give individuals scripture passages to search out and read; encourage them to read with an open mind.
11. Speak about what God has done in your life, especially about a personal relationship with a loving God who is involved in your day to day life. Speak about Bible passages that give an assurance of salvation, and ask their opinions on them.
12. Play Gospel music while driving if it’s acceptable to them. Most Amish are fairly sociable to their drivers, so it’s a good opportunity for conversations about faith and to ask questions about faith and culture.
13. Just explain the gospel to them in a way that's clear; no one ever did this for me when I was Amish.
14. Speak about life and love to them, and be strong when they need someone to stand with them. People will often put on a happy face, but if they're waiting for an opportunity, I believe God will present one where a driver can minister love without condemning lifestyles.
15. This is still a challenge for me as I have two married children that are Amish. I think it's important to just be an example and let them know that you are praying for them. Sometimes asking a well-timed question makes a big difference! When I was Amish, someone asked me, "What is God to you?," and I had to stop and think. I wasn't born again yet, but it made me realize that God is my everything! Jesus had already found me, but I didn't know it yet! I was seeking!
16. Talk about Jesus
17. Talk about the Bible
18. Have the radio completely turned off at all times. Dress very appropriately (overdress rather than under dress) Compliment them on things you’re honestly fascinated by. Don’t ask them why they do what they do; that’s the first thing that will turn them away because they’re not open or comfortable talking about it. Tell them what God has done in your life. Not just a blunt “look what God did” but rather, insert your story in a conversation where they don’t feel like you’re trying to disrupt the believes they already have. 
19. Engage in conversation, humbly, but not overbearingly. The most powerful thing is conduct. When they have trouble, especially in the case of sickness or grief, feel for them, and show them you care. Don't be afraid to sometimes ask them if you can pray with them, as the Spirit leads.
20. Mostly I would say, don't get 'pushy' with your faith. Get close enough to each person where you can have a normal conversation that might include talking about beliefs in God. Quote simple scripture to them. Most of all, be a loving Christian in front of them.
21. Be a light to them. You must earn their trust and be a friend to them before you can be a witness to them.
22. Love without judgement.
23. That's a tough one because of the barrier the Amish put between themselves and the English folk. Start with small things like maybe telling them something God has done for you. Or if they confide in you about a certain problem they might be having, look them straight in the eye and say, "I will pray for you" and mean it. Don't be too pushy, or you might get moved to the bottom of the call list when they need a ride.
24. If a driver is filled the life of Christ, he or she doesn't have to do anything unless moved upon by the Holy Spirit. Like I said before, even the unbeliever knows who is real and who is not. Amish will know very quickly if a driver is trying to convert them. They will be better affected by the reality of the love and the life of Jesus Christ in the driver.
25. Start very slowly by building relationships first. It's very hard to witness to people that don't think they have any needs.
26. Live a life according to the commands of Christ at all times. Live the love of Jesus at all times. If you can show them that you can be a Christian without being Amish it might make them wonder, "why then, the emphasis on being Amish?"
27. Slowly and discreetly point out the need for new birth by having discussions on biblical views, etc. That’s what our driver did; it took a long time, but in the end, it paid off.
28. Show them your love, and act on your belief on God. Every once in a while, ask a question, or make a statement, and ask for their opinion.
29. I remember one Driver asking us if we knew where certain scripture references were, and we said we don’t. Then, he asked us if we knew our address? I said, "yes of course," then he said, "We should be just as knowledgeable about scriptural things as about earthly matters." It gave me some things to think about for years to come.
30. Gospel music is a very good ice breaker.
31. When they share troubles they are having, offer to pray for them, but don't start praying in their presence; praying in their presence would be very strange to most of them. Check back later; God is faithful.
32. Have an open bible, and ask them to read certain passages. Ask them what the verses mean to them; they are not very used to reading the Bible in the English language for the most part.
33. Pray for them. Command the evil spirits to leave, and tell the spirits that they are not allowed in your presence.
34. Share about how Jesus is faithful in your personal life; show them the love and joy of Jesus by how you serve them.
35. Clean speech. When an opportunity presents itself and you have earned their trust, discuss scripture. If you get too forceful, expect the wall to come up quick. At that time, you may preach all the way from New York to Ohio and beyond, but you will not be heard. The younger people are usually more open for discussion than older hard-core Amish.
36. Show that you care about them; many of them have pains they can’t even share with their closest friends.
37. Share your testimony of how, when, and where they were saved.
38. Witness and share the saving message of Jesus with them.
39. Be real, cheerful & truthful ... Do NOT share your beliefs about Salvation unless asked.
40. Become their friend, pray for them, and ask the Lord to lift the veil. In order for an Amish person to come to Christ, he or she will have to question the teaching they have been taught all their life.
41. By being honest. Don't compromise true Christianity because you’re in the presence of an Amish.
42. Show love, and quote scripture referring to Christ. Also, listen to Christian music if possible, which will still play in their mind sometime after.
43. Have kind actions; don't laugh or agree with bad jokes. 
44. Play gospel music, and comment about your love for Christ.
45. The Amish love to listen to music. In my area, the favorites are classic country and Bluegrass as well as gospel, ironically, many from former Amish singers. Some very conservative groups may request to turn off the music, but the majority don't mind, especially the younger ones. Maybe find out what music they like, and buy some good gospel CDS with biblical lyrics. Music can have a bigger impact than we realize. Get to know your passengers, and be a Christ-like example. Many Amish don't freely talk about scripture, so it might take a while before they're comfortable talking about spiritual things.
46. Be friendly. Get to know the Amish people you are driving around if they seem comfortable with that.  Be ready to sincerely answer  any questions they have about your life and your beliefs.  If you have questions about their culture, ask them in a culturally sensitive way.  Pray for them and for ways to impact them.  One on one conversations are usually best; if they are with others, they may not feel free to ask questions or to say what is on their heart. 
47. Live a real Christ-like lifestyle.
48. Tell them the gospel because they most likely have never heard it from an outsider. Give them scripture; they believe the bible. Don't pressure them to leave the Amish. Make sure they get saved before getting to deep into scripture; they need the basics.
49. Life shared on a daily basis in the spirit is great. A lot of them like gospel music especially country or A Capella. A word shared or a reminder of who God is and that He loves them goes a long way. Leave them with something to think about while they go on their way.
50. Lett them see and hear the true gospel! The word has great power!
51. Accept and respect them as people loved by God. Once again, grow a trust relationship, which definitely has to come first before they would be ready to believe anything a person says. Perhaps sharing from your own life of what Christ means to you would make an impact as well.
52. Don't add any pressure; truly love and care about them as a person without judgement or differentiation. Set an example of peace , joy, and acceptance.