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"The Christian should never worry about tomorrow or give sparingly because of a possible future need. Only the present moment is ours to serve the Lord, and tomorrow may never come...Life is worth as much as it is spent for the Lord's service." – George Muller PHOTO CAPTION: Amish school fundraiser auction in Missouri. Photo by Don Burke https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2026/03/meet-yoder-brothers-amish-auctioneers.html |
Those are the words of George Mueller, the Evangelist who cared for more than 10,000 orphans. I will post about how the Amish do fundraising before I give my thoughts. I will also share a fundraiser to help a friend in need, this blog post is for him.
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Amish community at a fundraiser Each year, our friends in Amish and Mennonite communities host important benefit auctions to support our clinic’s mission to help special needs children. Held in the summer and fall, our benefit auctions take place in these communities: · Shiloh Mennonite Community Benefit Auction – Shiloh, OH · Spartansburg Benefit Auction – Spartansburg, PA · Geauga Benefit Auction – Middlefield, OH Our benefit auctions are open to all, and we invite our supporters to bring families and friends to experience the excitement of a live country auction, enjoy good food and have plenty of fun. Auction items are donated by community members and include a wide selection of objects large and small, such as handcrafted furniture, Amish quilts, horses, lawn and garden tools, firewood, home decor, local maple syrup and much more. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.ddcclinic.org/fundraising-events/] |
Amish fundraising is a cornerstone of community life, primarily driven by a deep religious commitment to mutual aid and caring for the "Plain" community's needs without relying on government or commercial insurance. These events are often large-scale, public-facing auctions and dinners that raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for fire companies, medical clinics, and schools.
Key Types of Amish Fundraisers
· Mud Sales: These are massive annual auctions held in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, typically in late winter and early spring when the ground is thawing. They primarily benefit volunteer fire companies. Thousands of visitors attend to bid on:
o Hand-stitched Amish quilts.
o Custom-built furniture and sheds.
o Farm equipment, livestock, and buggies.
o Local food like chicken corn soup, whoopie pies, and birch beer.
· Medical Benefit Auctions: Specialized clinics like the
in Ohio and the Clinic for Special Children in Pennsylvania treat rare genetic disorders common in Amish populations. These clinics rely on:
o Patchwork Benefits: Evenings with dinners, silent auctions, and basket raffles.
o Consignment Auctions: Community-run sales that auction off large items like timber frame pavilions or custom kitchen cabinets.
· School Benefits: Amish parochial schools are funded directly by the community. They often host Benefit Auctions or dinners featuring Amish barbecue chicken and baked goods to cover teacher salaries and supplies.
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Significant Annual Events
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Event Name |
Location |
Primary Benefit |
Typical Timing |
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Gordonville Mud Sale |
Gordonville, PA |
Fire Department |
Early March |
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Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale |
Wooster, OH |
Global Disaster Relief |
August |
|
Spartansburg DDC Auction |
Spartansburg, PA |
Rare Genetic Disease Research |
August |
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Geauga DDC Auction |
Middlefield, OH |
Rare Genetic Disease Research |
Summer/Fall |
Practical Information for Attendees
· Payment: Most events are cash or cheque only. While some modern venues accept cards, it is best to come prepared with cash for food and small items.
· Arrival: Auctions often start as early as 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM. To secure high-demand items like quilts, arriving for the "preview" is recommended.
· Privacy: While these are public events, visitors are asked to be respectful of Amish religious beliefs regarding photography. Always ask before taking close-up photos of individuals.
MY THOUGHTS:
“The real secret of happiness is not what you give or what you receive, it’s what you share.” - Suzanne Woods Fisher
I love the idea of the Amish fundraiser for several reasons: first, it is part of the Amish community spirit, where it gets them altogether to raise funds for mutual aid, it is like the Hutterites’ common purse. Second, John Templeton once said:
I agree that it is good to give money to those in need. For example, in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul highlights that the Macedonian churches, despite experiencing "severe trial" and "extreme poverty," gave generously, even beyond their means. Their giving was driven by abundant joy and a desire to help other believers, rather than by compulsion, serving as an example of grace-driven, voluntary generosity. The bible verse that teaches us of what Jesus Christ did is:
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For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. – II Corinthians 8 vs 9 (ESV) [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1431115593692136&id=727493754054327&set=a.736544786482557] |
John D Martin will explain more in his sermon here:
Exalting Christ Through the Investment of Our Resources
August 18, 2012
A heart-searching message on possessions. This message is to encourage Christians everywhere in America to spend more on helping the needy. The kingdom calls for it. John D. Martin challenges this generation to be the most sacrificial generation.
VIDEO SOURCE: https://kingdomfellowship.org/exalting-christ-through-the-investment-of-our-resources/
https://youtu.be/c6zmDzjE5Fc?si=CZBrg86rdAqSMtU_
FUNDRAISER FOR A FRIEND
I am helping to raise funds for a friend in need, I donated some. Here it is, please donate if you can:
Daniel Berndt, my only son and a colon cancer patient
Hi, my name is Danie and my only son was diagnosed with colon cancer in Aug 2025. His family, wife and 2 sons has had min income over the past 6 months. His wife does work for 2 days per week but the family needs additional income. We as parents, other friends and family are assisting the family atm. Daniel has lost 25kg to date and is receiving radiation treatment atm. He received a colon bag and if the cancer tumour shrinks, there is a change for the next operation. Daniel are living off his savings atm, has applied for government help but without any success to date. We are planning to assist them through out 2026 until Daniel can start working again.
Many thanks for your love and support, may you be blessed!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/daniel-berndt-my-only-son-and-a-colon-cancer-patient
Fotos von Spendenaktionen der Amish (Photos of Amish Fundraising):
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Yoder Brothers is an Amish auction company run by brothers Willis and Leroy Yoder. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://amishamerica.com/yoder-brothers-auctions/] https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2026/03/meet-yoder-brothers-amish-auctioneers.html |
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Scenes From A Big Amish Auction (15 Photos) ~ Held near Shipshewana, Indiana. https://amishamerica.com/scenes-from-a-big-amish-auction-15-photos/ [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1283694400459400&set=a.613847060777474] |
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First Mud Sale of Lancaster County, Strasbourg Fire Department March 1st 2026... Alley to Parking – Fire Station and Quilt Auction [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=25991775843783706&set=pcb.1433122927707834] [ALBUM SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/531141674572635/?multi_permalinks=1433122927707834&] |
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First Mud Sale of Lancaster County, Strasbourg Fire Department March 1st 2026... Alley to Parking – Fire Station and Quilt Auction [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=25991775867117037&set=pcb.1433122927707834] [ALBUM SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/531141674572635/?multi_permalinks=1433122927707834&] |
ORDNUNG GELDSCHRANK LINKS:
Community of goods and a common purse are the practical expressions of the vocation of church community. None of us receives a paycheck, stipend, or allowance from the church community. Once someone has become a member, all his or her earnings and inheritances are given to the church community, and each receives necessities such as food, clothing, and housing. Each of us is accountable to the church community for money we spend. In our homes and daily lives, we seek to live frugally and give generously, to avoid excess, and to remain unfettered by materialism. In these practical ways we wish to witness that under the stewardship of the church, everything we have is available to anybody in need. This applies especially within our church community: no Bruderhof is to be richer or poorer than another.
THE COMMON PURSE IN THE BRUDERHOF & HUTTERITES
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-common-purse-in-bruderhof-hutterites.html
Money is only a tool, not a goal. – Amish Proverb
ORDNUNG GELDSCHRANK – MONEY SECRETS OF THE AMISH
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/07/ordnung-geldschrank-money-secrets-of.html
https://vonborstel.com/four-pillars-for-financial-success/
“Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring --- quite often the hard way.” – Pamela Dugdale
SIBLING PARTNERSHIP – FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/05/sibling-partnership-for-family-and.html
Happiness comes from spiritual wealth, not material wealth... Happiness comes from giving, not getting. If we try hard to bring happiness to others, we cannot stop it from coming to us also. To get joy, we must give it, and to keep joy, we must scatter it. - John Templeton
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING FOR THE COMMUNITY
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/07/participatory-budgeting-for-community.html
A happy home is more than a roof over your head, it’s a foundation under your feet. – Amish proverb
FAMILY BANKING – DIE DREI HUNDE BANK
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/11/family-banking-die-drei-hunde-bank.html
“Savings without a mission is garbage. Your money needs to work for you, not lie around you.” – Dave Ramsey
THE ENVELOPE BUDGETING METHOD
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-envelope-budgeting-method.html
"Divide your fortune into four equal parts: stocks, real estate, bonds and gold coins. Be prepared to lose on one of them most of the time. During inflation, you will lose on bonds and win on gold and real-estate; during deflation, you lose on real estate and win on bonds, while your stocks will see you through both periods, though in a mixed fashion. Whenever performance differences cause a major imbalance, rebalance your fortunes back to the four equal parts.” – Jakob Fugger
CASH IS KING AND WHY THE WORLD WILL NOT GO CASHLESS
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/06/cash-is-king-and-why-world-will-not-go.html
The idea of the future scenarios is to help set the right course so that cash remains generally available and accepted as an attractive means of payment and store of value going forward. - Burkhard Balz, Bundesbank Executive Board Member
CASH IS KING: THE HAPPIEST BANK IN NSW & MEET THE GERMANS
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/03/cash-is-king-happiest-bank-in-nsw-meet.html
Meet the Yoder Brothers: Amish Auctioneers
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2026/03/meet-yoder-brothers-amish-auctioneers.html
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Christian apologist
William Lane Craig is best known for his ministry Reasonable Faith and for
defending “mere Christianity” through philosophical arguments such as the Kalam
cosmological argument. [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1319948303504184&set=a.460831439415879]
Adam and Eve are NOT Human? William Lane Craig denies Creation and the Bible #williamlanecraig
16.4K subscribers 127 views Oct 29, 2025 Also check out VIDEO SOURCE: https://youtu.be/XoM2nZ27WVs?si=MAU3pRz8yJVbXjT5
The False Doctrine of Molinism | A Response To William Lane Craig
Narrow Path Doctrine Ministries 2.1K subscribers 457 views Jan 10, 2026 Craig's Video - VIDEO SOURCE: https://youtu.be/AuHvz-Qq85s?si=PCags_LpaWePY0tk
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Kakeibo (家計 簿) Links:
Making more money will not solve your problems if cash flow management is your problem. - Robert Kiyosaki
https://thesamuraiseven7.blogspot.com/2023/04/my-kakeibo-journal-part-1.html
This is everyone’s money. Money is an expression of our own hearts. In the world today, there are many misfortunes involving money. Here, people live supporting each other. If people’s hearts become one, it is natural that money also become one and is shared by everyone. Everyone can live happily with less money than if they owned it individually. This is one wallet economy. – Accountant of the Konohana Family
https://thesamuraiseven7.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-one-wallet-economy-of-konohana.html
“He who laughs at one yen will weep at one yen.”
https://www.jrpass.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-japanese-yen-when-traveling
https://thesamuraiseven7.blogspot.com/2023/06/why-japan-still-uses-cash.html
It's not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for. - Robert Kiyosaki
https://thesamuraiseven7.blogspot.com/2023/04/robert-kiyosaki-on-budgeting-your-income.html
Treat people you do business with as if they were a part of your family. - Konosuke Matsushita
https://thesamuraiseven7.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-7-guiding-principles-of-konosuke.html
The practice of eschewing investments outside of the community and loaning available money at low interest rates to members of the church has served to give these people a rural credit system enjoyed by few farmers elsewhere. The significance of this practice cannot be overestimated. The salutary features of the program are obvious (1) no money is borrowed unless it is necessary (2) when money is borrowed the interest rate is low (3) there are no foreclosures, (4) bank failures and business failures do not disturb the community greatly, (5) investment sharks cannot plunder these people, and (6) interest earnings remain in the community.9
Walter M. Kollmorgen, Culture of a Contemporary Rural Community.
