Praying for Vermont
Pastor Ben Whittinghill, Rivertown Church, Brattleboro VT
We shared a desire to see the gospel proclaimed where it was underserved, to see unreached and unengaged peoples hear of the gospel for the first time. That’s why when my wife and I were first married over 15 years ago, we believed God was preparing us for a move overseas from our native Atlanta, GA area for cross-cultural missions.
In was in the course of preparation for international missions that God intercepted and redirected us to a different area with similar need.
I remember like it was yesterday our dear friends coming over in December of 2010 to share with us a new burden God had given them for New England, and specifically, for Vermont. New England at that time had 14.5 million people, and only 2% of them said they attended an Evangelical Protestant church. Vermont, even as one of the most rural states, was also the least religious by percentage. We caught their burden. Maybe this was where God was calling us.
It would be another three years before we moved to Brattleboro, VT to plant Rivertown Church in early 2014. God had given us his love for this beautiful town nestled in the southeast corner of the state. Brattleboro might be the most eclectic town in the state, but the dark, dry, and spiritual landscapes found here were representative of most of the state.
But oh how God has moved here. Many who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ and brought into the family of the church. They were once strangers who were skeptical of God and his people, but now I’m privileged to call them my family. People are finding hope and life in Christ. The caricature of Christ they had in their minds is being replaced with the real Jesus, and they’re believing the good news of Christ crucified and raised for them.
Churches are linking arms in partnership and fellowship. New laborers are welcomed without a hint of rivalry. And it’s happening all over the state. These years since 2010 have been marked by the spread of the gospel, the planting of churches, and the expansion of the kingdom of God in Vermont. One recent poll shows that Vermont is no longer the least religious state in the union, but 45th.[1]
There is much work to be done, but Jesus is building his church, and the fields that are ripe for harvest are ripe for more laborers. Ripe for the prayers and labors of God’s people who prize his glory above our own.
Come pray with us. Pray about joining us in the work. May the glory of God cover Vermont as water covers the sea as people behold him in the face of Jesus Christ and find hope and life in him and his salvation!
Prayer Requests:
• Pray that the gospel would speed ahead and be honored. That Jesus’ church in Vermont would preach the Word with all boldness and that Vermonters would see his surpassing worth, the depth of their need, and call on him for salvation.
• Pray that those who profess faith in Christ would belong to his church and be equipped for the work of ministry. That people would trade their private religion for a life of grace and obedience in the community of faith.
• Pray that the church in Vermont would adorn the gospel with good deeds, and that people would see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
• Pray for those laboring for the gospel here, that God would grant them a faithful endurance with joy. That they would be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in him their labors are not in vain.
• Pray that God would bring churches preaching a false gospel to repentance or close their doors.
• Pray for laborers for the harvest, both those being raised up from within our churches and those sent here with a calling to join the work. Pray they remain steadfast in the work and stay for the long haul.
[1] https://thearda.com/us-religion/statistics/rankings?u=2&typ=2&cod=9999.