The Gardner Report June, 2015
Greetings from the Green Mountains!
The Gardner Report Year in Review
December/Year End Report
This has been a wonderful year in the Lord’s work here in the Upper Valley. It began as I finished up studying with Michael Eldridge at the New Hampshire State Prison just before he was released in January. We continued our studies through the winter and on April 5th Michael was baptized into Christ and has continued faithful in the Lord ever since. He now has an excellent job in shipping at the local Home Depot.
At the beginning of June, the Kellogg family showed up one Sunday morning before Bible class started. They were waiting out front with Aaron already in his wheelchair. Come to find out some our members had been by their yard sale and invited them to church since they live just a short distance away. Aaron, their 15 year old son with a spinal degenerative disease, is the one who wanted to begin attending. It happened to be a potluck Sunday and by the time it was over a Bible class was already set up to begin that Tuesday evening. The classes were a joy to be a part of! Aaron always lay on the couch next to me as we began with the Jule Miller Films. Right from the start and throughout all of our studies, he just raises a finger and quietly says, “I have a question.” Every question is thoughtful and right on point in seeking the truth of God’s Word. Several years ago Dean had been immersed into Christ Biblically by a brother in Christ from another congregation. On September 8th both Natasha and Aaron were baptized into Christ and a family came together as one in the Lord. They continue as faithful members of the Lord’s church and we still have our Tuesday evening supper and Bible studies every week.
Meanwhile in July we rejoiced as Caitlyn Ryan was immersed into Christ. She is blessed to have both grandparents and parents who are faithful members here. She was raised in the church but Heather, her mother still spent several weeks doing some study with her to make sure she totally understood her commitment. It was a joyful Lord’s Day when her dad, BJ, got up and made the announcement of her desire to become a Christian. Dear old dad could barely get the words out past the tears but he did his daughter’s baptism himself and we rejoiced and welcomed a new sister into the family on July 19th.
Toward the end of the summer a very elderly sister in Christ died. The church here put a lot of time and effort into the funeral and fellowship meal for all her family. Even though her son Mike and his wife are faithful members, the efforts and love of the church touched the rest of the family. Mikes brother Keith, his wife Theresa and Mike and Keith’s sister Lindsay returned to the Lord and His church after almost 40 years of being away and they are extremely faithful now and reaching out to the rest of the Batten family. It is such a joy to have them back. We have
Apart from the four baptisms and three restorations it was also a very busy year with our annual full scale Bible time market place Vacation Bible School in July, Friends Day in August and Area Wide Gospel Sing that we hosted in September. With events going on throughout the summer, the love and unity just flowed as several well attended cook outs were hosted by different families including the Kelloggs, who are new members. After the cookout season ended with cold weather the fellowship continued with a lot of meals being shared in one another’s homes. It began to feel a lot like the first century church when it says, “and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts.” All in all it’s just been a great year in the Lord’s work here in the Upper Valley. Thank you for being able to share this good news about what the Lord has accomplished. We just pray he continues to open doors of opportunity going into this New Year.
Your fellow servants in Christ,
Randy and Sharon Gardner
4 Baptisms
3 Restorations
5 Regular Bible Studies
Restoration Class with Keith, Theresa and Lindsay
Ongoing class with Dean, Natasha and Aaron Kellogg
Strengthening and counseling with Phil Thoreburn
Class with Tim Johnson yet to be converted
Class at the Westboro Assisted Living