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And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:12 Greetings in Jesus' Name, Christmas has passed. We’ve celebrated His birth with all the wonder and pageantry. The students at His Mansion prepared a living reenactment of the scene of Jesus’ birth in our 1767 barn -- complete with cattle, hogs, chickens, and hay. Mother Mary and Joseph gave us the Baby Jesus. “Angels” hidden high in the dark loft amongst the bales of hay sang His praise. A “birthday party” followed with cake, candles, and gift exchange. For a number of students, this was their first Christmas celebration without witnessing the genesis of a parental divorce, drunken abuse, and general chaos. It was life changing for some and very encouraging for the rest. We shared with a recovering addict as he entertained his wife and infant daughter with the possibility for reconciliation and victory. Their daughter is an innocent, unaware little girl who will look back on this Christmas with much thanksgiving -- we pray and trust. But as our verse indicates, Jesus’ birth fades into history as His life emerges. As a Man, He changed the world -- forever! No other Man has had such an impact. We would hardly expect any other outcome, as this Man is also God. As Jesus walks among men, leaving us His example--and the power to follow--we have the privilege and responsibility to walk as He walked and to lead others in this power. I know we use the term “counseling” a lot, but taking a stray and damaged lamb and walking with them as we walk with Jesus is the real essence of caring and healing. We have seen several men and women choose to “grow in stature.” Several have also decided that the walk is too difficult and have left the program. The young man I alluded to in the last letter has baled out of another program and is presently outside the circle of God’s protection. Disappointment is a part of this calling. When a young man or woman who has come to His Mansion to serve, falls away and makes bad choices, it hurts everyone. This has happened recently with a young couple. It is all a part of the battle and God uses these setbacks to strengthen and equip the rest of us. But it still hurts! God has given us a spirit of praise and reliance upon Him, and we don’t seem to be growing weary in well doing. Praise Him for this! Here’s news of answered prayer: Hay for our cattle is a fairly high cash outlay each year, to say nothing of the work involved. Our son, Shawn Farmer, manages property in Vermont owned by a wonderful believing brother. This landowner has donated over 600 bales of premium hay, saving us a couple of thousand dollars. A man, recently retired, called to see if we were interested in some cut lumber—a thousand board feet of lumber -- walnut, birch, maple, oak, and cherry. Some lumber! Others have mailed, shipped, or delivered boxes of clothing, toilet articles, gifts, phone cards, boots, gloves, and practical items that we individually boxed and presented to folks as Christmas presents. No one went without. Thank you so, so, much. The request for computers produced several fine units and we are appreciative. We could use several more. One man from Maine has donated 10 recent 19” monitors. Yes! We are installing a brand new telecommunications system. The one we presently use is over twenty years old and two tin cans strung together would do the job better! Installation will be expensive unless there is someone with telephone system skills who would work with us to install the system. As we’ve not yet purchased the actual system, this person would have input in that as well. Support gifts for individual staff members were extremely generous and there is a lot of rejoicing. Year-end giving to His Mansion was a blessing, even with the pressure of sacrifice to national and global relief. Our God supplies, and He has! The generation coming along desires opportunities to give of themselves in ministry where they can see the fruit of their labors first hand. When this takes place in an environment where they are being taught and modeled to, it is a bonus. Combine that with a venue where they, and their spiritual gifts, are utilized in the context of community, and you have “rung the bell.” The icing on the cake is discovering a place where a candidate does not have to raise a discouraging level of support. His Mansion fulfills all these characteristics and awaits your call. The next Healing in the Context of Community (HCC) counseling course is scheduled for March 25-31. The cost is $100 for the one-week introduction, including room, board, and all course materials, and you may stay on for the six additional weeks of immersion training for the same amount. Should you commit to serve for one year, your fee will be refunded. Still more answered prayer: We welcome Paul and Robin Atkinson to our family and team. Paul comes to fill the position of Corporate Administrator at the New Hampshire campus early in 2006. In this capacity, Paul will oversee nearly all personnel and department heads. Coordinating long-term projects, helping department heads and staff develop ways to perform their duties more effectively, and interfacing with external services will be the tip of the iceberg! He’ll also teach Bible and practical life classes, and preach at home and at regional outreaches. His Mansion believes that we must stay “up in the tower watching,” looking into the future for opportunities to be on the cutting edge of reaching out to damaged and dysfunctional “fourth world citizens.” Training and equipping highly-motivated young followers of Jesus is very much a part of our ongoing vision. Paul will be a vital player in helping us to develop this vision, guiding it to fruition. We are delighted to have him on board. Paul and Robin are Carolinians, born and raised. Paul graduated from Piedmont Bible College with a Bachelor’s in Religious Education. From there he has served in pastoral positions in several Southern Baptist churches. For half of his twenty years of adult service, Paul served as an executive with Christian Tours, a leader in the tour industry. There Paul developed administrative and leadership skills, coordinating and directing groups as large as 1500! Robin is a graduate of Nash Community College with a degree in Applied Science. She has worked her entire career in early childhood development. Presently, Robin is Director of Child Care Development at First Baptist Church of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The Atkinsons have two children, Paul, Jr. and Lori. Paul, Jr. is attending Liberty University Seminary and has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. He presently directs Light Ministries for Liberty University. His fiancé, Whitney, is studying for her Master’s in Counseling. Lori is a full-time missionary with Life Action Ministries out of Buchanan, MI. This is a family that enjoys serving Jesus and has a track record of stability and capability. We welcome them to the His Mansion family. The Atkinsons, like all staff at His Mansion, have answered the call to serve without salary or benefits. They leave substantial security and income to enter a purely faith adventure. Should you wish to stand with Paul and Robin Atkinson in their support, you can send a check, made out to “His Mansion,” with an attached note indicating it is for the support of the Atkinsons. They’ll receive 100% of the gifts sent for them. You may contact Paul or Robin at the His Mansion address or online at Paul. I’m so excited about the new year I can hardly stand it! 2005 was a tough year, but such a fruitful one. There were so many answers to prayer and deep spiritual changes. As believers gradually accept a broader view of the historic church, they’ll see this healing community more clearly, as an integral part of Christ’s Church. Less and less do we struggle with a false dichotomy. For the students who would experience healing here at His Mansion, they become comfortable as members of this blessed Christian community and as one of many other Christian mini-movements. Truthfully, I have been discouraged in the last few years that I might not see the revival in the church that I have prayed for. The attitude of our culture and also the attitudes of many churches (small “c”) are such that I have begun to lose a vision for it. That has changed! I am excited for the future of the Church. It’s bigger than I thought, and takes on a much more varied shaped than I’ve heretofore been able to see. The church which is taking form among 15-28-year-olds doesn’t often look like the one I have become familiar with, but they are “the Church,” nonetheless. Revival is coming! The attributes that have made His Mansion an exciting, infectious healing community are, in many respects, the same ones that will constitute the nature of the “new Church.” Praise God, “big” isn’t necessarily better, merely an alternative! I look forward to the coming day when the staff and graduates of His Mansion will not be confronted with such stark differences between what they have enjoyed at His Mansion and what they discover upon leaving. It’s coming. Once again, you have blessed us. God, through His people, has been extremely generous, even in the face of such great recent pressure and demands. His Mansion ended the year free of debt and with every outstanding bill paid. In 2005, our ministry to needy students has increased by 100%. Interns are still in short supply, but we are believing God for them. Your prayers are powerful and effective, so please pray for us. Another great year ahead. Best staff ever. The need for our ministry increases. God supplies. Praise His name. Joyful in His Service, Stan Farmer
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