Amish in the News: Amish Cheese Festival, Back-to-School Egg Muffins, Amish Adventists, and More!

By Kevin Williams

Is being Amish a lifestyle or a religion?  That's a question that has dogged me and others consistently.  The answer even differs among the Amish.  Some consider the word a religious reference, while others call it a cultural and lifestyle reference.  Some Ohio families have found a new way to worship while still hewing to their Amish lifestyle.

Naomi and Andy Weaver, no longer Amish in faith, but still in lifestyle.

Amish play games at an "Adventist camp."

"We are Amish and We are Seventh-Day Adventists," says Andy Weaver.

AMISH ADVENTISTS:  Outsiders try to convert Amish all the time, most of the time it doesn't work, sometimes it does.  Andy and Naomi Weaver, an Amish couple in Ohio, were given some Seventh Day Adventist literature and found it interesting and to their liking.  Eventually they converted and became Adventists, but they remain rooted to their Amish lifestyle of Plain dress, no electricity, etc.  And now some other families in their church have done the same, forming a mini "Amish Adventist" island around West Salem, Ohio.  I don't think this represents a massive trend.  Occasionally some Amish families will convert to another religion and find a few other families to join them and that appears to be the case here. Click here to read more.

RACHEL STOLTZFOOS:  This is just a random obituary of a 58-year-old Amish woman in Lancaster County, PA who passed away the other day.  We'll keep her family in our prayers.  The obituary doesn't list the cause of death, I just think Amish obituaries can be interesting to read because it really does give a sense of how large most Amish families are.  Click here to read the obituary.

AMISH ARTHUR CHEESE FESTIVAL:   The festival is over with for another year but, man, it sounds like a good time.  I love taking my kids to festivals and this sounds just amazing.   Click here and if you're anywhere near Arthur, Illinois, you have to go to this festival next year!  Click here.

FARM TO TABLE- BACK TO SCHOOL EGG MUFFINS:  Not an Amish recipe, but a farm one and I'm sure plenty of Amish moms fix this too as schools begin to get back into session and quick breakfasts are in demand. Click here for this yummy sounding recipe!

Plain Meetinghouses takes you on a crisp, photographic tour of these little seen buildings.

PLAIN MEETINGHOUSES:  I may have to put this book on my Christmas list.  This is a coffeetable type photo book showing the insides of Old Order Mennonite Churches in Lancaster County along with information about their history and worship traditions.  Man, this sounds like an interesting, interesting book!  You can order a copy from our Amazon affiliate link here, I might try to get a review copy so I can share more of the book with you.

NEWS SPIN - AMISH CINNAMON BREAD - Click here for this deliciousness!