Hate Crimes Against the Amish

Mary — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:44:32 +0000

While researching my current book, A Marriage for Meghan, God placed the perfect person to help me in my path. Although my main plot focuses on a struggling teacher, I developed a concurrent sub-plot which involves escalating criminal acts against the Amish. I met Lieutenant Matthew Linnscott of the sheriff’s department where I live in a Subway Restaurant. He gave me firsthand information about crimes against the Amish in Wayne and Holmes Counties, Ohio. Thugs had been robbing them on deserted country roads as they returned from auction sales or the grain elevator. They would block the buggy’s path with their cars and then rob these pacifistic people of their cash. How does one catch criminals in sparsely populated rural areas? I’ll tell you how the sheriff’s department handled it. In a joint effort of several agencies, including the FBI, teams of detectives borrowed buggies, dressed in Plain garb, and meandered down country roads during the time period the thieves favored. What a surprise for those thugs when their “helpless victims” turned out to be well-armed, highly-trained officers of the law. Now there are a few less criminals on the streets. And I was able to “pump the brain” of one of my local department’s finest for accounts of other hate crimes aimed at the gentle-hearted Plain folk. Nothing like being in the right place at the right time!

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Do pastors ever doubt their decisions?

Mary — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:27:31 +0000

One of the subplots of my latest release, A Marriage for Meghan, deals with an Old Order bishop who fears he might have made a bad decision. Amish clergymen will consult their two ministers and one deacon regarding the enforcement of district rules, while any major change to the Ordnung would be brought before the entire district for discussion and subsequent vote. However, everyday matters are usually left up to them. Do they ever question their judgments? I don’t know for certain, but I would imagine so. Although well-read in Scripture, they are human. They must send up their concerns in prayer and then listen for God’s guidance through intuition. In my story, Gideon Yost doubts his ability to lead when he places his desire to help his daughter ahead of the district’s best interests. Each week in church, I sit in awe of my own pastor’s wisdom and humble grace. I hope that should he ever stumble, our congregation will respond in the same fashion as my fictional district—with loving compassion and forgiveness.

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Hate Crimes Against the Amish

Do pastors ever doubt their decisions?