Pathway Publishers

[ohio jones]

I’ve always wondered what Rod & Staff type people say when speaking PA Dutch.

I don't think most Rod & Staff type people are multilingual, although there would be some Spanish speakers.

[Ernie]

Virtually no one lives like the people in Rod and Staff stories.

From my observation, many of my relatives growing up seemed to function just like the Rod and Staff stories. Down to the cliches and all. What do you mean that virtually no one lives like these folks?

Did they always say “Father and mother”, not “mom and dad”?

Yes, those were common terms of address for parents for some families. It is still that way today. That is what some of my nieces call my sister and her husband.

Other families used/use Papa and Mama or Daddy and Mother.

[Jeff Altweg]

Pathway is a non-profit ,by the Amish, For the Amish .....Their flagship paper is the 'Family Life" magazine , believe they have about 40K paid subscribers....They used to print them themselves ,with hydraulic powered printing presses ,but a local "English" company prints them now, then because of the high postage price in Canada , they truck them across the border and mail them in Detroit Mi. at least the USA bound copies ,they've been doing that since at least 1970.....
Joseph Stoll ,their main editor and compiler ,died last year ,of old age , and one of the late Elmo Stoll's sons , is easing in to influence the whole shebang, his way. which is not so good, as I noticed just in the past few months they are coming down harshly ,or more harshly, on the women, in general , that the man is always right, and the women should be sub-servant in every way to the man, or men..They constantly refer to them as "The weaker Vessel" ,etc...Elmo Stoll ,who was super-strict,who passed in 1997 ,I think , had a lot to do with Pathway in the 70's and 80's .....All his son's today are very strict,

[JayP]

I would take issue with your characterizations. I disagree that the Stoll sons are “blaming women” and that the three periodicals have seen significant change. Frankly, Elmo was less involved lately and his sons, especially Joseph deeply involved prior to Elmo passing.

Very unfair attack. I have not been a member of an Anabaptist group in over 20 years and still subscribe to all three magazines. I find them very beneficial and would recommend to ANY family of any Christian denomination. Easier to understand if you are familiar with the Amishway of life? Yes. But valuable to all.

[Jeff Altweg]

The late Joseph Stoll was Elmo's brother , I knew him personally ,and a kind person , he organized and ran the Pathway papers from his deathbed , until he passed away.......
, Elmo's son's are the strict one's now , crushing women in their writings , they had started a very strict newsletter in Caneyville KY, think it was called "Plain things" .....It went to nothing then because of all the bickering in it .They'll be hurting the Pathway papers, if they let them ...

[HeIsRisen]

The late Joseph Stoll was Elmo's brother , I knew him personally ,and a kind person , he organized and ran the Pathway papers from his deathbed , until he passed away.......
, Elmo's son's are the strict one's now , crushing women in their writings , they had started a very strict newsletter in Caneyville KY, think it was called "Plain things" .....It went to nothing then because of all the bickering in it .They'll be hurting the Pathway papers, if they let them ...

I subscribe to Family Life. I wouldn't say it's an overwhelming amount, but there are some stories and content in the ask a question section that I would categorize as encouraging women to have a meek and quiet spirit and to submit to their husband's authority.

These teachings are offensive to the natural flesh, but that doesnt mean theyre wrong. Who likes to be told their body is not their own without the Spirit working within a person to crucify the works of the flesh? Maybe you're talking about something different, but I respect and am encouraged by the women's content in Pathway because they try to promote biblical practices. I find it very encouraging! Sure, you may have to deny yourself, and the husband won't be right all the time in everything a woman submits to (because they're human), but a meek and submissive spirit brings so much peace into the home - who doesn't love peace, unity, and humility? These things are wonderful and bring blessings upon blessings. Pathway will do well by keeping this content.

Again, just my opinion. I understand you may be speaking of different content or something I am not aware of, though.

[JimFoxvog]

Why not? It would feel disrespectful to me to call my mother "Mom."

These sorts of cultural differences are enlightening. I called my parents what they taught me to call them, "Mommy and Daddy" when young, and then "Mom and Dad". If I called them something different than they wanted me to, I think that might have been disrespectful--maybe sarcastic or at least an attempt at humor or false sophistication.

[ken_sylvania]

Why not? It would feel disrespectful to me to call my mother "Mom."

These sorts of cultural differences are enlightening. I called my parents what they taught me to call them, "Mommy and Daddy" when young, and then "Mom and Dad". If I called them something different than they wanted me to, I think that might have been disrespectful--maybe sarcastic or at least an attempt at humor or false sophistication.

Yes, I agree with you on that.

[Jeff Altweg]

They have done a lot of good , the papers ,and the message, though most ,if not all of us .on this forum would not be as affected or influenced by them ,as the Amish.
On the side-note , there are Hutturite colonys in the Western Canadian provinces , that have, or recently used to have no worldly connections at all ,except these Pathway Papers, No newspapers, no magazines, no radio ,no nothing ....at least up to 20 years ago, I do wonder how ,or if ,the cell phones have affected them, though they'd have to be Satilite phones, they're that remote.
We have been receiving all 3 Pathway papers since the 1970's ,since teenage years , And it would they have been a good influence for the Amish, overall, They used to even have their own in-house Poet -artist, Sarah M Weaver from Holmes Co Ohio ,until about 1990, her works can still be spotted here and there..Sometimes in the Amish area thrift stores