Mark and Shari Carpenter
came on staff in 2001. Mark is the Operations Coordinator. He heads up all construction and maintenance, in addition to teaching the School Of Discipleship class on Servant Leadership. Shari homeschools their 5 children who are at home and is also the ranch librarian and buckboard store assistant.
THE CARPENTER CONNECTION
We pray this letter finds you all enjoying God’s blessings and anticipating the coming winter. October 27th, the first snow accumulation for the fall of 2011, not even November yet. The list of all those last things to get done before winter just became more urgent. A newsletter, before fall is over, almost impossible.
SUMMERE CAMP: Summer camp is a distant memory; 50+ salvations, over 1,100 ranchers (150 partial-full scholarshipped for their week of camp) and many rededications and commitments towards spiritual growth. Our summer staff was very faithful to the ministry and blessed us in so many ways.
APPRENTICES: We graduated over 20 apprentices in August, many of which gave testimony to what God has done in their lives and some in what He has called them to do. Caleb, our first- year, was able to return as a second-year student. He has been such a blessing to us and the ministry.
We were joined by 34 new apprentices in September. We have 1 junior staff member; Tim Rega(Florida), and 3 first-year apprentices; Daniel Bremenour(Ohio), Joel Hoffman(PA) and Jordan Rainey(NJ), who join us for dinner every Tuesday evening. It has been exciting to see these young men striving to grow in the Lord and seek His direction for their lives.
OPERATIONS: The new operations headquarters is nearing completion and will be put to quick use as Roger Piger (Head of Maintenance), Time Rega and I have 18 apprentices in afternoon work-time and 11 apprentices for AM and PM chores. It has been under construction for over 5 years and should be heated and occupied by year’s end. It will be almost 6,600 sq. ft. under- roof when completed. It will be housing all of our operations offices, storage, wood shop, wash bay, welding shop, repair bays with 2 automotive lifts and lawn care equipment. Thank you to all who have worked on, donated towards and prayed for this building. Up until the final floor pours, insulation and office space, this project had not been funded by ranch budget monies. Our vision for this building, equipped with a classroom, is that we will offer an operations major area of study for the apprentice program. This will allow us to do purposed, structured teaching in basic electrical, plumbing, masonry, carpentry, vehicle/equipment maintenance and repair, building maintenance and repair, farming and lawncare/landscaping. Please pray that this building will be used of the Lord for many years to train young men and women for service in His work. These skills can be used in so many ministries.
FAMILY: Jacob and Ashley moved to the Butler area as Jacob took a job at a Hunter truck dealership and they purchased a mobile home with 4 acres in Petrolia. Alissa graduated from the apprentice program and is now helping around the house and volunteering at the local pregnancy aid center, as well as searching for a job. Josh has been hunting, building a cabin, playing basketball with the Warren County Christian School and, oh yeah, school. He hopes to complete his senior year early, so he can help a family on their ranch in Texas. Katie is working on school, enjoys friends, playing basketball with WCCS, taking guitar lessons and loves reading books. Lindsey, our resident animal lover, is enjoying her calico cat and her new dog, Romeo, and is still learning piano and now harmonica on her own. James is enjoying playing with friends, shooting his bb gun and is still young enough to “enjoy” school.
Thank you all for your continued prayer and financial support. We could not serve here without all of you. You are all a blessing and we pray God will continue to bless each of you. Please feel free to come and visit our home or the Ranch. We would love to show you around and enjoy fellowshipping with you.
In His Service, Mark, Shari, Alissa, Katie, Josh, Lindsey and James
PRAISE AND PRAYER REQUESTS:
Praise for salvations from summer camp
Pray for continued growth in apprentices
Praise for fall retreat attendance and spiritual fruit resulting
Pray for fundraising for central restrooms
Praise for 2004 Suburban given to us by the tender hearts of a former apprentice family
Pray for completion of the operation headquarters
Praise for our house painted and a leaky roof half replaced
Support Information
Contact Information: 3351 Eldred Hill Road Spring Creek, PA 16436
marksharicarpenter@yahoo.com
All gifts are tax deductible and can be made out to MMR, designated for us on a separate piece of paper and sent to the Ranch at 101 Rodeo Dr., Spring Creek, PA 16436.
