SAVANNAH — A conference featuring former Amish community members and a bluegrass band from Tennessee kicks off Wednesday evening at a church just north of Savannah.
“Step out of the Boat” runs through Saturday and tickets are still available to purchase, according to John Bouquet, lead pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, the host site.
Bouquet said the conference, in its fourth year, consistently brings hundreds of former Amish together to share stories, find support and form connections.
“(The conference) is not so much trying to change people from Amish to English,” Bouquet said. “When these people have a faith experience with the gospel, that tests the validity of their religion.”
He said the Amish belief system is “a religion of works,” or a way of earning salvation. Bouquet believes salvation through Jesus Christ comes through faith.
“So many (former Amish people) pay a price of excommunication, or removal from church, or shunning,” he said. The conference is designed to help these people “walk on water,” so to speak, and learn, through Christian community, how to lead a productive life outside of the Amish religion.
Who’s speaking?
Some of the speakers featured include Joseph Graber, a former Amish man who now works as a filmmaker with his wife. They are based in Denver, Col.
Harold Sadlier, a former member of the Mennonite faith, also plans on traveling from Alberta, Canada, to speak.
Joe Keim, the founder of Mission to Amish People in Savannah, is also slated to speak on Saturday. MAP evangelizes to people still part of the Amish religion and helps those who have left the community, according to its website.
MAP, formed in 2001, provides education, employment, housing and basic life training to people who leave the Amish religion. Bethel Baptist lists the ministry as a national mission and partner on Bethel Baptist’s website.
The conference runs all day Thursday and Friday, with parts of Wednesday and Saturday.
On Friday evening, Williamson Branch — a five-piece family bluegrass/gospel band — is slated for a 90-minute concert open to the public.
The band takes the stage at 6:30 p.m.
The conference itself is not free, however. Tickets run $119 for one person, $190 for a couple and $220 for a family, according to the event’s registration link.
The conference will be at Bethel Baptist Church, 575 U.S. 250, in Savannah.