Amish Country Awakening Touches Young Adults

Hundreds flock to weekly services born out of home Bible study

Young people in one of the most ultraconservative, religious areas of the country are encountering God in a new way. In the last four years a home Bible study with a handful of people has grown into a weekly revival service drawing more than 1,000 teens and young adults from across the Amish farmlands.

More than half those who attend the Tuesday Night Bible Study meetings at Petra Christian Fellowship (PCF) in New Holland, Pa., are from Mennonite and Brethren backgrounds, and many have experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit for the first time. Upwards of 100 congregations are represented at the gatherings, known as TBS.

"Our churches have struggled to reach the youth," said Matt Buckwalter, pastor of Old Road Mennonite Church. "We've tried all kinds of different programs that haven't worked, but suddenly we're seeing kids getting on fire for Jesus." TBS participants are now sitting in the front pews of their own churches.

"I think it's a prophetic sign of what is happening with them [spiritually]," Buckwalter said. "They are moving to the forefront of the church because they want to be noticed. They want to be involved. They want what they value to be valued by the whole church."

The revival grew out of an informal gathering of six high school graduates in Lancaster, Pa., who wanted to share their faith with their friends. "We didn't have any expectation as to what would happen," said Mike Stolzfus. "But we had a great time of fellowship, and God met with us."

Over a few months the group grew to 40. When a 22-year-old member of the leadership team was killed in a car accident, the others thought perhaps they should end the meetings. But 1,000 turned out for the young woman's funeral, where 50 teens responded to an altar call.

The other leaders decided to meet again, when 75 people turned up. The next week attendance was 100, and the numbers kept growing. "Sometimes we still feel a little overwhelmed," said Stolzfus, 24. "But we've grown to understand that it's God's sovereign hand. He's the one who gives us grace and wisdom to lead, and so we walk more confidently in that now."

The young leaders gathered a group of local pastors to serve as an advisory board, and they regularly invite in speakers. Vibrant worship and fervent prayer are hallmarks of the services. TBS participants have become active in witnessing at their high schools and in local outreaches.

The awakening has caused ripples in some churches, but many have welcomed its impact on young people. Stolzfus said he met one 70-year-old woman who "was so excited about what God was doing. She told me she had been praying for this to happen for 40 years." Lester Zimmerman, pastor of PCF, which hosts the weekly meetings, said: "God is using the youth to help bring unity among churches and leaders in the area. TBS is a powerful demonstration of what God wants to do in the whole church."

The full story of the Tuesday Night Bible Study revival is told in the November issue of "Charisma" magazine.