So you want to join the Amish
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- Ever thought you wanted to become Amish? Over the past 15 years, I've heard from many people who wanted to join the Amish. But I've only known a handful who have done it.
In this video I deliver some real talk about becoming Amish. Why do people want to join the Amish? What are the biggest challenges? Why does it often not work out? I also share some examples of Amish converts - Marlene, Ed, and others - who actually have joined - and remained - Amish.
00:00 Intro
00:26 Obstacles to joining
02:44 Which communities do people join?
04:30 HOW to join the Amish
06:41 Why it doesn't work out
11:08 Meet some Amish converts
15:26 Should you join the Amish?
19:19 Did I (Erik) ever want to become Amish?
More: amishamerica.com/becoming-amish/
My name is Erik Wesner and I'm not Amish. Back in 2004, I met the Amish while selling books. Since then, I've visited 5,000+ Amish homes & dozens of Amish communities. I run the Amish America website. More: amishamerica.com/
Image credits: Don Burke (www.flickr.com/photos/ozarkin..., Jim Halverson, Don Shenk (www.amazon.com/Seasons-Lancas..., Tom in NY, Jerry in PA, Anne, Pat Burk (Marlene C. Miller - www.timesreporter.com/news/20...)
Sources cited:
"Former big-city chef turns Amish, makes charcuterie in rural Maine", Bangor Daily News, Abigail Curtis, January 13, 2016. bangordailynews.com/2016/01/1...
"Amish converts choosing their religion and building roots in oldest settlement", The Guardian, Kevin Williams, August 7, 2015. www.theguardian.com/world/201...
Amish America posts:
"Marlene Miller on Grace Leads Me Home: Giveaway & Interview", June 28, 2012. amishamerica.com/marlene-mill...
"Amish “Music Mystery Supper” (Guess These 14 Food Riddles) [Updated With Winner]", June 20, 2019. amishamerica.com/amish-music-...
"When a son joins the Amish", June 1, 2012. amishamerica.com/when-a-son-j...
"When a son joins the Amish: What about photos?", June 8, 2012. amishamerica.com/when-a-son-j...
"When a son joins the Amish: The only treasure you can take to Heaven", September 17, 2014. amishamerica.com/when-a-son-j...
![TRASH or PASS! Eminem ( Houdini ) [REACTION!!!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cB1WrZcMwMc/mqdefault.jpg)
I live near a small Amish community. Last month i contracted Covid neumonia, I help my Amish friends when I can, Im a trucker and bachelor, Im not a good cook. When my Amish friends realized why I was home, they prepared some simple holsum food for me and checkec on me daily, I dont need to understand them but i do respect them deeply.
That's great David, sounds like you have some good friends there. And I hope you have recovered well or are well on the way👍
humble man
Thank you for sharing that sweet caring story
Nice testimony, David. Appreciate what you have to say.
❤️❤️❤️
I think a lot of people are attracted to the simplicity of the lifestyle, but forget the strict rules and big cultural/religious differences.
When you have been brought up with a tough and strong bond with your catholic faith nothing seams difficult one has to indulge in humility to progress,
Been very much thinking on a years pilgrimage living with a family testing humility to its up most will give many answers to the right conversion, one has to learn to be humble.
I grew up in a rural area with Mennonites (different from Amish, I know) and went to church & school with the Mennonites (even learned some German). My father became a minister in a Mennonite church. I went to a Mennonite college and then in my 20's worked & lived in a place with no electricity, running water or technology. I then spent the next 20 years living in the city and then progressively smaller communities. I often think of finding my way back to that way of life. I miss the community, the focus on faith and the simpler life (but harder work).
I know how to cook, bake, sew, crochet, quilt, garden, can/preserve, saddle & ride a horse, cut wood, haul water, make white wash, make dandelion wine😁, do own home maintenance, live frugally, don't own a tv, am not afraid of hard work, like learning languages and (most importantly) have a strong faith.....
I do worry it is more of a "grass is greener" so I stay where I am (for now) and live as simply & mindfully as I can.
Good perspective tbh! There's no "need" to join them, especially since you can emulate much of their lifestyle already
I thought they spoke deutsch, not German
@@kellyhill5589 deutsch = German - - German is the English word!!!
Deutsch is the German word.....
I grew up speaking German
The first time I met a mennoite It took a minute to understand them.
The way they speak German is extremely strange. The accent that they have while they speak. I've never heard before.
@@kellyhill5589it’s Pennsylvania Dutch , a low German with English and regional variance
I did roofing for an Amish family from Indiana about 15 yrs ago down in Mississippi, they always treated us Mexicans like family.
Amis の生活が一番イエス様の言葉に繋がっています。日本人の私は、アメリカ人の夫と結婚して、A mi sの住んでいる人達を見て、感じました。家族の大切な愛を感じました。時代が変わっても、昔と同じ人間には愛が必要です。イエス様に感謝しています。❣️
I’m 64 and love the saying “bloom where you’re planted” I so understand that. I was raised on a farm, and anyone who thinks it’d be fun to be Amish, should just merely do some ‘hobby’ farming.. without comforts of course. We had electricity and running water in our home. We didn’t eat out except for the occasional DQ treat after a day of working in hay, that being the day ALL the hay was loaded and stacked rafter high in the barn. We raised cattle, and chickens, and pigs…Mom and Dad raised us 4 kids on a working farm… but Dad did also have an outside occupation of drywall hanging and finishing of which his kids were expected to work in as well…. So with all this being said, I look up to the Amish with GREAT respect!! I know in my heart their lifestyle isn’t for the faint of heart. God Bless you, and thank you for this video.
From the outside looking it, it seems like a big picnic. But I agree with you ad I grew up working on the farm too. The picnics are deserved and earned with hard work. I suggest people do not bother with "hobby" farming... that could result in suffering animals and damage to the soil, most people are incredibly impatient, ignorant and dangerous to the world around them. My opinion is they should move to the city and shop at the mall and drive a nice efficient car.
Nicely said
@@voidremoved why wud you WANT or encourage ppl to live in pursuit of death? Malls and flashy cars are beastly.
Perfectly and beautifully said! You just described how I grew up and kind of how I live to this day! Thank you! ,! No one realizes just how hard growing crops and farm animals can be or pump water by hand and heat it for a bath! I am 62 and am glad to have the modern niceties to make my farm life easier. Great respect and honor for their lifestyle and maintaining it in this crazy world. God bless y’all ❣️
@@Candacebbruner It sounds like they have a chip on their shoulder
I have never wanted to join more than ever. I just want something simple. Every Amish person I've met have been the most kind.
I actually ended up becoming an Orthodox Christian because of my curiosity about the Amish. Seems improbable but it's true. I was seriously considering becoming Amish or in my area Mennonite since I live in the suburbs and there are no Amish communities here and my husband is in technology and cannot do his job without electricity AND I did not think I could learn PA dutch. Even though Amish and orthodox are different, some how I started seeing Orthodox Christian videos pop up in my RUclips feed. I started watching them and about a year later, I converted to Orthodoxy. I have not found that strong community as we see in the Amish, but I have learned more about my faith and have gone deeper in it. There are many similarities in the doctrines that are taught that I did not see emphasized when I was an Evangelical. I am so glad to be Orthodox. Thank you for your wonderful website and videos. They have truly changed my life.
Similar for me, but I chose Islam.
hey there... i live in a east European country (România) and most of our connationals are Ortodox.
I am just trying to give you some tips, in the love of Christ, and help you (give you some ideeas about) to be awaken about idolatry and real Christ worshiping.
So, here iny country there are a few divisions of Ortodox *("Oastea Domnului" is one)* but all are still worshiping saints(idols) instead of Christ.
There are also, some *(so called "Tudoreni")* who realisef that we should bow JUST BEFORE Christ, but they are NOT many...
... in our country, Orthodox people are verry nationalissed, and also anti-Semite (against Israel) even i'f the Bible recommend us to bless Hebrews (never course them), but they don't know that, because they don't use to read *the Living Word of God*/the *Holly Scriptures*/the *Bible* ... because not many Orthodox priests recommend that.
We have two great influences, and both are (somehow) corrupt:
(1).Russian-Orthodox group is clearly, political influenced, and (2).Greek-Orthodox are much better but somehow, hollistic (too mistic and monastic)
Soo...
from my point of view... you are far enough from the Truth (Bible) on this side...
but you are much better then in Catholicism... they are even whorst !
*Neoprotestantism are actually the Grand dauters off the "Universal church" (Catholic)* and are well influenced by them (like being nephews)...
*I'f the Catholic church is "the great harlot" from the book of Revelation, then, Protestants are the daughters of that whore and NEOprotestants are the nephews (sorry to write that down)*
about me, i like to understand Menonnites and Amish christians, as a small division (families, or even clans) of those *three nations* who were strongly persecuted by catholic "church" and get away from that persecution running in Germany (where the was not welcomed) and after getting more far away to Swiss, Holand and Belgium, some of them even to Dannemark, Poland, Ukraine and Transilvanian areas (even to Moldavia and Russia); those remaining families from the west Europe, escaped easily to USA... but the tribes from the east they do not escaped well.
Those *three nations* are profecissed in the Book of Daniel (the *three horns of the beast* who were pull-up and thrown AWAY because of the *GREAT horn* with a human mouth, who came in their place speaking blasphemies against the Most High), and they were the *Ostrogoth, Vissigoth and Vandals*...
(sorry for mistakes; i hope my English is ok).
So, my theory is that those (so called) *"Judaissators"* were actually NOT divided from the reform of Luther but they were Anabaptists and Sabatharians...
*(they still live such an extreme lifestyle like Amish and Menonnites but still keeping the laws of God and His biblical and ethernal feasts)*
Even moore, i realise that now, in Israel there are just Jews and some small amounts of Beniamittes at this time, and the rest of Israel (10 hebrew tribes) are still spread in the whole world... without knowing that they are actually semites...
I do believe that Menonnites and Amish *(and other christians who are living verry close to the Bible),* are actually the remaining 10 tribes of the Hebrew semites, without their knowledge...
About orthodox denomination, i can surelly say that they have other History... they think about themselves that they are *"the right believers"* (the righteouss ones) but reading the first chapter of the Romans book, you will see in the last half, that they are not worshiping the Creator, but the creation...
I think, that's enough for the moment...
I wish you all the best !
*may the peace of the Son be uppon the Sons of the peace and over their houses!*
Amen.
@@Daremato Your comment is; ignorant, bigoted, racist, and misinformed. I AM an Orthodox Christian so I know first had what we do and what we do not do.
Have you ever thought of visiting a schwarzenau Brethren meetinghouse? New conference allows the use of internet and smartphones, while old conference does not
I'd believe it. Seekers find and there are all kinds of twists and turns on the way. Orthodox faith appeals to a lot of people these days. One of the few branches of Christianity that are growing. I'm very happily Evangelical and I love my Orthodox, Coptic, and Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ.
I lived in southern Michigan and shopped at an Amish market and also their General Store in Homer, Michigan. They were stand-offish at first, but as I kept coming back, they became very nice and friendly. Their grocery items, dairy products, meats, fresh produce, and bakery were so wonderful. Following retirement, I moved five years ago to northern lower Michigan, which I love, but I dearly miss the Amish community and stores in Homer, Michigan. Lovely, wonderful people; I truly miss them and their many and genuine skills.
I was at the Amish General store in Homer yesterday
I live in Coldwater. I shop in the Amish community quite often.
I live in rural upstate NY and have some Amish neighbors. Yesterday I got some bread and butter from their farm stand. Pretty good. I admit I compare my feminine skills to theirs. Happy to say my homemade things are just as good. But I'll buy from her to support neighbors. Skills to hang on to!
Bloomingdale Michigan has an amish store too
I used to travel to Vermontville MI when I was raising my step kids, and stopped at their road side sales and shop
95% of the Earthy types that "join the Amish" leave withint 5 years. Reason why...THE FAITH. Amish dont do this for fun. CHRIST is their faith and you must follow their ways.
Bingo!! If you don't have a heart for King Yeshua (Jesus), being Amish isn't for you.
I live outside Dayton, OH. About 45 min northeast, just south of Indian Lake, theres an Amish community. A lady sits in a cart some days in the summer and sells her baked goods. Her husband brings her and the cart down from the house with the horse next to the road, then he goes back with the horse and does his work. Really sweet lady. She will make pies for you for holidays if you mail her what kind you want. Then can pick them up at their house. Love talking with her.
How fabulous!
That is wonderful.
Scioto county here myself adams county has a community and south point just past portsmouth has a very new community
@@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695 Cool! I didnt know South Point has a community. I'm down in Portsmouth every couple months to get my rib eye fix at Scioto Ribber lol
I love they way of life. Simplicity no drugs, alcoholism, no credit cards 💳 no domestic violence they avoided the destruction of family and society.
Respect to the Amish, very inspiring people
I appreciate your sensitive reading of Amish life and its varieties. People thinking of joining should be aware of what you are giving up. For one, Amish reject higher education. You and your children cannot even finish High School, let alone go to College and become doctors or engineers. You won't be able to take photographs to remember the family experiences you have enjoyed. It's easy to look on Amish from a distance as being idyllic and wonderful. There is also a dark side to Amish community life. My mother was raised Amish and I won't even go into the horrible story of why her family left the Amish. As in all isolated authoritarian communities there is unchecked sexual abuse in some communities and if you run afoul of Amish "ordnungen" (rules that define Amish life) the discipline process includes "shunning", the practice of the entire community including your family turning their backs on you. I respect the Amish for their rejection of many aspects of our militaristic, materialistic culture, but it's a mistake to idealize them.
My family joined the Amish for a few years when I was a teenager. Everything you're saying here is correct, from my experience. They have many strengths, but there are also huge weaknesses directly caused by their culture, and they are generally unwilling to change or improve for the safety and health of their members. As just one example, while the community support for any physical needs you may have (food, medical costs, housing) was wonderful in the group I was in, they had almost no understanding of mental health and lacked access to the resources they would need to correct that. This left their members who had experienced trauma or with mental health conditions unsupported and misunderstood, unable to get assistance for their conditions without leaving the group and being rejected by everyone they know and love. The concept of consent was nonexistent there. Abusers were allowed to run rampant because the full negative impact of their actions was not understood by the leadership. It's admirable that the members all knew that if they broke their leg they would receive help with the bill, food preparation, and chores while they healed, but it's also despicable that the man who everyone knew had m*lested several of his own children was never properly reported and his wife was repeatedly pressured to reconcile with him. The positives of the first example don't negate the dangers of the second.
I have a deep respect for the Amish community lifestyle and people.
We lived around 2 Amish communities in middle TN several years ago; I believe depending upon the geographical area of which one lives around, among the Amish, their communities vary. What we did see in the 11 yrs. living there is a vast decline in them keeping the young ones in the community, many and it is many, are losing their young people to the 'world' as Amish say, but not only their young people, the parents are falling away, little by little. We came to know an Amish family in our time there, they had no phone, no electric, etc. They farmed with horses, grew all their food, etc. But after a few years, they thought they needed to get a phone, so had someone do some work in a camper on their property to install one. Also, they began to get on the computers at the library. I was disappointed and did talk with my friend of it and I told her, 'You all are heading in the direction I and others are trying to desparatley leave." Many are on FB, have cell phones, those that have left, their young people are getting tattoos, it is sad. I learned much in the years there, still keep in touch with my friend, I will write her letters, she calls me on the phone. ") In Joy
Can't help the ones who gave it all up in order to run after the enticements of the outside world. But I guess that's what Rumspringa is for, in the case of the young, so you get a chance to make a valid commitment for the faith lifestyle community, or not......
A lot of what passes for Christianity in the English world is very
deteriorated. And the secular world promises a lot, but does not deliver, they will see that for themselves.
God knows your heart. And He wants to have a real relationship with you, nothing fake
Thanks for sharing. I no longer have anyone that wants to write me. My older family did, but all have passed. Younger family said If I would get with it and get a phone and or PC and go on FB, they would keep in touch. Well, its almost impossible to conduct business etc. today without them. So I did. Now that I can text, etc. I still don't have much contact with family. For years, my "society" was almost entirely on paper with snail mail. 🐌 Since COVID, people are not going back to life as we knew it. There is no indication that I'll ever attend a family meal again.
I asked a state run clinic if they had a grief counselor. ..they instead suggested/ offered me a sex change operation !.
How about you or others would have the ignorance to say you were "disappointed" in where they went with their life? This is why we see the actual way ppl think online...when ppl really believe they have a right to tell others how to live when to clean what food to eat what their beliefs or values should be.
Instead of proclaiming your disappointment in someone else...speak the truth: you are disappointed in yourself foe not being able to have lived this way ever ?
You (you being everyone in the entire world)have zero control over others and what changes they should make(short of breaking the law bc ppl still lack the maturity to not do something bc its wrong and need to have a law with consequences to keep them from doing something)Know you can only control your own actions. 🐢🐢🐢cara
@@CountrySteve2 You are right, Steve, but in a way I understand. I want to believe that somewhere there are people who have shunned the world and societal decay. That is why I have always admired the Amish, even though the reality doesn't exactly equal my fantasy. When I learned that the world is creeping into their lives as well, it is a disappointment. But it is not for me to expect that others live to entertain my fantasy.
Also the most important thing for them is their FAITH in God. That's the most important criteria for someone thinking about joining
Well said I hope that came through here
Love the info 😊
Well done sir! Thank you for taking the time to give this information!
This is so awesome, along with your other videos. Thank you for doing what you are doing. You are filling a need... most likely on MANY levels (I think your Amish friends might kind of appreciate you sharing a bit...).
I just found your channel and am in the process of binge-watching videos. I live in the upper Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. Just a 45-mile drive from my home, I used to volunteer with the rescue squad in Bridgewater. It was not unusual to run calls involving buggy/car accidents, farm accidents, breech births, etc. involving Amish folks. I remember one night especially, when a downed power line called us to station nearby while the fire department worked with the electric company to safely restore the line. Amazingly, less than 30 minutes after we arrived at the scene, several Amish youths, mostly on bicycles, showed up to watch! We wondered what kind of grapevine was in place for the word to get out so quickly!!
The Amish lifestyle seems appealing because of its closeness to nature and the lack of materialism. But the culture could be very difficult for outsiders to adjust to. Even marrying someone from a different country can create a lot of tensions that need flexibility to overcome. I can see you'd need to be pretty determined to join the Amish and make a go of it.
I married into an Amish family. We divorced but I'm still close with the family. They're wonderful.
Thank you! Very informative and honest video! Much appreciate it!
I'm glad you thought so!
You did a great job explaining everything. Thanks for sharing
Thank you! I'm glad you thought so
Thanks again for a very informative and interesting conversation. I enjoy your factual talks and admire your easy going and calm discussion. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Donald, I appreciate you sharing that. Glad that is what comes through
Great video, well explained hello from France
Love your content
Jew here. I grew up in Chicago and would always see them on the train, my brother and I use to ask them all sorts of questions and they were always very friendly. Very reminiscent of more observant/Orthodox Jewish communities from my view.
That lifestyle becomes a reality check after a while. Either You realize you don’t want to give up things or you do. Being Christian you are required to give up those things that aren’t pleasing to God is what it boils down to. It’s a choice
Thank you. Just came across your channel. I live next to several Amish communities here in Tennessee. Really enjoy your videos.
Neat, I'm glad you found it. Will be doing a video on Tennessee communities pretty soon. I've really enjoyed visiting the Ethridge settlement
@@AmishAmerica very cool. I'm about 2 hours east of Ethridge. I enjoy the way you present these topics so will look forward to that video as well.
I've always been fascinated and loved the Amish. 22 years ago my husband brought me to Lancaster. I purchased a Amish doll and sewing machine. It's a treadle sewing machine. Best machine ever built. I'd be Amish in a heart beat. I love their community and the way reject society. We grown too far away from God.
Great content.
Thanks for the interesting info.
Very respectful and objective
I grew up in a very rural area and even in the 60’s there were families that had moved from the mountains. They were living without electricity more out of necessity than anything. I saw enough to know how much I enjoy electricity and running water. I admire the Amish for their convictions and commitment.
Outstanding video and information ..well presented..liveing in a large Amish community all my life and having many Amish friends interaction on a daily basis..I highly respect their way of life and beliefs and however attractive the liveing off the grid and dedication to God family and community may be..there ain't no way I'd consider joining the Amish community..it's not just a lifestyle it's character and soul and strength of conviction and most of all..Faith.. my son and I were out spotting deer Sunday night and while driving around out in the puckerbrush farm country here we saw at least a dozen Amish buggies here and there scattered throughout 9:30-10:30 11ish at night all going back home from their Sunday church gatherings that day...talk about a long day off..then back up early Monday morn and back to work !!..I love your channel..and look forward to each video..even tho I've been born and raised in Amish country I still find something new from your videos..thanks for sharing..👍
Thank you very much Ron - I wanted to present this as realistically as I could, with balance. I felt it got a bit negative in the middle but I had to say it like I did. I know there are people whose path leads them in this direction, but at the same time a lot come at it with the wrong idea. I think for most people, they can take some inspiration and ideas from the way the Amish live, and put those to work in their own "garden" so to speak. Happy you found the channel and especially living among the Amish...and I like the visual you shared of the buggies going home in the evening, I can hear the clip-clop clip-clop now 🙂
@@AmishAmerica your welcome.. fantastic video well done sir..an interesting point..my son and I spend an hour or two driving around spotting deer shooting the breeze chit chatting sharing life's stories etc..it's a bonding kind of thing ..the Amish spend hours upon hours together getting from place to place in their buggies all the time..that is some awesome family bonding time right there..they really get to know each other on a different level than the English..a closeness that stays for life and is passed down from generation to generation
@@AmishAmerica I didn't find it negative at all, just seemed like the bald truth to me.
I see a lot of faith in God in these comments! Thank you for making these videos and giving us a special place to talk about faith and belonging to a community. Those of us who wish for a more peaceful, down to earth life, find solace in thinking we could possibly be ‘one of them’.
Gladly! I also appreciate the good insights and comments people share here. I feel lucky to have some really thoughtful and engaged viewers 👍
Being realistic isn't being negative. I appreciate your honest perspective. Like you mentioned, I agree it is unlikely becoming Amish will be a success for most. I'd suggest living the lifestyle before you consider getting more serious. Perhaps, don the garb first. See if you can handle being stared at and living that commitment on your own. Then turn off your lights and try that out. Start gardening and preserving to see if you can handle the workload. You get the idea. I'd say for most women, the head covering and dress will be a stumbling block. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Valli good words here👍 I think experiencing the lifestyle can be a nice novelty for a short time, but without a deeper conviction or reason to be a member of this type of community it is unlikely to work out
Coul dit be racism?
@@maryphagan793 Personally, Mary, I haven't thought of it as such, though it could be a factor. It's religion and its nasty business working in people who are trying to get to heaven by their own hands. It doesn't follow that being a nice person equates to righteousness. Nor does being a rule follower. Haven't you found that many religious people feel that you are other and that makes you unholy, not to be associated with, etc? I chalk it up to being religious. And being religious is all about fervent belief in something without evidence.
@@vallis1469 really? And what would suffice as "evidence" for you? The testimony of your 5 senses? God is Spirit. Sounds like you are pure materialist according to your last post. You just don't get what it's all about. Maybe you need to dial back a bit on some of your assumptions.
@@catherinehazur7336 Hi Catherine, I have no idea what you are talking about. Perhaps knowing that for many years, I've worn head coverings and plain clothing. If you could be more specific and less judgmental toward me, I'd be happy to explain my thoughts.
Great video, thank you
Thank you. God bless you all.
Nice one my friend
I've been following you for a long time but just discovered the channel.
Glad you found it! The channel is pretty new, just started in April of this year
Yes, you can join, but it’s very rarely done successfully. David Luthy married sn Amish woman and joined. He is now an historian and author of many books on Amish and Anabaptist issues. Want a somewhat more open but conservative Amish related? Try Lobelville, TN community. The higher the group, the easier is to join. I almost joined back in the early 1980s. If I’d have found an Amish spouse, I’d almost definitely have joined. It’s good to know I still could either join or live as an Amish person because I’m able to speak Penna. Deitch, know the mindset, can live without the technology. If you think the Amish are perfect, pleas do not join! You’ll mess them up!
I live very close to old order Amish and some of them are amazing and others are jerks. They are just people that live a different way. I really like how they live without things like electricity. They are a hard working people.
found your web site and enjoyed very much the best information about the amish i have ever watched thank you so much
'Bloom where your planted'...great saying
Such an amazing channel 😺👍!
In 1962 I when I was 12, I very briefly encountered some Amish children about my age and was instantly drawn to them, an experience I never forgot. About 1973, I became aquainted with some O O River Brethren from Dallas Center Ia. I liked them and often went to church with them. After RB church I would still go to my own (Holiness) church. But still felt I wanted more. About 1980 I couldn't wait any longer so I drove to Kalona, Ia. , slept in my car and bright and early the next day would drive around looking at The Amish. Just looking wasn't enough so after multiple visits sleeping in my car, I got up the nerve to knock on some doors. I was shy and they were shy and most really didn't want to get involved but one guy said go 1.5 miles that way turn left for a mile then right to the first place. I did and they took me in and a serious long term friendship followed. Some friends have said I should write a book. I could. I can tell you stories to make you laugh, shudder, and cry, not all at the same time ! But would you write a book about all the personal details about your family? Over the years, I made friends in the "Big Valley" Pennsylvania, Lancaster County, Sugar Creek Ohio, NW Indiana, and more. I love them all. So why did I not join ??? Contact me if you wish by e-mail ibelieveheb11@gmail.com or Facebook. Stephen Barr. Im the one with the beard !!!!
Very interesting, thanks Éric. One reason that you didn't mention. The education/ upbringing of children . I'm already a granny now, but if I were a young parent I could see myself seeking for my own children the chance to have that life styles and life cobined with faith/ faith combined with life. I would do all that was required of me if doing that meant a better life for my children. Outside of Amish groups what do we see : young children addicted to screens. Keep up the good work!
I have watched your channel many times and have enjoyed them all. I have friends who were raised Amish ,but have been out a very long time, they still call them selfs Amish and respect them, and I do to. I will be looking for more of your videos, God bless.
Thank you! Happy to hear
If someone wants to be Amish because they want to live a green lifestyle, its better they just convert their home to use solar wind or water power, grow a garden, and install a rainwater collector . Don't do anything you may later on not want to do anymore. I know some states ban collecting rain water (which is dumb legislation), but what they don't know wont hurt you.
One thing the U.S. really needs is solar powered air conditioning. I don't know if there even are any of these systems, and how well they work. But when do you need a/c most? When it's hot and sunny. So, why not make them solar-powered? ... Someone needs to make this kind of system popular. Might do more for the environment than collecting some rain water.
@@Petra44YT Indeed. Especially here in Florida where it's always sunny and hot. It would basically be free AC all day to compensate for the constant heat.
very interesting show
I live in New Hampshire and would love to learn more.
Thank you soo much for this video. I'm not looking to join the Amish, but have been considering the Mennonites. In particular the more modern Mennonites that drive cars and trucks. I work for a menanite driving trucks. I'm old school and spent some time in Germany. I have learned some German and naturally find Pa Dutch fascinating. I'm a single country boy along with being a young Christian. Watching your video has really enlighten me to really evaluate why I was thinking of becoming a Mennonite. Thank you. You've given me a lot to think about. Moxgood..
Thank You for this wonderful video. It's very interesting & informational. I'll have to say, I like electricity a wee bit too much!! So there for I don't think I could make the Amish cut.
So we are on the same page on electricity 😄
My mennonite friend said she doesn't know any mennonites that turn Amish but tons that start off Amish and turn mennonite. So for an outsider to become Amish seems even more unlikely. But to become mennonite? Easier. I love the mennonite church that we go to.
My family lives very much like the Amish. My daughter and I wear dresses (you can do anything in dresses that can be done in pants, and dresses are easier to sew), the guys wear simple shirts and pants. We live on a farm off grid. We have our special traditions. We school our children and pray daily. We make a living by selling organic produce, breads, and all kinds of canned and other goods. People here actually flock to us for our goods and we are so happy to share the bounties!
It is a beautiful and blessed life.❤
That's great - sounds like the makings of a happy life and family
Its a mind set. And one in which I respect.
My parents moved from Ohio to an Amish community in Berne Indiana in 1970. My dad drove for the Amish. We only stayed a few months before moving back, closer to family, in Ohio. I was only 3 years old. But my love for the Amish and desire to live close to them, and maybe even become Amish, has never left me. Like Marlene, I think the only thing I would have a hard time with, is learning Pennsylvania Dutch. I have already lived on a farm, gone without electricity and running water. I love that lifestyle.I don’t own a car either. I don’t care much for technology.
So it would probably be an easier transition for me than most.
I was wanting to join because of the Christan values , I already have a farm and I have goals to remove reliance on the outside world I also collect restore and use antique equipment my goal is to build a steam shop and I've bought several books on the subject
Look into Anabaptist Church, you may that those values apply to you?
I think this was a very good, thoughtful overview. I'm Catholic, and one priest taught a "mission" (sort of like a seminar) on discerning vocations. At one point in the mission he noted that sometimes young mothers who have a number of children come to him for spiritual direction, and tell him they think they followed the wrong vocation and they were supposed to be cloistered sisters praying all day 😆 It's true that many people seek monastic life because they think they can escape the world's problems in a monastery, but the truth is that it's quite demanding. As with the Amish, cloistered sisters and monks live in community, dying to self for the good of the community. Nobody with debt is accepted into the community, either, and it's expected that every member works to support the community financially. In that sense, it's more communal than the Amish, but it is similar in the sense that each monastery is a family community, a household, and must be self-supporting, not relying on other monasteries to bail them out. The peace and quiet only goes so far.
Btw, you got it right about proselytizing. It means stealing sheep from different churches. If the Holy Spirit leads you to another church, that's one thing, but if people go around as aggressive missionaries to grow their own church membership, that's not from the Holy Spirit. It seems to be why the Amish avoid proselytizing, being that it's a kind of theft, and doesn't serve a benefit in saving souls. We have kind of a debate or controversy in the Catholic Church about that, because many of our members were picked off like low hanging fruit by unscrupulous proselytizing missionaries. Some Catholics today want to turn the tables on those proselytizers, not understanding why it's wrong. We are to speak the truth with love, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide others and ourselves. The Reverend Billy Graham was an evangelist who didn't proselytize. Whoever came up for the "altar calls" at his events was asked to fill out a card stating what they would consider their "home church" -- maybe they hadn't attended since childhood, but it was their "home" nonetheless. He brought many Catholics back to their childhood Church, to the chagrin of anti-Catholic proselytizers 😆 But he didn't steal from Baptists or Mormons, either.
I very much appreciate your thoughts on proselytizing. To me, proselytizing is directly disrespectful of others' beliefs, because what they're actually saying is "I know better than you, and I'm going to tell you about it no matter what you believe because MY belief system is the one that's right and YOU are wrong."
For my story: my grandmother's family had a tradition of entering religious life; I believe three of her brothers became Catholic priests and 2 of her sisters nuns, and she actually joined the convent but left because 1. Teaching in a Catholic school was her role and she hated it, and 2. She wanted her own family. Doesn't really make sense to me, but okay Grandma. 😆 Over her life, she became increasingly disenfranchised with the Catholic church and from what I understand, due to a number of unsavory things with the church, my mom actually chose to raise me nearly completely without religious influence, letting me find my own beliefs and truths, and I'm more grateful of that than of anything else in my life. Interestingly enough, I learned a few years ago that my highschool best friend had decided to sell her house, quit her nursing career, and move to Washington D.C, and she's been a novice at a convent for about 2 years now. When we were teenagers I would always tease her that she'd be a nun. Looks like I won that argument!!
The reason I give this preamble is because anyone who tries to proselytize to me doesn't know any of that story. It's exhausting, to be a nonreligious person, especially with my family's history and the vast amount of thought and introspection I've put into my own beliefs, to be trivialized by members of certain faiths.
Religious belief is a highly personal thing and I wish all religious people were as scrupulous as you are regarding this topic.
My husband works closely with our local Amish, it is for sure not a utopia. There are kind, helpful, judgmental, hard-core, more laid back. All kinds. Just like with any community. I enjoy sending a bit of baked goods to the guys he works with occasionally. They are always thankful and enjoy the extra treats. He and a group do a monthly lunch where it's usually my husband cooking. They have been very good to us at this shop. Our roof went and they had the supplies ready in a couple days and just let him work the 2nd half off with them. They had an arrangement and he had about half already on the books. We had a huge struggle period for 3 months. One kind friend butchered a cow and wouldn't let him pay for the 20 lbs of ground beef we had ordered. Very thankful
It would be so nice to visit ❤
Excellent video, thank you. I’ve had a fascination with the Amish, Mennonites, Apostolic Christians & others for years. However, I really didn’t know much about them & this was a good introduction.
Thanks!
I’m heartbroken to hear Marlene Miller died! I saw her on a documentary I believe, and she just had such a fun and joyful presence. It sounds like she was a blessing to many.
Thank You
It would be interesting to live with them for a summer, planting to harvest.
Have you broken down the tasks and habits of everyday life? Like exploring a day in the life from morning to night for men, women and children? And exploring how they do daily chores and take care of the household or family needs, be it making/washing clothes, what typical meals are, religious practices and gatherings, as well as necessary yet less common practices like making a phone call in an emergency, seeing the doctor and getting an Rx, how they travel further distances for example, if need to see a specialist healthcare provider or purchase needed goods not available nearby.
Another question would be exploring the Amish home and creature comforts/lack of them. Do they sleep in typical mattresses made w/ springs or hand made ones, do they use stoves or ovens powered by gas or wood, have water wells that must be hand pumped or use city water utilities and sewer lines, septic systems or something else? Candles and kerosene lamps? Can children & adults read common kids books and those written about diverse subjects, is everything hand made in terms of furniture, dishes, utensils and even soap and shampoo and brushes or other body care or feminine hygiene. What does their medicine cabinet look like? And their pantry?
I know that there’s diversity among communities but in terms of the more strict communities, what do activities of daily living entail and what are the resources needed to carry them out and where do they originate, and what things are the same as English Ppl that we may not be aware of… for example dish soap and toilet paper and shampoo or hair brushes etc…
The Amish are very smart. When the power grid goes down, we will all know why.... I am Swiss German. Great channel!!
There’s also Bruderhof and Hutterite cultures to explore.
I love your videos. I have to ask, are you from SW PA? I live in Wisconsin now but I grew up in Beaver County, PA. About an hour north of Pittsburgh. Your dialect sounds like mine. Haha! I don’t hear that very often, unless I visit back home. Fun fact.. you will not hear this dialect from anywhere else in the country. Again, thank you for your videos.
Did you ever do a video on the different men's hats and the areas they're worn?
I haven't - I think someone asked about that too recently. Tbh I am not an expert on the finer details of the different hats but could probably cover it generally
I would love to get to know an Amish person and learn about their culture
I respect them for who they are and living with good faith
Very interesting video thanks for sharing 🙏🙏
Thanks!
My ex's maternal grandmother was raised in a Shaker orphanage - and like the Amish, the Shakers attracted a lot of wannabees due to their self-sufficiency. There was in fact a phenomenon called the "Winter Shakers" - wanderers or down-on-their-luck types who'd "convert" for the winter then head on their way when the weather got better. (And New England winters at that.)
I always wondered.
thank you
Are you from Maryland? Your accent sounds like it! I love your videos. You make a great point that you can be interested in Amish culture and faith without choosing that lifestyle for yourself.
Thanks! First 20+ years in NC actually, but I've moved around a lot and so have had a number of "language influences I guess. Yes and I'd also say that Amish people appreciate their English friends too so having those kinds of relationships can also be very rewarding
@@AmishAmerica my friends are amish converts in NC. Wonderful caring people they joined Amish about 50 years ago
Joining the Amish is like joining the convent. There are many religious orders from very conservative to very liberal. Also, it helps to enter the convent after you've gotten your education and you're young and healthy. My suggestion for both: learn all you can about yourself (are you called to join) and about the wide variety. Remember, you are doing this because of your spirituality and lifestyle. If there is no calling there, you shouldn't be there.
I figured it aren't exactly seeking new converts, but I never figured they would be open to outsiders joining. It makes sense they start with can you survive the lifestyle and pace of life. I don't think it would be for me, I like my comforts though I think I could learn but I'm not a Christian. Honestly, I get why you respect these people, they live their faith, and those children get to decide if they wish to continue into adulthood with the community.
If people want to live like the Amish, they can do that without actually converting. Just get a couple acres, turn your power off (or not), and start homesteading. You don't need to convert to a religion to grow your own fruit and vegetables or stop driving a car or not use electricity. You can do all those things while keeping whatever religious faith (or lack of) you currently have.
You sound very butt hurt and lack of understanding
Kelly : exactly ! 🎯
Yes of course🙂🌻🌞🌳🌴🌲🦋🕊🙂🌈❤️
... "bloom where your planted" or "brighten the corner where you are " ... there is a hynm of the same words, the writer wanted to be a missionary but her father got sick & so she stayed home & took care of him, she felt like she was closed in; so GOD gave her a song 🎵 ❤️ to brighten the corner where she was ... 💕
Could you do a video on how the Amish manage those who are disabled?
Sir, Amish America is very good at trying to answer such requests. A few years ago I drove him nuts (he never lost patience with my questions) with my trying to spot if a buggy was ever built to have a ramp attachment for a wheelchair user.
I live in Gladwin, Mich. around the old order (Swartzentrubers) and the kids are leaving at alarming rate so a few familys have left and moved to Clare, Mich. which is new order and very liberal, things are changing here quite fast and the old order elders are kind of scared.
Love your channel! I was wondering how do your Amish friends feel about your channel? Since they do not watch RUclips I wonder how they feel?
So the channel is pretty new, started in April, and I'm not sure how many know about it yet. But a good number know about the amishamerica.com website which has been around for about 15 years. On that site we've had guest posts from Amish over the years, and some Amish commenters from time to time as well (internet access via work computer). Overall I have found the feedback to be positive.
That's great I feel you really help others to understand the Amish. I live near the Amish in Southwest Missouri. We enjoy having them as neighbors! Can't wait to see your Amish in Missouri video!
So I have no major personal issues I'm fleeing from or financial issues to escape. We're just a strong biblical Christian family who never cared for materialism and my wife and I always wanted to live off grid and be self sufficient. More importantly we want to be part of a Christian community who share these beliefs. It may not be little house on the prairie in the Amish community, but we've absolutely reached our breaking point with this world. We also know some German which could help with the Pennsylvanian Dutch.
I'm in Michigan, but not sure where to start. Thanks for making this video, it does put things into perspective.
Check out The Bruderhof. They are Christians living in community. Not sure if it's what you want but worth having a look at on RUclips.
Go south. Ohio and Indiana have a ton of churches. You can shop around.
Just be careful which Amish community you join. Some Amish communities don’t encourage reading the Bible, sadly they don’t want them to know the whole truth of the Bible. Some live in constant fear they could go to hell if they don’t do enough “works”. Some of the beliefs are similar to the Catholics. I’ve seen a few documentaries and articles explaining about it. A lot of Amish have come to find the truth and have split off into their own communities that now follow the truth of the Bible and have personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I also grew up around Amish and have seen and heard things that confirms my findings on this subject. I love the Amish people and their humbleness and sweet kindness, I just feel sad that some don’t know the truth.
Mennonites I know follow the bible and allow cars and electricity.
L
I was raised in Homer!
I think it would be awesome to be a part of the community. I wish it was that way in our Englisch world, maybe our country wouldn't be in the mess its in if we emulated part of their Christian culture and let go of our materialistic desires. I can do without. I use kerosene lamps, go without heat to save money, grow my own food, use a clothesline, love the smell of freshly laundered clothes drying in the sun. Living plain sounds like a good idea to me. It would be hard work from sun up to sun down for sure but you would sleep really good.
Its the faith. Not just wearing their clothes. Why is it people ignore that part.
Mary people don't ignore it. Be patient and neighborly :))
@@illex759 Indeed. That include racists?
@@maryphagan793 Faith is internal, not external. Things that are not physical are more difficult to understand, to quantify.
Im from the Swiss german Part of Switzerland. I'm feeling amish without church. I study so much Reisens why the religious people in the last to hundert years move Dutch/ German/ Swiss Familien her places.
The historischen from Europe is so crazy. I understand very well why the join the most natural way as possible!
In Switzerland it's easy to live without car, withot electric staff, without "high health", with elementar food, without sogar, without Claudia fom Asia, but in the United States on a agriculture Farm - that's realy consequent!
spirit mother earth needs much more of this quality! ❤
and good Information like this!❤
Permaculture, the better way with water, without Chemie is also nessessary❤
There are a great many things that I respect about the Amish community one is their devotion to family I know every religion at this point in the Christian denomination has had its issues because we are in a world that is broken but I do respect their large families their devotion to Community and Neighber and they are examples that I have seen of forgiveness especially during this sad School shooting in Amish Pennsylvania. I pray for all people of goodwill and I pray that I can learn the devotions in my own religion and hold onto true forgiveness where it may be needed so although I may not agree with certain things I do appreciate very example.During coronavirus I’m not sure if it was new order Amish or Mennonite but they came into the city which where I live it’s kind of a bad area but spent hours singing and talking to people very generously
So a bit of a question I have is how do the Amish feel about people who are truly respectful and curious of their beliefs and way of life but not interested in converting. Do they still keep up a separation or are they more open to discussion and dialogue to promote understanding.
In my experience most Amish who are willing to talk to outsiders at all are happy to discuss their beliefs. Some Amish individuals are fearful or wary of outsiders, so I would recommend if someone looks terrified of you or is avoiding eye contact to not quiz them about anything. Also if you are a man, I would recommend asking an Amish man rather than a woman, as many Amish women have been taught that all outsider men are rapists/violent and they may be very frightened to engage with you at all.
Pray for the Amish, that they can see the Truth 😍✝️❤️
i admire the amish because i grew up on a farm and i love to be connected to the land. i miss it terribly and i don't really mind losing tecnology.
Homesteading off grid life, right? Simply Starry's channel talks all about this. She's now a 7th Day Adventist. I'd like to read that book. Up&Faith on Amazon has Falling in Love in SugarCreek (OH), and it's about these Amish women that take in a guy and his kid.
I am new to your channel. I am enjoying your videos and I am trying to catch up on as many as possible. I think I heard you say you grew up in North Carolina? After hearing you speak it sounded like you were from Canada and had a Canadian type accent, especially with your O sounds. Do people from your area all speak that way or is it something you picked up in your travels? I am really enjoying your in depth experience with the Amish and the great way you bring it to us in your videos. Thanks very much. God bless.
I lived near a Mennonite community. At first we kinda just coexisted alongside each other, but after a while, we warmed up to each other.
I’m not gonna join an Amish church/community, but I really love the Amish religion and way of life. I think I’m just gonna adopt the faith and practices, love my life as simply and as humbly I can.
Find what you seek in the Amish life and live it. Becoming what and who you are. You don't need a label.🥰
So true…
In theory, you are right. But in practice, being Amish also means being entrenched in an Amish community. And Fri become part of that community is exactly what is called "becoming Amish" means. Look at videos of an Amish community manually moving a barn by picking it up with literally 100 men. You can't do that on your own.
@@charlesmendeley9823 no you can't move a barn alone. What is needed is a community of like minded people. That's a whole other mountain that needs to be climbed. I am in if you know of any.
Eric, what happens when an Amish man is called-up in the draft? I ask this because in WWII, a Mennonite man who was called-up i was sent into combat as a medic because he was a Conscientious Objector. He was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor because of his bravery in saving the lives of soldiers while under enemy fire. He was iniotially denied because he was a C.O. But, the surviving veterans and commanding officers prevaikled and it was finally approved. He initially refused. But, he wasf inally persuaded to accept because his fellow countrymen wanted to show their appreciation. Second, and on a more peronal note, when my mother was dying less than a decade ago, her Hospice Chaplin was Mennonite. He had a tough time with understanding her military background. She was career Civil Service. But, had worked for the military from 1942-1980. Whiile he was understanding of men supporting the military, he had a tough time at first understanding how a woman would/could spend her career working for the military.
They don’t go no matter what
As far as I know, Amish males don't register for the draft. They also don't pay into or use Medicare or Social Security.
Shunning former members is the reason not to join the Amish.
Trust me I am a former member and grew up Amish and I'm never going back.
I do miss having the community, though.
Hello, do you think it's possible for an outsider to marry an amish girl, I mean a girl who would consider leaving the community for her lover ?
@@Heimrik01 Absolutely!
People leave the church all the time for different reasons