Part 3 of my story is my personal testimony of what it was like to leave the Amish and Mennonites and my testimony of faith in Christ. (In Part 1, I shared my story of growing up as an Amish child.) (In Part 2, I wrote about being a rebellious teenager and leaving the Amish to join the Mennonites.)
In this final part of my story, I want to share how the Lord brought me out of religion and into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jump to:
- My Story Begins in an Amish Home
- Growing Up Steeped in Religion
- Are the Amish the Only Ones Going to Heaven?
- Did I Ever Question Our Way of Life?
- What About Acts Chapter 2 and the Early Church?
- God Works in Wondrous Ways
- Questioning my Salvation
- Experiencing True Freedom in Christ for the First Time
- Sonlife Broadcasting Network
- Going to Bible College
- The Head Covering
- Letting Go
- Bringing My Testimony to a Conclusion (My story of leaving the Amish and Mennonites)
- We All Have A Story
- I hope you enjoyed reading my Testimony of Faith and part 3 of my story...
- Read More About the Amish
My Story Begins in an Amish Home
I am thankful that I was privileged to grow up in a home with parents who loved me and taught me about Jesus and His love for me. They raised me the best that they knew how, and I am grateful to them.
I am also thankful that they had the courage to leave the Old Order Amish, even though their family frowned upon them. Because if they had stayed with the Old Order, I may have never heard the truth of the gospel.
The Old Order group teaches salvation by works, but the New Order teaches salvation by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8&9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.)
So, even though I grew up with a lot of religion, I knew that it was my faith in Jesus that would get me to heaven.
Growing Up Steeped in Religion
Religion is the belief or worship of a God or gods. But religion is also that which is devised by man. Man comes up with his own way that he thinks he needs to worship his God or gods, certain things he thinks he has to do to please his God/gods.
Amish is a religion. They have come up with things that they think they have to do to please God. They base many of their rules on Biblical ideas, but most of them are just strictly devised by their own minds.
A few verses in the Bible talk about keeping the traditions, and they cling to those verses, taking them out of context. And they make "keeping the traditions of their forefathers" more important than what the Word of God says.
So I was taught many things that were not Biblically accurate. We read the Bible with preconceived ideas of what the Scripture meant.
And if you've grown up being taught all your life that something was right and the Bible said a certain thing, you'll understand that it is very difficult to retrain your mind. It is hard to read a verse and be open to the fact that it could mean something different than what you were taught.
Are the Amish the Only Ones Going to Heaven?
As a young Amish girl, my world was very small. I did not know how many Christians there were in the world. All I knew was that our way of living was the right way, and I wasn't sure if anyone else would make it to heaven.
As I got older I came to realize that there were outsiders that were saved, but (in my mind) they were just not as enlightened on Scripture as we were.
Our church had Sunday School every other Sunday. We gathered in smaller groups to read and discuss a Scripture passage, sharing what we thought it meant, etc.
At one point my dad was the teacher for the youth girls' class, and we were discussing the head covering. The question came up, "Would any woman make it to heaven if she doesn't wear the head covering?" The conclusion was: since the outsiders were not taught the need of wearing the head covering, they would be ok without it. But as plain people, we knew better, so for us, it would be a sin to not wear it.
Did I Ever Question Our Way of Life?
As an Amish girl, I did not like all the rules in the church. But I did not really question our way of life. I believed that every woman should cover her head and wear a modest cape dress, etc.
I did question why we had to drive horse and buggy. And I questioned some of the silly little rules that I hated. But overall, I never questioned our doctrines and the plain way of life.
And honestly, I believe that when I lived in Canada (as a missionary to the Native Americans) was the first time that I started to question our doctrines.
While I was there, one of my Native American friends who was a born-again Christian, went to another reserve for weekend meetings. She came back home a changed person and was so full of joy and excitement about the Lord. She shared with me how she had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. And I knew that she had something I never experienced, and I wanted it.
After this, I began to dig into the Word of God. I became hungry and wanted more than what I had experienced in my Christian life. As I was introduced to new ways of thinking, I started to question some things I was taught.
What About Acts Chapter 2 and the Early Church?
After I came home from Canada and left the Amish, I joined the Beachy Amish/Mennonite church. There I instantly connected with a young lady who had received the Holy Spirit baptism. She also had something within her that I was seeking for.
Two of the young men in the church had been filled with the Holy Spirit and were on fire for God. But the preachers thought they were bringing in false doctrine so they got kicked out of the church.
I kept reading in the Bible about the early church and the gifts of the Spirit, etc. And I knew there was more to the Christian life than what I was experiencing. I was seriously thinking about the fact that I needed to find a different church. But I also knew that it would break my parents' hearts if I left the Mennonites yet too.
God Works in Wondrous Ways
God knew my heart, and He had a plan on how He would bring me out of the Mennonite community without breaking my parents' hearts.
I loved the Native American people. So I was happy when an opportunity arose for me to go to Canada to teach Summer Bible School to Native American kids. Five of my friends and I traveled together and joined a group of other young people for two weeks of Bible School.
There I met a young man, who asked me to marry him only five months later. 🙂
He had grown up Mennonite, and his dad had only recently gotten saved. They left the Mennonites and were attending a nondenominational church that consisted of ex-Mennonites who were still Mennonites in culture. The women still wore head coverings, etc. But they were what you might call Mennonite Pentecostals.
After we got married, I moved to Missouri where my husband was from, and we attended his church. I loved it. It was perfect!
But it was different not having a bunch of rules that I had to follow. And I told my husband one day that I think there is a feeling of security in having the preachers tell you what you may or may not do.
It's a lot harder to figure out for yourself what is right or wrong. It's scarier to follow the Holy Spirit. And at that point in my life, it would have been easier to just go back to the Mennonites. But I knew that was not what I wanted either.
Questioning my Salvation
We went through some difficult church situations and found ourselves moving to Pennsylvania, about two and a half hours from where I grew up. The church there was similar to the one we came from with a lot of ex-Mennonites.
All my life, I had based my salvation on my works. I knew that my works didn't save me. But if I wasn't producing the proper works in my life, then I would question whether I was saved or not.
I was going through a spiritually dry spell in my life. I wasn't reading my Bible much or spending time praying to God. So one night I was pouring my heart out to my husband, about my questions as to whether I was really saved or not. His answer to me was, "If you're not sure whether you're saved or not, then maybe you are not saved."
I was shocked by his answer, but it made me start thinking. He said, "If you are basing your salvation on your works, then you are not saved. It is not what we do that saves us, it is our faith in Jesus and what He did for us." I was like, "Wow! That's true."
There is no amount of works we can do to save ourselves or make ourselves righteous. Isaiah 64:6 says that our righteousness is as filthy rags. The only thing God can accept is our faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the Cross to atone for our sins.
Experiencing True Freedom in Christ for the First Time
Talk about freedom! Nothing lifts the burden off of your heart like the realization that you do not have to do anything to be saved but simply believe. Jesus did it all for you. It's very simple.
You cannot work to earn anything from God. It is a free gift! And as long as my faith remains in Jesus Christ and what He did for me, I will go to heaven. What assurance of salvation! I don't have to be afraid that if I happen to sin and then suddenly die, will I make it to heaven?
It was an amazing feeling of complete freedom when God made this real in my heart. I am going to heaven! And I have not questioned my salvation even once since that day. It's not about what I do, it is about what He did.
Sonlife Broadcasting Network
My husband had a forty-five-minute drive to work, and one day he found a radio station that started ministering to his heart. They were teaching the exact thing that the Lord had been trying to minister to him about how to live victoriously in Christ.
So we started listening to (jsm.org) online at home as well. We really didn't care that much for the music, but the Bible teaching was bringing so much truth and life to our hearts. And I began to seek God more for the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
I was praying and seeking God for several weeks. And as I was praying one morning, His presence came all over me. I started weeping and found myself speaking in tongues. It is real folks! The baptism with the Holy Spirit is real! I never experienced anything like it before. And there is absolutely nothing in this world that can compare to being in the presence of God.
Going to Bible College
After living in Pennsylvania for a few years, my husband felt led to move to Baton Rouge, LA to attend the Bible College there. That was quite a change for these ex-Amish/Mennonite country people.
We lived right in the heart of the city, and for the first time in our lives attended a church that had no Amish/Mennonite culture. It was a bit scary!
But it did not take long to find some friends that we enjoyed fellowshipping with. And God did an amazing amount of work in both of our hearts during our time there. Just setting us free from religion that had us bound for so many years.
The Head Covering
Of course, I was the only lady in the whole big church that wore a head covering. It didn't bother me too much at first, but I started struggling with it.
I read 1 Corinthians 11 so many times, asking God what He wants me to do. I was trying to find His will, His heart. Wondering exactly what this passage of Scripture meant?
At this point, I only wore a big scarf (that covered my whole head) while praying or to church services. Because that is how our church in PA had taught it, as the Bible does refer to having the head covered while praying or prophesying.
So I battled, in my mind, over this Scripture for several months. I was taught very strongly that a Christian woman must have her head covered. And yet, the majority of Christian women do not have their heads covered.
So are the Amish and Mennonites the only ones that have this right? Or is it not a big deal to God? I still feel like the Scripture that they use to make this doctrine out of, is not very clear. (Read more about the Amish and the head covering here.)
Letting Go
So the head covering was probably the hardest thing for me to let go of because it is a BIG deal to the Amish and Mennonites. I knew that it would be extremely hard to face my family without a head covering on.
But I finally felt like God was telling me that I just need to lay it down. He brought me to the Scripture in Matthew 11: 28 -30. "Come unto Me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest". I need to stop worrying so much about outward things and learn to rest in Him. I felt in my heart like this was not a big deal to Him so why am I struggling so much?
Bringing My Testimony to a Conclusion (My story of leaving the Amish and Mennonites)
In conclusion, I would like to say that I have learned many valuable things from the Amish and Mennonites. And leaving these communities has been like walking out of my comfort zone. (Read about the differences between Amish and mennonite here.)
I still have family in the Amish and Mennonite communities whom I love and respect deeply. And if any of them read my story, I want them to know that I mean absolutely no disrespect to them or their way of life.
And I believe that as children of God, we will produce good works as a result of being in Christ. I believe that we will live differently from those who are unsaved because as a child of God, I cannot partake in the lusts of the flesh.
But we cannot make ourselves righteous or pleasing to God by any amount of good works. I have found so much freedom in Christ since I came to realize that my salvation, my holiness, and righteousness are not determined by anything I do or don't do. It's all about Jesus and my faith in His redemption for me on the Cross.
We All Have A Story
Life is a journey, we all have a story. And none of our stories are the same. We all have our share of hard times, and sadly some people seem to have more than their share.
But the Word of God promises that He will not give us more than we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). And He will give you grace for every situation that you find yourself in if you are a child of God.
We know that God is in control! Even though He allows Satan to put certain hardships upon us and allows man to have a free choice. God is ultimately in control, and we can trust Him completely with our lives.
I have a lot of peace in my heart and mind today because I know that my life is in God's hands. I don't have to fear tomorrow, for I know that He will take care of me.
If you don't have that peace, then I encourage you to call on Jesus and surrender your life to Him.
I hope you enjoyed reading my Testimony of Faith and part 3 of my story...
I hope you enjoyed following along with my story of being Amish and my testimony of being set free from religion.
I'm sure not all of you will agree with my beliefs, and that's ok. We do not all have to agree on everything. But I would like to encourage you to seek to know God and to live with His peace in your heart. Jesus loves you!
I want to be with Jesus in eternity, and I hope to see you all there too!
God bless you all...
Connie Ensor
I enjoyed reading your testimony!
I am so happy that you have learned to be freedom in Christ Jesus.
My husband and I often visit with a family who are of the new order mennonite
at their Ever Fresh Business in Epharta,Pa. Precious folks!
I have read many books on the Amish/ Mennonite upbring and their beliefs.
It still amazes me how we all can be blinded by not knowing the truth of the Freedom In Christ.
Thank you !
In Christ's Love
Anna
Thank you! I am glad you are here!
Debra
Your story reminded me so much of myself (although different).Your story has helped remind me that I only need to trust in God and to set aside my phone,stop the negative thinking and make time for Him so I can have that peace again. I to live in Missouri and go to a local Amish market, mostly for bakery items, and I ran across your recipe hoping I could make this item myself,little did I know looking up a recipe could lead me back to what I was missing(I call this a God thing, lol). Thank you for sharing your story
Anna
I'm so glad it helped you. There is so much peace in resting in Christ!
Betty A Sowa
Thank you for sharing your story, I am 83 and lived in Berks and Lancaster County PA. I was raised a Lutheran and now live in Florida and continue my faith in the Baptist Church. I just returned from Lancaster County visiting relative
and of course had to go to Shady Maple.
God Bless you and your family
Anna
I'm happy that you are here!
Robert Ethridge
I am an ordained minister and agree with you whole heartedly. I am non denominational and grew up under a Pentecostal grandfather. It does my heart good to read your story and just believe it was our Lord and Savior who lead and directed you to the life and belief you enjoy today. God bless you and your family.
Anna
Thank you!
Tali
If you believe in Christ, look into the religion he followed- not the religions that followed him.
Anna
I don't follow religion, I follow Jesus.
Robert Ethridge
Exactly!
CalGirl
Thanks for your story! I descend fr PA Amish/Mennonite/Quakers/others in my family. I attended school throughout w/mostly Mennonites ...add in the PA Quakers & "German or Dutch Reformed" in other lines, & I am a total mess. I was "OK" growing up b/c no one in my (intermarried) family denigrated anyone else (except possible Catholic neighbors/family due to ante Baptist beliefs ! AND my beloved maternal grandmother left her Catholicism to marry into my Mennonite/Methodist line) & we shared the same basic Christian background. I made my way ... oddly while working for the US Public Health Service, Indian Health Service, for some years in otherwise Mormon Utah. It MADE me examine my religious & spiritual heritage & my base...b/c I was also raising very young children there without any "home base" from my still living relatives (tho' I took my young kids back to visit ea summer) or any of my religious anchors...no church to take them to until I found a lay-led Protestant (Presbyterian/ Methodist/ Congregationalist ...etc) "old world" church in a near "ghost town" of Myton, Utah, to raise them in while we were on the (Ute and Ouray) Indian Reservation. I was "OK" w/Lay-Led leadership for my children b/c of the involvement of my Quaker/ Amish PA background. Grew up with personal relationship with God. We came through this religious/ or spiritual challenge of years on the Utah Reservation whole & surer of all those things that would NEVER convert us to Mormonism, or anything else, or lead us away from our core beliefs/learnings into any "alternative.". This was a hard stretch & I could tell many stories but won't. I think the grounding in my Pennsylvania mixed religious heritage was strong & supported by my parents & grandparents, even the great-grandparents I was blessed to have in my childhood. We each have our own spiritual journey, but it IMO is grounded in our basic beliefs and teachings. Sometimes we have to DIG DEEPLY to keep our groundings in the face of otherworldly proposals. Choices, choices...can lead one way or another.....
Anna
Interesting
Sonya
Anna, thank you so much for sharing your story! Do you and your husband still have contact with each of your parents and siblings?
Anna
Yes, we still have contact with family.
Pam
God bless you, Anna, and thank you so much for sharing your story with us. It means a lot to me.
Pam in Virginia
Anna
Thank you for being here!
Linda
Thank you so much for sharing this. Your journey really touched me and renewed my faith!
Anna
Awesome! So glad you are here!
GeriAnn
I am the daughter of a southern Baptist pastor, the wife of a southern Baptist deacon, the daughter-in-law of a southern Baptist pastor and most importantly a child of the living God. I ended up on your website because I was looking at a recipe. While I was looking at the recipe, God drew me to read your testimony. I just wanted to take the time to tell you how moving your testimony is. My grandma and grandpa came from Amish families. They raised my mother and her 17 siblings in the Mennonite church when they were young and later in the Lutheran Church. I was unaware of this until I was looking through my mother's things after she passed away December 2024. I have been very curious about the Amish since finding this information. Your website is informative but what I love is that you talk about your up bringing from the perspective of a born again Christian. Thank you for sharing. May God Bless you and your family. You will be in my prayers.
Anna
Thank you for your kind words! I am happy that you are here! Blessings to you!
Jackie
I enjoyed it. God bless you and I am so happy to know that you are saved. Our works get us rewards in heaven, but they certainly don’t get us to heaven. I believe once saved always saved. Otherwise, what was the crucifixion for? However, we can back slide and fall out of fellowship with the Lord. That is when we publicly rededicate ourselves to Him. I believe that baptism, fully immersed in water, is symbolic and an act of obedience to our Heavenly Father. This was a beautiful story. I enjoyed reading it and was blessed by it. Thank you for sharing.
Anna
I honestly don't agree on the once saved always saved. We have to keep our faith in Him! Sadly, I have seen people (who were saved and on fire for Jesus) walk away and become atheists.
Barb
I have read your story, I must say it is very powerful! I appreciate the fact that it was very difficult for you to share, but I am glad that you did.
Anna
Thank you!
Lydia Zook
Hi Anna! It was super interesting reading your blog posts. Especially since we were Amish up till 7 years ago. And also, we live in Honey Brook. My husband Henry grew up here. His parents are Alvin and Sadie Zook on Reservoir Road. You mentioned you had a brother with MS. Was his name Lloyd??
Anna
Happy to meet you here! Those names are familiar. I'd love to hear your story!! Yes, his name was Lloyd. Small world here online. 🙂
Jim Sheehan
Well, At 87 and working every day, my thoughts
are, you and your husband would be great neighbors and friends. After losing my wife a few years ago I have been very selective in picking new friends and company. Using your guidance I now have a enlightened direction. Thanks for the healthy and tasty recipes. Jim
Will Miller
Thanks for sharing the message of Love that comes from knowing Jesus as your personal Savior. I grew up as an Amish boy but my parents did a similar change but one step more. They finally got a car when I was 14. They joined with a Beachy Amish/Mennonite group. I, though I am a member in the Mennonite church am resistant to the label that Mennonite carries. A dear friend who has lived among the Mennonites for all her life at the age of 66 still did not know that not all Mennonites wear specific types of clothing and that not all Mennonite women wear a covering. When she started attending a Mennonite church she found a body of believers that, like her, love Jesus. The Mennonite church that I attend sounds like a body of believers that are your brothers and sisters that you have not met yet. Blessings to you.
Anna
Nice to meet you!
ash
You say that you don't believe in works salvation, but the penecostals teach that you must speak tongues (acts 2:11) to be born again..speaking in tongues is a work..it was a gift..and a sign for the first apostoles.
Ephesians 2:
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ 9Jesus unto good works, 9which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
10Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
11That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having 12no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us];
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Anna
No, we do not teach that you have to speak in tongues to be saved! Not any Pentecostals that I associate with. It's definitely a huge added gift that God wants to give His children, but definitely not required to be saved.
Jackie
Amen!
Jennifer Randall
Thank you for sharing your story. I grew up not far from you and often visited Lancaster with my family. Perhaps you were in the deli one of those days! Anyway, the Amish way of life intrigued me for a different reason than most “Englishers”. I too came out of a group of brethren who were “closed” in their thinking and teachings. The group my parents were raised in had many of their ideas and doctrines borrowed from the Amish. When I was 16 my family left that group and went to the “open” brethren. Although we were always taught salvation by faith not by works there were a lot of people to whom it was religion. I struggled because I knew it was very real and I wanted to be sure my faith was real. Eventually the Lord brought me to a true living relationship with Him. This is the very short version 😉 I too was raised to wear a head covering whenever we were in church or prayer meeting, including prayer times at home. I honestly did not have a problem with it as we were taught the holiness of covering all of flesh for the angels sake. Christ covers man, man covers woman, a woman’s glory is her hair so it’s covered…Anyway I digress. I’m now 53. In 2018 (so I was just 48) the Lord brought my husband and me and our two boys (long story) to a large church where half the women wore head coverings half did not. I struggled. I fought inwardly. But the Lord reminded me that as He had impressed on my heart with the moves that there would be things I’d have to let go of. The head covering was one. And just like that in obedience I stopped wearing my head scarf. We’ve since moved two more times, two more churches, two more states. In my heart I treasure the truth He taught me but I also learned, like you, it’s not the outward appearance and we’re not to be a spectacle (that verse…)… that can apply to a simple bandana or full Amish clothing or just anything that makes us stand out in a way that isn’t glorifying to God. I love your testimony and wish we could sit down and chat over coffee! We have so much more in common than I can relate here…my husband too came out of these things, we were a homeschooling family, etc. So much. Looking forward to meeting you one day soon in heaven. In the mean time, I’ll make your pies! Praying your story is used far and wide for the salvation of many who have religion but need a living relationship with our Savior.
Anna
Nice to meet you here!
Jen
I enjoyed reading your testimony. Iam from India. About 25 yrs ago when I was around 17 yrs I had visited my uncle's family in USA for the first time. They took me to the Amish Country at Pennsylvania. It was the first time ever I had heard about Amish people. I was very curious and enjoyed seeing their lifestyle. Thanks for sharing your testimony.
Anna
I'm happy you are here!
Melissa
Your website is great! I'm glad I found it. I'm also happy to see you found peace and faith.
I with you and your family much happiness!
Anna
Thank you!!
Joanne
SO glad to have found your website and, most importantly, to have learned about our Father bringing you to saving faith!!! Not long ago I learned about the Hutterites, many of whom live out in the Northwest, Wyoming/Montana/Idaho. Among them is a group who are called "born-agains" by their fellow Hutterites who are not born again. They came to saving faith by attending an evangelistic tent campaign.
Yours is a wonderful testimony. I pray that the Lord will use your testimony to bring others to Himself as well. Blessings, Joanne
Anna
Thank you! I'm happy to have you here!
Cynthia
I really enjoyed…okay…I actually LOVED reading your three-part story.❤️
Thank you so much for sharing!
I am sixty-four and I still get excited/delighted when I have the opportunity to hear/read of the journeys traveled by other Believers in Christ! I call them “Cinderella in-Christ” stories because it doesn’t matter how poor or how humble your heart was before accepting Christ as your Savior, there will ALWAYS be a happy-ending!
I’m planning to try your “Amish Fruit Cake” recipe tomorrow…and the only change I plan to make is to use Christmas muffin-foil-tins placed in cupcake pans.
My mom used to make Fruit Cake cupcakes every year along with 2-3 regular size Fruit Cakes…but sadly we cannot find her recipe!😢 I do remember though that her cupcakes had very little batter with lots of candied cherries, pecans and dates! So I’m really hopeful that it will be just as good as moms used to be!
Praying His Blessings & Grace over you and your family always! ❤️Cynthia
Anna
thank you
Kimberly
I really enjoyed learning about your story. I am a Christian, I am married and have three grown daughters. I am from Michigan and as a girl growing up in a small country town we had Amish there that would come into town for supplies. I was always curious about the lifestyle of the Amish and what it was like growing up as Amish. So I feel like reading your story brought light into what it was like. Thank you for sharing
Anna
I'm so glad you're here!
Mary
Thank you for sharing your story! I found it while searching for Amish Friendship Bread starter.
It’s so interesting to me how so many of us grow up in religion and struggle because it’s hard to untangle religion, family, culture and faith.
My religion was much different from yours but so relatable.
I am indigenous to Alaska, grew up Irish Catholic through my dad and my Alaskan Native mom had to convert to marry him, she was raised Russian Orthodox. ( many indigenous people of her generation were forced to assimilate) I was raised in Catholic school and stayed within the religion well into adulthood. After 27 years of marriage( to a man of Pa. Dutch heritage) I went through divorce and lost my faith.That is when I truly found my faith!
Now in my sixties going full circle and doing my best to reclaim culture and heritage, feeling thankful to have found faith and grace.
Thanks again for sharing your story and recipes.
Anna
Sounds like your life was not easy. We all have to find our way. I'm glad you found your way to Christ through Faith and Grace.
Randy Shepps
Anna,
I grew up in the Blue Ball area, not far from your upbringing. Many of my friends, although they kept away because of the church, were my best friends. As we grew older, many left. Broke my heart to see their families have to deal with that. They never outwardly showed it, but it was obvious to the rest of us. Anyway, it's always salvation through faith, never through human works. God bless you and your family, and thank you for sharing!
Anna
Thank you for leaving a comment.
Liz Elkington
Hi Anna, I read your story with interest - thank you for sharing. I am working on a project which I would love to discuss with you. Please let me know the best way to connect? Many thanks ~ Liz
Anna
Probably through messenger. Find me on Facebook at My Amish Heritage.
Liz Elkington
Thank you so much, Anna!
Anna
my pleasure.
Jennifer
Hi, I really enjoyed reading your testimony, thank you for sharing! I grew up in Word of Faith movement which is heavily focused on wealth and commanding scripture in various prayer purposes. I left that movement yrs ago for many reasons, I am a middle aged woman now. About the head covering topic I came across a great teaching on that, that gave me understanding of its purpose and the time of when to apply it. I read Watchman Nee's teaching online.
I put it on when I pray formally before or to the Lord. Random praying like when I am driving, I dont.
There is a government of God but man surely would mess up the teachings often enough to cause offenses. Salvation and sanctification is a personal walk with the Lord. Its based on faith that works by love, humilty as a child. Faith to/in God, in Jesus has more in its meaning that belief/trust in. It has obedience and submition in it but its totally motived by love. For example, there could be a tradition to follow according to how Paul puts it for women to wear a head covering or to wear a dress and not pants....(for example), for the woman who personally is devoted to worship God, she wouldnt have a problem, because her mindset is so personal with God, she loves Him, she hears Him, she walks with Him, she is so thankful for life and salvation in Him, she knows Him, so she wouldnt mis judge Him in His requirements, she trusts Him, so gladly she could easily be humble and say yes, Lord, Your Ways are right!
So instead of enforcing a way upon a whole group, it needs to be personal but it is the preachers responsibilty to teach the ways of God too...and there is resistance and persecution against Gods ways too. Its part of it.
Shana
Jennifer,
Thanks so much for sharing your personal story with us. I have always been intrigued by Amish way of life. I came here to find a pie recipe and found it!...but was pleasantly surprised to find your story! 🙂 Thank you for all that you are doing. I also think it's fantastic that you are sharing the truth of the gospel with all who come here.
Anna
Glad you are here!
Jennifer
Hi, I really enjoyed reading your testimony, thank you for sharing! I grew up in Word of Faith movement which is heavily focused on wealth and commanding scripture in various prayer purposes. I left that movement yrs ago for many reasons, I am a middle aged woman now. About the head covering topic I came across a great teaching on that, that gave me understanding of its purpose and the time of when to apply it. I read Watchman Nee's teaching online.
I put it on when I pray formally before or to the Lord. Random praying like when I am driving, I dont.
There is a government of God but man surely would mess up the teachings often enough to cause offenses. Salvation and sanctification is a personal walk with the Lord. Its based on faith that works by love, humilty as a child. Faith to/in God, in Jesus has more in its meaning that belief/trust in. It has obedience and submition in it but its totally motived by love. For example, there could be a tradition to follow according to how Paul puts it for women to wear a head covering or to wear a dress and not pants....(for example), for the woman who personally is devoted to worship God, she wouldnt have a problem, because her mindset is so personal with God, she loves Him, she hears Him, she walks with Him, she is so thankful for life and salvation in Him, she knows Him, so she wouldnt mis judge Him in His requirements, she trusts Him, so gladly she could easily be humble and say yes, Lord, Your Ways are right!
So instead of enforcing a way upon a whole group, it needs to be personal but it is the preachers responsibilty to teach the ways of God too...and there is resistance and persecution against Gods ways too. Its part of it.
Heidi Smith
Interesting that I came across your site and read your story. Wow! I am on that same journey of untangling all the rules with true faith in Jesus. I grew up so judgmental and want to shake free of all that. Thanks for sharing!
Anna
I'm happy that you are here. It is indeed a journey, blessings to you!
Heather
Hello. I enjoyed reading your story of growing up Amish and your testimony of leaving the Amish. I grew up in the Pentecostal/Charismatic circles. I've found that the Baptist churches aren't that much different except that they dress up and sang hymns. I came to saving faith when I was thirty and have been on a journey to 'unlearn' that which I was taught that was unbiblical. I heartily agree with what you wrote about reading the Bible. I've had to learn how to set aside my preconceived ideas and read the Bible inductively, thanks to Precept Ministries. It's been a joy to learn Biblical truths in the correct way.
Also, I am glad to have found your recipes. My mom's family came from a plain background and whenever we visited them in PA, I enjoyed the food. I am looking forward to getting reacquainted with the food I experienced growing up.
Anna
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I'm so glad that you are here!
Candice Allen
Thanks for sharing!
Anna
my pleasure
Dora Muller Harrison
I truly enjoyed your story. Thank You for sharing.
Anna
My pleasure. I'm glad you're here.
Teri
I so enjoyed your story. As others, I was at your site to look at recipes and could not resist reading your story. It had to be God's intention for me because I go to many web sites and never read about the blogger. My story led me from the Catholic church to being a Pentecostal. And like you, there were other religions in between. But your story brought tears to my eyes. It is such a blessing to read about people who learn to let go of religion and follow Christ. Your faith and your story are inspiring. Thank you.
Anna
Aww, thank you for your kind comment. I'm so glad that you're here.
Carol Ann Goodenough
This is a beautiful story, from beginning to end it is hill of faith and the fini is the faith at the end. It is not what we do, it is what He did for us.
Anna
Thank you!
Becky
Thank you so much for sharing your story with the world!
We are using your blog to help my youngest child with his assignment on the Amish people for his virtual charter school.
Your blog is a blessing!
In His love,
<>
Anna
I am so happy to help!
Aletta K Hutchins
Hi Anna I sure enjoyed reading your story. I live in Seymour, Mo. I lived in the country a lot of years before moving to town and I had Amish neighbors. I would let them use my land line.
Anna
I'm glad that you are here. My husband's family lived in Seymour for a number of years.
Elmer Coblentz
Your story is very interesting and I greatly appreciate your willingness to share it. I also grew up in the new order Amish and my wife was old order, so I kind of in ignorance went old order when we got married, but was never happy there as they were so different from what I was used to. 3 years later we went to a revival meeting an got gloriously saved and our whole world was turned upside down, or rather right side up. Of course we faced a great deal of opposition and we’re asked to deny what we had found. This was. It an option as I had finally found what I was searching for all my life. We joined up with a "Pentecostal Mennonite “ group for several years until God led us to move to Florida where we searched in vain for people who felt and believed like us until we found a full gospel church. I would love to hear what group of Pentecostal Mennonites you were with.
Anna
So interesting! Thank you for sharing. We were with Dan Shetler in Mo. Part of the Crossroads group in Holmes County, Ohio with Wayne Weaver.
Elaine
Hi, I came to this site looking for an Amish sweet corn chicken soup recipe. I used to make it frequently but I couldn't find the cookbook I used to use and love. So, in addition to a recipe that sounds like exactly what I used to make, I read the most amazing story of your life. I imagine it was very hard for you. I live less than an hour from Lancaster and usually stop at the roadside stands. But I never quite knew what to do when there was just a small sign selling eggs on a post--no stand. Is it OK to just drive up the driveway?
Anna
Yes, if there's a sign, you can drive up to the house and knock.
Linda
I was watching a YouTube video from "The Amish Potato" and he mentioned you. I just had to look you up.
I really enjoyed your Testimony and Growing up Amish/Mennonite story. I have deep Amish/Mennonite roots through my grandfather Vernon Miller. In fact some of words I say are because of him, when I say Yes/Yeah, I say Ja. People comment on it all the time, I guess I really emphasize the JAH. I just wished I would have asked him more questions on how it was for him growing up in Shipshewana. He passed in 1995.
I've research a lot on linage and have direct linage to Jacob Hochstetler, John "Wounded" Miller (some of the very first Amish settlers) many more from the Hochstetler massacre and PA area.
I really enjoy your video's on the Amish/Mennonite dialect. It reminded me of my grandfather and how he would speak at times. He'd slice me a piece of scapple and place on a slice of bread saying "gut brot" or something like that.
Your blog is wonderful, full of faith, information and recipes. I've already pinned a bunch of recipes and can't wait to make them. My first one will be the "Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake" I'll let you know how I like it. I'll be watching for more videos and recipes.
Anna
Thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you're here!
AB
I love your story! I didn’t grow up Amish, but I can relate in some ways because I grew up with a lot of religion and works based sanctification. As an Independent Fundamental Baptist, we were taught that salvation was by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and we were taught to hold fast to eternal security. But on the flip side, in order to please God after our salvation we had to adhere to a lot of man made rules with many scriptures ripped out of context to justify them. I ditched the standards as soon as I went to college, but I struggled with my relationship with God, thinking He must be so mad at me. Like you, I grew up believing we were the only right group of Christians. Several years ago during a rock bottom moment in my life, I cried out to God in desperation and to my utter amazement He answered! He simply said, “I do hear you, and I do love you, and I want you to get to know Me.”
I was so confused. What could I possibly not know about God? I had been raised to know everything I needed to know about God. But with a curious heart I sat back over the next couple of years and allowed the Lord to show me what He wanted me to know about Himself. I too was introduced to the freedom we have in Christ, and recently to the baptism of the Holy Spirit! Up until then, letting go of my KJV only belief had been the hardest change, little did I know He’d have me speaking in tongues too!!! I now call myself a Bapti-costal 🤣 but we attend a non denominational church. Heaven is going to be such a peculiar place with all the many different factions of Christians who all thought we were so “right”. 🥴 Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life 🙌🏻
Anna
I love your testimony. Thank you for sharing! And thank God for His Goodness to us!
Ivy Bickl
I absolutely loved your story! Thank you! 😊 & maybe we're neighbors? We’re also in Missouri, down in the Southeastern area. We call ourselves Gaians (been called high tech Amish. 😊lol) It's just that we don't deny the female aspects of our religion… we don't make it that the man is a dictator… you know? We know that we have to be there for each other but are actually equals. And we care about what we are doing to our Earth.
We are actually rebuilding our ghost town of Clubb, MO. (if you could even call it that because there's nothing left but a few wells and some ruins.) We are and looking for any craftsmen or artisans that would like to run any of our shops that we are creating. A dairy, a butcher, soap maker, blacksmith, etc any Artisans really we will help build a small shop if they join our co-op we are doing it silver dollar city style but only open to public on weekends (most of our business will be done online) To provide the needed raw materials, we are starting EcoJunk and a community garden ( we are kind of doing Garden of Eden Style- rewilding the vegetables and fruits and even our livestock grown in a way to easily be regenerative and much, much less work for us)
You know…. I know, it's hard to leave something that seems to be your whole world, but isn’t right for who you are and what you were wanting to do with your life But is even worse when you don't have a place to go so I would like to welcome any of those that need a place to restart come help us rebuild this ghost town and we're doing it good you know in a good way. Our Forest Farm is Wanderer’s End Sanctuary, our church is Gaian Living Fellowship, and our town is Clubb, MO
Paula Black-Summerlin
Yours is a beautiful story, Anna. It has also helped me to face a few realities I have been struggling with in my life for a while now. I have been praying about them but had not received any answers until I was reading this today. I was only searching for a Wheat/White bread recipe, my search led me here. I happened to see you had a post called "My Amish Heritage" "My Story", and being intrigued, I read all three parts. God does work in mysterious ways! Thank you so, so, so very much for sharing such a personal and perhaps, at times, painful testimony. You are a blessing. Paula
Anna
I'm glad you're here, and I am so happy if my testimony can be a blessing to others. God bless you in your journey.
Simona
I really enjoyed reading your life journey. we had an Amish and Mennonite community in Ohio about an hour from us. We had many Mennonite friends we visited and enjoyed the local shops and bulk food stores. I had some knowledge about the beliefs, but you taught me many things through your story. I had no idea there were Pentecostal Mennonites! I grew up Pentecostal and am thrilled to hear this! I came to your site for the apple fritter recipe-something I love eating when visiting the Mennonite shops. I've moved to Florida and now need to make my own. I leave with your recipe and your story. Thank you.
Anna
I'm glad you enjoyed it! And I guess they're not technically Pentecostal Mennonite, they would call themselves nondenominational. But they believe in the Pentecostal message and mostly come from Mennonites so they have more of that culture. 🙂
Vickie Green-Hall
Thank you very much for sharing your life's journey.
Anna
My pleasure.
Lisa
Your story was very powerful and helpful to me in my understanding of the Amish culture.
Thank you so, so much for your vulnerability.
Anna
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
Rebecca Allar
My My My, your story ,testimony brought some good and sad memories. I was raised in a strict home also. Not Amish but United Pentecostal, my father was a preacher., He preached Revivals at different churches. To make this story short. I to was a rebellious, left home when I wad 16. When I was around 32 got back in the church, and continue to live for God.
Would love to correspond with you
Anna
Thank you for reading my story. We all have a story, and sadly,there is a lot of religion in the church.
Elaine
Thank you Anna, I grew up in the Old Order Mennonite Church. I appreciate your articulation of your experience.
I, was not taught Pennsylvania Dutch. Only a few phrases here and there. I’m wondering if you have aP translation of “I hurt my finger, I hurt my foot, I hurt all over when I have to work.”
Anna
I'm surprised that you weren't taught PA Dutch. I thought the Old Order Mennonites also spoke PA Dutch. I could give you a translation, but not sure if you could read it? It would be better if I could tell you. "I hurt my finger" = "Ich hop my finga vay gadu".
Melinda Watkins
The covering is talking about women having long hair. That is our covering.
1 Corinthians 11:15
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Also talks about men not having long hair.
1 Corintians 11:14
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
Loria
I agree with you Melinda. The author speaks about what is proper when addressing our Father or speaking for Him. He reaches back to creation for his reasoning about this propriety. Eve was given long hair but I don’t read that she was given a heart shaped head cloth to wear when talking to God.
Walter Boomsma
Thanks for sharing your story and your thoughts and beliefs. I would just point out that all religions struggle with “grace versus works” and they tend to create “rules” both to satisfy the human need for predictability and as way of controlling the behavior of members. This is not at all unique to the Amish or Mennonites.
Some years ago a very wise man challenged me with a question and some advice that I continue to find comforting. He asked me why, based on my description of God, I could presume to believe I understood what He thought–wasn’t that arrogance? His point was “you should know and be able to accept what you don’t know.” Over the years, I’ve lost my need to debate or argue theology. I’ve also abandoned a search for the “best” or “correct” religion. Much like the famed Groucho Marx quote, if it existed it would no longer be perfect if I joined it.
I suppose that might earn me the label of “agnostic,” but I can live with it because I truly believe God knows a lot of things I don’t. I understand the value of the head covering, I think. But I don’t understand or accept it as an absolute. I love the fact that God seems to have given us the ability to think and reason. But He never really expected us to figure everything out!
Millie
While it is true there is nothing you or I can do to deserve salvation, following Christ clearly produces “works” you can’t separate from the life of the saved Christian.
Christ said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” How many of the people Christ healed did he tell them they should do nothing to have salvation?
2 Tim 2:15, 2 Tim 4:3
Anna
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. It's pretty clear that's all that's required to be saved. But yes. I did mention that good works will be a natural result of being in Christ. An apple tree naturally produces apples, it doesn't have to be forced. If we abide in the vine, we will naturally produce good works. But we cannot keep all the commandments. Anyone who says they keep all the commandments is a liar. That's why Jesus died for us, because He knew we couldn't do it.
carla
I have found your story so very interesting and as I read it I hear you telling it , I read it on your voice ? love your blog.
Anna
? Thank you!
Rosman Majid
Very interesting story. I am always curious about Amish as they are different with Christian you read ,heard in media..Have you heard about Islam? If you do ,how much ?
Thank you.
Anna
Thank you! Yes, I have heard about Islam. Jesus is the only way to the Father, the only way to heaven. I pray that all people in the Islam religion will come to know Jesus.
Melissa
Hello Anna,
I agree with you. Jesus is the way to God and Heaven. I was friends with someone in Pakistan once. He wanted me to move there and deny Jesus and join him in his Islam religion. I told him no. Because he was so persistent, I had to cut off my friendship and all contact with him. I do pray for Nasir and I will continue to pray for anyone who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. I would like to thank you for your story. I found it very enlightening and engaging. I am so happy you found Jesus.
Lori+jaster
Thank you for sharing your journey
Anna
my pleasure