2026 Lent: Journey of Transformation

Verse of the Day “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17   I was born in 1938. From the beginning, I was not the boy my father had hoped for. But he loved me well. On my fourteenth birthday, he gave me a concert harp. That gift shaped my life. The harp became my companion and my calling.   My childhood held both hardship and grace. When I was three, an icicle fell and struck my head. Our dog barked until my mother came. I needed stitches, but I was safe. That pattern followed me—difficulty, then rescue.   We moved often before settling in Maine. Caring for our horses taught me responsibility and steady love. Later, my parents sent me to a better high school in Portland. That decision, along with years of practice, led me to the Cleveland Institute of Music. But long hours damaged my fingers, and I had to stop performing. Still, God opened another door. I discovered Dalcroze Eurhythmics and be...

Verse of the Day “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. — 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I was born in Fort Fairfield, Maine, and grew up in the small town of Easton. My early school years were spent in a one-room schoolhouse where all eight grades learned together. By the time I was in seventh and eighth grade, I was the only student in my class. Later, when I entered Easton High School, I realized I was behind. It took time and effort, but I caught up. That season taught me persistence—and contentment with a simple life. In high school, I met Nina, the love of my life. Not long after college, I entered the Air Force. Over the next 20 years, our family moved often—Bangor, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, Indiana, California. The constant chang...

Verse of the Day Micah 6:8 – “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” I was born in 1933 and raised in Dyer Brook, Maine, in a home where family was always close. We lived together—parents, grandparents, and often relatives who stayed for days or weeks. People came and went freely, and everyone was welcome. That sense of belonging shaped my life. I grew up near the little Baptist church on the hill, where I went to Sunday school. I never had a favorite hymn, but my father loved It Is Well with My Soul. Over time, that quiet message stayed with me. After high school, I served in the military and later worked in different places before returning to Mars Hill. One ordinary Saturday at the gas station changed everything. A young woman named Joan came in for help with her father’s car. I fixed it, called her later, and before long we were married. We both worked at Loring Air Force Base and raised six children in ten busy ...

Verse of the Day “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” — Matthew 28:20 My journey of transformation began in a pastor’s home. I was surrounded by faith, but God felt distant. As a child, I carried anger and questions, especially in my relationship with my father. I wondered if God could really change a heart. When I was eight, I heard the testimony of a North Korean girl who suffered for her faith. That night, something broke open in me. I saw my sin clearly and wept in repentance and joy. For the first time, faith became personal. Around that same time, I saw my father begin to change. He became gentler. I learned that no one is beyond God’s grace. God continued to shape me through both calling and failure. As a young leader, I hurt others by being controlling. Later in ministry, I wounded people with harsh words. Each time, God led me to repentance and taught me humility, compassion, and the importance of listening. Marriage and ministry brought me to the United...

Verse of the Day “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 My journey of transformation began in a childhood filled with laughter, friendship, and faith. I grew up surrounded by close friends who lived nearby. We played outside until sunset, climbed trees, rode bicycles, and shared the simple joys of life. Sundays were special. We went together to church, attended Sunday School, worshiped, and joined youth fellowship. Those early years taught me that faith and community belong together. Life was simpler then. We had little technology, but we had strong personal connections. People visited one another, talked face-to-face, and shared life openly. Those experiences shaped my heart for relationships and service. One defining moment came when I was accepted into nursing school. I had prayed for that opportunity, and when the letter came, I felt deep gratitude. Nursing became my calling. For 47 years, I cared for...

Verse of the Day “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 I was born into a home where faith was lived every day. My parents and grandparents were active in the church, and from my earliest memories, faith shaped the rhythm of our lives. From childhood—playing Mary in a Christmas pageant—to a lifetime of service, my faith has continued to grow and deepen. My faith has always been a work in progress. As I grew up, the world around me often felt uncertain, marked by war and national tragedy. Yet my home remained a place of love and stability. Those early years strengthened my belief that our world deeply needs God’s peace. Throughout my life, I have served the church by leading Bible studies, teaching Sunday school, guiding youth, and serving as an elder. Church has never been just a place I attend; it is part of who I am. Meeting my husband, Chuck, was one of God’s greatest gifts. For...

Verse of the Day “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV I was born into a large family in Danforth, Maine—one of eleven children. We didn’t have much, but we had each other. Church was the center of our life. Even when my parents could not always attend, my mother made sure we children were there. That church community shaped my heart. Neighbors helped one another, and we learned early that caring for others was simply how life worked. When I was sixteen, I married Dellie. Some thought I was too young, but we loved each other deeply. We built a life together through hard work and faith. Jobs were scarce, so we moved where work could be found. Money was limited, but love was not. One of our hardest seasons came when Dellie had a stroke. I will never forget the moment he...

Day 3: “Becoming” “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16 I grew up in a small town where life centered on hard work and family. Some of my earliest memories are of picking potatoes with my siblings. The mornings were cold, and as a child I sometimes cried from the chill, but we worked together. As the oldest, I felt the weight of responsibility. Those early hardships shaped a resilience that later helped me raise my children and grandchildren with guidance and love. Childhood also brought moments of freedom and growth. Summers with my grandparents and long days exploring outdoors taught me independence. Yet school was difficult. I was not bullied, but I was afraid to speak or be noticed. I kept to myself for many years. Then, after I married Bonnie, something changed. It was as if a switch flipped. With her beside me, I found the courage to stand on my own. Marriage and family b...

Verse of the Day "I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure." - Psalm 40:1-2 (NRSV) When I look back, my life was not marked by big dramatic moments, but by steady steps through many seasons. I grew up in a simple home in the country without running water or many comforts. We worked hard, but we had what we needed, and we had each other. Those early years taught me contentment and gratitude. Faith came to me through relationships. As a teenager, friends invited me to the Methodist church in Mars Hill. There, my faith began to take root. I did not come because of pressure. I came because I felt welcomed and loved. Bob and I married young and built our life slowly. We lived in a small trailer and worked hard to provide for our three children. Over time, God blessed our efforts. I worked in the school system for thirty years and loved serving ...

Verse of the Day And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18 My journey of transformation did not happen all at once. It unfolded through moments of joy, sorrow, calling, and surrender. I was born the youngest of eight children in a devout Christian family. My grandfather died in a tragic accident while installing a bell in our church—a final act of devotion. His life and death taught me that faith is not theory. It is offering oneself fully to God. Music shaped my early years. Singing drew me close to the Lord. Later, serving as a chaplain assistant in the military in Korea opened my heart to ministry. Through the encouragement of an American chaplain, God led me to the United States for theological study. Then came a devastating car accident in college that nearly took my life. Injured and w...