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October 2009 Newsletter
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October 2009“…as it is written in [the] book of [the] words of Esaias the prophet: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of [the] Lord, make straight his paths. Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked [places] shall become a straight [path], and the rough places smooth ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” Luke 3:4-6 (Darby Translation)
Greetings in the Name of Jesus,It is the driving rain and the wind that conform my light jacket to my body like a shrink-wrapped fish. Joan and I have ventured out on Hope Point, Co. Clare, Ireland despite the miserable weather. The lighthouse drew me. As an “island born” lad, lighthouses and navigation buoy bells hold a fascination for me.
Actually at the lighthouse I am aware of a stark, lonely figure far out beyond the bright white granite cylinder; barely visible in the fog and mist. I was not, until that moment, aware of any land extending beyond. Leaving company behind I head for land’s end. The eight-year-old is taking over the sixty-eight year old senior citizen!
The “land’s end” turned out to be closer than I thought. There, less than a hundred feet out stood another piece of land. A chunk of the piece I now stood on has, somewhere in eons past, hived off the edge of the cliff I stand on to form a tiny, two hundred by one hundred foot patch of heather, blackberry, and Irish moss.
What steals my breath away is the awareness that five feet in front of me the cliff drops straight down for over three hundred feet. The separated islet is a patch of sparse soil-covered granite thrust up to the level with my feet, just a football field’s distance away.
The drama had just begun. Up from this relatively thin three hundred foot deep gap arose a life-like mist, lofting gulls, gannets, and pigeons like eagles on a thermal. I edged closer, finally crouching down and stretching out in order to see what lay beneath me. I was overwhelmed with the wonder and the chaos below.
Twelve-foot wind-driven waves roared into the abyss from two directions. The sound was deafening. The power and ferocity was frightening. I tore my eyes from the maelstrom raging below and fixed my sight on the thin living patch across the canyon—the message hit me.
The scene before me described perfectly the young men and women God brings to His Mansion. Their sin and dysfunction has separated them from peace and security. The pit of despair and ugly storm of life’s experiences create an unbreachable chasm. Destined for loneliness and rejection they suffer the pain of being able to see across and yearn, but have no hope.
Praise God for His Word. . "Every gorge shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked [places] shall become a straight [path], and the rough places smooth ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
Several weeks ago, a “traveling evangelist” who, with his wife, park their motor home on a site we provide, was asked to speak at daily Prayer and Share. Eight men and women were moved by God’s Holy Spirit to accept God’s grace through Jesus Christ. For them the gap was closed. The crooked, distorted direction began to straighten. The rough places are being smoothed. They saw the salvation of God!
All of our executive staff is out beating the bushes to encourage Christ-following young people to put aside personal pursuits to serve the Living God by loving their brothers and sisters who are separated and at the mercy of tumultuous evil seas.
Deciding to put aside a year or more to serve at His Mansion could change your life and set you on a career path you have not envisioned. Listen to Pastor Antonio Booth:
Dear Stan:
Over the past few weeks I’ve been reflecting over my experience at His Mansion. I remember when I first met you in Groton, MA at a Missionary Alliance Youth Camp. I was assisting the youth minister with the Bennington, VT youth group. Somehow the Spirit of God led you to me. To my surprise, you invited me to work at His Mansion. At first I was hesitant because I grew up in poverty and did not want to work without salary. However, when I visited His Mansion I felt God’s Spirit insisting that I work there. So, I obeyed the voice of the Lord. That was almost thirty years ago.
Your invitation was the beginning of God fulfilling my call to ministry. I have used those experiences to let others know about the power of faith in a living God and the victory that we have in our Savior.
While ministering as a missionary in southern Africa, I testified over and over about working at His Mansion for three years without income. I testified how God provided for my needs. How He provided the tuition for my seminary education—because I trusted Him. Many marveled at my faith. I always tell them, what God did for me, He can do for them.
Even now, I attest to the power of a faithful God. While at His Mansion, I spent a lot of time praying for the salvation of my large family. Their conversions reminded me of the prayers I prayed for them while working at His Mansion Ministry.
Thank you for your invitation. I never dreamed that my experiences at His Mansion would have such a powerful effect on my future. It happened because I obeyed God’s voice to accept your invitation.
In His Amazing Grace; Tony
Opportunities, such as Tony benefited from, are available today. Tony started out as a Mentor, living in the dorm with troubled men. Today, the same opportunities exist in the men and women’s dorms. You, like Tony, can make a difference in someone’s life right now. Your faith in Christ, commitment to a local body of believers, and recommendation of spiritual leadership, are all the requirements necessary.
Training is provided at HM through the Healing in the Context of Community (HCC) course offered throughout the year. This same course is also offered to anyone desiring further training in working among the addiction community. The courses fill up fast due to their value and affordability. $100.00 covers a week’s lodging, syllabus, and actual class time. The birds have already baled out for the south and there is a definite bite in the air. I think a frosty nip will welcome participants in the next HCC class Candidates are coming from as far as Thailand. The next HCC class takes place October 10-16, 2009, and classes for next year are on March 13-19, June 12-18 and October 9-15.
The extremely wet summer and some form of ancient potato mold, has resulted in much of our crops rotting away. But what would loom as a crisis will result in a blessing. My son and daughter-in-law have been a help to a neighbor couple in Maine who are principals in a produce import concern on the docks in New York City. Upon learning of our dilemma, arrangements were made to ship two great truck loads of peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, corn, onions, carrots, and squash. Our God provides!
Fall is a great time to part with stuff! Don’t stress over where you are going to store tools, tractors, mowers, trucks, and maintenance supplies. We are in need of two fairly new, large freezers. Several of ours are twenty-plus years old. Tax refund receipts are issued.
Here’s a shot of the new dormitory as of September 25th.
It was our privilege to host Stewards Ministries for their annual board meeting.
 The leaves were in great color and we enjoyed showing off what God has accomplished at His Mansion. Michael Kelly Blanchard provided a rich musical evening that the Mansion family and our visitors really enjoyed.
It has been a month of great blessing with a number coming to faith in Christ and others growing in their faith while being freed from addiction. There have also been a couple of setbacks with two men deciding to test their addictions once again. They were dismissed from the program and we pray that they will again turn from the world to face the true and living God.
It is not too early to begin thinking of yearend gift planning and decisions regarding what ministries and missionaries to support in 2010. In a day when medical health costs are a matter of national debate, and some may not be able to afford care, His Mansion cares for 35-40 hurting and damaged men and women without charging them anything! Staff (all of us) serves without salary or benefits. His Mansion accepts no state or federal aid, nor do we actively solicit funds to operate.
Here is a note received this month:
Dear Servants of Christ:
I want you to know that I appreciate very much your fiscal responsibility that you are never begging for money because you are deep in debt. This is very refreshing…I appreciate you and pray for you regularly. In Christ, Esther.
We appreciate your faithfulness in prayer and giving. Despite the tough times our country’s finances are in we are presently ahead of where we were at this time last year! Once again, all our bills are paid and we have no debt. Your love for Him…and us, make this possible. Thank you.
Joyful in His Service,
Stan Farmer, CEO
His Mansion Ministries, Inc.
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