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But what about the feuds and struggles that exist among you—where do you suppose they come from? Can’t you see that they arise from conflicting desires for pleasure within yourselves? You crave for something and don’t get it; you are murderously jealous of what you can’t possess yourselves; you struggle and fight with one another. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And when you do ask he doesn’t give it to you, for you, ask in quite the wrong spirit—you only want to satisfy your own desires. (New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips) Greeting in the Savior’s Name, Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” Torrential rains were followed by seven 90iF+ days in succession. Sounds like the introduction to an appeal to join a short-term mission trip to the rainforests of South America. Nope. It’s July in New Hampshire. One day hit 101FF! I try hard to recall those -20IF days in February when the winds are howling and icy snow bites my face as I trudge up the hill to the office. Why does this seem so difficult? Isn’t that so…well, natural? We tend to get all ensnared with the tyranny of the present and lose perspective regarding what has been reality for us most of the time. When those who are here for healing experience debilitating depression, or are overcome with guilt and shame, they often want to give up. We all suffer these phenomena; let’s face it. How easily we forget those days when our heads were so deep in the trough, so filled with rancid, fermenting slop that shame and guilt were overpowered by the stench! It is sin to allow the “woe is me” to drown out the memories of God’s provision in the past. We live in an age when enough is never enough and unless someone gives us more --parents, employers, government, teachers, churches, and yes, even God -- we start to question whether the person or agency really cares. The reason many students here at His Mansion continue to struggle and falter is that they are always focused on what’s ahead and worrying or fretting about who has what they desire. This corruption creeps into the lives of even the most mature believer if we are not on guard. Comparing what we have to what we perceive others to have, and seeing that difference as a measure of our worth to them or to God, will give rise to bitterness. Believing we deserve, or have earned, the right to certain positions or prestige has created more strain and ugliness within communities that almost anything else. If our sense of significance and self-worth is measured by any standard other than to hear God whisper; “Well done, My good and faithful servant,” we are sure to fall prey to feuding and struggles among ourselves. His Mansion is a wonderful “hothouse” in which to experience these tendencies toward covetousness, greed, and jealousy, and to throw ourselves at the mercy of God for healing. Though the weather has been fickle and extreme, God’s work has flourished. In the weeks preceding this writing, four young ladies and one man have come to faith in Christ. We realize that this is but a beginning, but what an important start. Evangelism is at the heart of our mission and seldom does a month go by without someone casting his or her cares upon Jesus. Those who have labored in camp work have seen this happen many times. Someone who, because of church or family background, was assumed to have experienced conversion, is impacted by the Holy Spirit through a message, testimony, or prayer and comes to genuine faith. At His Mansion, this is quite common. What is clear, however, is the difference a valid encounter with the Risen Christ makes! As this letter goes to press, the total population of students in the program is 20. We have 22 interns and expect more by September. It is our prayer that we’ll be able to ramp up the intake so that we will be housing at least 56 students by this time next year. The fields are, indeed, white and ready for harvest and we are eager to reap. Here’s a major happening: For four or five years now, the program for unwed pregnant women (New Beginnings) has been integrated into the main population. This has resulted in New Beginnings receiving less attention and publicity. Subsequently, fewer ladies are presenting themselves for help. It is my sense that the problem has not lessened, but that the social stigma, plus the willingness of grandparents to wade into the problem, has taken the pressure off. A Christ-centered, loving-but-structured environment is still a better option, usually. The building originally built to house New Beginnings as a separate emphasis had been taken over for staff housing. It has now been emptied, cleaned and painted, and dedicated afresh to her original purpose. Spread the word in your church and among local Crisis Pregnancy Centers as to our availability. You can make connection and learn more about His Mansion’s New Beginnings Program by logging on to our webpage: www.hismansiom.com. Here’s a picture of the New Beginnings Home. Pray that by next newsletter there’ll be a set of house parents in the picture! 
New Beginnings, His Mansion’s home for unwed mothers.
We wish to welcome Ron Donovan as the new Board Chairman of His Mansion Ministries. Ron was elected at the annual meeting and replaced David Bell, who has served in that capacity for over thirty years!
Dave Bell, as Chairperson, was nearly singularly responsible for the stability and direction of the ministry. If I were to select a word that characterized Dave, it would be wisdom. He is a man of wisdom -- godly wisdom. There are any number of gifts that men and women possess, and Dave has his share, but few have what I recognize as true wisdom. Dave Bell has it. His service to God, as Chairman and Board Member, has served this work well. Dave has retired from the Board, but certainly has not retired from active service to God, or from the daily busy-ness of life. God alone knows the full benefit of Dave’s thirty-plus years of service to His Mansion. I, and many others, appreciate and respect him. This is far from approaching the value of the proclamation that really counts, but “Well done, Dave Bell.” Ron Donovan received Christ while standing in front of His Mansion’s open-air booth at Woodstock Fair, in Connecticut. His wife, Paulette, had stood in the same spot a day before and met her Savior. She coaxed Ron to “come and see.” He did — see Jesus! A year or so ago, Paulette went to be with her Jesus and this past June Ron married Paulette’s friend from back in the 1970s Mansion days, Alice Gilroy . Ron and Alice now reside in Manchester, Connecticut. Ron has served on the Board for twenty-five years and His Mansion is in sound hands under his leadership. Welcome aboard, Ron. Spread the word. The next Healing in the Context of Community (HCC) is scheduled for October 7-13. This is at the peak of the foliage season and a wonderful time to be in New England. The one-week course is an introduction to healing in the context of a residential community. Candidates may elect to stay an additional six weeks for a more in-depth internship. The cost is the same whether you come for a week or stay for six: $100.00! The senior staff is eager to visit your church and/or young adult group. If you’ve got a mission program scheduled or would welcome a refreshing, faith-building report, please call or email us so that we can put your church on our itinerary. His Mansion is a unique missions agency reaching out to broken and lost men and women from North America and abroad. We are always glad to host visiting work groups. As I write, we are the beneficiaries of generous folks from Canandaigua Baptist Church from upstate New York. What a delightful group of high school, college and adult brothers and sisters – and what a wonderful job they are doing! We look forward to a visit from First Baptist Church of Little Falls, New York, a group that has graced us each summer for the past several years. Thank you once again, Little Falls! Several other individuals and small groups are also scheduled, and we appreciate each one of them. Perhaps you would like to join us, as well…? Hurray! Hurray! Seth and Karen Hilliker have arrived. Karen will start her duties as Woman’s Counseling Supervisor. Seth has found employment at a local car dealership. When I look into the future at the staffing needs coming up, I often wrestle with a niggling doubt. You’d think that after thirty-five years of seeing God supply I’d just trust and never worry. At sixty-five I’ve still got a lot of growing in faith to do! I know that our His Mansion family is a praying and caring family. Our needs grow from year to year and our God supplies each year. As hard as we try to hold spending down and to stay within our budget, there are changes that catch us unawares. Please be in prayer as we approach the table to secure fuel for the coming year. Last year I nearly croaked when I ordered 15,000 gallons of home heating oil at $1.92/gallon. I am now staggered by a number that is $.62/gallon higher! Right behind the cost of fuel comes the related item - -electricity. These increases are going to push us pretty hard. Humanly speaking, in the face of new pressures and hurdles, we’d pull in our heads, hunker down, and wait it out. God has made it clear to us, however, that we are to move ahead -- be prudent, but move. The HMI (His Mansion Institute), which we’ve hinted about for the year past, is going to happen! The details are not ironed out enough to go to press, but there’s no question as to God’s direction to proceed. In the face of higher expenses for everyone, our supporters included, we must trust the God who has provided since 1971 to not only meet our needs, but also keep us moving. It has been over twenty years that I have been able to honestly proclaim that every outstanding bill was paid and that we were not in debt. That is true today! You may now send your support via the Internet by going to our webpage, clicking on “Giving to the Ministry,” and following the PayPal instructions. Although I’ve resisted this method, I have been convinced by some of our more conservative supporters that saving 39 cents on a stamp is good stewardship! For many of those who are under fifty, the Internet has become a way of life and to send envelops is bothersome. Take your pick, but everyone will still receive a personal “Thank You” in the mail. I’m still too old fashioned to change some things! You are important to us. We do appreciate you and value your prayer. This is wonderful. A unique healing community is made up of more that those who reside here and most of us are acutely aware of this. You are partners and co-laborers with us. Thank you so much for caring. Joyful in His service, Stan Farmer
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