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“But I trust in the Lord to send Timothy to you shortly, that I may also be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the Gospel.” Philippians 2:19-23 NKJB Greeting in the Name of Jesus Christ, Before I launch into my intended newsletter, let me correct an unfortunate error in judgment. Last month, in my effort to communicate my satisfaction with the folks God has sent to fulfill the various needs, I made the comment, “The best staff ever!” I am prone to make comments such as this that, while certainly not my intention, can be -- and are -- taken in a way that is hurtful and injurious. I, and my small cadre of editors, failed to catch this unfortunate and careless goof. Over thirty-five years of our history, the staff, at any given time, is just what God supplied and right for the season. No one called or wrote taking me to task on this, but having seen it, I am delighted to acknowledge the thoughtless nature of the comment and to restate: “The present staff is a godsend, and reflects the faithfulness of our God to continue providing His best!” We are still taking applications for the March 25-31 “Healing in the Context of Community” (HCC) course. Send yours in soon! In order to better accommodate the college students, we are running a summer HCC June 10-17. Should you opt for the seven-week version, you’d still have enough summer left to address other goals before school begins again. Learning how to effectively minister to those within your own peers may be the most rewarding and growing experience of your life. The cost is $100 for the one-week, and should you wish to participate in the extensive seven-week, you stay for the same $100! His Mansion is not about making money or striving for national recognition. We are dedicated to training as many laborers for the harvest as possible, without regard to their socio-economic status, or conventional church heritage. We offer quality educational and experiential training. If you are committing to stay on as a one-year Intern your tuition is refunded. Then we offer a $100/month stipend and up to $100/month toward existing student loans. This is a great opportunity, and should be seriously considered as a short-term missions option. Here’s a new prayer challenge: We have several women that are tormented by various forms of eating disorders. For each of them it is a struggle, but for one in particular it is a clear contest for her soul. She desperately desires to know victory and freedom from these chains. There is a demonic/spiritual dimension to be sure, but it goes beyond that. The disease is such an ingrained set of habits and believed lies, that only the person with the strongest will and consistent support can expect to overcome it. Please pray for the sister with the life-controlling, life-destroying eating disorder that she might be freed. All this is to say that your prayer on His Mansion’s behalf – for staff, students, and physical plant -- is of far more value than anything else you may offer. February on the mountain, amidst the blowing snow and below-freezing temperatures, is a great time for reflection and planning. It is vital to be able to pray and contemplate the vision God has laid upon us. Because He is a living God, His will, unlike ours, is often in motion. Evidence of the majesty of God is His constant expansion and flexibility in the context of His unchanging principles. It is a tension that thrills me! God has answered prayer and is raising up the Timothies within this ministry. The folks whom He has provided over the past year are evidence of this. Fritz and Gretchen Maurer came just one year ago -- this during a particularly difficult time. Fritz is a graduate of Alliance Theological Seminary with a Master’s in Counseling. In his forties, Fritz already has the life-experience of managing a family business and serving as an Elder in his church. Fritz is the Director of Counseling at His Mansion, New Hampshire. Gretchen is a master interior decorator, and has a creative gift for which only God alone can take credit. She also disciples women and teaches a women’s class on sexual issues. Then came the Williamses -- Martin, Brenda, Hannah, Luke, Joseph, and Grace. Martin and Brenda met at His Mansion in the late 80’s. He established a career as a building contractor in Washington State, settled into a home and prepared to live life there. Or so they thought! Martin is now the Operations Supervisor and has overall responsibility for mechanics, construction, maintenance, grounds, food services, and agriculture. Brenda is responsible for women’s work crew, and disciples several women. Now with Paul and Robin Atkinson coming on board, we have a fairly complete staff. Paul is the new Corporate Administrator, overseeing nearly everything but me! A team of Timothies -- praise God for His faithfulness! I feel we are poised to advance upon the vision that God has laid out before us. I write this letter over the course of several days. I write things in my head as I travel or walk. Most of the stuff never makes it in because there is not enough room, or is just not appropriate! I want to tell you about the gentle hill, covered with snow, which is to my right as I walk down the driveway. There’s not a blemish in it, save a large piece of granite that pokes its crown through the snow, reminding me that the earth below is not as cold as I am and that the grayness of the stone patiently cries out for all the heat it can suck from the intermittent sun. The red-tailed hawk soars a thousand feet above me, enjoying the awesome freedom of weightlessness, observing all that lies before him. Then out of the corner of my vision, a relatively small black bird -- a crow, actually -- dive-bombs the hawk, and begins to incessantly annoy and frustrate him. “Why do you do that? Why can’t you just leave him alone?!” The small, black stream that relentlessly cuts its way through its icy borders lays a magical ribbon between two gentle banks of snow. Where does it come from and where does it end? I daydream about being some small live critter (oblivious to the cold!) that could enter the stream and follow it all the way to wherever it ends. I’d keep you informed and let you make the trip with me. But this is not the venue for such ramblings and has little to do with “business,” so I’ll get back to work… but sometimes these sidetracks seem more fun! I have a vision. It has been percolating for a number of years -- and a feeble attempt was actually made several years ago -- but the timing was obviously off. I’d like to share this vision with you so that you can add it to your prayer list. It is not something that is actually going to happen this year, but this will be the formative year -- the year of planning and design. This is the year of casting the vision and for laying a biblical foundation. In fact, this is the most important phase of any vision. A sound, correct foundation must be laid in order to bear the weight of a large, dynamic vision. The vision entails a parallel, but integrated, institute functioning “on the hill.” For 35 years, God has been cultivating a support-base for prayer and finances. He has allowed us to develop a ministry that taps into a vast, needy population to which I refer as “4th World Citizens.” The underlying motivation to start His Mansion in 1971 was to attract as many young men and women as possible, from any source, and equip them to be servants and laborers in the harvest -- to disciple them. As God would have it, that pool of candidates came from a segment of society where the sin of the world has significantly changed their souls to the point where they are at risk for incarceration or hospitalization, unwanted or mistrusted by parents, or unable to successfully fit into society. During the 35 years of our history, God has allowed us to learn much about how to apply His word in their lives. We have seen hundreds rescued from the prison of insanity and addiction. He has permitted us to form a healing community, to tap the rich, mysterious power of living in close proximity, while teaching valuable truths not easily learned elsewhere. He has introduced them to a level of grace not common among Christians, to say nothing of the world. He has reintroduced us to the essentials of godly parenting -- the damage when not experienced, and the restorative power of applying it, even at a later stage of life. In short, God has orchestrated a unique “hot house,” where life can be renewed, energized, and reproduced. Over the years God has given special insight to unique situations. My concern is that if these “nuggets” are not captured, recorded, and taught to new disciples, they are going to be lost. Some are too good to lose! If we operated an accredited institution on site, where basic standards of Scripture and counseling are taught, unique “rubber-meets-the-road” insights are discussed, and the special power of community constitutes the broth in which everything is poached, we would be contributing something vital to the kingdom. Missions already functioning successfully -- teaching missions, church planters, medical missions, etc. -- are all inundated with 4th World folks crying for attention and help. Clinics, prisons, and throw-away parks are everywhere. There are young Christians being drawn to serve God among this people-group. They may also have a yearning to go to “foreign fields,” but their burden is for the same folks for whom we care. The notion of community is strong in their souls. At His Mansion, they can have it all! I’d like to be able to support missionaries serving in 4th World venues and to become a recognized sending agency. It would be great to be able to place individuals with partnering missionary organizations that recognize the value and need for someone trained and experienced at ministering to 4th World folks. They’d do the training at His Mansion’s Institute of 4th World Missions. We’ve always had the commitment to inspire others to establish similar works, both in North America and overseas. Of the seven examples in which we’ve had a part, three are currently viable and recognizable as His Mansion-type programs, two are qualified successes, and the rest have morphed into something else. The lack of a reproducible “template” has been a major shortcoming. By virtue of setting up the 4th World Institute to train our staff and aspiring missionaries, we will have defined ourselves in such a way as to result in the template. Once we have a reproducible template, I would like to offer our experience, training, and resources to groups of believers around the country and overseas who desire to establish a work like ours. God blessed us in many ways in 2005. He sent men and women to serve, in answer to prayer. He gave an abundant harvest, in answer to prayer. He rescued the lives of perishing young men and women, in answer to prayer. He kept people from serious injury, largely in answer to prayer. He has brought a wonderful level of unity among the staff, again, in answer to prayer. Financially, God has also blessed us. A mid-year decision, based upon escalating fuel prices, led us to install three high-tech wood boilers. This decision extended us way beyond the annual budget. God answered prayer when a sister in Christ sent a check for $52,000! This more than covered the unbudgeted expenditure and we once again ended 2005 free of all debt and in a healthy financial condition. Prayer is what loosens the concrete of self-protection and rebellion. 2006 has started off with evidence of that dynamic. A young person who has continually resisted surrender to Christ, largely due to the hypocrisy and evil associated with their life-experience, has finally crossed the chasm and can now begin the growth process. Friends, partners, and co-laborers with us, thank you! Joyful in His Service, Stan Farmer
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