June 2025 News

Dear Friend,

Greetings in the name of Jesus.

Another long and cold northern Ohio winter is behind us. I am looking at Naomi’s newly planted garden and imagining fresh watermelon, tomatoes and sweet corn! All are growing their way towards maturity and harvest time. They are not there now, neither do we expect them to be.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” Mark 4:26-29. What a perfect analogy of the Christian walk!

Our world is melting down from disfunction caused by sin, and the controversy between Christ and Satan and the commandments of God versus the commandments of men. If glorifying God is what we desire to do, we have a fantastic opportunity coming up as the controversy climaxes in this world’s final showdown in the near future. We prepare for that by daily faithfulness.

If you know me you’ll know that I am not much of a pope stalker even though the Bible and our forefathers have much to say about that office. Frances recently passed and Leo was elected. And God’s people respond by taking the gospel into all the world. Matt. 24:14. I am a Jesus stalker!

I am part of several Amish Bible study groups each week, and God has been showing me a lot concerning His grace, commitment, and calling upon His children in this life. We are predestined to succeed. (See Romans 8:31-39.) I am very grateful for this part of my life where I can do what I love the most— study the Bible, and share with others the things God is teaching me.

The Lord provided us with a beautiful property for a Wellness Center. We give Him praise for it! And thank you to you all who contributed to that in any way! We are deeply grateful. All things considered, we know this was God’s doing. And thank you for remembering us as we add two more people to our payroll to run the Wellness Center.

Our annual camp meeting is coming up in August. Our main speaker double booked and is unavailable after all. We are disappointed, but understand. Hopefully we can have him speak next year. We will be announcing our keynote speaker as soon as he is confirmed. At this year’s camp meeting we will have Hartland College run classes for the the young people (ages 6-25) This should be a great addition to our camp meeting experience. They will be talking about daily devotions, addictions, etc.

If you ever have any questions please feel free to reach out to us. Otherwise, you’ll find us quietly fulfilling our duties in the vineyard of the Lord. If our finances were to dry up we would have to make a lot of changes, but we would not stop ministry. Thank you for standing with us. We are very grateful!

Yours truly,

Foresthill Wellness Center:

A Beacon of Health and Hope

by Chad Kreuzer, Foresthill Director

This past January, the West Salem Mission acquired a spacious home nestled on 89 acres in the rolling hills of central Ohio. Through a series of divine providences, the Mission invited Chad and Fadia Kreuzer to lead and oversee the new health center. We are deeply grateful for your generous support—your donations made this purchase possible, and we thank God for impressing upon your hearts the desire to give.

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of Foresthill Wellness Center, a health and lifestyle facility nestled on 89 acres in the heart of the second-largest Amish community in the United States, located in Ohio. Guided by the call of Jesus to His disciples in Luke 9:2, “And He sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick,” our mission is to serve as a center of influence in our community. While we acknowledge that God is the ultimate Healer, we believe He has provided principles that can transform lives, particularly for those struggling with lifestyle-related diseases.

A Serene Sanctuary for Healing

The Lord has blessed us with a breathtaking location atop a hill, offering serene, long-ranging views that inspire peace and renewal. Our garden is already taking root, and we will soon begin planting fruit trees, creating a nurturing environment for both body and soul. This tranquil setting will serve as the foundation for our wellness programs, where guests can experience holistic healing in harmony with nature.

Our Journey to Health and Ministry

For over two decades, my wife, Fadia, and I have traveled the world—visiting every continent except Antarctica—sharing seminars on topics ranging from biblical teachings to the gut-brain connection, overcoming addiction and depression, and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. We’ve explored evidence-based, scientifically backed natural remedies, drawing from our experiences at lifestyle centers across the United States. Fadia’s training in allied health at the Black Hills Health and Education Center in South Dakota has further equipped us to share these transformative principles.

My personal journey has deeply shaped our mission. Growing up, I struggled with unhealthy dietary habits and addiction, which led to chronic health issues, including migraines, joint pain, asthma, allergies, and gut problems. While attending a Bible prophecy seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan, during college, my life was transformed by the messages I heard. Yet, my health challenges persisted. During mission work overseas, contaminated water triggered severe gut issues, resulting in a 30-pound weight loss and, unknowingly at the time, depression.

It wasn’t until I implemented health principles inspired by the Spirit of Prophecy that I experienced healing. As my gut health improved, my depression lifted, sparking a curiosity: “Why did this work?” This question led me to years of studying scientific literature, uncovering the reasons behind my transformation. Since then, Fadia and I have witnessed countless lives changed as we’ve shared these principles globally.

Our Vision for Foresthill

Our vision is to create a place where people can discover God’s principles for health, experience restoration, and grow spiritually. Research shows that individuals with conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, and gut disorders are more likely to experience depression. The body and mind are deeply interconnected, each influencing the other. With this in mind, our program at Foresthill will focus on nurturing both physical and mental well-being.

We will explore cutting-edge research on the gut-brain connection, offering cooking classes to teach participants how to prepare foods that promote physical and mental vitality. Additionally, we will provide training on natural remedies, including herbs and hydrotherapy, and apply these treatments to guests where appropriate. We are preparing for our first 18-day session in July or August, Lord willing. While the facility is nearly complete, we have a few repairs to finish and plans to furnish the center to warmly welcome our first guests.

Join Us in This Mission

We invite you to pray for us as we prepare to open Foresthill Wellness Center. Our goal is to be a beacon of hope, helping our community embrace health and faith through God’s healing principles. Stay tuned for updates on our progress and how you can join us in this journey of transformation.

We want every guest—especially our Amish visitors—to feel truly at home in our wellness center. That’s why we’re dedicated to furnishing it with beautifully crafted, Amish-made furniture designed to last a lifetime. Your support helps make this vision a reality. Join us in creating a warm, welcoming space by donating today!

Chad and Fadia Kreuzer, Director and Asst. Director for Foresthill Wellness Center

Donate to Foresthill

A Word from Our Teachers

Edna Hershberger, 5th-8th grades

Greetings to All,

I was born and raised Swartzentruber Amish in Northern New York. A couple years ago, when I was 19, I left my family, community, friends, and everything that was familiar to me and moved to West Salem, Ohio. I was in need of a job and the West Salem Mission was in need of another teacher. So that’s how I ended up with the fulfilling job of being a teacher at our Anabaptist Mission School.

If you have heard anything about our school, you might be wondering what our goal is for our school. Our goal is to teach the children to become missionaries and to be able to share the gospel to everyone they meet on their journeys through life. A great way to be able to share the gospel is to be able to recite it from memory, so every morning we start our day with a prayer, then we gather in a circle and sing a couple of Scripture songs together. Singing verses from the Scriptures is a great way to memorize it.

Each class also takes turns reading a Bible story with the teacher. Then, the students answer several questions about the story to make sure that they understood what they read. We also teach them that their other lessons will help them be able to do great things in life. For example, math will be helpful in finding the cost of traveling to a far country, or building a church house for people to go to worship the Lord. Grammar, spelling, and writing are helpful in writing letters and books to encourage people. And nobody likes to be sick in bed, so in our science and physiology classes we teach them about the wonders of health and cleanliness.

We also have an hour each day where we teach them the value of working to support themselves. We teach them how to crochet beautiful pot holders and scarves, knit cozy socks and hats, make sturdy brooms and a lot of other stuff. Then on Friday afternoons we go door to door to see if people are interested in buying the items they made. We also take Bible study books and religious brochures along for the people that we meet.

Every day we try to have lots of fun together. Recesses are a favorite time for everyone. That means we get to go outside and run and play and rest our minds a little. And one day this past term we all packed up and went to the zoo, which was very fun and interesting. We made a lot of good memories that day.

I am planning to teach again when school starts and I’m already looking forward to it. There are a lot of challenges that come with being a teacher but the joys are worth all the challenges.

God bless,

Edna Hershberger

Emma Weaver, 1st-4th grades

by Emma Weaver, 1st-4th grades

As I look back at the past school year, I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to work with and teach these wonderful little kids God has provided for our school! I feel like I haven’t just been their teacher, they have taught me useful little lessons as well.

Here at the school we don’t teach the students merely to educate them, but that they can share what they have learned with others, and by so doing, be little missionaries for Christ!

When Christmas times comes around we plan a program for the parents and friends of the students and teachers. We encourage the students to look at this program, not in a way to show off what they have learned, but as an opportunity to share what they have learned for the purpose of being missionaries. They share Bible stories and lessons they have learned from Bible class as well as nature poems and songs. Not until we get to heaven will we know what an impact these children have made by sharing God’s word with people!

Throughout the year there were times when I felt discouraged, but there are also so many sweet memories! From some of the students bringing bouquets of flowers, to watching my three energetic fourth-grade boys progress in math, English, and other lessons, it has truly been an honor to serve at the Anabaptist Mission School, and I look forward to seeing how God will lead in the future!

Thank you so much to all of our sponsors, as well as those of you who have been praying for this ministry, we appreciate it!

Sponsor a Child to Attend Anabaptist Mission School

Tuition cost to sponsor a child is $130/mo. or $1,170 per year.

If you would like to sponsor a child to attend the Anabaptist Mission School at West Salem, you may do so:

Online by selecting "Sponsor a Child" as your gift designation.
Call our office (567) 334-1080
Mail a check with "Sponsor a Child" in the memo to:

West Salem Mission

P.O. Box 626

West Salem, OH 44287

Thank you for your support of true education!

Sponsor-a-Child

'Apple Goodie' A Taste of Amish Living

Filling:

1 1/2 c cane sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon
6 c sliced apples

Topping:

1 c quick oats
1 c brown sugar
1 c all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 tsp baking powder
2/3 c vegan butter melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix sugar, flour, salt, and cinnamon. Add to apples; mix. Put it into the bottom of a greased pan and even it out. Mix the topping ingredients until crumbly. Distribute the topping evenly on top of the apple mixture; pat firmly. Bake until the top is nice and brown. Serve warm with milk or cream.