Greetings in Jesus’ wonderful name,
I recently read Sheila Walsh’s new book, Wonderful Things Happen When a Women Trusts God. A passage in it brought back memories of my childhood on Peaks Island, Maine.
We had a large cherry tree in the front yard where my dad had erected a huge swing out of a sturdy plank and heavy sailing rope. Just by pumping my legs I could achieve substantial heights, but it was when my dad grabbed the plank, drew the swing far back, ducked under and ran that I experienced one of the most wonderful thrills of life.
“Do it again. Do it again!” I cried. At some point, my dad was distracted and stepped away. A neighbor guy came across the lawn, grabbed the plank and I began to scream in fear! I knew him, so why the fearful response? Trust was the issue. As Ms. Walsh says in her book, “Who was pushing the swing made all the difference in the world.” Trust.
Role Changes at His Mansion I have relinquished oversight of His Mansion Ministries to another--Paul Atkinson. I am no longer the CEO. I shall be known as Ambassador-at-Large and of course, remain a Founder.
For thirty-nine years, I have been pushing the swing--No! No! It is my Heavenly Father who has been pushing the swing. For thirty-nine years I have trusted Him to do what would be utterly impossible for me to accomplish. The huge, wonderful, His Mansion family--all over the world now--needs to be reminded and encouraged that the same motivating power keeps His Mansion swinging as it always has.
Paul Atkinson has been close by my side for the past four years. He has felt the joy, experienced the pain, and rejoiced at the mighty power of God rescuing, healing, and saving souls. Paul has served as a pastor in two churches, directed Christian youth camp and led mission teams to Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Russia, Honduras and Sri Lanka. He has also worked in management in the marketplace for a number of years.
Paul and his wife, Robin, have a son and daughter, both married and both have recently presented them with “Grands.” (He will do his own bragging on kids in time!) Robin, in addition to the typical “pastor’s wife” role, has directed Christian daycares and Sunday school programs. All this in addition to keeping Paul and the other children in line!
Joan and I will continue to keep a full schedule as missionaries at His Mansion, albeit, a supportive role. We are alive, well and appreciate the wonderful support team God has provided us with over the years. You’ll note I’ve not used the word “retired.” We have not! Actually, I’ve long looked ahead to the day when I could mentor and coach as others experience the satisfaction and joy I’ve been privileged to be blessed with. Joan and I have labored among the busted and broken for forty years. We continue in yoke-fellowship with Him as we press on in His service. God has been so faithful!
The first part of this month was loaded with significant happenings. The “Changing-of-the-Guard” overshadowed most. However, Joan and I celebrated our forty-ninth year together as husband and wife on September 2nd and I rocketed past my 69th birthday on September 5th. Landmarks!
Back to TRUST. Folks have asked how I am handling the change. “Do you have misgivings?” The answer is: “I’m doing well, and because Paul and I have become trusted friends, I have full confidence that God will continue to send the swing skyward.”
For those here in the program, trust is the key factor in the spiritual healing process. Trust Christ for salvation, of course. But trusting Christ working through another person? Oh, well that is quite another matter!
Healing in the context of community means working together, laughing and crying together, entering into each other’s pain--all within the course of a year or longer--which cultivates the faculty of trust. It takes time.
Running a year-round, 12 month program, is labor and professionally intensive. Farming, logging, cooking, cleaning, repair and building, Bible classes and personal counseling, necessitates having men and women of exceptional skill and dedication. Add to this the fact that these dedicated, talented folks serve without salary or benefits, and the task of shepherding could be daunting--except for the fact that Dad is pushing the swing!
Baptism
On August 21, 2010, ten His Mansion residents made the decision to publically dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ during a baptismal ceremony at the Deering Reservoir. Baptisms are one of the joys to which very little can be compared. I am blessed and honored to continue to be a part of this life-changing commitment of those newly finding salvation in Christ.
A Special Day at the Mansion Saturday, September 11th was a special day of celebration for many individuals here at the Mansion. The climax of the day was the graduation ceremony for the 3 women and 6 men whose time as residents of this program came to a close. After 12 months of emotionally rigorous work while in the program, each graduate was able to give public testimony to the transformation in their life that is only possible through Jesus Christ. Several of these recent graduates will be returning back to the hill to serve as staff in the role of mentors. I am eager to see them each continue in their walk in their new identities and to see God work through them as they now have the opportunity to minister to others in desperate need of hope and healing.
On this same day, we also celebrated as the new men’s dormitory was dedicated to God. Several dozen folks took the tour of the facility asking questions of the General Contractor, Sam Farmer. Sam took the occasion to credit and thank all those who helped by plying their respective crafts. The His Mansion Board of Directors additionally took the opportunity to offer a “job well done” to Sam for his hard work and faithful efforts.
A special shout to Dave Conners and the Buderus Company for the gift of engineering expertise and over $50,000 worth of state-of-the-art heating systems.
I want to thank each one who partnered with us by sending in separate gifts targeting the completion of the building. A building estimated to cost $700,000 plus to build, came in at $350,000 and is fully paid for! (We did have to dip into reserve funds to the tune of $75,000 to do this but I am confident that by year’s end, God will refill the deficit.)
The Faithfulness of Work Groups Despite the unpredictability of New England weather even in the summer, volunteering work groups have persevered through everything from cold, rainy spells to heat waves reaching close to 100º. Most recently we have been blessed by groups and families hailing from Connecticut, Mississippi, Michigan and North Carolina. Our deep appreciation goes to all who have volunteered here helping us tackle all the work and various projects that arise during the summer months.
Healing in the Context of Community Here at His Mansion, we consider it an honor and a blessing to welcome individuals from outside communities onto the hill to participate in our week-long Healing in the Context of Community course offered three times a year. The next course is quickly coming upon us as it will be held October 9th-15th. Participating in this course is an amazing opportunity to not only see firsthand what God is doing in the lives of the residents and staff here, but to also begin to understand one’s own past experiences and to find deeper healing through a supportive community centered on Christ. I encourage you to contact us now by calling our office at 603-464-5555 or emailing bill@hismanison.com to reserve your spot in this class as it fills up quickly and the next course offering will not be until March of 2011!
As we turn the corner toward year’s end, I would ask that you remember His Mansion in your gifting plans. Because we will not be sending out appeals or special highlighted and underlined mail shouting for your attention, nor are we making telemarketing calls to interrupt your evening family dinners, I pray you’ll listen for the still small and quiet urging of God’s Holy Spirit and insure that His Mansion again ends the year debt free. Listen for it!
It is amazing, given the current crazy economy, combined with the typical doldrums of summer, that we are once again able to praise God by sharing that all our bills are paid. You, our partners, are the most faithful and sensitive support team any ministry could hope for. Thank you! Thank you for standing with us year after year. His Mansion has emerged an encouragement and testimony to God’s desire to meet needs without twisting arms and emotions. May God bless each of you.
Joyful In His Service,
Stan Farmer, Ambassador-at-Large
His Mansion Ministries, Inc.
www.hismansion.com
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