You’ve probably seen the buggies. Maybe you’ve stood behind a family in line at a roadside produce stand in Lancaster County or Holmes County, noticing the quiet dignity, the handmade clothes, and the total lack of smartphones. It’s a striking contrast to our high-speed, hyper-connected reality. Naturally, people get curious. Some folks even start wondering if they could actually make the jump—if they could trade their 9-to-5 desk job for a plow and a community that actually knows their name.
But here is the thing. How to become Amish isn't just about buying a straw hat and ditching your iPhone. It’s a grueling, years-long spiritual and social gauntlet.
Most people assume the Amish are a closed loop, only accepting those born into the faith. That's a common misconception. While it is incredibly rare, the Amish do accept outsiders, whom they call "seekers." However, the path from being an "English" person (their term for anyone not Amish) to a baptized member of the church is steeper than most people realize. It's not a lifestyle choice or a hobby. It is a total surrender of the individual self to the will of God and the community.
The Reality of Being a Seeker
If you’re serious about this, you don't just show up with a suitcase. You have to find a community willing to take you in. This is harder than it sounds. Amish communities are autonomous; there is no central "Amish Headquarters" you can email. Every district has its own Bishop and its own Ordnung—the unwritten set of rules that governs everything from the width of a hat brim to whether or not you can use a pneumatic tool.
Honestly, many communities will be skeptical. They’ve seen "seekers" come and go. Many people are just "rumspringa tourists" or folks having a mid-life crisis who think living without electricity will solve their depression. The Amish value stability. They want to know you’re there for the theology, not just the aesthetic.
First Steps and Moving In
You’ll likely start by visiting. A lot. You’ll need to write letters—real ones, with pens and paper—to ministers in various districts. If a family agrees to host you, you’ll live with them. You won't be a guest; you'll be a laborer. You will wake up at 4:30 AM. You will shovel manure. You will learn how to speak Pennsylvania Dutch, which is the primary language spoken in the home and during church services.
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Think about that for a second. Imagine trying to integrate into a tight-knit family where everyone speaks a dialect of German you don't understand, discussing matters of eternal salvation, while you’re struggling to figure out how to harness a horse. It’s isolating. It’s meant to be. They need to see if you can handle the "apartness" from the world.
The Theological Wall: It's Not Just About Technology
People get hung up on the "no electricity" thing. That’s actually the easy part. The real challenge of how to become Amish is the doctrine of Gelassenheit.
This is a German word that doesn't have a perfect English translation, but it basically means "yieldedness" or "submission." In our modern culture, we are taught to be individuals. We are told to "find our brand," "speak our truth," and "stand out." The Amish way is the exact opposite. You must be willing to submit your will to the church. If the Bishop says you can't have a certain type of tractor or that your sleeves are too short, you don't argue. You obey. For someone raised in a democracy that prizes personal liberty, this is often the breaking point.
The Long Road to Baptism
You don't just "join" and get baptized three weeks later. The process usually takes several years. During this time, you are under intense scrutiny. The community is watching to see if you are truly "plain."
- The Wardrobe Shift: You’ll stop wearing zippers. You’ll adopt the modest, solid-colored clothing of the district.
- The Tech Purge: Your laptop, your car, and your social media accounts have to go. Not just hidden away, but gone.
- The Language Barrier: You must become proficient in Pennsylvania Dutch. Since the church services are held in High German and the social life is in the dialect, you’re a ghost without the language.
- The Testing Period: You will live as a non-member for a long time, proving your commitment through hard manual labor and consistent attendance at three-hour-long church services (where you sit on backless wooden benches).
Real-world examples of successful converts are few and far between. One of the most famous cases is David Luthy, who joined the Old Order Amish in the 1960s. He became a well-known historian and writer within the community. But for every David Luthy, there are hundreds of seekers who realize after six months that they miss air conditioning and the ability to make their own decisions.
Why Most People Fail
The failure rate for seekers is nearly 100%. That’s not a typo. It’s almost total.
The reason isn't usually the hard work. People can get used to physical labor. The reason is the social structure. Amish life is built on genealogy. Everyone is someone’s cousin, nephew, or sister-in-law. When you join as an outsider, you have no roots. You have no family history in a culture that defines itself by family history. You will always, to some extent, be the "English" person who joined. Your children will have a better shot at full integration, but for you, the transition is a lifelong uphill climb.
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Then there is the issue of shunning (Meidung). If you join, get baptized, and then decide it was a mistake and leave, you will be shunned. This means your new community—the only people you have left after giving up your old life—will no longer eat with you, do business with you, or even ride in a carriage with you. It is a total social death. For many seekers, the risk of losing everything twice (once when they leave the world, and again if they fail at being Amish) is too much to bear.
Practical Steps if You are Truly Committed
If you've read all this and you still feel a pull toward the plain life, you shouldn't just drive to Ohio and knock on doors. There is a more respectful way to explore this path.
Start by reading. Don't read "bonnet rippers" (Amish romance novels). Read actual sociological and theological texts. The Riddle of Amish Culture by Donald Kraybill is the gold standard for understanding how these communities function. Look into the writings of the Anabaptists. Understanding the Martyrs Mirror is more important than understanding how to build a barn.
Simplify your current life. If you can't handle a "media fast" for a month in your current home, you won't last a day in a community. Try living without your phone, car, and internet for thirty days. See what bubbles up. Usually, it's a lot of anxiety and boredom. If you can move past that and find peace, you might have the temperament for it.
Contact the Mennonites first. Many people find that the "Plain" Mennonite groups are a more accessible bridge. They share many of the same values—modesty, pacifism, community—but are often more accustomed to dealing with outsiders and may use some modern technology that makes the transition less of a shock to the system.
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Visit as a learner, not a tourist. If you go to a place like Shipshewana or Intercourse, stay at a local bed and breakfast. Talk to people at the markets. Don't take photos of them; it's considered a violation of the Second Commandment (no graven images). Just listen.
Actionable Path for the Serious Seeker:
- Study the Theology: Deep dive into the 1632 Dordrecht Confession of Faith. This is the backbone of their belief system. If you don't agree with every word, stop now.
- Write to the Budget: The Budget is a weekly newspaper based in Sugarcreek, Ohio, that serves Amish and Mennonite communities across the Americas. Reading it will give you a sense of the daily concerns of the people—farm prices, births, deaths, and church news.
- Find a Mentor: You need an "English" person who has close ties to the Amish to act as a bridge. This is often a neighbor or someone who does business with them. Cold-calling an Amish Bishop is rarely successful.
- Prepare for Poverty: You will likely be giving up your career and your retirement savings. Most Amish work in trades, farming, or manual labor. You need to be okay with never being "wealthy" in the worldly sense again.
Becoming Amish is a radical act of rebellion against the modern world. It is a choice to disappear into a collective. It is beautiful, brutal, and incredibly permanent. If you’re looking for a simpler life, you might just need a garden and a flip phone. But if you’re looking for a different way to be human, the path is there—just be ready to walk it in handmade shoes.