This is also the time of year that “retirees,” in tow-behinds, roll in to serve for all, or part, of the summer. We have several “hookups” to accommodate them. Lee and Joyce Oliver are back with us (Yea!) and are putting their years of experience, both professionally and at His Mansion, to work. Contact us if you have skills and wish to help out.
Project Updates
The new dormitory has received its COO (Certificate of Occupancy) which means we can begin the process of transferring men from the old building to the new. Everything is new. Mattresses, pillows, sheets, sofas and chairs, bath facilities--everything! The $75,000 needed to finish off landscaping and minor projects should be more than met by gifts, which have been promised by friends of the ministry.
The next project is the renovation of the old dorm which has “tired” with constant use. It is not quite right to say, “God is meeting all our needs” when the infrastructure of a ministry falls into disrepair. His Mansion is dedicated to not only being good stewards of funds donated, but of the facility that has been built using those funds. I thank each one who has participated in this project.
Future Plans
September 11th will be a big day in my life and in the life of His Mansion. So much is happening that day. The day will begin with a Board of Directors meeting in the morning. At that meeting, I will officially hand over the baton to Paul Atkinson as the new CEO of His Mansion.
After thirty-nine years of service as the CEO, I will step down and assume the title of “Ambassador-at-Large.” I’ll continue to be a mentor and consultant to the leadership team, teach and write, and travel on behalf of the ministry. In short, I’ll continue to work hard, but will serve under the direction of His Mansion’s new leader. For those who have supported Joan and me over the years, we will still be full-time missionaries to this work and look forward to your continued support in prayer and finances. I am so very thankful to the many faithful partners in this wonderful journey.
The Board is planning a special day in June of 2011 when His Mansion will celebrate her 40th birthday and will also (they insist) use the occasion to officially take note of Joan and my roles in the history of the work. (Sounds like a good month for me to take a vacation!) We will be keeping you up to date and will firm up the date so you can plan on attending.
Additionally on September 11th, taking place at 1PM, we will have a short dedication of the new dormitory. If you have had an interest in this project and would like to be here for the dedication, please let Bill Kurtenbach know by email or phone so that we can, according to our ability, arrange accommodations. The final and most important event of the day begins at 2PM when the next class of residents in the program will graduate. Include this in your summer plans. Graduations are the culmination of your prayer and investment.
HCC Week
We have also just graduated another class of the Healing in the Context of Community (HCC). There were 28 candidates hailing from NH, ME, NY, NJ, NC, VA, FL, OH, IL and Ontario.
As is often the case, several individuals experienced life transformation during this week. HCC courses are held three times a year and are open to the wider Body of Christ. The material covered is of great value to the local church when brought there by someone who has learned it in community. Here is a comment offered by the Dean of Students at a mid-western college who recently completed the HCC course:
“After losing my son Josh to heroin, I wanted to better understand the treatment program offered at His Mansion and to see God at work in the lives of people. Not only did I learn about the program and see Him at work redeeming broken lives but I found His love again for me. He revealed His grace to me and worked to heal areas of grief and pain in my life. It was a tremendous time of feeling God's presence.”
The next class is to be held October 9th through 15th. Enroll early as the fall session is our most popular.
In Need of Equipment
Our farm tractor is a faithful, tired old beast. She gets used and abused as a garden tractor, for snow removal, and as a skidder in the forest. She needs a total replacement! If you know of someone who might have a fairly new 30-70 HP 4WD tractor and would welcome a tax-deduction receipt in exchange, it would be an answer to prayer. (For that matter, some of the rest of us are pretty old and worn, but doing the best we can!)
Additionally, if you know of someone having access to “commercial” washers and dryers, we are wearing our army of domestic units out!
Praise and Thanks
We do want to share answer to prayer as well. A friend of the ministry donated a nice Ford Windstar van which replaces a very well-worn Caravan. These vehicles are used constantly and would set us back considerably if it were not for the “random” donations.
Thanks to Cathy van de Berkt (our gardener) and her dedicated work crew, the place looks like an estate! Flowers and ground cover border walls and entryways with a myriad of color and textures. This work is hard and requires great attention to detail.
One of our Hereford heifers presented us with a daybreak gift this month. The infant calf looks like a precious child’s pet today, but I see “steak” written all over him. Must be the prophet in me!
Sam Farmer (Operations Super) and Ryan Miranda (Building and Maintenance) cooperated to construct a large “southern-style” smoker and our annual Memorial Day picnic treated us with the results. They started eighteen hours earlier and smoked a 200lb. hog, head and all! You never tasted pork so good. We cure and smoke all our own hams and bacon, savings us significant money.
HMI Update
Dr. Michael Tso is hard at work getting the new His Mansion Institute set up. There are already 4 individuals here for practicum. Just seeing the work he puts into this course entices me to apply! There are brochures and a DVD available in addition to being accessible online in the Academic Internship section of our website at www.hismansion.com.
God has already provided Dr. Tso with an assistant, Nick Clark. Nick graduated from Westminster Theological Seminary with a Master's in Biblical Counseling. He then served as Pastoral Intern for the last year at Cornerstone Christian Church and worked for 4 years at Saint Clare's Hospital in Boonton, NJ as a Senior Behavior Health Crisis Counselor. Nick will serve as the Program Administrator for the His Mansion Institute when he and his family arrive on campus in mid-July. The Clark’s are an exciting addition to the ministry and our community.
Prayer and Support
Generally, giving slows down during the summer months. Ironically, this is the season when His Mansion is presented with the greatest opportunities for ministry. High school and college graduations, college-age men and women with time on their hands, not enough employment, and drugs and alcohol pouring in from everywhere are the ingredients for disaster. We catch the broken pieces.
His Mansion ministers to nearly fifty folks, we mentor and train 24 short-term staff, operate the main facility in New Hampshire (350 acres and 20 buildings), a reentry facility in Bridgeport, CT and another in Grand Rapids, MI. In addition, His Mansion conducts the Healing in the Context of Community, three times a year, preparing dozens of men and women to be better equipped to contribute within the churches they attend--all for under $500,000/year! That is a lot of product for the investment. Please remember His Mansion as you sacrifice to support missions.
I have recently begun to support an organization in a way that was “new” to me, and really appreciated their emphasis on good stewardship. I once would have thought of their approach as solicitation, but having done it, I know what many of you have discovered a long time ago--it is good stewardship! Now I save 44 cents every month, and don’t have to be reminded. Should you opt to contribute this way, you’ll continue to receive written acknowledgement every month from a real person at His Mansion! Refer to the section at the bottom of the page to implement this method for yourself.
Having said all of that, I rejoice in sharing with you again this month that all our bills are paid and we owe no debt. (Perhaps you’d like to share this concept with someone in Washington DC!) Thank you so much for your friendship with His Mansion and your faithful prayer and support. We are privilege to partner together in this vital ministry.
Joyful in His Service,
Stan Farmer, CEO
His Mansion Ministries, Inc.
www.hismansion.com
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