The Early Years
I was born and raised on an Old Order Amish dairy farm just outside of Bunker Hill, Ohio. I was the youngest child in a family of 7-1 boy and 6 girls. I was sheltered by my dear parents and community from many of the evils in this world, yet quite acquainted with many of the troubles and temptations familiar to us all.
I attended a one-room typical Amish private school for eight years where I learned to speak, read and write the English language, as well as simple math and German.
Unlike some of the more conservative Amish churches, our schools played sports such as baseball, softball and volleyball.
Once we were old enough, we got jobs at some local business. Living in the heart of Ohio’s largest Amish community—known for their good work ethics and entrepreneurship—made finding a job close by not all that difficult. My first job outside the home was at HW Chair; an Amish business. I was 16 years old.
When I was 18 years old I took baptismal classes and was baptized into the Old Order Amish church. I felt good about my decision and had every intention to walk in the footsteps of my parents for the rest of my life.
My green thumb eventually led me to having my own greenhouses. Between our heavily populated Amish community, and tourists, I did pretty well with it. During the winter months I went to Sarasota Florida and worked as a waitress. Eventually my sister and I bought a house there, and we didn’t apologize when it was time to go each year! I loved the sunshine state when central Ohio was frozen over in January!
To an outsider, this may sound like the perfect community to grow up in, and in so many ways it was, yet at times it felt like something was missing. We were religious, but everything was so formal. There were times that I felt really burdened about the spirituality of myself and my family. We lived by many good moral and even Christian principles. Yet at times, I wondered whether we were really ready to meet God?
Seeking the Lord
With great fear I told God one day that He has my permission to do with me whatever He wants in the process of bringing us, as a family, closer to God. I wished I had assurance of salvation, some assurance that there was hope for me too! I thought it was true that driving a car or flying in an airplane is damning, but I questioned, how did we arrive at that conclusion? I didn’t mind my plain dress and wasn’t looking to embrace the world or buy an airplane, I was just looking for consistency, and wanted to experience the best Christianity has to offer.
It seemed like too many in our community left the Amish faith and got sucked into the world. Amongst those was my friend, Vernon. He eventually settled down a bit and started attending a local Mennonite church.
A little while after their parents died, his brother Abe went off the deep end too! Soon the local grapevine was buzzing... Abe is attending a Seventh Day Adventist Church and Vernon is following suit. I believed the things that were being said about their new church, and it wasn’t good. Still I considered them as my friends.
Confronted With Bible Truth
One day I felt inspired to confront them about some of the beliefs that they reportedly held. I took my time and got a text message together for them (we were allowed to have flip phones). Their responses were reasonable and even a bit thought-provoking, and it seemed to me like they were still normal people.
One evening, Vernon stopped by my house and we chatted for hours. They were clearly happy and settled where they were at, and I was not happy where I was at. Yet, I was not interested in what they were following. Looking back I think traditions and political correctness had a bit too much influence in my judgment of truth. By the end of that long and eventful evening I knew what Vernon really wanted.. he knew I was unhappy, and he was sure he found something that would make me happy too if I embraced it. In addition, he was looking for icing to put on his own cake! Though he said that he will put the Fourth Commandment ahead of our relationship. The Fourth Commandment? What is that, I wondered? I went to Florida and we stayed in touch.
I got into my Bible a little later and found the Fourth Commandment.. the SABBATH! Oh boy! But I was soon assured by my relatives and friends that the Sabbath is irrelevant.
I’m still a little confused why some people say keeping the Sabbath is bondage and legalism, but Sunday keeping is not? Especially since everyone that contributed to the writings of the Bible, including Jesus and all the prophets and apostles kept the Sabbath... and we will keep it in eternity; Isaiah 66:23. But it’s irrelevant now? I doubt that!
I learned more that winter about the Bible than I had learned in my entire prior life! Vernon kept throwing out more Bible truths, and I always researched his claims. He earned my trust pretty fast. I was getting answers!
March rolled around and it’s time to head back to our Ohio home. I was a bit nervous! It seemed like most of my siblings were convinced that I had lost my ability to think intelligently. The next few weeks were incredibly difficult for both Vernon and myself. We were not always treated very kindly.
Some of the phone calls were brutal and even felt unchristian. Looking back, I think my family and friends felt challenged and humiliated by some of my recent religious decisions. Perhaps the family felt betrayed. Emotions were on display for all of us; My Dad, (the Bishop) never said a word to me about my newfound beliefs. He was getting old and had health challenges and was not looking for any more controversy.
West Salem Mission
Vernon took me along to church at the West Salem Mission one Saturday. I felt welcome, but oh so much information in one day! I couldn’t grasp it all. Not to mention the mixture of cultures. There are many different flavors of Amish these days, and a certain amount of prejudice between them is not uncommon. I had to learn to look at people the way Jesus looks at them. My attendance became more regular as time went on.
Eventually I sold my greenhouse since a lot of my sales were on Saturday and I assumed I’ll be living in Vernon’s house before another growing season comes around.
It wasn’t long until Vernon and I were engaged for a Thanksgiving 2019 wedding. Since I was never baptized by immersion I was re-baptized in July 2019, along with a few others, and never looked back.
The Two Shall Be One
Our wedding day came... November 28, 2019. My siblings attended my wedding; for which I was very grateful, my parents did not attend.
Soon after my wedding my Dad’s health turned to the worst quite suddenly and he passed away peacefully. I feel honored for having been one of his daughters.
Not long after the death of my father, I was officially excommunicated by the local Amish church. However, my family doesn’t treat me that much differently, and I’m grateful for that.
I’m Blessed!
My life has changed so much in two short years; we have learned to swim against the current and still be happy.
Blessed are they that do His Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city (Revelation 22:14).
I do not fault my family for having struggled with this whole situation. It was indeed a wild ride! Sometimes God leads us in a direction that is difficult for others to understand at the time. But like the saying goes, sometimes the truth seems stranger than fiction.
Vernon & Martha Raber on their Thanksgiving wedding day in 2019.
Vernon And Martha Raber live in Strasburg Ohio. Vernon is a truck driver, and Martha is a homemaker and self-employed seamstress. Vernon serves as head Deacon and Martha teaches children’s Sabbath School at the West Salem Anabaptist SDA Church.