Depending on the type of conference, you will see all or some of the featured speakers.
Featured Speakers
Joe Keim and his wife, Esther, live in Ashland OH. Joe was born and raised in an Old Order Amish community about 15 minutes from where he and Esther now live. Soon after their wedding day, Joe and Esther came to the conclusion that they would have to leave their friends, family, and the Amish community in order to serve the Lord in freedom and grace. In 1987, they loaded up their belongings and moved into town where they started attending Bethel Baptist Church and using their God given abilities to serve wherever they could. In 1999, God called Joe into full time ministry to the Amish people. Today, he serves as executive director and founder of Mission to Amish People, a ministry that reaches tens of thousands of Amish people every year with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jonas Yoder and his family live in Princeton, Kentucky and serve as missionaries with Mission to Amish People and H.R. Ministries.. Jonas was born and raised in an Old Order Amish Community. During childhood, he was taught that in order to go to heaven, he had to be obedient to his parents. He was also required to remain in the Amish faith, follow the ordinances of the church, and believe on Jesus Christ. The ordinances of the church were put together by the Bishop and other church leaders; they were arranged in an approximately 12-page long letter which explained how various aspects of the Amish life were to be regulated; it covered the behaviors and conveniences that were or were not permissible. Growing up, Jonas was taught to obey these ordinances without questioning them. Explanations as to why we did things the way we did were usually vague and responses such as, "you'll understand when you get older." For more on Jonas, click here.
Melvin Schrock and his family live in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin and are serving with Mission to Amish People. Melvin grew up in an Old Order Amish community in Minnesota and learned to read the Bible in High German, a language only used when reading the Bible, singing songs and doing morning and evening prayers. Like so many others, he had very little understanding of what he read. Melvin's parents brought their family up not having devotions, and only read the Bible when he was a child. In September of 2005, a Christian man stopped at Melvin and Ella's place and asked if he was born again. Melvin's answer was yes. But when the Christian asked him for a testimony Melvin answered, "I was baptized." From there, the Christian went on to explain, according to John 3:3, except a man is born again in the Spirit, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Not long after that, Melvin and Ella both gave their hearts to Christ. For more, click here.
Joseph and his family are from Colorado and will be sharing their film project at the conference. Joseph writes: my Amish Story is a docu-drama that is coming out of development and is in the early stages of production. Husband and wife team, Joseph & Stacie Graber, are telling this story with the hopes that it will encourage the church of today as we learn from the church of the last 2000 years.
“In Breaking the Silence, my parents, Lester and Rebecca Graber tell this story in their own words. We will also provide a rich backdrop of who the Amish are today, and how they came to be. Along the way we will interview a variety of people, engage in some major re-enactments, and visit pivotal historical locations.
Visit Joseph's website: Breaking the Silence
“In Breaking the Silence, my parents, Lester and Rebecca Graber tell this story in their own words. We will also provide a rich backdrop of who the Amish are today, and how they came to be. Along the way we will interview a variety of people, engage in some major re-enactments, and visit pivotal historical locations.
Visit Joseph's website: Breaking the Silence
Chuck and Diane Breznau are counselors with Healing of the Heart Ministries. Our journey of restoration began in 2001, when we embarked on a mission to find peace and reconciliation in our personal lives and in our marriage. Through the power of Jesus Christ and the ministry of Caring for the Heart, our marriage saw dramatic changes. During the next 3 years, we studied Biblical counseling to learn to help others. We grew deeper in love with the Lord and each other. God opened several doors of opportunity to mentor others part-time, thus began Healing of the Heart Ministries (HHM). In 2006, we went for more training in Biblical counseling. Our desire to assist others full-time was finally realized in September, 2007.
Samuel Girod, the oldest of 13 children, was born into a Swiss Amish culture. At the age of 30, he suddenly realized, I have everything an Amish man is allowed to have. In spite of having everything, Samuel was very unhappy and depressed. In September of 2012, he walked away from his two properties and half-ownership in a construction company. With a duffel bag in each hand, Samuel traveled from Indiana to Ohio where he met up with Joe Keim. For the next two days, the two of them discussed God's plan of salvation. Finally, on day two, the Lord opened Samuel's eyes and saved his soul. Since then, Samuel has gotten married and now has two lovely children. The Girod family is joyfully serving their Savior in Indiana. For on Samuel, click here.
Pastor John A Bouquet has served the Gospel ministry of Jesus Christ at the Bethel Baptist Church in Savannah, Ohio, since November 1982. He graduated from Tennessee Temple University, holds a Master's degree from Ashland Theological Seminary and teaches at the Word of Life Bible Institute. He not only nurtures his congregation, but also oversees a staff pastor who operates Mission to the Amish People, and is instrumental in the Crisis Pregnancy Center and "Helping Hands" which recruits families for foster parenting and the adoption of children into Christian families. Pastor Bouquet has been married to Sherry since 1989 and together they home school their 4 children and find it a privilege to serve the Living Lord in the Ashland area.
Ephraim Stoltzfus, who was in the BBC Special "Trouble in Amish Paradise" is 34 years old, married to his best friend, Amanda, and blessed with seven children. Their goal is to glorify their Lord and see the lost find the One who came to save them. Ephraim's primary business is buying and transporting lambs and goats to Philadelphia, New York City and other surrounding cities for Arabic people. Ephraim and Amanda have made many friends among the Arabic people and trust that they are seeing Christ in them. Their ultimate goal is that God will draw these people to Himself and that the Lamb that was slain will receive the Glory that is His.
Stephen and Rosetta Schmidt come from a Swiss Amish background and are located in Northern Indiana. The Lord has blessed their family with immense talent. Stephen says it this way: take a little bluegrass, high mountain country, throw in a little yodel, a little bit of storytelling, amazing three & four part harmony, mix it in with fiddle, guitar, mandolin, & dobro instrumentals and you've got the Schmidt show. Visit their website at www.schmidtsfirstlove.com
Folks have requested that we put a invite the Schmidts to do a concert on Thursday evening of the conference. You will not want to miss this. Register today and plan on attending this event.
Folks have requested that we put a invite the Schmidts to do a concert on Thursday evening of the conference. You will not want to miss this. Register today and plan on attending this event.