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"From that time on, Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the Law, and that He must be killed, and on the third day be raised to life." Matthew 16:21 Greetings in The Name, Springtime is upon us. We still have small piles of snow hidden in shaded areas and the night temperatures are consistently below freezing, but signs of spring abound. The extremities of the trees glow with a slight maroon hue in the morning sunlight, and although hidden by the thick cover of the evergreens, the English sparrows sing a song of anticipation. Robins frantically listen for burrowing worms, but are frustrated by the semi-frozen earth. A sweet-smelling steam cloud spews forth from the vents atop the sugarhouse, and the sun sneaks through the branches a little earlier every day. Something is about to happen! Someone may have decided to celebrate Easter at this date for all the wrong reasons, but it sure works for me. The season inspires so much anticipation, so much powerful excitement! The earth that has appeared dead and lifeless for many months, now promises to bring forth new life -- just as Jesus said, that on the third day He would be raised to life. Throughout the Gospels He repeats this over and over. Are we to learn something from the fact that while Jesus' enemies seemed to have remembered His words concerning the resurrection, His disciples soon forgot them? With so much incredible stimulation from music, DVDs, television, radio, and advertisements, it’s no wonder our minds take little time off to ponder the realities of a spiritual dimension. The fact of the matter is, Jesus will return. Most Christians have ceased to let this fact permeate their current thoughts or plans. This being true, consider how difficult it is for the extremely existential twenty-to-thirty-year-old man or woman, whose mind and behavior is completely entangled in the confusion of drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, and sexual addiction, to consider the return of Christ. For sure, there’s a lot of work to be done untangling the backlash of poor choices and victimization before the deeper work of discipleship can begin, but before their tenure at His Mansion is over we must attempt to instill a daily consciousness that today He might return—not just someday, but NOW! The resurrection of Jesus Christ has already taken place. The next major event in prophetic promise is His return. My partners in this work, take a moment to consider this truth. It may have been awhile since you’ve contemplated it. It was a radical proclamation when Jesus spoke it; it is even more radical today. It can profoundly influence how you spend, how you plan, and how you react to daily stress and decisions. His Mansion has been an active place this past month. We’ve accepted three new residents, and seen a few decide that it was too difficult for them, and leave. The highlight, however, was the quarterly graduation from the program in early March. The graduates were: Stephanie from Texas; Zack from Ohio; Josh from Michigan; Tony from Vermont; and Princess from Connecticut. Stephanie has returned to take the Servant Leadership Training Course offered here at His Mansion in New Hampshire. It is our hope that she’ll consider serving for a year after completion (hint, hint!). Zack has returned to Ohio to settle family matters and decide where to head from there. Josh has relocated to His Mansion’s Christian Growth Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Princess lives in Connecticut where she is employed and fellowships in a local church community. A wonderful woman in her church is mentoring her. Tony returned to Vermont where his family lives, and he is carrying on well. The first few months after graduation are difficult, and those who do not put off finding a good church and getting involved quickly, have the best chance of success. Your prayer for these four could be vital. Our beloved friend Toshi, from Nagaland, India, has contacted us about returning with his fiancé this summer. Toshi and Tainla have courted for fourteen years! Because they coincidentally have the same last name, tribal law in the village insists that they cannot be married there. Both are fulltime workers in the local church and have demonstrated a deep surrender to Jesus. We have profited from Toshi’s ministry with us several times and we welcome him (them) back. There could be wedding bells during their stay! One of the exciting things that takes place at His Mansion is the Sunday Night Book Club sponsored by, and held at the home of, Jim and Linda Hogue (our Office Manager). You may be surprised to learn that this optional event is actually very popular. A book is chosen that is deemed to have character-forming challenge, or be culturally relevant. They meet and discuss, and those discussions are lively. It is sometimes difficult to get a word in edgewise! I’ve received several letters this month that serve as evidence of the value of your investment in this work. A grateful pastor writes: “I attended His Mansion back in 1979-1980 as a troubled young man, having committed robberies, burglaries, filled with anger, bitterness, and rebellion. When I attended HM it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I did not realize God was preparing me for something great. I thank God for His Mansion. His Mansion has given me the foundation through Christ Jesus to reshape my life and help me become a productive citizen. I am currently pastoring a church in Connecticut. I am very grateful to have been a part of His Mansion.” “Terry,” as he was called then, was young enough that we enrolled him, along with another young Afro-American, into the local high school. (In those days we were able to bring in folks as young as 16.) They were the first “black men” to have ever been students at Hillsboro High! It blesses our hearts to see the rich fruit of our work and your prayerful support. Not a bad return! A U.S. Army Sergeant writes: “I apologize for not writing sooner, but we, the 1-61st Cavalry of the 101st Airborne Division, are home from a thirteen-month deployment in Iraq. I have never seen a country so turned upside down and in need of help! I know some people in our country wonder, “Why are we there?” and, “Is it worth it?” From a soldier’s point of view…YES, to both! My main purpose [for writing] is to say, as a former brother that was there at His Mansion as a student, my life has been getting better and better as I look toward God’s help and desire to be with Him! I’ve been stationed out of Ft. Campbell five years now, and will be getting out of the army after eleven years of service. Keep praying for our brothers and sisters that are there protecting us, and for the families that have lost loved ones, such as the families in my company. We lost three of our brothers there.” A grateful mom shares: “I can’t tell you how grateful I am, and have been for the past twelve years since you opened the door to accept my son, Joseph, into your ministry program. We were, no doubt, desperate apart from a miracle on God’s part. And I want to tell you that God has kept him in His wonderful care and I know God will never leave nor forsake him. (He is such a joy and a blessing!) I would like to give back a love offering in a monthly gift.” And this from a former student: “I, myself, know first hand how much God has and will move in a person’s life at His Mansion, for I was once a student of His Mansion. For the short time I was there, God made a tremendous impact in my life. I can’t even begin to tell you how blessed I now feel to have been apart of the His Mansion Ministries program! To tell you the truth, I now look back at the years of my life and only wish I would have completed the program; however, I did not. The one good thing that I carry with me for now and evermore is the fact that I know that God is real. I have felt His presence, and the love that He demonstrates through people. I just cannot say enough good things about His Mansion Ministries. It is a lifestyle worth living. If there is anything within my power to help His Mansion, please do not hesitate to ask, for I know God’s hands are in every decision that is made at His Mansion.” Graduates from the program and young men and women who have served a year internship have gone on to be pastors, missionaries, youth workers, lawyers, doctors, psychologists, cabinetmakers, construction workers, nurses, businessmen and women, and wonderful moms and dads. Please try to appreciate the truth that you, by your prayer and gifts, are as much a part of this wonderful work of God as any of those who have the privilege of laboring here. We need you and appreciate you. You make a difference. Just look at the letters above! We encourage our graduates and interns to “look to the fields” and consider a life of service. Often, that life either begins with a short-term experience, or consists of ongoing short-term efforts. Even those who serve full-time at His Mansion are encouraged to reach out beyond our comfort zones. Paul Atkinson, the Corporate Administrator of His Mansion New Hampshire, has returned from an outreach to the prisons of central Africa. It is our privilege to encourage Paul and others to take it somewhere and give it away! Here is his report: “I have just returned from our trip to Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda. As we were making plans for this recent trip to Africa, we were praying sincerely that God would give us the greatest harvest of souls that we had ever seen. During my time in Africa, our team shared the gospel in over 30 prisons, schools, and churches in the three countries where we worked. We preached Jesus to almost 30,000 people with over 17,000 praying to receive Christ as Savior. Truly, this huge harvest of souls was in response to the prayers of all of you who prayed so diligently for us while we were gone. You will share in the rewards of this great harvest! Thank you so much for being a vital part of this unbelievable movement of God.
The work in Kenya and Uganda where we have been going for so long was just super. When we arrived in Rwanda for our very first time and went into the largest prisons I have ever been in, (some having over 12,000 inmates), we saw thousands come to Jesus and readily confess Him publicly. Please bear in mind that 70% of these prisoners in Rwanda were in prison without ever having been before a judge! They have yet to be formally accused and thousands who have been convicted, simply were in the wrong place at the wrong time, or born to an out-of-favor tribe! Now God is moving and changing the hearts that are bitter and vengeful, and bringing brokenness and repentance to the people of this beautiful country. We are totally convinced that God is going to send revival to this small African country that has been so scarred by the demonically-inspired crimes and sins of so many. We are trusting God to bring about spiritual awakening, ultimate forgiveness, and reconciliation. I continually acknowledge that God is awesome and faithful!” The next Healing in the Context of Community (HCC) starts June 9th. The introductory session lasts a week and an extended class, plus hands-on training, runs for six additional weeks. The one-week course costs $100.00 and includes room and board! The additional six weeks is complimentary for those completing the intro. This is an educational/experiential opportunity of a lifetime! Those who are eligible and choose to sign on for a year will have their fees reimbursed. The other great opportunity offered at His Mansion is the six-month-long Servant Leadership Training program. Candidates for this option may be less experienced, not quite old enough or mature enough for serving as mentors, or emerging from home schooling and desiring a buffer experience prior to heading off to college or employment. Many of our mentors are products of the SLT program. We can only accept a limited number of candidates, so get your applications in now. See the webpage (www.hismansion.com) or call 603-464-5555. If you choose to use the application on our website, we ask that you print it out and send it in via US mail. Unfortunately, we do not always receive applications submitted online. The new construction that will allow us to accept students majoring in Social Work, Human Services, Counseling, and Pastoral Studies, is well into the planning stages. It is important that we give the opportunity to be able to add practical application to academic knowledge as a complement to the standard studies that young people are privileged to receive at various colleges, universities, and Bible schools. A six- to twelve-month internship or practicum at His Mansion might well make the difference between a professional caregiver who is mainly theoretically-minded and one that has experiential, practical knowledge as well. His Mansion is in the “testing-the-waters” stage of working out partnership arrangements with Moody Bible Institute, Liberty University, Emmaus Bible College, Gordon College/Seminary, and Spring Arbor College. These are surely exciting times as we move the tent pegs out and trust God to provide and guide. Pray with us, please. Once more, we finish the month with every outstanding bill paid and with no long-term debt. You are a faithful family of prayer and financial supporters. His Mansion wants to be a sound investment of your sacrifices for the work of His Kingdom. Our annual audit should be ready in a month or so, and will be available to any who desire to have it. Thank you very much for caring. Your love and practical giving makes a real difference in the healing and restoration of battered and broken souls. I thank you, as well! Joyful in His Service,
Stan Farmer
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