STS New Hampshire
On Thursday, May 14th, 2025, Small Town Summits will host a Summit at Faith Community Bible Church in Loudon, NH . Pastors and lay leaders from small places across New Hampshire 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 14th 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: How Christ’s Work Helps Us Endure
3 – 3.30pm - Prayer
In our first two main sessions, Shawn Carpenter and Joel Sedam 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.
Joel grew up in Westerly, RI. After graduating with a B.A. in Theology, he continued his studies at Southern Seminary. He has worked with InterVarsity Fellowship and has served on the pastoral staff at Grace Harbor Church in Providence. He and his wife Jen moved to Bristol in June of 2015, where they and their core team planted Mount Hope Church.
Shawn Carpenter is the lead pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Nashua, NH. Prior to coming on board with Trinity in 2019, Shawn was a church-planter in California. He is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Shawn and his wife Laura have four sons, two who are out into young adulthood, and two still at home. He enjoys his coffee black-no sugar, Herman Bavinck, and the NBA League Pass, and not necessarily always in that order…
Meet the Team
Shawn Carpenter is the lead pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Nashua, NH. Prior to coming on board with Trinity in 2019, Shawn was a church-planter in California. He is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Shawn and his wife Laura have four sons, two who are out into young adulthood, and two still at home. He enjoys his coffee black-no sugar, Herman Bavinck, and the NBA League Pass, and not necessarily always in that order…
Doug Cooper serves as the Pastor of Christ Restoration Church in New London, NH. Doug completed a two-year program at Word of Life Bible Institute, as well earning an Associate Degree from River Valley Community College in Occupational Therapy, a BA in English Literature and Religion from Liberty University, and is currently working on a Master of Theological Studies degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. Doug and his wife Leah have four children, one dog, one cat, and five chickens.
