By Tom Shanklin

I had a great 3-day Revival at Trinity Fellowship in Rice Lake, Wisconsin with Pastor John and Lydia Kauffman in March.

Jesus manifested Himself by the Holy Spirit in healing the sick. I had a word of knowledge for the pastor’s wife about poor circulation. After prayer, she testified that her hands and feet were warm for the first time in years.

Another woman said she had headaches every night and was unable to sleep. After prayer she had no headaches and was able to sleep perfectly. Glory to God!

Pastor John was formerly a minister in the Amish religion. When he began to study the Bible, he realized that he was lost and needed a personal salvation. John and Lydia accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and were born again.

After having that experience, he preached a message to his fellow Amish on Saul’s conversion in which he told the hearers that they must be born again. As a result, he was asked to leave the Amish church. From that time, the family was shunned by the Amish, including John and Lydia’s mothers, fathers and siblings, and not allowed to visit in their homes. According to Pastor John, the Amish put a emphasis on keeping church rules rather than a personal salvation experience. While the couple has retained the positive aspects of their Amish background, such as a strong work ethic and an emphasis on family values, their approach to salvation has become rooted in freedom by grace through faith in Jesus.

The Amish who migrated the U.S. in the early 18th century are descendents of the Anabaptists in Europe. They are closely related but separate from the Mennonites. Amish life is governed by a series of rules, called Ordnung, which cover everything from dress, to social life, to a prohibition of mechanical devices and photographs. There are now approximately 300,000 Amish in the U.S. and Canada.

After the Kauffmans were excommunicated from the Amish, a group of Mennonites took them in. At that time they were still living the Amish lifestyle, meaning that they had only a horse and buggy and no automobile to take them 20 miles back and forth to church. So the people from the Mennonite Church picked them up and brought them home for each church service.

Eventually, they began having services in their home near Dallas, Wisconsin. When they ran out of room in their house, they began meeting in the garage. Then next step was renting an old Lutheran church building, which only had an outhouse for a bathroom facility.

Daniel and Kathryn Stahl

Meanwhile the church had been saving and planning to build a church building. But when a Baptist church in Rice Lake was moving to a larger facility, they offered to sell them their building. They made an offer and it was accepted, but the church didn’t have enough money to purchase the building. So Pastor John asked the members to pray and ask what He would have them to give toward the purchase. After two weeks, they received an offering of just the amount they needed to purchase the building for cash. Now they are enjoying their new facility.

Pastor John and Lydia’s four sons and two daughter in laws, two grandchildren, along with their daughter and son-in-law (above left) are all a part of the fledgling church. They are excited about the future of exalting the message of Jesus Christ in the region and I am thankful that Tom Shanklin Ministries was able to have a part in encouraging this church in their journey with the Lord.

Thank you for your partnership with Susan and me in this ministry, which helps us to follow God’s call to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” It is an honor to share with you in this ministry.

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From the Mailbox and Inbox

Your last newsletter was so helpful—another classic. (New Ulm)

Tom and Susan, What a nice presentation you gave us about your trip to India. It sure made me even more aware of how God’s love needs to be ministered to all people. Thank you for all you did for them. (TOPS member, Mankato, MN)

I was blessed by the “How to Build Your Church” Podcast. I will be praying for your meeting on the 10th. Keep up the good work ! (Cannon Falls)

Thank you so much Bro. Tom and Susan. Continue launching unto the deep and fish. I thank God who brought you into my life and you have taught me how to fish and am going wherever God instructs to fish. Thank you for accepting to be my mentor in the field of evangelism. God bless your work. (Evangelist from Kenya)

In last month’s Healing for the Nations communication, your superb inspired article, “God’s Will is Healing” was timely and given by the Lord. Never have I read an article on healing so concise, so complete and clear. In fact, I made a copy (hope I am not in trouble) and mailed it to a young woman from church who was told she needed a tonsillectomy. Sunday, when I saw her, she thanked me profusely for it. She said the words jumped out at her. I am sending a copy to another friend who is suffering with this malady that seems to be going around. It never ceases to amaze me how far God has stretched your tent stakes and will in the future. Thanks Susan, for your personal and enjoyable real life, humorous an profound writings. I feel I have had a home visit with you. Waiting to see what new soul-winning and healing God has in store though your gifted ministries. May God reign over all your work. (Illinois)

Thank you so much for your newsletter and for the DVD of your time in India. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be there in person, to see God Work in such wonderful ways and to be used so mightily by Him. God bless you. (North Dakota)

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