September 2025 Report

Fall has fallen here in the White Mountains, or “above the notch,” as the locals say. With the change of leaves comes the change of license plates. Many travel to this area to see the brilliant colors and take in the brisk fall air. It is apple cider and flannel shirt season. Saturdays are filled with farmers’ markets in every little town. Some shops have already begun shutting down for the year, and people are preparing their homes and gardens for the approaching winter.

New England Men’s Retreat

In September, I was blessed to attend the New England Men’s retreat at Ganderbrook Christian Camp in Raymond, Maine. The camp has a long history of serving as a summer haven for kids and supporting the local church, dating back to the 1950s. Also, Cara was a camp counselor there for two summers back at the turn of the century.

The retreat is an annual event that the six New England states take turns planning and organizing. This year, it was the congregations from New Hampshire's turn. The speaker focused on Romans 12:1-2 and challenged us with the idea that the change that will take place in our homes, in the church, and in our communities begins in our hearts and minds. It was a great reminder of the importance of focused dedication and purposeful living. On a personal note, as one who has organized many retreats and summer Bible camps, it was nice to be a participant and be edified.

One very insightful thing was the panel discussion. They had six preachers working in the area speak about how they evangelize and reach out to the community. It was helpful to hear about what resources they use, methods they employ, and how they get members involved. Some methods are similar everywhere, but some challenges are unique to certain local areas. It is interesting to learn what they are doing to overcome those barriers.

The Work Continues

We continue to teach and preach in the rotation here with the two congregations. They have been encouraged by the recent visitors. One young lady has been coming and has had several Bible studies with Wayne Burger. I have started volunteering at the Senior Center in Littleton. This gives me more contact with people in the community and helps the Littleton congregation. The center allows the church to use the building on Sundays and Thursdays for free, so it is a way of giving back. The Littleton congregation has asked me to start hanging flyers on homes in the little town of Bethlehem near Littleton. We do all of this with urgency because people continue to die without knowing the gospel. One preacher and missionary I respect very much told me to always take pictures of cemeteries to remind people of the importance of evangelism.

Looking Forward

We are enjoying our time here in New Hampshire with the brethren, but it feels like it is slipping away as we are in our last month here. Please keep praying for the new contacts and for the growth of the congregations here.