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“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe…” Psalm 107: 1,2. NIV Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, This has been a month of thanksgiving. There is so much for which to be thankful. The family at His Mansion has focused upon the great gift of life -- eternal life --that is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That one gift is really more like a huge package filled with gifts. It is not merely life -- eternal life -- but abundant, eternal life! God has given those of us serving here the privilege of witnessing new birth again. Two ladies and a young man have surrendered their lives to Christ this past month and the transformation is evident! To see these hurting and depressed men and women finally grasp the truth that they are lovable and acceptable -- and accepted by God -- is enough to provoke praise and thanksgiving, no matter what the season. The angels delight at this gift and rejoice in His presence whenever it occurs. I am somewhat fearful that in our present-day culture, we are not as impressed and excited about these things. A spiritual lethargy has set in. We should be ecstatic! In addition to new ones coming to faith, we have seen significant transformation and change in the lives of residents in the program. Several of the residents have wounds so deep, and pain so acute, that only a miracle will suffice -- ones whose hurt and abuse would bring you to tears just to hear a fragment of their stories. When I hear them, I realize afresh that it is only the love and mercy of God that can ease the pain and accomplish the healing. We are seeing that divine process, and it is a source of daily encouragement. Everything else that blesses us is secondary to new birth and changed lives. There is even more to thank Him for, however. We have gone through another year with no major accidents. His Mansion is an agriculturally-based community, which means we produce our own meats, much of our produce, harvest and process the trees that become the lumber we build with and burn for heat, and maintain and operate the tractors, snowplows, trucks and vehicles necessary to keep things clear and moving. Meals are prepared in hot kitchens, roofs are replaced, chimneys cleaned, and animals herded about. These are all tasks that can be dangerous and risky. If I didn’t leave this area of concern with the Lord, I’d never sleep! Hardly a day goes by that I am not thankful for God’s faithful care and the presence of His angels watching those who are busy about these things. People in the midst of putting their lives back together cannot be sheltered to the extent that the daily routine, need to work, and necessity to invest in their own recovery is eliminated. It is a tightrope that we walk here at His Mansion, but God is faithful, and we are grateful. God’s provision for a new generation of staff is also reason to praise. The dedication of young men and women mentors makes it possible to have more hurting folks in residence than we’ve had in many, many years. At present, His Mansion houses 34 men and women in the program. Thank You, Lord. Each day that I step out of my house and look about this unique campus, I am filled with thanksgiving. The trees, mountains and valley, gardens, and buildings are energized by the life that pulses within and without. Birds singing, cattle lowing, and the voices of men and women able to laugh and sing again, lift one’s spirit high. God, I am so thankful for His Mansion!
Thanksgiving Day celebrations really started the evening before. The evening dinner bell rang out and 75 hungry people headed into the dining room. Upon sitting down, they discovered only warm water, oatmeal, and peanuts to fill their stomachs. No explanation was offered. The residents and staff just began chattering and nibbling. Dave and Diane Hultgren, who have been serving at His Mansion for 27 years, and Joan and I, who have been here since the start in 1971, narrate two trays filled with slides of scenes from those early days. The family at His Mansion in the early seventies did actually flourish on water, oatmeal, and USDA surplus peanuts for several months! Not that there wasn’t some variation. Once a Stonington, Connecticut dragger brought us a 55-gallon drum, filled with un-cleaned flounder, and on another occasion two workers at a horsemeat-packing firm gave us meat, which we were thankful for. Other stories that catch the attention of the current family are the ones involving the capture of a huge snapper turtle, and our son, Shawn, shooting 15 grey squirrels. The turtle became “beef stew” and was devoured greedily, while the meal of “chicken fricassee” was also a hit, despite the fact that each bird had four drumsticks and no wings! As a contrast to those leaner days, here is our annual harvest tally:
188 quarts of green beans
162 quarts of wax beans
136 quarts of broccoli
340 quarts of carrots
280 quarts of corn
132 quarts of cabbage
242 quarts of bell peppers
62 quarts of spinach
28 quarts of zucchini
326 quarts of strawberries
44 quarts of rhubarb
64 quarts of pumpkin
246 quarts of apples
746 quarts of tomatoes
35 quarts of sauerkraut
63 quarts of blueberries
31 quarts of beets
222 quarts of salsa
14 turkeys
97 chickens
65 gallons of apple cider
So we celebrated God‘s rich provision on Thanksgiving Day with “Old Mansion Night” as a backdrop. The meals today are much different, and much better. The table was filled to the breaking with every favorite standby. The roasted turkeys were raised and slaughtered here, some reaching above thirty pounds each! Squash, sweet and regular potatoes, carrots, onions, turkey, fruits, jams and relish lent color to the board. The desserts were homemade and there was plenty for all. Oh my. My stomach aches!
Relatives and friends were welcomed to join us for evening dessert. Can you imagine the impact that such a Thanksgiving feast, in which they had a direct investment, had upon young men and women coming from home backgrounds where fighting, cursing, and separation were the norm? I am thankful for changes -- particularly when they come as a blessing to others. Jim and Laurie Ford have been a part of this family for 22 years, having met while both served here. Both have held a variety of jobs here at His Mansion New Hampshire, and at the former His Mansion Midwest. For the majority of the time, Jim has been the head of Agriculture while Laurie ran the Food Services or Women’s work Crew. It has been a joy to watch their children, Emily (now age 17) and Zach (now age 15) grow up in our midst. Jim has been hired Director of Agriculture at a large commercial orchard in northern Illinois. The skills honed while serving here more than qualify him to meet the challenge. They are blessed to have the Fords as employees. Literally dozens of young men and women testify to the impact Jim and Laurie have made on them. I know they have been used of God in our lives. The family at His Mansion will always regard the Fords as members of this family. God is faithful to bring us gain equal to our loss. The Merrills are coming to take the Fords’ place on staff. Dwayn and Brianna also met while serving here as singles. It’s a tribute to the work of the Holy Spirit that those who have labored under what some have referred as the “best, worst years of my life” would welcome an opportunity to return as couples. Dwayn was born and raised in the woods of Maine to a family of woodsmen and loggers. The Merrill family is populated by missionaries, church workers, and solid Christian disciples. Dwayn served here in New Hampshire in the agriculture department in the early 90’s, and assisted for a year in the program we helped start in Prince Edward Island. Brianna attended Nyack College and worked at Crotched Mountain as a support instructor for persons with developmental disabilities. She served at HMNH for more than a year as Women’s Work Crew Supervisor. The Merrills have three children: Joy (3), Talia (2), and Caedan (5mo.). We expect the Merrills to be on the hill and working by the end of February. You may want to put them on your prayer/support list. Another wonderful find is Miss Deborah Mayes. Deb will also enter our community to serve, beginning late February. I stayed with Deb’s family at least twenty years ago while preaching at their church outside Detroit. Little did I realize that the pre-teen zooming around the house would one day be a staffer at His Mansion. I also knew Deb as a camper at Upper Peninsula Bible Camp. Deb graduated from Calvin College with a degree in recreational therapy. She moved from there to University of Michigan for a Master’s in social work (MSW). She practiced in Michigan and Seattle, before hearing the call to serve at His Mansion. Deb will be Woman’s Program Administrator. We’re excited to watch God fill our staff with the caliber of people necessary to launch the His Mansion Institute next fall. The next Healing in the Context of Community course (HCC) is scheduled for March 10th. People are inquiring already, so get your application in early. See our website for details: Opportunities For Training. We release Paul Atkinson, Corporate Administrator, several times a year to be a part of an outreach to prisons in Africa. It was exciting to hear reports of his recent trip. He will be returning to Africa in February -- this time to preach in the jails in Rwanda. His Mansion is excited to be partnering with missions groups overseas. It is great see graduates of His Mansion’s programs making mission trips as well. Be sure to follow Paul’s travels on our webpage: Recent Happenings. This is the time of year to be thinking of your friend(s) serving on staff. Nearly one -third of the yearly missionary income for long-term staff and mentors comes during the year-end giving cycle. None of us are salaried, nor do any receive health/insurance benefits as a part of our commitment. We rely on those who know us and care to support our serving here, and God has been faithful. You may include a note with your gift suggesting that the gift, in whole or in part, be made available to “Jane Doe,” or requesting that it be used for needy staff, and you will receive a tax receipt. The following are long-term staff missionaries who have no other source of income and are eligible for gift support: • Joan and Stan Farmer ’72. I am the CEO and co-founder, responsible for general oversight of the ministry. Joan is the head of Food Services.
• Dave and Diane Hultgren ’78. Dave is Discipleship Supervisor and Diane is Director of Finance.
• Jim and Laurie Ford ’84. Jim is Farm Manager (leaving in January).
• Diane Weber ’91. Teacher and Women’s Mentor.
• Jeff Devilbiss ’00. Director of Recruiting & Public Relations.
• Chris and Marie Spies ‘02. Chris is in IT. Marie is Program Administrator for Women
• Shane and Rachel Propert ’02. Shane is Building and Maintenance Supervisor.
• Fritz and Gretchen Maurer ’05. Fritz is Program Director. Gretchen teaches.
• Paul and Robin Atkinson ’06. Paul is Corporate Administrator. Robin teaches. The following individuals serve full-time but are either pensioned or their spouses are employed. Your prayer is always coveted! • Lee and Joyce Oliver ’89 and ‘06. Lee is Director of Operations. Joyce is Director of New Beginnings, our program for pregnant women in crisis
• Mark and Ruth Harris ’99. Mark is our Mechanic.
• Jim and Linda Hogue ’04. Linda is the Office Manager.
• Karen and Seth Hilliker ’06. Karen is the Counseling Supervisor for Women.
• Cliff and Linda Buxton ’06. Cliff is the Program Administrator for Men. If you have friends or church family serving as short-term staff, please think of them and be generous this season. There are several ministry needs that might be fun projects as a gift to the ministry: • We are in need of a four-wheel drive one-ton dump truck practical for plowing
• A late-model sedan or mini-van
• Computer equipment: 17” monitors (flat panel preferred), computers with Pentium 3 or equivalent processors, or greater
• Good used musical instruments I can assure you that your attention to our needs will not be taken for granted. Because we trust God from month to month for our support, every gift is meaningful and appreciated. His Mansion, I believe, constitutes a sound investment in the bounty that God has entrusted to His people. The “once lost” are now found, and are being prepared to contribute as members of local communities, families, and churches. His Mansion is impacting a much broader segment of society than just the few troubled sons and daughters who go through the program. Brothers, sisters, moms, dads, husbands and wives are also affected. Men and women are being reclaimed for service, a number of which actually come to faith in Christ in the process. Parents and grandparents are able to rejoice when the child whom they have loved and for whom they have prayed is pulled away from the fire and equipped to instead, burn for Jesus. We are trusting God as we look toward finishing the year free of debt and having all bills paid. You are a faithful family of supporters and prayer warriors. Please remember that your year-end gifts are the surprises that spur us on to greater vision and growth. Thank you for giving us so much for which to be thankful. You are our family! Joyful in His service,
Stan Farmer
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