As they do each year, the Young Center has published estimated numbers for the Amish population in 2015. A few highlights from the figures: Amish communities are now found in 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces. The new state this year is Vermont. A fresh settlement in the Green Mountain State made news back in July. Also new on the Amish map: the province of New Brunswick (a potential settlement…
Amish people rely on literal horsepower, and those animals leave behind their own waste products which land on the roads. This inevitably gets run over by cars no doubt perturbing their owners, and is hardly the most picturesque side of life in “Amish Country.” So from time to time you come across news stories from corners of America where this is a point of conflict between Amish and…
An update on Sarah Hershberger, an 11-year old Amish girl who was recently the focus of a public battle over child welfare and parental rights. Sarah was diagnosed in 2013 with a form of leukemia described as “highly curable.” After undergoing conventional chemotherapy, Sarah’s parents elected to remove her from the treatment due to the adverse side effects. In lieu of a conventional approach, they…
The Amish hold Communion twice yearly, in the spring and in the fall. The Communion service is an important time of affirming unity, described as “the highest and holiest moment of the Amish church calendar” (see The Amish Way p. 69). Why do Amish observe Communion? In 1001 Questions And Answers On The Christian Life, an Amish doctrinal book, the following four answers are given…
Do you ever meet those people who have extraordinary stories…but are the last to share those stories with the world? You know who I’m talking about. The modest folks who abhor boasting about themselves. Today, Jim Cates writes of one Amish bishop whose humble demeanor masks a dedication to service which has greatly benefitted his own community and beyond. When God Calls I believe in Christianity as I…
Running this website for over fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege to not only learn about the Amish – but also observe how the rest of us talk about them. The Amish certainly generate a lot of discussion across the web and elsewhere. But since they are not the most accessible group, sometimes – often – the discussion is not what it could be….
Do Amish people go on vacation? Yes, but the meaning of “vacation” varies. For some, a vacation means a trip to relatives in another settlement or attending an out-of-state wedding. But also popular are more traditional vacation destinations of natural beauty or historical interest. Today we have a look at one Amish family’s vacation from the perspective of Rebecca Miller. I hope you enjoy Rebecca’s account…
From newsnet5.com: KIDRON, Ohio – The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department believes they have identified the man who accidentally struck an Amish boy in the head with a bullet who was plowing a field. The 34-year-old told police he was shooting pigeons at the time of the incident. The man fired one shot into a group of pigeons and then fired a second shot when the…
From newsnet5.com: KIDRON, Ohio – A 17-year-old Amish boy was shot in the head while plowing a field Thursday morning in Kidron. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Department reports John Hershberger was struck with a .22 caliber bullet just after 9 a.m. Investigators said it’s possible the stray bullet was fired by someone hunting squirrels and it just happened to come down on top of John’s…
Do Amish women work? Sounds like a silly question, with their full-time jobs as mothers, homemakers, and all the other roles they take on. What I mean is, do Amish women ever work away from home in an “outside job”? The answer is yes. Younger or unmarried Amish women are more likely to have away-from-home jobs. Generally, those married women with young children are going…