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August 2010 “Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.” -Nehemiah 13:9 Greetings in Jesus’ Name; The highways of history are cluttered with the dismantled debris of nations that pushed God into a utilitarian role. There is not a shred of evidence to support the notion that any nation maintained its moral course without a strong religious foundation. The Jews of Judah needed spiritual renewal if it were to be fit for self-government. Frankly, this truth has gripped my heart of late as it pertains to our blessed nation. There seems to be lots of “renewal,” “change” and “trust,” but we’re asked to place it in the strength and wisdom of men. Without the advent of strong, God-fearing leadership in our country, I am very concerned about our future. This subject is especially germane to my immediate situation, given the changes taking place at His Mansion next month. Changes in leadership are critical times for ministries, just as it is for nations. It is vital that His Mansion Ministries maintains its commitment to recognize God on the throne, and submit our growth and direction to the perfect template of God’s Word. God raised up and has sustained this exciting, essential work for nearly forty years. It has been a source of healing, renewal and salvation to hundreds and this is certainly not the result of any one man’s vision, ambition or spiritual superiority. God has done it. I believe one of the reasons His Mansion has continued to grow and to be effective, is the unique blend of men and women He continues to provide. The common thread is their love and reverence for Scripture. Human frailties and failings can be the ruin of any work, but where there is confession, repentance and faith in the promises of God, there will continue to be His blessing. Another reason for God’s mercy toward His Mansion is the need. Occasionally, a work begins out of someone’s “ideas.” When God orchestrates in order to minister to the poor, broken and disenfranchised, He sustains. It occurs to me that if God calls a team of His servants to meet a need and blesses them in the doing of it, He is pleased if they maintain the course and do not venture to build unrelated efforts on the original foundation. A Season of Change
This is a time of change at His Mansion. On September 11th at our board meeting, I will officially pass the baton to Paul Atkinson as the new CEO, and only the second person to serve this ministry in this role. This is the culmination of a four-year process and one I am very pleased to be a part of. My role will change to one of advisor, counselor and mentor, Ambassador-at-Large, I think they call it! I shall continue as a “full-time” missionary, but without the responsibility for the operation, shepherding and direction of the work. I shall continue to accept speaking and preaching opportunities with the goal of promoting the work. Writing and teaching will continue to occupy some time. It occurs to me that 40 years of hanging around here has left me with a head full of experience, and perhaps even some wisdom that can be shared. Being CEO of His Mansion is so much more than merely administrating and executing leadership. The dynamics of living and working in community with a dozen families, twenty plus short-term staff and the 35-40 “residents” whom are here for healing, is an amazing but delicate thing! I’ll look forward to being available to work with other groups of believers who are attempting to shepherd similar efforts. Saying Goodbye
We have said “goodbye” to one of our families this month. The Buxton’s, Cliff and Linda, joined the team a little over 4 years ago. Cliff has served as the Men’s Program Administrator. He is one of those unique individuals that has impacted literally dozens of men over the years. His patience and level-headed approach encouraged many frightened and angry young men to persevere.
Linda has developed health issues over the past year and Cliff made the decision to return to Florida where family on both sides live. They will be missed but I’m sure folks who know them will make where they settle in Florida a waypoint in future trips south. Thank you, Cliff and Linda, for your years of service within this community. God bless you. The Blessings of Summer Continue
Mid-summer is an exciting time here. The harvest is beginning. The canning room is spinning up. Root cellars are being readied. Men are hard at work putting in the 300 cord of wood needed to heat the buildings over winter. Hay is being stored in the c.1767 barn to sustain the dozen or so beef animals as a ready supply of protein.Summer is also the time when work teams flock to His Mansion to serve in a short-term capacity. Many are repeats as His Mansion has become a highly favored destination for colleges, churches and retirees. We recently had the privilege of hosting two church groups visiting us from North Carolina as well as a youth group from Ontario, Canada. It is exciting to see the faces of old friends that come back to visit with various groups and a blessing to continually be making new friends with first-time visitors.
We are looking forward to the diversity of volunteers that are here with us this month. Not only are we seeing groups from NY, CT and MS, but also several couples and families have joined us from FL, OH, NJ and CT. More people on the hill always means more work will get done, but even better is the opportunity to see God at work in even more lives. Upcoming Events
One of the most rewarding aspects to life on this hill is the opportunity to see the process of God’s transformation in those who come seeking help through our year long program. September 11th, our next graduation, will be the celebration of the renewal of life as experienced by the nine members of this upcoming graduating class. Each unique testimony offered by these residents gives evidence of the saving grace that can only be experienced through Jesus Christ. September 11th will definitely be a packed day here! Right after lunch at 1PM, the Board of Directors will have a formal dedication of the new Men’s Dormitory. We are thankful to Sam Farmer, the General Contractor of the project, for a fine product. As a bonus; after completing the project, Sam decided to join the His Mansion community serving as Operations Supervisor. The entire project, 10,000 sq. ft., housing up to forty men has ended up costing $490,000. Of this, $45,000 had to be taken out of the General Operating funds. The math indicates a $45,000 shortfall, but several pledged gifts are yet to show up. It is my belief that that gap can be filled by year’s end.
It seems here at His Mansion, we are never at a point of completion of all projects. As our male residents have now all moved into the new men’s dorm, our next task will be the renovations required to transform the old dorm into the new His Mansion Institute dormitory.
His Mansion Institute
It has been exciting to see His Mansion Institute begin to get underway. Nick Clark, Program Administrator for HMI, and his family have officially moved onto the hill! Under the leadership of Dr. Michael Tso, the two are eager to begin the collaborative work of implementing the new program. Additional information and the new HMI video are available on our website at www.hismansion.com. I would additionally encourage you to stay connected with us by joining our His Mansion facebook page, www.facebook.com/hismansion. We will keep you updated on guests and work groups that are visiting the hill, future events that are planned, pictures from past events and activities, as well as an occasional inspiring thought. Feel free to leave us a thought or comment on the page as we enjoy hearing from you too.
Crazy stuff goes on in our national economy--accounting practices that are quite foreign to me! People are out of work and the cost of living increases. Guess what? God remains the same. We can trust in Him because His books are always in order!
I am, frankly, very optimistic for the coming year as it has to do with His Mansion. The need for our services is greater every year. The men and women who are healed, restored and go out into the harvest, are a constant source of joy and encouragement. You, our partners, are so faithful. It is my joy, each month, to know that we will pay our bills and incur no debt because God has provided an army of men and women who sacrifice and invest in this work. His Mansion is privileged indeed to co-labor with you.Thank you so much for your love, prayer and partnership. Joyful in His service,
Stan Farmer, CEO
His Mansion Ministries, Inc.
www.hismansion.com
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