My wife (MaryEtta Miller) of 32 years suffered severe sexual abuse as a teenage girl that was both violent and extremely traumatic in nature from her own brothers. Her family is prominent in the Old Order Amish church in Northern Indiana.
The poison that this abuse injected into her soul did untold damage both physically and emotionally. She kept it hidden for 15 years; 5 years into our marriage. Her innocence in this matter created her silence. When she shared it with me, we knew that steps need to be taken. The bitter root from these violations that grew, unnoticed, caused tremendous damage both in her body and soul. She had been set free on the inside and experienced the joy of being God’s daughter, made in His image, not made into an object for man’s approval. Many years later she wrote letters to her father and brothers, exposing what had happened. There was very little repentance, mostly disdain and completely covering it up to this day. Her overcoming was evident in our marriage as she forgave and even tried (to no avail) to expose and gently confront this atrocity to her family members that were responsible. Let every young man know that unchecked sexual passion destroys lives.
From her son Joseph:
In 1995 we as an old order Amish community experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:1-21 Our family and new fledgling Amish community was turned 180 degrees into full pursuit of Jesus and His will for our lives as is shown in the New Testament scriptures. We chose to never have an “Atnung’s brief” in the Libby, MT community but began to connect with the Body of Christ local and ultimately
worldwide. Mom was liberated from bondage to this abuse as she walked with God, chosing to apply the Grace of God and loving her own family well. Her own Indiana family’s rejection
of her spiritual walk with Jesus was a burden for her, their constant underlying negative attitude and criticizing comments were a painful reminder that we could not walk together with Jesus. Jesus was first in Mom’s life. In 2019, seeking her complete healing and freedom from any lasting effects of this abuse, Dad scheduled a call with a deliverance ministry. Mark 16:17 In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues… When this man prayed he mentioned that incest demons are the most intertwined spirits that can come into a person’s life, they come from their own family. What was meant to bring life brings death. Mom was not looking to get even but she forgave. In that moment when those demons were confronted, cast out and all shame was removed, she was further liberated from years of injustice through the Holy Spirit and His great Mercy. It was another kiss from the Father in Heaven. Just before this encounter, she had suffered the most intense pain. She still passed on to her reward with Jesus in Heaven but the Lord vindicated her for what the enemy had stolen. In the natural she died but she is SO alive in the Spirit with the Lord for one reason. “She knew the Lord and she trusted His Word as her daily bread.”