Mission to Amish People — (419) 962-1515 Page 3
Building Update
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by Joe Keim
We are so thankful to the folks who have given to-
ward the new office addition.
To see a list of all the
people and churches that have partnered with God
in this area of giving, please go to
. While you are at the web
site, you can also see what areas of the building
have been paid for and what areas have not.
Here is a special testimony that was attached with one
of the donations that came in for the building addition.
Hi, my name is Linda. I am 27 years old, former
Amish and single. I was born in Maysville OH. At
the age of two, my parents moved to PA where I
was raised and still live.
During my growing up years as an Amish girl, I
always wondered why we lived so different from
the English people. I attended a one room school
house for eight years and went to an Amish
church which was held at people’s houses.
When I was 15 years old, I started working for a
non-Amish man whose name is Donald. One day,
he asked me to go to church with him. I knew my
parents would not allow me to go; however, after
much coaxing, my parents said I could go with
him. It wasn’t until that very same Sunday that I
heard the true Gospel for the first time.
From that Sunday on, I kept attending the Amish
church, knowing what they were teaching was not
all scripturally true.
Some years went by and it kept bothering me that
I wasn’t attending a church where the true Gospel
was being preached and taught. Finally, after
four years, I left the Amish. The guy I work for
helped me get my driver’s license and taught me
how to drive.
I am now Mennonite and attend a Mennonite
church. Here is a $5,000 check from the guy I
work for to help with the 40 x 40 addition.
I would like to invite you to join Linda, Donald and
the many others who have invested in the building
expansion to help the former Amish get on their feet
emotionally, spiritually and physically.
In order to build the 40x40 addition, we need to raise
a grand total of $33,906. This covers everything but
the labor, which will be minimal. Several churches are
waiting for the go-ahead to come and start building.
We are hoping to be all set to start by spring, 2013.
Chart on right: Solid circles are paid for.
Total Given: $16,305 (solid circles)
Total Needed: $17, 601 (empty circles)
A member of the MAP family sent us about 100 home
-
made bookmarks (pictured on page 2). Per their sug-
gestion, we would like to offer one to each person
who donates $25 or more toward the building project.
much I love my family, and always will.
While growing up, I always heard there is
no hope for those who leave the Amish,
and I believe for the most part it was be-
cause they didn't have Christ in them. All
they want to do is party and do stuff
against God’s commandments. Well, I
never had that desire, and you know that
Dad. I value that in my heart. The only
thing that is going to keep me from hav-
ing fellowship with my family is the man-
made rules and my outward appearance. It
is not what we have or do that gets us to
Heaven; it’s who lives in our heart.
I did not do this to make anyone look bad.
If anyone thinks so then I think they have
a problem that will have to be taken care
of with God. And I know Dad, you are
blaming yourself about all this. But do
not. It was all my choice.
I know the Amish will look at all the
worldly things, but what is most im-
portant of all, Dad, is what you taught me
about the word of God. So Pray for me;
not to come home, but so Christ lives in
me.
My heart goes out to my family so much
and I wish you could understand. But, as
long as you don’t want to, you will al-
ways put that wall up so much higher.
After I left, reality hit me that what is
most important in life is Christ. I could
quote scripture and everything, but no-
body knows it better than you Dad. Be-
lieve the truth Dad, please do. You would
make my day if you would just realize it. I
pray every day that I could be the founda-
tion of my family someday, and maybe I
am, but God only knows. I don’t have
anything else to say but ask you to pray
that God would lead me on.
It was really, really hard for me to ignore
your calls. The
only reason I did
was for my sake,
not anyone else.
Everyone
can
believe and say
what they want,
but I know in my
heart, God knows
what is best for
me, and I trust that
100
percent.
All I needed was
some time to clear my head and be open
minded to the true gospel. Dad, be careful
what you think and say about anyone or
me, because I know, I was in that stage
myself. So please do that for me, Dad and
Mom. I love you so much and I will miss
you all so, so, so much. My family means
so much to me and always will.
—
Your loving son, Samuel
Concrete
20
shares at $235
Building Material
20
shares at $575
Drywall
20
shares at $225
Office Windows
3
at $163
Doors
5
at $144
Lock Sets
7
at $31
Gutters and Gravel
4
Shares at $100
Heating/Air
40
Shares at $250
Electrical
20
Shares at $69
Amish For 30 Years
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Continued from back page—
