Fall 2017 | vol 27, no 1

Frequently Asked Questions about the

Perspectives source: Amish Studies by the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College by Susan Miller managing director Q: How many Amish live in North America? I had the privilege of taking A: About 318,500 adults and children. This is an part in a class last winter that increase of approximately 10,360 since 2016, a impacted my life like nothing growth rate of 3.36 percent. In most communities, ever has before. over half of the population is under 18 years of age. Perspectives of a World Thus, the number of baptized adult church members Christian Movement has truly is likely about 143,300. given me new perspective in world missions. Stories of Q: When did the how unreached people Amish begin? groups are being reached, A: They trace their roots and the methods of how this to the Anabaptist is being done, was movement in absolutely fascinating and exciting. Switzerland in 1525 at As usual, my sense of the time of the adventure was stirred and I Protestant . was ready to jump onto the The Anabaptists next plane going somewhere emphasized voluntary …..anywhere! However, I adult baptism and a usually don’t have the church that was free from state control. Because chance to do just that right most had been baptized as infants, they were away—which is good. I did, nicknamed rebaptizers or Anabaptists. The Amish however, feel a strong sense of the Holy Spirit leading me were part of this movement until 1693 when they to rethink what I am doing formed their own group in Switzerland and the with my life and ask myself, Alsatian region of present-day France. Their first what is my role in all this? leader was Jakob Ammann; hence, they became How could I, a slightly older, known as Amish. single lady make a difference? I realized that my Q: Is the Amish population growing? prayer life was not what I A: Yes. The population has doubled over the past 20 wanted it to be. I felt a strong years due to sizeable families (5 or more children on sense to commit to be more average) and high retention rates (on average about persistent and consistent. As 85 percent of Amish youth eventually join the I continued to reevaluate my church). priorities, I suddenly realized that if I want to be a part of Q: When are Amish youth baptized? reaching to thousands of A: Typically between the ages of 18 and 21. As people I don’t necessarily Anabaptists, the Amish church emphasizes the have to go anywhere. importance of making a voluntary adult decision to I am on staff here at become a Christian and join the church. Menno-Hof where around 17,000 people come to visit Q: Where do Amish youth go to school? (cont. on page 3) A: About 90 percent attend one or two-room private (cont. on Amish schools; the others go to rural public schools. page 2) Frequently Asked Questions (cont. from front) practices: use of horse and buggy for In Amish schools, an Amish teacher is local transportation, rejection of electricity typically responsible to teach all eight from public utility lines, prohibition against grades, or in the case of a two-room school, televisions and computers, some type of half of the grades. Amish children typically distinctive dress, beards for men, ending of “Now this end their formal schooling at the end of formal education at the eighth grade, place is eighth grade. meeting in homes for worship every other what Amish Sunday, lay religious leaders, and living in land is Q: What language do the Amish speak? rural areas. about! You A: Regardless of where they live, the Amish can learn speak the Pennsylvania German dialect Q: Are all Amish farmers? so much re: (popularly known as Pennsylvania Dutch), A: No. In the past most families farmed, but now many Amish earn their living from , except in a few communities where they various types of Amish-owned establish- Amish and speak a Swiss dialect. English, typically ments—small shops, businesses, carpentry, . learned in school, is their second language. Most Amish are fluent in both English and construction, retail stores, roadside Take a the dialect, but very few can speak standard stands—as well as employment in “English- break from German. Some learn to read old German owned” factories, restaurants, and shops. shopping script so they can read their religious books and see Q: May outsiders join the Amish? and publications. Amish people often refer what Ship- A: Yes. Although the Amish do not to non-Amish as “English,” because they actively evangelize, several dozen “outside” shewana speak the English language. and people have joined the Amish. Potential Middlebury Q: Are there different kinds of Amish? members must be willing to learn the are really A: Yes. There are many different dialect and accept the rules of the church like!” affiliations of Amish, each of which has in order to be baptized and become —recent online its own dress styles, carriages, members of the church. Some outsiders review occupations, and rules about technology. have become well accepted and respected The enormous cultural diversity among members of the Amish community. Amish groups and church districts makes Q: Do the Amish reject all modern it risky to generalize about “the Amish.” technology? Q: Do the different groups have A: No. They selectively use technology— anything in common? choosing the types that serve their A: Yes, most Amish groups share certain community rather than debilitate it. The rules for what is accepted are largely determined by the local church, so there is Amish by the numbers a wide variation on what is permitted. In general, the Amish accept some new 12 Largest Amish Settlements (2017) technology such as chain saws and inline Settlement State Districts Est. population skates, and reject computers and Lancaster County Area Pennsylvania 220 36,920 television. Most groups modify technology to fit their cultural values. Some, for Holmes County Area Ohio 274 35,130 example, place steel wheels on tractors and Elkhart/LaGrange Area Indiana 181 24,205 put electric turn signals on their carriages. Geauga County Area Ohio 132 18,650 Q: Do the Amish pay taxes? Adams County Area Indiana 58 8,595 A: Yes. They pay all the taxes—income, Nappanee County Area Indiana 43 5,910 property, sales, estate, corporate, school— Daviess County Area Indiana 29 4,855 that other people do. In fact many of them Arthur Area Illinois 30 4,410 pay school taxes twice—for both public and private Amish schools. The US Congress Mifflin County Area Pennsylvania 30 3,905 exempted the Amish from participating in Allen County Area Indiana 22 3,190 Social Security in 1965 because the Amish Indiana County Area Pennsylvania 21 2,985 viewed it as a form of commercial insurance, Seymour County Area Missouri 16 2,665 which they opposed. They believe that source: Amish Studies by the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa) College members of the church should care for each others’ physical and material (cont. on page 3) 2 An invitation to give… We are thankful that Menno-Hof is sought out by so many individuals (around 17,000 a year!) and that we have the privilege of having their attention for over an hour as they listen and learn. At least 40% of our budget needs to come from donations. The staff and board are diligent in being good stewards Wish List with what God has given. We invite you to consider Menno-Hof in your year-end giving. If you have already  high pressure washer for given—thank you! Your gift makes a difference. maintenance Contributions are tax-deductible and can be sent to: Menno-Hof, PO Box 701, Shipshewana, Ind., 46565  36” flat screen TV

Perspectives (cont. from front) Are you looking for a way to each year! To give you an idea of the impact, here serve while sharing your faith? are the countries listed in our guest register during a two week period this year: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Menno-Hof needs individuals and couples in Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, agreement with Anabaptist values and beliefs to Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Macedonia, Spain, serve as host and/or hostess during May, July and Sweden and Turkey. Twenty-two states, as well as August 2018. A minimum of 30 days is preferred. Washington D.C., were also represented. Of these Responsibilities include conducting tours and some people, we had Amish, Seventh Day Adventists, light housekeeping. Two furnished apartments are Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Mennonite, Mormon, Non-Denominational, Pentecostal, Jewish, available on-site. Atheist, Agnostic and Reformed. Menno-Hof invites Local volunteers are also needed! Menno-Hof is visitors to think over their walk of faith seriously. Truly looking for persons living in close proximity to a local mission doing global ministry! Shipshewana, Ind., that are interested in helping I also had the opportunity this year to take part in a prayer vigil in front of an abortion clinic. Several conduct tours or welcome visitors at the cash weeks after that I helped at World Missionary Press, register. Schedules are flexible. a local printing place for Scripture booklets. I was For more information contact reminded again of the fact that there is much to do Susan Miller, managing director right around home. I think God purposely propelled 260-768-4117 or [email protected] me to these places in order to make me more aware of His work right here in Northern Indiana. I love being a part of Menno-Hof and I do believe I will stick around here for the time being!

Frequently Asked Questions (cont. from pg 2) needs. Thus, most of them do not pay into Social Security or receive payments from it. In some states, the Amish have also been exempted from workers compensation Christmas (insurance for on-the-job injuries) for the gift idea same reason. PLAINSPOKEN: real-life stories of Amish & Mennonites Q: Do the Amish use modern medicine? Books available in the Menno-Hof bookstore: A: It all depends. Many Amish use modern Chasing the Amish Dream: My Life as a Young medicine and the services of doctors and Amish Bachelor by Loren Beachy hospitals, and many prefer going to chiropractors. Members of some of the Called to Be Amish: My Journey from Head more traditional communities prefer Majorette to the Old Order by Marlene Miller homeopathic or alternative forms of Hutterite Diaries: Wisdom from My Prairie medical treatment. In general, the Amish Community by Linda Maendel are less likely to select high risk or Simple Pleasures: Stories from My Life as an expensive medical interventions than Amish Mother by Marianne Jantzi mainstream society. There are no explicit Anything But Simple: My Life as a Mennonite religious prohibitions against certain types by Lucinda J. Miller of medicine. The use of modern medicine varies greatly from family to family and Published by Herald Press group to group. 3 DIRECTOR’S DESK hope you don’t object to me immediately agreed and what a meaningful I sharing a personal praise with experience it was to have him here worshipping you this edition. In October I had with us and participating in the service. Our the privilege of having my younger children and their families also attended the and only biological brother visit service that morning and at the last moment I my wife, Ruth, and me. When we was invited to be scripture reader. I think this heard that Larry and his wife, was Larry and Janet’s first opportunity to Janet, were coming, we began worship in a Mennonite church and certainly to Jerry Beasley planning our time together. participate in a worship service. What a joyful executive director Our pastor at First Mennonite, experience for Ruth and me! Middlebury, Kent Miller, and I discussed the We are so grateful that Larry and Janet share possibility of Larry and Kent doing special music our desire to follow Jesus as we journey through together during the worship service on the life. The whole visit felt like a “miracle.” To be Sunday they would be in town. Both Kent and sure, we kept them busy while they were here Larry have lots of musical talents. Larry but we did make time to visit Menno-Hof.

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID SHIPSHEWANA, IN 46565 PERMIT NO 17

Reunion is published quarterly to keep Menno-Hof staff: our friends informed of happenings at Jerry Beasley, executive director Menno-Hof. Send questions or Susan Miller, managing director comments to director at Charlotte Long, program and communication associate [email protected] BLESS YOU! Bill Yoder, facility and grounds Menno-Hof Amish-Mennonite associate Beginnings & endings Visitors’ Center Board of Directors: PO Box 701 hosts & hostess Larry Chupp, president, Shipshewana, Ind. 510 S Van Buren St, SR 5 Lovina Rutt, vice-president, Goshen, Ind. Frederick & Sandra Gingerich Shipshewana, IN 46565 Donna Jones, Shipshewana, Ind. AuGres, Mich. | January - February Tele: (260) 768-4117 Orie E. Lehman, Shipshewana, Ind. Fax: (260) 768-4118 Daniel B. Miller, Goshen, Ind. Steve Miller, Goshen, Ind. “How can we THANK God enough E-mail: [email protected] Jim Neff, Goshen, Ind. Web site: www.mennohof.org Wayne Schrock, Millersburg, Ind. for YOU in return for all the joy we have in Don Stauffer, Union, Mich.

Hours: Alvin J. Yoder, Shipshewana, Ind. the presence of our God because of you?” Monday—Saturday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m. Fern Yoder, Millersburg, Ind. —I Thessalonians 3:9 Summer hours (June, July, August) Norman Yoder, Shipshewana, Ind. Monday—Friday: 10 a.m.—7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m.—5 p.m.