July 2025 Newsletter

The joy of the Lord

In 2024 the Lord led Abby Kraines to His Mansion, where she joined the Servant Leader Program.

Abby grew up happily in a loving, Christian home in New Hampshire, but experienced Christianity as mostly a checklist. In college she was singing a worship song when she suddenly realized she did not believe what she was singing; the cross did not make sense to her. Later she told Jesus that she did not know how to believe in Him. Jesus then personally revealed Himself to her, and she started to walk out her faith in Him with “overwhelming, deep joy.” She later faced intensive isolation that made her feel God had let go of her, and God reminded her that nothing could separate her from His love, continuing to reveal His heart by clearly calling her to His Mansion.

In her first several months on The Hill, Jesus gave her abundant joy as she served and leaned on Him. “There were really tangible moments where I was in a place of need or the women were in a place of need, and God ministered directly to us. He was really present and really active throughout my Servant Leader year.”

He also reminded her to pick up her cross and learn faithfulness in the practical challenges of the role. “There’s joy and freedom on the other side of our own preferences and desire for comfort,” Abby observes. “That was good for me to have to press through. It grew me.” God overcame barriers like conflict-avoidance to show her His heart through deeper community with other believers. “This is what I’ve been looking for my whole life,” she smiles. “I lean into relationship and into connection in small ways more than I did before, and that is exciting growth.”

Abby finished her Servant Leader year in March 2025 and has since joined the staff team as a Donor Relations Specialist.

Graduation day

Congratulations Ian, Will, Katelyn, Kayla and Becca. Graduation took place on June 13th. The ceremony was a time of celebration, worship, testimonies and gathering together to praise God for His good work in the graduates’ lives.

All for the glory of God

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:11

One of many virtues of the Christian life that His Mansion strives to embody is stewardship. God is generous, and He has called us to honor every gift He has given by stewarding it in love. Being faithful stewards of our bodies is one often overlooked aspect that is rich with opportunity to honor God: what we eat, the attitude through which food is received, working with our bodies, and caring for our bodies through rest. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Some practical ways His Mansion teaches this are through fellowship at the table and the ordering of the weekly rhythms. Family meals are practiced three times a day, seven days a week. Visitors and staff families all join together with Residents and Servant Leaders in Griggs Dining Hall for prayer, conversation, laughter and good food. Serving one another at the table, and the collaborative effort to clean after each meal, shed more light on what it means to glorify God in this setting.

His Mansion keeps a schedule for Residents that includes intentional times of physical activity as well as scheduled times of physical and spiritual rest. The Resident Recovery Program includes required times of exercise and quiet times of communion with the Lord. Family Night activities, for example, can include a game of volleyball or a quiet time of fellowship around the community campfire.

Coming to The Hill this summer

• Baptisms on July 16th. His Mansion celebrates new life in Christ at the Deering Reservoir as the community gathers to witness this public step of confession of trust in Jesus Christ.
• The Summer Shindig, His Mansion’s version of a talent show, complete with music, comedy and acting, follows the baptisms on the 16th.
• Work Groups continue to arrive. Churches from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Canada are coming to serve over the next few months.
• The His Mansion Carnival takes place during Family Night on August 16th.
• Construction on The Pavilion is underway and set to be completed by the end of summer.

Prayer requests

July’s requests come directly from the Resident Recovery Program.

• For Residents experiencing persistent sleep issues, asking the Lord to bring physical rest and grant peace.
• That Residents will grow in humility, patience and wisdom as they learn to communicate truth in love, and learn to resolve conflict gracefully.
• For Residents who tend to isolate themselves, believing they must bear burdens alone, that God would gently lead them to openness, vulnerability and trust in the community.
• For those battling thoughts of leaving the program prematurely, that the Holy Spirit would strengthen their resolve and deepen their desire to pursue a new life in Christ.