JOHN TROYER MEMORIAL REPORT 2025
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" Community is like an old coat, you aren't aware of it until it is taken away." – Amish Proverb A large Amish buggy with two draft horses [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=896676189128007&set=a.538291671633129] |
The Amish population have more than doubled every year in North America, for two reasons: they have large families and a high retention rate of 85% to 90%. I name this the John Troyer Memorial Report 2025, as John Troyer was an Amish Mennonite who had 31 children – this report is to give update of the Amish population as of 2025. I will post photos of Anabaptist families and horse and buggies.
“Outdo one another in
showing honor (Rom. 12:10) Live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16)
Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14) Greet one another with a holy kiss (Rom.
16:16) Wait for one another (1 Cor. 11:33) Have the same care for one another
(1 Cor. 12:25) Be servants of one another (Gal. 5:13) Bear one another’s
burdens (Gal. 6:2) Comfort one another (1 Thess. 5:11) Build one another up (1
Thess. 5:11) Be at peace with one another (1 Thess. 5:13) Do good to one
another (1 Thess. 5:15) Put up with one another in love (Eph. 4:2) Be kind and
compassionate to one another (Eph. 4:32) Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21)
Forgive one another (Col. 3:13) Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16)
Pray for one another (James 5:16) Love one another from the heart (1 Pet. 1:22)
Be hospitable to one another (1 Pet. 4:9) Meet one another with humility (1
Pet. 5:5)” ― Eberhard Arnold,
Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants for His People https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/11/plain-people-and-mutual-aid-why-we-live.html PHOTO
CAPTION: Amish Family on different horses and buggies [PHOTO
SOURCE: https://amishrules.com/amish-values/]
Last year the total estimated Amish population crossed 400,000 for the first time. It continues to blow past that milestone figure, clocking in this year at 411,060 people.
This is 99%+ natural growth, as outsiders rarely join and remain in the Amish church (though it happens on occasion).
That would include the Amish populations in the United States (home to the vast majority of Amish), the much smaller but significant Canadian Amish population, as well as the sole Bolivian Amish settlement.
The Amish have a presence in 32 states. The last time that total changed was in 2022, when New Mexico joined the list.
READ MORE HERE: https://amishamerica.com/the-amish-population-has-grown-over-130-percent-this-century-2025-report/
INTERNET SOURCE: https://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/population-2025/
A family is like a
forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you're inside you see that each
tree has its place. – African Proverb The family is like a
forest, when you are outside it is dense, when you're inside you see that each
tree has its place. When you look from afar the forest appears to be like one
compact unit. The same is true of a family. A true family is one. They are united
against whatever threatens their bond of unity. Whatever affects one member
affects all because they care about one another. The reason they are united is
because each member plays his or her distinct role effectively and
cooperatively. It's not that they love each member equally. No, they don't. In
fact they may even hate what some members do. It's like what happens in an ant
colony. When we look from outside at an ant colony we see a beautiful display
of teamwork. But a closer inspection, according to scientific findings reveals
that the species "hate each other" (source livescience.com). But you see, when there is work to be
done, or an enemy to conquer, they put their differences aside to fight for the
common good. They have different personalities but one purpose: to work for the
common good. We don't have to lose our uniqueness in the quest for unity. We
only need to lose our selfishness. Be unique! PHOTO CAPTION: An Amish
family on an open buggy [PHOTO SOURCE: https://images.app.goo.gl/BSPuadNzT5X2PW8m6
...... https://amish-buggy.com/#amish] https://www.plainandfancyfarm.com/onsite-activities/buggy-rides/ https://www.plainandfancyfarm.com/ https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/07/john-troyer-memorial-award.html
MY THOUGHTS:
While this report is about the horse and buggy Amish population, I notice that the Anabaptist Trio – Amish, Mennonites and Hutterites – have large families with an average of 4 children and high retention rate like the ultra-orthodox Jews. The Anabaptist Trio have high retention rate of 85% to 90% in their church membership.
The Amish population in North America has more than doubled since 2000 to 2025, due to their 85% to 90% retention rate and their high fertility rate. They need more land. Due to their four core values, they have managed to maintain their communities well. Their ‘cousins’ - the Hutterites and Mennonites are historically Anabaptist and share a strong emphasis on family and community. Large families are seen as a blessing and a way to strengthen community bonds, and are common within the Anabaptist Trio communities.
Our home joys are the
most delightful earth affords, and the joy of parents in their children is the
most holy joy of humanity. - Johann
Heinrich Pestalozzi PHOTO
CAPTION: Buggy und Amisch Kinder [PHOTO
SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1175669727895317&set=a.538291671633129]
Due to their high fertility and high
retention rate, they have established 9 new communities [as of July 2025]:
1. Lexington, Jefferson County, Indiana
2. Vevay #3, Switzerland County, Indiana
3. Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky
4. Friendsville, Garrett County, Maryland
5. Hersey #2, Osceola County, Michigan
6. Dadeville, Dade County, Missouri
7. Rock Island/Spencer, Van Buren County, Tennessee
8. Camp Douglas, Juneau County, Wisconsin
9. Port Loring, Parry Sound, Ontario
SOURCE: https://amishamerica.com/the-amish-population-has-grown-over-130-percent-this-century-2025-report/
Amish
youths celebrating Rumspringa with their horse and buggy [PHOTO
SOURCE: https://amishrules.com/amish-values/]
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“Friends are the cherry
on top of the ice cream sunday of your family." j.betts Buggy und Amische Kinder [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1298999715562317&set=a.538291671633129] |
Just like the Amish are repopulating Nebraska’s Sandhills, the Canadian Amish have started two new settlements in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. I feel the Amish in North America will start taking over ghost towns or abandoned farms. One reason is that they have many children like those in Israel, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Faroe Islands, where they will survive the population collapse.
The McCallums head into town in their buggy, pulled by one of their
horses, Terry. Credit: Meredith O'Shea The family that works
together, eats together, and prays together, stays together. – Amish Proverb Meet the McCallums, one of Australia's few Amish families Ever wanted to not just slow down, but jump off the grid? A family
leaves behind the trappings of the 21st century to lead a simple, pious life in
rural Tasmania. BLOG: https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-mccallums-one-of-australias-few.html BLOG: https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-mccallums-and-their-community.html BLOG: https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-mccallum-family-musical-group.html BLOG: https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/08/springfield-farm-fresh-produce-mccallum.html
As Mario Puzo said:
“The strength of a
family, like the strength of an army, is in its loyalty to each other.” -
Mario Puzo
KINDERWELT LINKS:
“A father’s holy life is a rich legacy for his sons.” - Charles Spurgeon
JOHN TROYER MEMORIAL AWARD
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/07/john-troyer-memorial-award.html
The Hebrew phrase for "children are a joy" is "ילדים הם שמחה" (yeldim hem simcha). "ילדים" (yeldim) means "children", and "שמחה" (simcha) means "joy" or "gladness". Israel is the only OECD countries that have the highest fertility rate of 2.91 per woman.
From September 2023 to September 2024, about 183,000 babies were born in Israel, meaning that more than 400 babies were born per day. There was a similar case in 2022, in its annual Amish population study, the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College estimates that 1,450 Amish babies were born in Lancaster County last year. Only 145 Amish of all ages died. That population increase of 1,305 brought the total number of Amish living here to 44,315. There were more Amish births than deaths in that state.
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/12/israels-baby-boom-2024-children-are-joy.html
15 And
he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and
Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in
them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and
let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” - Genesis 48:15-16
(ESV)
ISRAEL’S CHILDREN WORLD: THE ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWS ON THE RISE
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/06/israels-children-world-ultra-orthodox.html
“Our children are the only treasures we can take to heaven.”
AMISH BABY BOOM PART 1 – PROVERBS ABOUT CHILDREN
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/10/amish-baby-boom-part-1-proverbs-about.html
Who takes the child by the hand, takes the mother by the heart. – Danish Proverb
AMISH BABY BOOM PART 2 - CANADIAN AMISH ON THE RISE
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/07/amish-baby-boom-part-2-canadian-amish.html
11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.” – I Samuel 1:11 (ESV)
Our home joys are the most delightful earth affords, and the joy of parents in their children is the most holy joy of humanity. - Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/05/2025-mothers-day-sermons.html
Honor the house in which you were born, the tree that gave you shade, and the village where you were raised. – Swedish Proverb
THE FAROE ISLANDS: CHILDREN’S WORLD IN EUROPE
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-faroe-islands-childrens-world-in.html
Children are a poor man’s wealth. – Danish Proverb
THE ADOPTED CHILDREN OF THE FAROE ISLANDS
https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2024/07/the-adopted-children-of-faroe-islands.html
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Grandchildren race to hunt eggs on Good Friday. (Lovina's Amish Kitchen) [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.shawlocal.com/opinion/2025/04/27/lovinas-amish-kitchen-good-friday-spent-with-family/] https://blackforestproject421.blogspot.com/2025/10/lovina-eichers-amish-kitchen.html |
TEMPORARY LINKS:
https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-fertility-slump-fewer-babies-big-problems/a-73201865
https://www.meforum.org/podcasts/nicholas-eberstadt-the-shifting-demographics-of-the-middle-east
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Christian homeschooling [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1395485119248584&set=a.494446972685741] |
MENNONITE HISTORICAL SITES LINKS:
https://inoldcities.com/how-to-visit-mennonite-history-sites-in-europe/
https://hutt-writevoice.blogspot.com/2015/10/more-on-huttererpark-opening-in.html
http://www.religionen.at/151016_uebrige_brocken_englisch.pdf
https://anabaptistworld.org/history-stones-of-remembrance/
“Where
the heart is rightly disposed, it doth not demand any uncommon abilities to
discharge family worship in a decent and edifying manner.” – George Whitefield 6 And these words
that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them
diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. – Deuteronomy
6:6-7 (ESV) PHOTO CAPTION: The
Martin family gathers at their table in Halfway, as a neighbor child (on the
left) also joins them. The Mennonite family is devoted to their Christian
faith, and avoids worldly influences that would distract them from God. Shanna Sissom/Plainview
Herald [PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Mennonite-family-has-life-filled-with-devotion-8421237.php] https://churchandfamilylife.com/resources/60ca750123fa965169a3c94e https://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/FamilyWorship.pdf https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/puritanevangelism.pdf https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2019/puritan-evangelism/
JOHN OWEN LINKS:
https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2020/01/sermon-by-joel-beeke-puritan-view-of.html
https://lutherandcalvinbrigade914.blogspot.com/2020/08/quote-from-john-owen-work-of-spirit-in.html
https://www.masters.edu/thinking_blog/five-ways-to-kill-sin/
https://www.eternallifeministries.org/prayers.htm
https://beautyinthevalley.com/a-puritan-prayer-yet-i-sin/
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/john-owen-killing-sin/
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