A Story of Spiritual Abuse
David’s 2nd and Final Photo-Blog from Missouri
Leonard and Dora Gingerich with their two children, Matthew and Sharon
On our way back to Kansas City on Sunday afternoon, Jonas Kurtz and I stopped for a few hours in Windsor, Missouri, to meet with a special Amish couple who reached out to Jonas a few months back after receiving “The Awakening! Magazine.” They are Leonard and Dora Mae Gingerich, who warmly welcomed us into their very-typical Amish home in the country.
Leonard and Dora were excommunicated from their Amish community in March of this year, but they could see it coming for some time. It started when Leonard was informed that an “auto-start” control connected to a generator-powered cooler in his bulk food store—a control he had been using for ten years—was not allowed. (The “auto shut-off” is allowed.) He would have to disconnect it and begin manually turning on his store cooler several times in the middle of every night—or face church discipline. He complied, but not without some inward resistance.
Leonard and Dora got in trouble again when they refused to shun a couple in their community whom they felt had been wrongly excommunicated (and whose excommunication was ultimately rescinded when the alleged infraction was proven to be unfounded). Nevertheless, Leonard and Dora’s perspective—now proven to be entirely correct—resulted in their own excommunication, and one that has not been rescinded. So, beginning in March, they have been shunned by the entire community, which meant that (1) all 100 Amish families in their community no longer make purchases at their sizeable bulk food store, (2) neither do any of those 100 families sell wholesale products to them, and (3) all their Amish store employees immediately quit under the threat of excommunication. Other nearby Amish communities are also following suit in the shunning of Leonard and Dora. It is all “done in love,” of course, to help Leonard and Dora escape the snare of the devil and eternity in hell.
Dora told us another aspect of their troubles that involved a deacon who became obsessed with her apron pleats being too wide. They were an inch and one-eighth rather than the required inch. She wondered why other women in their community with similarly-wide apron pleats were not also being targeted. She promised the obsessed deacon compliance but asked for time, as she had just a few days to prepare her house for a large Sunday church gathering (communion Sunday). He would not relent. The pleats had to be fixed before Sunday. I think that was the same deacon whom Dora told us reprimanded another woman for using one T-pin to fasten a part of her dress rather than a standard straight pin with a round head. (Buttons as clothing fasteners are forbidden for most Amish women…only straight pins are permitted.)
I also learned that, in order to provide some relief from Missouri’s sweltering summer heat, in-house air fans connected to 12-volt batteries are sometimes allowed in their community, but permission is selectively determined on a case-by-case basis by the bishops and ministers.
I asked Leonard and Dora if the unfair application of the Ordnung might have something to do with jealousy in their hearts of the leadership. Did it seem as if those families whose businesses were doing better than others were more likely to be targeted? Their answer was gracious, but cautiously affirmative. Twenty families have left the community in the past year, many of which were doing quite well. I told them I am amazed that they have remained. Amazingly, they continue to smile, wave, and attempt to converse with those who awkwardly try to love them by hating them.
Two months ago, their story became more widely known due to a two-part YouTube documentary, and sympathetic “English” neighbors from far and wide have begun regularly shopping at their bulk food store. Leonard said their store income has significantly increased from pre-excommunication days. God has turned the curse into a blessing.
But the best news in all of this is that their struggles have driven Leonard and Dora to an authentic faith in the Lord Jesus. Leonard was born again in August of last year, and Dora in October. That, of course, hasn’t changed or improved their community standing. Leonard called Jonas soon after receiving this year’s first issue of the “The Awakening!” to tell him that it arrived at a providential time. It was only a few days prior to their official excommunication, and Leonard was wondering if he should recant before the church on his knees, as was required. He asked God for a sign that would direct him, and he came home from his store to find “The Awakening!” on his desk. That was his sign to persevere in his faith!
As we walked outside with the Gingerich family to say goodbye Sunday evening, I honestly felt as if we were walking on holy ground. I asked if I could take the photo that I’ve added to this post, and I specifically requested that they stand by a sign that says “God Bless You,” which Leonard had attached to the fence along the road in front of their property. Leonard has posted four such signs on the fences along roads that border his property as messages directed at his Amish neighbors who regularly drive by in their buggies. Leonard and Dora are blessing those who are trying to curse them.
Since their official shunning, Leonard and Dora have become less Amish, now owning a pickup truck, riding lawnmower, window air conditioner, cell phone, and a few other modern conveniences. In total, there are fourteen things they would need to repent of if they want to rejoin their former community. One of those fourteen is removing their four “God Bless You” signs, with which their former bishop has also found fault. He says that by those signs, Leonard and Dora are not “letting their light shine” but rather are “making their light shine.”
Here’s the link to the first YouTube video that documents Leonard and Dora’s story in more detail: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAWN6aJXrqM .
And here is a link to the latest issue of “The Awakening! Magazine” that we mailed to 60,000 Amish households a few weeks ago: //heyzine.com/flip-book/volume2issue2 . If you would like to help us print and mail the next issue of “The Awakening!”, click here: //heavensfamily.org/awakening/ .
