Plain Faith: Leaving the Amish, a Book Review!

Excited to be doing my first book review on Hope in the Healing! I received a free copy of “Plain Faith” by Zondervan through BookLook Bloggers and my review is totally unbiased and my own opinion.

Plain Faith: A True Story of Tragedy, Loss, and Leaving the Amish by Irene  & Ora Jay Eash & Tricia Goyer 2014, 208 pages, Zondervan Publishing.

The story opens with tragedy for the Eash family. Both Ora Jay, and his wife Irene, were raised Amish, that’s all they had ever known. Their families were Amish; they lived in one of the largest Amish communities in La Grange, County, Indiana. Surrounded by family and friends who shared their beliefs and lifestyle, they would never have dreamed in their early marriage that they would one day walk away from it all.

After they suffer a great loss in their immediate family, Ora Jay and Irene cannot find comfort. Ora Jay says it best in the second chapter,

“We’d grown up Amish and lived our whole lives for God…    the only problem was we did not know Him…”

This is the journey. The journey to find Jesus.

In the Amish community, you just do not leave. If you choose to do so, or begin to embrace the ways of the Englisch, you will eventually be shunned by not only the community in which you live, but even by your own family.

Ora Jay and Irene struggle with this over the course of several years, all the while the Lord is showing them that His yoke is easy, His burden light.

The Amish put a strict emphasis on a “works salvation”.

What you do, how you dress, what you do without, all earn you a place in Heaven. They also believe, according to “Plain Faith”, that Heaven is only so big, only a few can make it and most of them will be Amish. Ora says, “We spent a lot of time trying to please God, to earn our salvation by getting every little detail right – from dress to church to work. When we were living the Amish lifestyle, our hope was in what we did and what we got.”

They begin to study the Bible for themselves and what they discovered opens a whole new world for them! The more they read, the more they believed, and the more free they became. Irene says, “The farther we walked away from the Amish tradition, the more freedom we felt to hear whispers of grace from God and to know that He was in control. We discovered Christ is all in all. There is nothing made that Christ isn’t in.”

They faced great criticism, and eventually were asked to leave the Amish church. They had tried to hold on to both, in some ways, feeling great guilt for leaving but feeling even more confused for staying.

“It’s freeing not to have to look to man to decide what’s wrong and what’s right – things like the width of a hat brim or the pattern of a dress.” Irene Eash

Eleven children later, now grandchildren and in-laws included, Ora Jay and Irene are thankful that all of their children are serving God. One of eight boys now pastors the Christian church they left the Amish for and another is the youth pastor. They have no regrets because they have found hope.

Written in first person, by both Ora Jay and Irene, it goes back and forth with each of them telling part of the story. That doesn’t lessen the experience, if anything, it enriches it! I enjoyed the perspective from each of them. Irene was always more timid and afraid of what others would think whereas Ora Jay (as Irene said) had a wild streak in him and had more courage to step out in his new-found faith. (And his new-found freedom! You will enjoy the part where he takes the day to learn to drive, get his license and buy a truck all at once!)

I didn’t have any trouble staying with this story-line. It was engaging, interesting and kept me coming back for more. It is not too long of a read but very entertaining with the “peek” into the Amish lifestyle. I came to admire the courage of Ora Jay and Irene and admired their stand even when everyone was against them. I cannot imagine what they went through “inside” but the book gives you a wonderful insight into their minds and hearts.

“Plain Faith” is a story of love, the love of the Father who drew His children unto Himself so they might know Him instead of just know about Him.

Isn’t that just like our God? He knows where we are, the condition of our hearts, and our desire to know Him. If we allow Him to, He will come in, reveal Himself in amazing ways so that we can live a life free from rules but full of relationship!

This book reminded me, even though I am not Amish, that we can all get caught up in trying to please others, and judge those that are not like we are. We cannot work our way to heaven! Nothing we do will ever earn us a “spot” in Glory, and nothing we do could ever cause Jesus Christ to love us any less than He already does.

Our salvation is because of HIS work on Calvary. Nothing more, nothing less. Amazing Grace!

I can easily recommend “Plain Faith” as an uplifting, easy-to-read book. Be blessed!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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18 thoughts on “Plain Faith: Leaving the Amish, a Book Review!

  1. Ora Jay Eash

    Reading this is like having a reunion with our fellow brothers and sisters. Would love to meet you all and thanks for sharing.

  2. Candace Jo Post author

    What a thrill to see your comment, Ora Jay! I am so happy you took the time to say a few words. Your story is definitely touching the lives of many. I felt as if I had gotten to know you both through the book, it was so personal and you two made it inviting. God is nothing short of amazing to bring us into TRUTH if we really desire more of Him. I am forever humbled by what He has done for me, so thankful for the infilling of His Spirit which means He is IN me, guides me, and will some day take us home to be with Him. Again, thank you so much for your visit. When is the sequel coming out??! Blessings.

  3. Ora Jay Eash

    This is Ora Jay and I came across this review . Am so blessed to here the Spirit is touching people in the same way it was for us. Excited that people are enjoying the book of our life. to God be the Glory! Thanks for your nice review and the post.

  4. Candace Jo Post author

    I am sure there are different sects in the Amish community but this one was sure enlightening. It was an interesting book. Thank you for sharing!

  5. Michelle

    I recently finished reading a book about the Amish, where they mention Jesus & forgiveness.
    This definitely throws a different light on the Amish.

  6. Candace Jo Post author

    Thanks, Pamela, I didn’t know it was half price for Kindle. It’s a good read!

  7. pjkuhn

    Sounds amazing. Coming from a {rather} legalistic background I can relate in some way to their journey. So thankful God is most interested in our hearts! The book is 1/2 price for the Kindle. ~Pamela

  8. Candace Jo Post author

    Awesome, Shannon! It was easy to review, so many good quotes, I could have went on and on 🙂 Thanks for tweeting!

  9. Shannon Payne (@SimplySaidMom)

    Dynamite review! I really felt part of the story, which is almost uniquely how I read every book I pick up. I’m a Tricia Goyer fan, so this is going on the must read list 🙂

  10. Wise Hearted

    Man was not meant to live by rules but by relationship! That sentence would be enough to make me want to read the book. When our relationship is in tune with the God of the universe through His Son Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit obeying becomes a joy.

  11. Ginger Biggs Harrington

    What a thoughtful review. I will be putting this book on my reading list. I’m your link up neighbor at The Weekend Brew. Nice to meet you!

  12. Tamryn

    That sounds like a very interesting book. Thank you for your review.

  13. Candace Jo Post author

    So true, Floyd. Not what I was expecting for sure!

  14. Candace Jo Post author

    There are so many good quotes in this book by Ora Jay and Irene, good stuff! Thank you for stopping by!

  15. Cathy

    You’ve shared some powerful quotes here! I’m definitely putting this book on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing. : )

  16. Floyd

    I guess it doesn’t matter who we are, if we’re not following the heart of God and rules instead, we’re gonna come up short.

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