STS Massachusetts
On Thursday, May 7th, 2026, Small Town Summits will host a Summit at Heritage Bible Chapel in Princeton, MA. Pastors and lay leaders from small places across Massachusetts will marvel together at the sin-defeating cross and the death-conquering resurrection of Christ in order to consider what it looks like for ministry to be rooted in Christ’s cross and resurrection.
Christ our Savior
May 7th 2026
The good news of the gospel is not simply that Christ’s redeeming work is gloriously accomplished and Christ’s person is gloriously awesome. It’s that his whole person and his entire work are ours through faith. The greatest benefit of what he’s done is that we can bask in who he is – eternally. He is ours forevermore. Throughout 2026, Small Town Summits will gather small-place New England churches, pastors, and laypeople to exult in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In our Spring Summits, we’ll focus on 1 Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul summarizes the saving gospel by saying ‘Christ died for our sins’ and ‘he was raised on the third day.’ At the beginning of the letter, he says ‘I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (2:2). At the end of the letter, he devotes an entire chapter to Christ’s resurrection, concluding, ‘Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain’ (15:58). 1 Corinthians shows that the cross and resurrection are the focus and fuel of gospel ministry. They give us something glorious to proclaim and the indomitable resolve to proclaim it.
8.30 – 9am - Arrival and registration
9 – 10am - Welcome, Singing, STS Vision, Introductions
10 – 10:45am - Session #1: The Cross of Christ as the Focus of Gospel Ministry and group discussion
10:45 – 11am - Coffee break
11am – Noon - Session #2: The Resurrection of Christ as the fuel of Gospel Ministry and group discussion
Noon – 1pm - Lunch
1 – 2pm - Breakout sessions
2 – 2.15pm - Break
2.15 – 3pm - Session #3: Panel Discussion and Q&A: What does it look like in practice to ground gospel ministry in the cross and resurrection?
3 – 3.30pm - Prayer
In our first two main sessions, Ben Emberly and Stephen Witmer will speak to the focus and the fuel of gospel ministry in the cross and resurrection of Christ. Our last main session will be a panel giving Summit participants opportunity to ask specific counseling questions for discussion among the panelists and fellow Summit attendees.
Stephen Witmer is the lead pastor of Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, MA. He's a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the University of Cambridge, and serves on the steering committee of the Gospel Coalition New England. He is the author of “A Big Gospel in Small Places.” He and his wife Emma have two sons and one daughter.
Ben grew up in small-town ministry contexts as the son of a pastor who served in Dublin, NH and then Northfield, MA. After graduating with a degree in Bible Exposition from The Master’s University, he married his wife Beth. Together they are the happy parents of three young daughters as well as a precious son who went to be with the Lord in 2021. Ben recently graduated with his MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as a pastor at Community Bible Church in Northfield, MA.
Meet the Team
Ethan is the husband to Catherine and father of Henry and Cali. They moved to Sandwich, MA in the spring of 2022 where Ethan has led Forestdale Church, a historic congregation on Cape Cod. Prior to his service in the church, Ethan served active duty in the Marine Corps and then received an MDiv from Westminster Seminary California. If he has a free hour to himself, you can either find him at the gym or on his porch with his corncob pipe and a book.
Ben grew up in small-town ministry contexts as the son of a pastor who served in Dublin, NH and then Northfield, MA. After graduating with a degree in Bible Exposition from The Master’s University, he married his wife Beth. Together they are the happy parents of three young daughters as well as a precious son who went to be with the Lord in 2021. Ben recently graduated with his MDiv from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as a pastor at Community Bible Church in Northfield, MA.
