Editorial

A single powerful story can affect generations of people that follow. Sometimes such a story creates a movement and a set of convictions. Analyzing the stories that are foundational to our faith can reinforce the values woven into our faith.

Each of our family systems has stories that help define who we are. Each congregation has stories that create a historical context for the arguments and reconciliations of today. Our country has stories that form the fabric of our identity—from the Boston Tea Party to slave auctions to landing on the moon. But for Christians, the most important stories are those that put a flesh-and-blood reality on to the way God wants us to live.

One such story is that of Amishman Jacob Hochstetler.

The Hochstetler family, living on the edge of the Blue Mountains in Pennsylvania, was attacked by Delaware and Shawnee Indians in September 1757. The family hid in the cellar as the attackers burned their house. But the family was eventually discovered. Mrs. Hochstetler, an infant girl and Jacob Jr. were killed. Jacob Sr. and sons Joseph and Christian were taken captive. The two oldest children, John and Barbara, were married and not involved in the attack.

Given the tensions along the “frontier” in colonial Pennsylvania and the way Native American tribes were used by both sides during the French and Indian War, such incidents were common in the 1750s. Other Mennonite and Amish families were also attacked during this period. But it was a decision made by Jacob Hochstetler that established this story as the seminal moment for many of his descendants. He prohibited his two sons—both of whom were excellent marksmen—from using the rifles and ample ammunition in their house to defend themselves from the attackers.

The story is so powerful that it has created a growing network of descendants and a kind of cottage industry. On Aug. 2 I attended the nationwide gathering in Goshen, Ind., of the Jacob Hochstetler Family Association. Nearly 600 people spent the day examining every facet of the story and debating various questions left unresolved.

Much of the focus was on genealogy: how many ways to track our ancestry back to a member of the Hochstetler family. Most intriguing was a presentation by James Hostetler. He introduced his database, which currently has in it 324,112 descendants of Jacob Hochstetler and 123,795 spouses of those descendants. But his database was just one of eight available for genealogical research.

The gathering also featured vendors selling various books related to the 1757 attack as well as artwork depicting the event. And most conspicuous were the stars on our nametags: We each received a gold star to place under the name(s) of the Hochstetler children from whom we descended: John, Barbara, Joseph and Christian. Some sported more than one star.

The problem with this “family reunion”—and even writing about it—is that it leaves many people out. The flip side is that the story has remained as an enduring inspiration for generations.

As I soaked up the enthusiasm for the “Jacob Hochstetler Family Attack” story, it occurred to me that Christians gather symbolically—and eventually in heaven—around another story. It includes everyone: Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is the seminal story in the universe. That story has created cultures, institutions and—some would say—nations. At times the details of the story and the meanings of his words have been so important that people fought wars over them. Others were martyred when they refused to accept certain interpretations of the Bible.

The power of this story—Jesus’ teachings and his selfless death on the cross—framed Jacob Hochstetler’s decision the fateful day in September 251 years ago.

Any of us who are descendants of this Amishman—and any who are inspired by his actions—can best honor his sacrifice by placing the Jesus story similarly at the center of our actions, words and lives.