God’s Timing

Disclaimer: all views expressed here are the views of the Central Maine Mission and are probably not the views of God on the timing of any events.

It is a good thing God loves us even though we lack patience! Why does God wait to do something we are sure he plans to do? Of course God is in control, the best timing is always his, and we would not trade his timing for our own misguided notions of what is best. Yet, sometimes we wonder with you about what God is doing, when he will do it, and why he is not doing it sooner. As of now, here are our plans for moving forward:

This Summer:

The Almquists hope to be moving in July or August with the Morrises joining them in August. However, it is dependent on when God provides all of our financial support. To see this happen we need each of you to realize that you are part of God’s work in this area. Please pray and send in your pledges.

We also have two churches that are sending missions teams this summer. GraceFellowshipChurch, Chantilly, VA, will be with us in late July and Clemson Presbyterian Church, Clemson, SC, will be with us in early August. These teams will be helping us with evangelism, doing some manual labor at a new community ministry we are partnering with, praying for the community, letting the community know a new church is starting, and hopefully moving the Almquist’s stuff from Portland.

This Fall:

This is when we start to dig in deep as we seek to meet and talk with the leaders and residents of the city, to hear their needs and dreams. This is when we will begin gathering folks from the community who are interested in a new church via home groups (Bible studies, fellowship groups, etc.), beginning to minister in the community and inviting people in to homes. As this gains momentum and numbers, we pray that God will be at work in lives drawing people to himself and to his church. At this time, we hope to begin worshipping together in the fall of 2008.


33 Overset Road | Portland, ME04103 / 207.272.4993 /

Broken People in a Broken World

According to an April 15 article in the Lewiston Sun Journal, more people in AndroscogginCounty sought protection orders last year than in any other county in Maine. To put it into perspective, one of every 151 residents sought a temporary order between July 2005 and June 2006, with nearly 30% involving spouses. That’s a lot of people dealing with a lot of conflict.

God commands us to make every effort to live at peace with everyone, especially within our marriages. So, what’s happening in AndroscogginCounty? Are people under greater stress than in other counties? Doubtful. Has AndroscogginCounty cornered the market on conflict? Please. Are residents here just a worse bunch of sinners than the rest of Maine? No way!

James 4:1-2 tells us that fights and quarrels happen because we do not get our own way. Whenever I read this passage, I cannot help but think of a child throwing a temper tantrum. Is this how I appear to my wife when we have conflict? I certainly hope not, and I’m afraid to ask. As is often the case with a child, it comes down to selfishness. We want things our way and we are sometimes willing to emotionally, verbally and even physically abuse the ones we love in order to achieve our goal. How petty; how destructive; how dangerous!

In counseling it is prudent for the counselor to remember that we are all broken people living in a broken world. We


33 Overset Road | Portland, ME04103 / 207.272.4993 /

have an amazing capacity to love one another, yet we harm one another with astounding aplomb and skill. Sometimes this latter aptitude lands us in the “dog house”, other times prison. But having our own way is so important that we will risk relationships and personal freedom in order to have it.

For me, one thing stands out as I meditate on why AndroscogginCounty has so many citizens applying for orders of protection. There are almost no Christian counselors in the county, or the rest of the state for that matter. How then will the abused be comforted by God’s mercy? Who will lead the abuser to God’s wisdom and power to change? Can the justice system alone protect the abused while provoking true change in the abuser? – Ken Morris

Team Update

The Almquist boys

Spring has finally sprung here. After having the first week of the season snowed out, the Portland Sea Dogs (the Red Sox AA affiliate) began playing earlier in April. Now, it is our turn as Little League takes over as the boys’ favorite hobby (from driving Mom and Dad to distraction). Kyle and Jason are on the same team, and it’s so sad to tell Scotty he’s not allowed on the field too. This allows all to see the full implications of his being two. It is merely one way in which God reminds us (and everybody around us) that Per and Beth are not perfect parents. Pray that we would be able to connect with others on the team even though we will be moving shortly after the season (Lord willing).

A Brief Introduction to Central Maine

Where is central Maine?

Situated midway between Maine’s spectacular coastline and lush mountains, central Maine is known as the heart of Maine. Roughly 45 minutes north of Portland and 2½ hours north of Boston, central Maine is a region centered on the twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn (known as L-A) that straddle the Androscoggin River. A former mill town, Lewiston is the second largest city in Maine and home to a large group of Somali immigrants and BatesCollege, a nationally known liberal arts college.L-A is the regional hub for central Maine.

A Brief History

The Great Falls (also known as LewistonFalls) on the AndroscogginRiver between Lewiston and Auburn was a fishing source for Native Americans. It was known by them as Amitgonpontook, or “the falls where you smoke meat or fish”, a meaning similar to Androscoggin. The Androscoggin has traditionally been Maine’s principle industrial river powering paper, textile, shoe, and lumber mills.

Central Maine was first settled by westerners in the 1700’s. The first mill was built in 1770. Its population and influence grew with the rise of the mills built alongside the falls in the river which powered their operation for almost 200 years. Those mills have lain unused for years, leading to a sharp decline in the city’s population and wealth. Now Lewiston appears on the brink of a renaissance, an exciting time in the region’s history.


33 Overset Road | Portland, ME04103 / 207.272.4993 /