STS New Hampshire
Our Extraordinary Christ
On Thursday, May 9th, 2024, 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 explore the riches of the book of Hebrews in order to revel in the incomparable greatness of Jesus.
Our Extraordinary Christ
May 9th 2024
Small-town New England churches and pastors are used to feeling ordinary – and that’s because we are. We stumble, struggle, and sin. We get discouraged. We’re often weak, weary, and uncertain. What we most need is not someone to tell us we’re impressive. We need a truly impressive Someone. We need to be reminded of our extraordinary Christ.
From the very first lines of the book of Hebrews, Jesus is declared superior to every created being. And Jesus’ greatness is meant not just to be marveled at, but to motivate us to persevering love and obedience. In our 2024 Small Town Summits, we’ll explore the riches of the book of Hebrews in order to revel in the incomparable greatness of Jesus. We’ll see that the supremacy of Christ is rocket fuel for a joyfully tenacious life and ministry. The small places of New England desperately need pastors, laypeople and churches who don’t flame out, who doggedly and delightedly go on. The small places need people who care more about the fame of Jesus than their own. The greatness of Jesus will propel us forward and be our all-satisfying prize when our race is complete.
8.30 – 9am - Arrival and registration
9 – 10am - Welcome, singing, introductions and the vision of Small Town Summits
10 – 11am - Session #1: ‘Our Extraordinary God’ (Hebrews 1:1-14) and group discussion (Shawn Carpenter)
11 – 11.30am - Coffee break
11.30am – 12.30pm - Session #2: ‘Our Extraordinary Brother’ (Hebrews 2:5-18)and group discussion (Stephen Witmer)
12.30 – 1.30pm - Lunch
1.30 – 2.30pm - Breakout sessions
2.30 – 2.45pm - Break
2.45 – 3.30pm - Session #3: ‘Our Extraordinary Priest’ (Hebrews 10:19-25) and group discussion (Ben Whittinghill)
3.30 – 4pm - Prayer
In our main sessions, Shawn Carpenter, Stephen Witmer and Ben Whittinghill will exposit select passages in the book of Hebrews, in order to revel in the incomparable greatness of Jesus and to consider how that motivates a faithful endurance for those of us ministering in small-town New England.
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…
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 Whittinghill is the lead pastor of Rivertown Church which he co-founded in Brattleboro, VT in 2014. He’s a graduate of the University of Georgia and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Ben works bi-vocationally in commercial real estate. He and his wife Kayla have five sons and three daughters.
David Pinckney
A common struggle churches have in small communities is engaging men. Acknowledging the particular traits men experience in the four stages of masculinity, even small churches can adapt what they expect and ask of men.
David Pinckney is the Mission Pastor at River of Grace Church in Concord, NH and serves as the North Atlantic Regional Director for Acts 29 Church Planting Network. He is a graduate of Bethel Seminary and a member of the TGC New England Steering Committee. David and his wife Sharon have raised four sons and one daughter. He enjoys traveling, history, people and bacon.
Mike Rattin
When I was much younger Warren W. Wiersbe came to the Rumney Bible Conference and though I have forgotten the message itself, I remember Warren telling the pastors in attendance, “When you get to my age, they are shooting through the old holes.” Sometimes ministry is a very long stay in a very difficult place. For most it is more a long endurance race that no seminary education can adequately prepare you to run. We must always be weaning ourselves from dependence on man’s approval as we grow and learn how to rest and depend on Christ alone for his glory alone. So what are these life long lessons that we must learn and relearn from God’s word if we are to endure? We will begin in Philippians 3 as I share lessons I have learned and then take time to hear from you as well.
Mike Rattin served as pastor/elder at the Faith Baptist Church in Hollis, NH for 35 years. Prior to Faith Baptist he was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Meredith, NH and pastor of Holland Congregational church for two years in Holland, MA. He currently serves as Hollis Police Department Chaplain. He is a graduate of the CB Seminary of the East. Mike is married to his sweet wife Sue, has four married children and fifteen grandchildren. His favorite author is John Piper. He is told he has too many hobbies but greatest delight is in both family and fishing.
Jordan Moody
Since the tumultuous year of 2020, statistics have shown a sharp increase in pastoral burnout and a disheartening number of church leaders considering resignation. I was one of those statistics but have since emerged with a renewed love for Jesus and His church. The purpose of this breakout session is to provide fresh encouragement to anyone desiring faithful, long-term ministry in small places. You will hear scriptural insights, personal experiences, and practical tips for maintaining a healthy ministry life.
Jordan is a native New Englander who grew up in Dublin, New Hampshire. His family has been involved in Christian ministry in New England for over 60 years. While Jordan was finishing seminary, God called him to Hope Fellowship Church in Jaffrey, NH where he has been lead pastoring for the last 8 years. His heart is for the people of New England and to see the gospel advance throughout the region. He is currently busy writing his first book on the topic of biblical hope for heaven which is scheduled to be released in November of 2025. For fun, he enjoys skiing, hiking, triathlons, soccer and really all things sports. But best of all, he is married to his high school sweetheart, Jamie, who leads women’s ministry at their church and works together to raise their three children Charley(8), Taylor(6) and Judson(3).
Laura Smith
In this breakout we will discuss the role each of us can play in helping women in our churches move toward healing and maturity through understanding Scripture in community.
Laura lives in Henniker, NH where she serves with her husband Brian in church ministry at Christ Community Church. She is the mother of 4 daughters, a soccer coach, and the Teaching Director for Community Bible Study in Concord, NH. Laura has a passion for connecting women to one another and to God’s Word and helping encourage them toward growth and transformation in the Lord. Laura has spent over 20 years in ministry within the local church. She and her family have lived in NH for 8 years and count it a great joy and privilege to be a part of what God is doing in New England.
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.
