We are glad to welcome Joe Keim and his wife Esther from Mission to Amish People. We have supported this ministry for 15 years and are excited to hear an update from them. Mission to Amish People was founded in 2001 with the purpose of evangelizing and discipling Amish and Former Amish as well as assisting those that leave the Amish by providing education, housing, and basic life skill training.
Amish people seem peaceful and separated from a world of murder and divorce; to a large extent this is true. Crime among the Amish culture is often minimal.
From a physical stand point, the Amish culture looks great. Outsiders admire them for their hard work, craftsmanship, family and community values. They are also known for their innocence, honesty , separation from the world and desire to live plain and simple lives.
From a spiritual stand point, a smaller percentage of the population understands the new birth as described in John chapter 3. Most Amish people focus on outward appearance, traditions, and church rules for salvation. Their belief in Jesus Christ is often head knowledge and part of a long list of do’s and don’ts. The mindset is: if I want to be right with God, I have to do what I can and God will fill in the rest. The truth is, Salvation is by grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone.
As the population multiplies, more and more young adults and families are leaving the culture. When that happens, individuals go through the difficult process of finding new identity and purpose in life. Tension runs high between family members and church leaders; many are excommunicated and shunned by their own families.
For these reasons, Mission to Amish People seeks to evangelize and disciple Amish and former Amish people.