Description
Joe and Esther were born and raised in a Old Order Amish church setting, located in Ashland, Ohio. In 1984, at the age of 17, they both became baptized members of the Amish church. It was not until they turned 18 that a former Amish man shared the gospel with them, and both of them realized that they were sinners and needed a Savior. Shortly after they both got saved, Joe and Esther were married in the Amish church, and at that point, had full intentions of raising their family within the Amish system. However, they soon realized that if they wanted to believe that salvation was by faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone, they would either have to be quiet about it and not tell anyone, or be excommunicated and shunned by our own family members and the church. In 1987, nine months into their marriage, Joe and Esther made one of the hardest decisions they would ever make and that was to leave their family, friends, and Amish way of life forever. Today, they have two wonderful children named Jonathan and Rachel who are serving the Lord in various ministries at their home church. For a more detailed testimony, please read Keim Testimony . You can also go to Audio Resources and listen/download a 30 minute testimony in audio format. Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel [the Amish] is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. What started out as a burden to see their Amish family and friends come to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ soon became an even bigger burden, and that was to see to it that every single Amish person gets to hear the clear message of salvation at least one time. As Joe and Esther prayed and fasted for the people that were so dear to them, it became more and more obvious that America's Bible believing churches were sending missionaries all over the world to reach people for Christ, but no one was being sent to the Amish people. Before going into full time ministry in 2001, Joe would sit outside his [secular] work place in the morning, feeling miserable and broken in heart at the thought of spending his time inside a factory, while the people who were so dear to them were in danger of dying and slipping to an eternal lake of fire, and worst of all, they didn't even realize it. Many times, Joe and Esther would lie awake at night, wondering who was going to rescue them. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? In December of 1999, Joe met with John Bouquet, who at that point, had been their pastor for 16 years. During that meeting, Joe shared how he and Esther felt God was leading their family to go full time into a ministry to the Amish. This came as no surprise to Pastor Bouquet, since they had discussed this many times over the years.