Dr. Ron Bouthillette: Associate Executive Minister for Leadership Development and Discipleship

During the fall of 2019 the governing board of IFL voted to call Ron has their new director.  The board then requested that Ron become a member of the region staff, and be accountable to the region executive minister. After further discussion, it was decided that Ron would serve as the Associate Executive Minister of Leadership Development and Discipleship, which would include being the director of the new LifeTree School of Ministry. This was voted in the affirmative (unanimously) by ABCVNH’s trustee at their November 2019 meeting.  

Two events delayed the promotion of Ron’s new role and the new LifeTree School of Ministry.  The self-evident issue was the arrival of COVID.  The second was Ron’s retirement from pastoral ministry was delayed. Consequently, entering 2021, with Ron retired from the Bridge Community Church of Milford, NH, yet remaining an adjunct professor in the pastoral ministry department at Gordon-Conwell, it is now time to re-introduce Ron and the LifeTree School of Ministry. Ron is actively recruiting students for this new program.  Despite COVID, we offered a well attended course in church renewal taught by Ron at the First Baptist Church of Haverhill. This was a new opportunity to partner with the ABC of Massachusetts and Gordon-Conwell. This was the first time three entities: ABCVNH, TABCOM, and GCTS, had a cooperated class. This success encourages us for the continued development of the program.

As Ron now has more time, he will continue offering groups for new pastors and hopes to start a new pastors group in Vermont. He will be facilitating groups for region pastors to explore new ways of doing ministry. Ron is also available for church consultation on church renewal, which he has done in the past and for general pulpit supply.  Ron will be also be available to visit churches to explain the LifeTree School of Ministy. 
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If any pastor or church would like to contact Ron, please email him at ron.bouthillette@abcvnh.org or call him at 603-769-1810. He can also be reached via the region office.