100 Issues of Plain Values magazine!
REVISITING THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE FIRST 100 ISSUES OF PLAIN VALUES MAGAZINE
So much has happened since the first issue of Plain Values was published back in 2012. The magazine itself looks quite a bit different, hopefully for the better, but the world we live in looks a bit different as well. We’ve all had to navigate our share of challenges and struggles since 2012, but as we look back and reflect on the past nine years we can clearly see the hand of God at work in our little magazine–and in the lives of our readers as well.
As you scroll through the years, we’ve provided some commentary from members of the Plain Values team on what’s impacted, inspired, or called them to action over these first 100 issues.
JULY 2012 – THE BEGINNING
Marlin Miller, publisher
“It’s amazing to look back to our very first issue and see just how far the Lord has brought us. The first two “issues” were technically not even considered magazines–the only thing in them was advertisements! These flyers, however, were stepping-stones towards our vision of producing a magazine.”
JUNE 2013 – ISSUE #1
Marlin Miller, publisher
“In June of 2013, we published our first ‘official’ magazine, complete with stories for our readers to enjoy. Although it says ‘Issue 3’ on the cover, looking back, we consider this the first month we were able to call it a magazine.”
SEPTEMBER 2014 – ISSUE #15
Marlin Miller, publisher
“John Schmid was my dad’s good friend, and he used to put on concerts for up to 400 people at our family cabin for many years. It was an honor to share his work and life story with our readers. We went on to publish a few books for John and are still good friends to this day.“
APRIL 2015 – ISSUE #22
Marlin Miller, publisher
“Hank and Ruth Hershberger are dear friends who invested many years in Bible translation both abroad and within our Amish communities. Hank is 98 and Ruth is “around 90;” they continue to invest their lives praying for many people, including the Plain Values family.”
FEBRUARY 2016 – ISSUE #32
Isaac Hershberger, production manager
“In this issue, we published part one of a four-part series on the life of Atlee Barkman, the father of Phil Barkman – who was our editor at the time. Phil is a dear friend of mine, so getting to read how the Lord worked in his father’s life was a joy.”
OCTOBER 2017 – ISSUE #52
Marlin Miller, publisher
“In this issue we briefly shared how Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Texas in August of 2017. A few months later, our readers sent almost $30,000, boots, and blankets to a church aiding displaced refugees.”
MARCH 2019 – ISSUE #69
Matt Yoder, Ohio sales advisor
“I was truly inspired by the story of ‘Nickel Mines – from Heartache to Hope’, as well as the follow-up story in September of 2021, ‘New Hope’. I was moved by the way those families were able to react after such a horrific day, how they chose forgiveness, and how God used that choice to somehow impact and help a brokenhearted community on the other side of the world. This is how God works when we choose His ways and not our own.”
JULY – AUGUST 2019 – ISSUE #73 – 74
Marlin Miller, publisher
“Kevin Kate and Curt King have been drilling water wells in Haiti for many years, bringing clean water into the area, which in turn brings massive change to the villages in the region. In the spring of 2019, we sent one of our writers and our photographer with Kevin to document the work and stories. When Landon came home with over 3,000 photos, we saw an opportunity. Choosing the best dozen, we sold enough calendars to drill 3 more wells.”
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2019 – ISSUE #75 – 78
Nic Stoltzfus, editorial manager
“I had the opportunity to travel with my father Elam to Passau, Germany, when he was doing research on the Ausbund. Since my dad grew up Amish, he has a deep connection to this songbook, and I got to explore more of that history with him. It was a unique opportunity to connect more with my dad and my heritage.”
FEBRUARY 2020 – ISSUE #80
Seth Yoder, graphic artist
“Giving underprivileged children the opportunity to hunt deer is always a treat. My dad and I participate in a local deer management co-op that organizes an annual youth hunt. Watching the young hunters’ faces light up makes you realize it’s about more than hunting. Because of my close ties to this organization, this story meant a lot to me.”
APRIL 2020 – ISSUE #82
Bethany Troyer, bookkeeping
“I was deeply impacted by this issue. It hurt to read about the orphans in Eastern Europe who have never known the love of a family or friend and are living in horrible circumstances. Reading of Israel’s story shows what God is capable of doing if we are willing to answer the call he has placed on each of our hearts.”
Kevin Bille, general manager
“This story is so inspiring! The part about walking through doors and the difficulty it brings really resonates with me. I think all of us go through those types of situations in our life and it makes us appreciate what God has in store for each of us–or as it mentions in the story, what God is doing through us.”
JUNE 2020 – ISSUE #84
Aaron Stutzman, Indiana + Michigan sales advisor
“This is the issue that showed up in my mailbox the day I got the call offering me the opportunity to work with Plain Values. I took it as a confirmation from God that this is what I was supposed to do for the next chapter in my life.”
JULY 2020 – ISSUE #85
Landon Troyer, photographer
“The mission of Forest of Hope is to provide the education tuition of children by planting trees. With two growing cycles and a harvest strategy, Tim Troyer is investing in communities on so many levels: education, infrastructure, and providing jobs. I love how this has such an incredible impact on everyone within the community.”
SEPTEMBER 2021 – ISSUE #99
Jan Schlabach, customer service
“I was inspired by the September 2021 issue. The story of the tragedy at Nickel Mines touched my heart. The forgiveness that the community of Nickel Mines showed can only come from God. The redemption that God worked in the hearts of everyone is beyond human ability. What Satan means for evil, God will turn for good.”
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THE 100TH ISSUE & BEYOND
We made it. This post is the culmination of 100 months of hard work, progress, and–most of all–God’s leading.
As humbled and thankful as we are to have reached this point, we know this is still just the beginning. We don’t exactly know where the next 100 issues of Plain Values will take us, no doubt to places we never thought possible. However, we do know this–our roots are firmly planted and there’s no telling how far our Lord will extend our branches. However far that may or may not be, we are nothing but excited for the next 100 months.
Thank you to everyone, from our readers to our writers to our advertisers and friends for taking this humble magazine to where it is today. You’re all family in our eyes.