On the night of September 6, 2011, terror called at the Amish home of the Millers. Answering a late-night knock from what appeared to be an Amish neighbor, Mrs. Miller opened the door to her five estranged adult sons, a daughter, and their spouses. It wasn’t a friendly visit. Within moments, the men, wearing headlamps, had pulled their frightened father out of bed, pinned him into a chair, and—ignoring his tearful protests—sheared his hair and beard, leaving him razor-burned and dripping with blood. The women then turned on Mrs. Miller, yanking her prayer cap from her head and shredding it before cutting off her waist-long hair. About twenty minutes later, the attackers fled into the darkness, taking their parents’ hair as a trophy for their community.
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The Amish by Kraybill, Johnson-Weiner, Nolt
The Amish have always struggled with the modern world. Known for their simple clothing, plain lifestyle, and horse-and-buggy mode of transportation, Amish communities continually face outside pressures to modify their cultural patterns, social organization, and religious world view. An intimate portrait of Amish life, The Amish explores not only the emerging diversity and evolving identities within this distinctive American ethnic community, but also its transformation and geographic expansion.
Donald B. Kraybill, Karen M. Johnson-Weiner, and Steven M. Nolt spent twenty-five years researching Amish history, religion, and culture. Drawing on archival material, direct observations, and oral history, the authors provide an authoritative and sensitive understanding of Amish society. MORE DETAILS.
This book is also available as a PBS original ‘AMERICAN EXPERIENCE’ video DVD.
One Light Still Shines by Marie Monville
My story is not about my past, but about your future,’ says Marie Roberts Monville. In the startling tragedy of the Amish schoolhouse shooting at Nickel Mines, one story has never been told; Marie Roberts Monville, the wife of the man who created such horror, tells her story for the very first time. It is a story of sorrow and destruction, but also one of majestic deliverance, unending compassion, breathtaking forgiveness, and grace-filled redemption. MORE DETAILS.
Thrill of the Chaste: The Allure of Amish Romance Novels by Valerie Weaver-Zercher
Valerie Weaver-Zercher combines research and interviews with devoted readers, publishers, and authors to produce a lively and provocative examination of the Amish romance novel. She discusses strategies that literary agents and booksellers use to drive the genre’s popularity. By asking questions about authenticity, cultural appropriation, and commodification, Thrill of the Chaste also considers Amish fiction’s effects on Amish and non-Amish audiences alike. MORE DETAILS.
New York Amish: Life in the Plain Communities of the Empire State by Karen M. Johnson-Weiner
Johnson-Weiner welcomes readers into the lives of Amish families in different regions of New York State, including the oldest New York Amish community, the settlement in the Conewango Valley, and the diverse settlements of the Mohawk Valley and the St. Lawrence River Valley. The congregations in these regions range from the most conservative to the most progressive. Johnson-Weiner reveals how the Amish in particular regions of New York realize their core values in different ways; these variations shape not only their adjustment to new environments but also the ways in which townships and counties accommodate—and often benefit from—the presence of these thriving faith communities. MORE DETAILS.
From Rumspringa to Marriage: An Excerpt from The Amish by Don Kraybill
Rumspringa, literally translated as “running around,” is a time when Amish youth socialize with their peers and are allowed some autonomy before officially joining the church as young adults. It has become one of the most recognized aspects of Amish life, both real and mythologized. During this time they face the two most crucial decisions of their lives: whether to join the church, and if and whom to marry. Rumspringa, an exciting adventure and at times a period of inner turmoil, commences at age sixteen—or seventeen in more traditional groups—and continues until marriage. With few exceptions, adolescents eagerly count the days until they are old enough to join the young folks. In this digital short, Kraybill considers the nuances of this important rite of passage into Amish adulthood. MORE DETAILS.
Ivory Pal: Born to Fly Higher by McCauley, Prill, Bowles
Try as they might, the trainers could not get Ivory Pal to comply with the “traditional” Tennessee Walking Horse training techniques. The beautiful palomino colt had completely given up, shut down, relegated to a box stall 24/7, until he met his new partner Rafael Valle. His fate was about to take a U-turn. A heartwarming true story of a “show horse reject”, his trials and triumphs, and his relationship with Valle built on trust and mutual respect rather than on fear and intimidation. MORE DETAILS.
The Gospel According to Mary, Mother of Jesus by Don Bartow
We are pleased to share with you a remarkably down-to-earth and wonderfully presented book by Donald W. Bartow, The Gospel According to Mary, Mother of Jesus. With compelling sensitivity and tenderness, Bartow captures the life of Jesus from the unique perspective of His mother, Mary, the woman God chose and blessed to bring His Son to Earth. MORE DETAILS.
Jesus: In Ethiopia by Jim Rankin
A mysterious island… guardian monks… exotic locations…the Ark of the Covenant…and one of the most revealing stories ever discovered about the early years of Jesus Christ, all come together in this intriguing true adventure. Jim Rankin takes you on an Indiana Jones-like exploration over deserts and mountains, through jungles and across a massive lake to a forbidden island to open an ancient treasury housing one of the most fascinating finds in history to the whereabouts of the young Jesus. From Jim’s encounter in the hills of Tennessee to his amazing adventures in the exotic mountains of Ethiopia, a hidden secret will finally be answered as you come to the edge of your seat for this true-to-life God led adventure. MORE DETAILS.
Out of the Depths by Rachel Lofgren
Read about the tragic events that destroyed Ludmilla’s security in her family structure and caused heart pain difficult to imagine. Broken and lonely, she arrives at a crossroad. Will Ludmilla make the right decision? Readers will find themselves drawn into Ludmilla’s story as she seeks answers . . . and at last finds God. As Jesus Christ lifts her from the depth of sin, Ludmilla exchanges her heartaches and longings for deep peace and joy. Her insatiable thirst for God’s Word will inspire readers to seek God more earnestly. MORE DETAILS.