Emphasis Preaching Journal

Baptism effects a change in a person. It is a new birth. Recognizing this, the Amish have a time before baptism called rumschpringes or "running around." At age 16, Amish boys and girls join social groups, sometimes called "gangs," to meet a spouse. Because these youths are not yet baptized, the sect's strict rules do not apply to their conduct. In a conservative gang, members wear traditional garb, follow the old ways, and sing hymns at their parties.