New England: America's Backyard Mission Field
Hi! I'm David Rollert, and this is my family.
Keeley and I were married in December of 2008. We enrolled at the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver in 2009 and graduated in May of 2011. 3 months later, we moved to New Hampshire. It took some time to find housing and get settled in the area, but we love it here.
New Hampshire is unique.
The state motto here is, "Live Free, or Die." People here cherish their liberty, and don't take kindly to the input of outsiders who don't take time to learn about what life is like in the northeast. We were thankful for the heads-up we received from one of our instructors. He knew quite a bit about the area and had this to say:
"If you're thinking about going up there to work for 2-3 years...don't go."
Whoa. That seemed kind of extreme.
But, after the first five years, it made a lot more sense.
The harsh, bitter winters of the Great White North are indicative of the kind of people you find in this part of the country. They are hard-working and self-reliant. They have a stubborn streak. They take pride in the life they carve out here in the granite state. It's easy to imagine how the people in generations past - those who had the grit to put down their roots and stay here despite the difficulties - would have developed a particular mindset...
...namely, that if you're an outsider who hasn't been around that long, you might want to reconsider sharing your opinion on how things ought to be done here.
On top of the general challenges of the region, folks here have also been worn out religiously. This area has a turbulent history; one which has left many jaded by temporary religious fixtures who do more harm than good when they leave.
We noticed on our arrival there was a marked reservation among many... a vibe of "holding one out at arm's length." This is typical for the first three years or so. That's about how long it takes people to decide if you're genuine or not, before they start to open up.
Once we had been here for about 5 years, the shift from friend to brother had happened, and we finally found ourselves getting real traction, not just in the church, but in the community.
In the past decade, we have often commented to each other, "Can you imagine if we had gone home after a 2-3 year commitment?"
Because really, that 5-year mark was the turning point.
Once we'd been around for 3 years or so, patiently building relationships with the brethren, serving them, and enduring hardship with them, things started to change. Over the next couple of years, armed with a newly forged trust in each other, the focus naturally shifted outward toward actively reaching the lost together. Everyone got invested in outreach efforts, and the boon of a couple years of steady numerical growth resulted.
As new people came in, we noticed the process repeating itself and got excited about what we were seeing.
That's why we tell people that the Northeast needs workers who are committed for the long-haul - and not just in the pulpit! Congregations here need humble brethren who are willing to work alongside them in every aspect of the work - not just the exciting parts, like Bible studies and baptisms.
You'll need a cheerful, positive outlook and willingness to participate in the consistent grind of quiet service and patient outreach in a sometimes cold, ungracious social environment.
The labor is challenging, but, when so much patient toiling is required to see results, you can imagine that when the harvest comes, it is incredibly rewarding. There are so many reasons to consider working in this mission field.
But don't take our word for it... Come up for a visit!
You'll get to hear more about the opportunities for evangelism from the locals. But plan to take some time for site-seeing. You'll want to check out the quaint towns of the White Mountains, or visit the lighthouses of New England. With historic locations everywhere, and abundant nature to enjoy, you'll be glad you came!
Before you do, take a moment and subscribe below for upcoming events and updates about the area!
Until next time,
The Rollerts