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Annual Gathering: October 15-16, 2021

6/9/2021

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​Rev. Dr. Michael Beck:
Michael Adam Beck is the Director of Remissioning for Fresh Expressions US, Director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at United Theological Seminary, and Cultivator of Fresh Expressions Florida UMC. He is "a spiritual guide who helps people heal, love, and unleash imagination to create better lives, organizations, and communities." Michael and wife Jill are co-pastors of two revitalization congregations Wildwood and St Marks UMC in Ocala FL, and a network of thirteen fresh expressions gathering in tattoo parlors, dog parks, burrito joints, and digital spaces. They direct an inpatient rehab, homeless shelter, and an interracial unity movement. Michael earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Semiotics and Future Studies at Portland Seminary with his mentor Dr. Leonard Sweet. Michael is the author of six books, and is considered a global thought leader in the fresh expressions movement. Jill and Michael currently live in Ocala. They have a blended family of eight children, four grandchildren, and two pugs.

Rev. Dr. Dee Stokes
Dr. Dee Stokes is a spiritual advisor, speaker, coach, author, and educator who is known as a program builder. Dr. Stokes utilizes her apostolic gift to repurpose organizations and build influential people who change the world and live out the Gospel practically. Dr. Stokes ministers in a variety of settings, but her passion is preaching, teaching, and empowering others to WIN! Dr. Stokes believes every Christ follower should be involved in their community and as such, she is heavily involved in the city of Thomasville, NC serving on numerous boards including the Thomasville City Schools Board of Education. 
Dr. Dee serves on the teaching/preaching team at Christ Wesleyan Church, Greensboro, NC. She is President/CEO of a cross-cultural non-profit ministry: Dee Stokes Ministries, Inc. Owns a consulting firm and does leadership development in the areas of cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and burnout. Dr. Stokes is also a part of a  Luther Seminary Faith + Lead innovation team. She participates as a mentor/coach and curriculum developer for a ministry innovator fellowship called The Seeds Project. Dr. Stokes is also on the Fresh Expressions US staff as the Director of Cultural Intelligence & Trainer. 
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Camp Sentinel: June 2021 Update

6/9/2021

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We are looking forward to the upcoming camp season in the fresh air and spreading out on Sentinel's 629 acres and a mile of water frontage. We have health and safety protocols in place as we prepare for your arrival this summer. Click here for more information and a video message.
Swimming with new friends in the crystal clear refreshing waters of Dan Hole Pond, enjoying the spectacular views from the Ledges hike, challenging yourself on our team building ropes course, relishing well balanced home cooked meals in the Lodge dining hall, and simply appreciating the warm and distinct smell of the campfire with friends. These experiences and other life-long memories await you this summer at Camp Sentinel.
Essential things to do before coming to camp: All forms may be downloaded here
  1. Review packing list
  2. Complete camper physical form and bring the first day of camp
  3. Balance paid (by April 1st). You may also add store money on your online account, to save time during check-in.
  4. Prepare for a life-changing experience!
Please note check-in and pick-up times in the summer program brochure. Boys and Girls overnight camp check-in is on Sundays at 3pm with a closing ceremony/pick up on Saturdays at 10am.
Camp Sentinel 2021
www.campsentinel.org
37 weeks of camp?!?!? This week marks the 37th week of camp. Hold on. I thought camps only operate in the summer months! This year was different. Camp Sentinel opened for the summer season in June of 2020 for 10 weeks of day camp, then in September with schools going remote and parents needing to work, Sentinel answered the call to help families. Since mid-September Sentinel has been open for "Student Care" with student mentored by Sentinel staff and 50% of the students receiving scholarship assistance. Sentinel is mission first.
Sentinel is open safe and covid free. We were able to do this by following our health and safety guidelines. This summer cabin capacity for overnight camp will be limited, so it is important to sign up soon. Programs are available for everyone from 5 to 105 years old!
Our 2021 theme is Steadfast. Firm in belief. Determined. Firmly fixed in place. Immovable. "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23. Camp provides a place where we find unhurried moments to take a breath and focus on the steadfast love of our unchanging God. By purposeful time in the quiet, gazing at the bright stars at night, we are reminded of how immovable God is. Our faith deepens as we are reminded the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases…great is Thy faithfulness.
For more information please visit www.campsentinel.org/mission
See you soon on the mountaintop,
Kevin Van Brunt "Pk"
Executive Director, Camp Sentinel


Summer Camp programs
Little Adventures: June 27th - June 29th Program: Ms. Val
Adult Camp: June 27th - June 30th Pastor: Dean Stiles
Camp Session 1:July 4th - July 10th Pastor: Mark Jackson
Camp Session 2July 11th - July 17th Pastor & Worship: Matt Beam
Camp Session 3:July 18th - July 24th Pastor: Andy Barnes Worship: Nathan Wells
Camp Session 4:July 25th - July 30th Pastor: Brandon Dupuis

View full program offerings
Friday Evening Red Carpet Banquet!
Friday evenings are a time of celebration when we remember all the great things about the week. Each Friday evening, we dress up and walk down the red carpet enjoying good food and great fun!
Social Media
Stay up to date with the most recent pictures, stories, and news.
Facebook YouTube Instagram Twitter
We look forward to seeing you this summer!
In His Service,
Kevin Van Brunt "Pk"
Executive Director
(603) 539-4839
29 Sentinel Lodge Rd.
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816
More about Sentinel
Camp Sentinel is located in the foothills of the Ossipee Mountain range in Tuftonboro, New Hampshire. Established in 1949, Sentinel offers fun, quality Christian overnight and day camp for youth, adults and families. Sentinel hosts year-round rustic retreats for groups up to 200 guests (55 in the winter). Sentinel's group experiences are known for its home cooked meals, attention to detail and Christian hospitality. Amenities include: 5 unique hiking trails, 5 element ropes course with zip line, giant swing, 25-foot-tall rock-climbing wall, large field, archery range, chapel for up to 200 guests, and more. The camp provides solitude on its 600+ acres and over a mile of water frontage on crystal clear Dan Hole Pond.
Sentinel employs 40 summer staff from over 25 area churches. Staff either grow-up through our program or come with fresh new ideas to strengthen program. Staff are background and reference checked and attend staff trainings. Our staff retention rate is high. When staff serve for a summer, they want to come back.
What the Staff Say
MEET THE STAFF
"Often people ask me, how could you "give up" your summer to work at camp for 9 weeks, and I suppose that could be a valid question. I guess it's because camp is my home away from home, where my second family is. I get to spend my summer not only with amazing people but in a bubble, that protects against all the world throws at me. I wake up to constant love, fun and smiles and most importantly my summer is devoted to helping kids find their relationship with Christ. Life outside camp is just so boring in comparison. Simply put I would miss it" -Summer Staff
Support Sentinel
We ask for your prayers and support as we embrace the past and invest in the future!
Your tax-deductible donation to Camp Sentinel makes a difference in the lives of many! Thank you for your prayers and support. This ministry would not be possible without the financial gifts and hard work of many of our Camp Sentinel family.
Help send a youth to camp when you shop with Amazon Smile.
.5% of your purchase goes to Camp Sentinel's scholarship campaign. There is no cost to you and you still pay the same price for items on Amazon. Amazon makes the donation above and beyond your purchase. Simply click logo above, select Sentinel as the charity and shop as usual. Thank you for your support in helping children have a life changing Christian camp experience!
Pines Camping Area: Memorial Day Weekend until Columbus Day  - NEW ONLINE REGISTRATION!
The Pines offers a relaxing camping experience for individuals, families and groups on 33 beautiful sites. Enjoy spending your day on crystal clear Dan Hole Pond, hiking one of our five hiking trails or simply relaxing in a hammock by the campfire. Water and electric sites are available. July and August summer worship services Sunday at 9:30am.
The purpose of Camp Sentinel is to create a welcoming environment for Christian relationship building and spiritual renewal. Within the stillness of God's creation and through the guidance of the staff, people are moved from discovery into authentic relationships with others and with Jesus Christ.
29 Sentinel Lodge Road, Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816
campsentinel.org 603.539.4839


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New Associate Pastor: Ryan Gabel

6/9/2021

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My name is Ryan Gabel. I am the Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church of Lebanon. My wife Sarah, and our daughters Carrie and Eleanor are very blessed to have received this call. God has blessed us with a church family that loves the Lord and is excited to move forward in new seasons of carrying out the Great Commission and Great Commandment.

My wife and I are graduates from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Sarah graduated with her Master of Counseling and I with a Master of Divinity. I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, and Sarah is from the North Shore of Boston. As a family we enjoy spending time outdoors, gardening, reading books and watching lots of kids shows/movies.

​Please pray for our family and our church as we continue to work through a season of leadership, ministry and constitutional restructuring and a building project that has been slow going. We are truly blessed to be at FBC Lebanon and are excited to see what God has planned. 
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New Hampton Community Church Holds Easter Service for High School Students

6/3/2021

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Easter at New Hampton Community Church is always a celebration. Palm Sunday and Good Friday worship services set the stage for Easter.  This year as we were breaking out of Covid restrictions God burst forth! 

Palm Sunday was a meaningful worship, followed by Good Friday which was a reminder of the distance God will go to reach people with His love and grace.   

To understand the significance of this Easter, some history is necessary. New Hampton Community Church is located on main street, New Hampton in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Across the street is New Hampton School. New Hampton School is a prep school, home to 300 high school students. New Hampton Church has for years prayed and extended invitations to the students and faculty. Occasionally a few students or families worship with New Hampton Church Family, and I, as Pastor, have participated with prayer at graduations, but by in large, it has been dry ground. A few years ago the Church helped initiate and establish a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) group on the school campus. 
Two weeks prior to Easter (2021) I received an email from a NHS Faculty member asking if I would consider leading an Easter service for a few students who were requesting one. Responding immediately, I offered to lead the service in the school’s auditorium and asked if students would like to participate. I also expressed my curiosity as to how many students would attend to print adequate programs. The conclusion was 10 students would be nice, 20 would be terrific.   

The Students requested the service be in the Church sanctuary. Because of Covid’s physical distancing, this had to be a separate service dedicated to the school students. This meant NHCC would celebrate with three services on Easter.   

Easter morning early service was outside with a magnificent view of Franconia Notch. We even Livestreamed the service on YouTube. At 10 am the sanctuary was alive with a crowd eager to celebrate and worship, and that we did, including those joining us on the NHCC YouTube Channel.    

At 12:30pm the students and faculty began to arrive in the sanctuary to celebrate Easter. One student pianist played a beautiful Beethoven piece, an accompaniment combination of a bass saxophone and electric guitar played a moving rendition of Amazing Grace followed by two students reading an Easter poem and Matthew’s narrative of the Resurrection.  

Preaching the historical reality of the Resurrection and Jesus’ impact on billions of people for more than two thousand years, the students were challenged with “the question for you is, what are you going to do with Jesus?”  

God burst forth on Easter bringing three new families to the early morning outside worship, a crowd eager to celebrate at 10 am, and not ten or twenty students; 84 students concluded Easter service singing “Stand in Your Love” by Josh Baldwin followed by singing and clapping in celebration to “My Redeemer Lives”.  Yes He Does!  

May the Grace & Love of Jesus inspire you to action 
Rev. Scott Mitchell 
Pastor, New Hampton Community Church   
newhamptoncc.org  
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Rev. Dale Edwards: Almost over, what now?

6/3/2021

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COVID restrictions are lifting, church bodies are regathering, and old issues and future aspiration are being grappled. As I am reconnecting with pastors and churches since my unplanned sabbatical, I find both an expressed and implied question: "COVID is winding down. What now for our church, the mission, the ministry?” I have always been a novice historian, a bit of systems thinker, with a bit of historical theology and future thinking thrown in. Although my conversations are with individuals and local churches, there remains the big backdrop. Before COVID I was guarded about the speculation that Christianity had entered a 500 year shift, that the United States would be a secular country, and that the center of Christianity would be centered in the Global South church - geographically in West Africa. Now I am convinced all this is happening, and I am minute cork bobbing in the ocean. Except for a sovereign and gracious God, I would drown.  

During my time out of the office, I did a lot of reading. Some of it was depressing in particular in relation to the decline of historic denominations. At the risk of boring you with data, since 2000 the American Baptist Churches USA has declined by 20%, the Episcopal Church 25%, the Lutherans (ECLA) 30%, the United Church of Christ 36%, and the Presbyterian Church USA 41%. The data from 2019, which includes all reporting denominations, is that 3,000 new churches began, almost exclusively outside the world of historic denominations, and 4,500 churches closed. Church closures predominated in rural/small town contexts. When COVID arrived, the Pew Foundation and the Barna group predicted 25% of churches would close as the result of COVID’s effects. Some scholarship asserts there will be a ripple effect of church closures for the next three years. 

Coupled with COVID is a fractured and divided nation and society. While recuperating I read a fascinating article in the Guardian by a secular author who bemoaned the loss of the “Judeo-Christian consensus”. His premise was as western culture has become secular, and “religion” had been replaced by political ideology. Political ideologies, without the leavening higher values of “religion”, morphs into angry and win at all cost theologies in that political thinking, which becomes an object of worship. As a Christian, I think the author has a substantial point, but I would carry the thesis further in that political theologies as they impact the Church produce an idolatry that displaces and dishonors Jesus Christ. My first loyalty remains to One King, and in submission to the Lord, I expect often to repent for my sin and evil, receiving grace to live out my faith with the Body of Christ in a world broken and torn by evil. I grieve deeply that Christians are torn from one another along political, racial, generational, and class lines. We are all tempted to replace Christ with ideologies, which rationalize our comfortable evils.  

What now in a world of recovering from a pandemic, division, yes even hatred, which are all impacting the Body of Christ? Post World War II church institutions are threadbare, some prayerfully discerning the future, and others are exhausted and defeated. Where do we go from here? We go to Christ. We go to Scripture. We practice hospitality and invitation. We meet others and share Christ. We, as a people in a broken rapidly changing world, practice humility, repentance, love, and seek the transformation of our world under Christ Lordship and love for his Kingdom. We need to grieve and release practices, conceptions, bad theologies. After all that down time reading, I wonder if we have made the journey into the future more complicated than needed. Isn’t our faith really about our salvation to the Glory of God and for a good and just world that reflects Christ? But we cannot in any healthy faithful fashion travel into the future - God’s future - without surrendering our lives and our church to Jesus Christ. What now? What posture? The only way is face down before Jesus Christ. As an historic association of churches, my prayer is ABC-VNH can travel together into being a future church where we have done our best because of and before Jesus Christ.  

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  • NEWS AND EVENTS
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    • ANNUAL GATHERING VIDEO >
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    • FROST HEAVE REVIVAL PODCAST
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  • SUPPORTING THE REGION