An Amish bishop in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania is in the news for failing to report sexual abuse of two children in his church by another church member. From Lancaster Online: An Amish bishop in Dauphin County is facing charges after being accused of failing to report two cases of alleged sexual abuse of children. Christ M. Stoltzfus, 69, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of…
Another nice video from Lavonne DeBois of Amish Heartland Tours. In this 3+ minute clip you get a little stroll around Amish-owned Miller’s Bakery, located near Charm, Ohio. Goodies you’ll find at Miller’s include cookies, pies, jams, noodles, pinwheels, and a nice selection of cheese tarts. The oddest item to me are the raisin-filled cookies. Never seen that one before and not sure it would be…
You read that right – an Amish smoking study. Many are surprised to learn that some Amish people smoke. A certain segment of Amish (notably Lancaster County) produces tobacco as a cash crop. Smoking is considered a part of tradition in some Amish communities. And as in any population you’re going to find some smokers just as you do drinkers, drug users, Boston Creme donut…
School auctions happen often across Amish America. Some of them have become rather well-known – happening in places like Jamesport, MO, Beeville, TX, Clarita, OK, and Rexford, MT. Today we have a look at an ad from an upcoming event at Pawnee City, Nebraska. There are some neat details here which show you what you can expect to find at an auction. The proceeds from these events help fund…
Do you recall the recent story of the Amish man who had survived 14 buggy crashes? Levi Shetler is a member of the Swartzentruber Amish group, which does not use the orange safety triangle and other otherwise-common safety features. It looks like change is coming to the group’s approach to vehicle safety – at least in Shetler’s corner of Ohio. Amish in the man’s community have…
I have to say I’ve never spent much time wondering how brooms are made. But I still quite enjoyed this video, with commentary by a talkative Amish woman named Ada. In the video you see her making brooms using a clankety foot-powered contraption as she discusses the ins and outs of her craft. As Ada works she is interviewed by LaVonne De Bois, who leads tours in…
It’s hard to watch this video (below) and not smile. A class of Amish schoolchildren sings “The Ninety-Nine” for the camera in what looks to be a Holmes County, Ohio Amish school. So enjoy this sweet rendition of a 120-year-old hymn…and can you tell from the video why I guessed this to be that community? The Ninety-Nine William G. Schell, pub. 1897 The ninety-nine within…
This past Monday, Amish at Ethridge, Tennessee were victims of a pair of armed robberies. In both cases a truck was used to block the road, and an armed individual emerged to demand money. The assailants even shot at one Amish buggy as it fled. The good news is that authorities have captured three suspects. It sounds like, for their trouble and likely impending prison sentences, the trio acquired a grand…
Today’s guest post is by Bill Moser and Jeff Smith. Those names might ring a bell – you might recall a post here last year on the book Becoming Amish, about the Moser family’s conversion to Amish Christianity. In this first of two guest posts, Bill and Jeff share one side of the experience with us today. — Seeking a community of faith that aligned with…
As in other Christian churches, Easter is an important holiday for the Amish. What do the Amish do during the Easter season? First it’s worth mentioning that not all Amish observe holidays in the same way. Local and family customs can vary. And when it comes to more obscure holidays, in some communities they may be observed, while in others, they are not. See Ascension Day or…