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And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the Baby as He lay in the manger. And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them. Greetings in Jesus name, The holiday season has passed. I want to focus a moment upon the last verse of this passage. “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen…” The challenge for many of us is to sort out the hype, indulgence and plastic, putting it behind us, and taking that which gave -- and continues to give --glory to God. Where are we going? What lies ahead? What part in it does God wish me to play? Are you aware that you are about to become part of the future as each day passes? In the grand scheme of things, you do actually matter. Your thoughts, decisions, and investments really make a difference. Christ came, not only to be a wonderful Savior of the past, but the “all things are possible” of the future. Don’t stand by and let everyone else -- or even someone else -- get all the action! It isn’t that anything is totally dependant upon you doing something. It’s about you having the privilege of being in on it! The hungry are being fed. The lonely are finding a friend. The naked are being clothed. The prisoners are being visited. The pregnant are being given an option. Marriages about to train-wreck are being salvaged. God is still exploding a basketful of fish parts and breadcrumbs into feasts. There are still disciples eager to hand it out, and watch in wonder. How will you spend 2007? Watching CNN and FOX? Fretting about global warming? Agonizing over the terrible plight of Miss USA? Will you isolate your energies to cleaning up the basement, restoring an old Chevy, or chasing your favorite band around the country? The economy is up. There’s more money in the average pocket than in recent years. Grandparents and parents are passing away and we are left with the responsibility of wisely using the fiscal resources. This year is your chance to break away from the materialism and self-indulgence that is poisoning so many. It’s far worse than carbon monoxide in your house or radon in the cellar. Complacency is killing some of you -- and your children, for sure! We’ve seen a lot to remind us of who Jesus is in 2006. Now it is time to enter 2007 with joy in our hearts and confident purpose in our head and hands. Help us. Help them. Help somebody -- for Jesus’ sake! (And for your own good spiritual health!) What a year! 2006 was, perhaps, the best year yet. The staff pulled together and we were able to ramp up from an average of ten residents at a time, to as high as forty. Change is such a painful thing and, though I tend to be less affected than others, even I felt it. It’s not only the change in personnel, but going through a radical change in process. The present process allows for a much wider integration between every person serving here and those here for help. Long-term staff, on every level, is actively engaged in the life of the community. An informal Wednesday evening Bible study and discussion time among the long-term staff has served to bring about a healthy degree of community and has encouraged us to remove the masks and be real. The absence of factions, opposing agendas, and strife leaves the air healthy to breath. Admittedly, I have had to undergo more change than most, in order for this to occur! The excitement is always about the future. Where are we going? What will it look like? Who, in addition to the population we presently serve, will be blessed by widening our tent pegs? There is a greater tendency on the part of those graduating from the program to sign on for another year. The addition of a program called Servant Leadership Training has made it easier for graduates to stay on and grow. The SLT lasts for six months and is available to candidates coming directly from the church as well as graduates of the program. Successful graduates of the SLT program become mentors, and have a significantly higher level of responsibility within the overall program. 2006 saw doors opening in several institutions of higher learning. We’ve always enjoyed a special relationship with Emmaus Bible College in Iowa, but strong relationships are growing with Spring Arbor College in Michigan, Liberty University in Virginia, Moody Bible College in Illinois, and Gordon College in Massachusetts. We are in the process of crafting a curriculum tailored for those college students studying psychology, counseling, and social work who are required to perform actual ministry utilizing their academic knowledge. Our hope, of course, is that our own program will profit by having one or two of these candidates serve on staff for a term. The greater motive is that young men and women be equipped to serve in their churches, either full time, or merely as a part of their offering to the Kingdom. The last week of the year is both hectic and wonderful. On Christmas Eve, everyone mustered in the c. 1760 barn and witnessed the old, old story played out in a place not too different from the original version. The cows under the barn mooed and groaned, pigs grunted for food, and chickens cackled away. The pigs, of course, would’ve been quite scarce in Bethlehem! Everything else was right. Up in the loft a “choir of angels” sang, while on the floor of the barn the birth of Jesus was reenacted.  When the pageant was completed, all returned to the dining room where a “birthday party for Jesus” was held. This is a tradition begun by Hal and Mary Moore during the first year of our existence, and repeated each year. The small children of staff families blow out the candles. The exchange of gifts is a sight to behold. You have given so generously. All the family thanks you. Some of these men and women have never experienced a Christmas filled with such joy and selflessness.
You, our extended family, supplied gloves, mittens, socks, toiletries, writing supplies, ribbon, jackets, shirts, jeans, and many other useful and exciting gifts. As those gifts came in, a team of ladies sorted them according to appropriate need, and individually wrapped each one. Every person in the program received an assortment of gifts. We make sure that everyone knows that God loves them and so do a bunch of folks around this country. I thank you. One of the treats of the year-end festivities is the annual Coffee House, featuring low lights, a coffee/tea bar, cookies and finger food. Joan and I and several other long-term staff, plus all the residents of the program, spent an evening making the dozens of treats in the big kitchen. It looked like pure chaos as two dozen young people ran around with flour, chopped nuts and fruit, and lifted hot cookie sheets and huge stainless steel bowls of hot caramel corn from oven to cooling shelves. There was flour in the beards and hair, and lots of laughter, singing, and mutual encouragement. Joan doesn’t often allow me near the kitchen, so it was a treat for me as well!  Everyone is given a month to practice and get ready for their artistic presentation. These “expressions” run the gambit from the ridiculous to the sublime. They were all really delightful and well done. It never ceases to amaze me, the depth of talent and energy that resides just below the surface of the least suspecting resident or mentor.
One girl wrote a poem some months ago and an LTS encouraged her to compose a piece of music to accompany it. Two ladies presented the piece as a duet and you could hear a pin drop! Nothing being played on radio or MP-3 is one bit better. The acting, singing, and instrumentals were all great. The Hultgren boys, Andy and Bobby, presented a violin duet to insure that there was a modicum of culture in the program.  It has always been a special treat when the children of staff feel welcomed and loved enough to “risk” embarrassment. It is amazing, given the backgrounds of many of our residents, that there is so much acceptance and encouragement. When one takes a leap of faith and stands up to play guitar and sing, having only recently started to play, the entire family applauds as if it were the most gifted and accomplished musician. Can you imagine the positive impact such an experience is to the risk-taker? You just know there are interested observers to this event.
New Year’s Day was also a blast. For many years now, the fathers, and when possible, the sons, cook breakfast. We (men) start from scratch and feed nearly eighty people all they can eat: eggs to order, omelets of every description, fresh farm-raised bacon, old-fashioned home fries w/onions, blueberry muffins, and your choice of coffee, tea, or cocoa. Not bad, huh? Fortunately we didn’t have to clean up that mess. The male mentors and residents caught that duty. The women did the barn chores. We are an equal opportunity employer! Time for some football! Paul Atkinson, the Corporate Administrator, will head to Africa later this month. He’ll be preaching and working in Rwanda’s prisons as well as the prisons in Kenya and Uganda. We’re excited to have members of our community reaching out and contributing their testimonies to the residents upon return. At the end of the year, folks often write a little note along with their gifts. This is great as I genuinely am interested in knowing where people are at and how their family is doing. Occasionally, a note will contain information that is of great encouragement to us. This is one of them: “Dear Mr. Farmer: Just wanted to thank you for all His Mansion did for Peter a few years ago. Thought you might like to know that he married a wonderful young lady that he went to high school with. She is an elementary teacher. Peter got his Bachelor’s degree in history and is currently finishing his Master’s and hopes to teach. We are so thankful we found His Mansion where God helped him get off drugs and alcohol. (Grateful mom)” “Dear His Mansion Ministries, May the Lord continue to bless you all with His abundant love and gifts. With grateful thanks for the work you do among the broken children of God. We are forever grateful for what you did for our daughter….. In the love of Christ, (Thankful mom)” I received a dozen notes like these and cherish every one! Anybody involved in a major project looks to see evidence that it is working well. In our situation, success is not measured by the size of the budget, number of buildings, or big name recognition. It’s measured by the lives that are changed, and the families who are encouraged to increase their trust in God. It’s measured by new, vibrant families, men and women entering the harvest and contributing to healthy churches. The final tally is in. We ended the year free of debt and with all outstanding bills paid, once again. We are trusting God to allow us to build another dormitory so we can start the institute and accept more residents. This will require a special influx of funds so that we can complete it. We can only expand as we can afford. It is beyond my ability to adequately express our appreciation for your prayer and generosity. God knows and He rewards. We can just say thank you. “Thank you!” Joyful in His service,
Stan Farmer
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