Linda Miller

Interview by Diana Gipson

 Unless you already knew, you would never guess this fashionable lady was raised in an Amish home.

Linda Miller's smile lights up her whole face, and you can tell it comes from a joyful heart.  Maybe you know her from church, and/or perhaps she's greeted you at the Essenhaus, where she has worked for 22 years.  Wherever you might see her, she is friendly and fun to be around.  Her joy is the real thing, and Linda has walked quite a road through her life to find the joy of the Lord!  She knows all about new beginnings.

Growing up Amish, Linda was taught to do what the church rules stated, and that was that.  "It was more works-related than a relationship with God," she remembers.  Her parents, though, were interested in things of the Bible.  "My dad had a daily devotional, read in English, which was frowned upon in most homes back then."  Linda learned work ethics and did many things with her family and neighbors.

The Amish have a tradition of allowing their teenage children (16 and up) to experience Rumspringa, or a time to explore the non-Amish world before choosing whether or not to be baptized into the Amish church.  Many times this includes partying and dating couples sleeping together.  Linda's parents did not want her involved in these kinds of activities.  Apparently, the Word of God being read in their home was working on their hearts!

One month shy of her 16th birthday, Linda's family left the Amish church.  "I lost all my friends because no one could have anything to do with us.  We were put under a ban for 6-8 months."  Her parents were trying to follow the Lord's leading but because of the bondage of legalism, chose a more lenient yet still rules-oriented church.  Linda responded during an evangelistic service at their new church, asked Jesus to be her Savior and was baptized.  "I knew I needed something more in my life," she says.  "God drew me to Himself."

But Linda still had many questions and, because of this, was deemed rebellious.  "I was an outgoing, rambunctious, full of life kind of person.  I believe they thought my questions equaled not wanting to follow rules, when in reality I wanted to know truth!"  As Linda read her Bible, many questions would come up, but they always went unanswered.  She didn't understand why she was asked to comply with so many rules and was even put on probation for having questions!  "I started to question my faith.  If this is what it means to be a Christian, I didn't know if I really needed or wanted it!"

Then she met Floyd, her husband now, at the age of seventeen.  She says it was kind of "love at first sight," but their church had a rule about not dating until the age of eighteen.  They got to know each other in a group setting and then had their first date on her 18th birthday.  Floyd, too, was raised in a rules-oriented church, and she eventually joined him there.  After dating over three years, they married in November of 1975.

At the birth of their first daughter, Jessica, they felt that God was leading them to attend a church where they could live out what they really believed.  The church was Mennonite, but still "liberal" enough that their parents were devastated!

After their second daughter, Melissa, and son, Eric, were born, Linda was very busy with motherhood and starting a Moms in Touch group in the Middlebury School Corp.  Floyd and Linda continued to learn and grow in the Lord and realized the freedom of Christ!  They were very active in their church, but found themselves questioning the legalism, and whether or not they were at the right church.  They went to another Mennonite church, where God healed them of past hurts and pains of legalism.

In 1990, Linda's mom was killed while vacationing in Florida.  This was a very difficult time in Linda's life.  Growing up with three brothers and never having sisters, Linda was close to her mom even though they didn't agree on everything.  "I didn't understand why," she recalls.  "But I somehow knew God allowed this to happen for His glory and for our good.  I learned to trust God in a deeper sort of way!"  This experience drew her family closer to God and to one another.  "I still miss her but thank God for what she taught me--to follow God!  No matter what!"

Floyd and Linda were drawn to Sugar Grove Church because of the fundamental truths taught.  "The BIBLE, not some other person or ideas!  But the truths are heard and taught, and we love that there is a freedom in Christ--in action, taught and seen in everyday, common people here, and yet a heart of service toward less fortunate people, a community that feels like family and hearts drawn toward God."  Linda loves the Precepts Bible Study as well.

"I have learned that there truly is a freedom in Christ as we give our total self, all of us, every part of me to God, to use for His glory!  God is more than legalism and man-made rules and the formalities I was engulfed in.  God is the author of my faith--He has given the rules for holy living.  We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ!"

What are some of Linda's loves?  She loves spending time with her family, including her two grandchildren, Isabella and Isaiah.  Also topping her list are decorating, gardening, shopping (or looking), musicals, socializing with friends, walking and visiting her daughter and son-in-law in Florida--in the winter! :)

She also loves encouraging people and praying with them.  "I believe in the power of prayer!"

A favorite Bible passage is Daniel 2:20-23: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king."

From Amish rule-follower to free Christ-follower, Linda sums up her life in three powerful words, "God is Awesome!"