A BRIEF HISTORY

Our church stands in the heart of New England, a region where the ideals of self-government and freedom of worship have always been important. Originally constructed as a “Meeting House” in 1797, the building was one of the focal points for gathering the community together. Throughout the building’s history it has served as a library, a preschool, a place of social gathering, and a place of worship for multiple denominations. Over the years, the community continued to invest in the building by remodeling the structure several times, adding a steeple and bell in 1870, the clock in the 1920s, and the stained glass window in our sanctuary (“The Window”) in 1989. A lift was also added to make both levels of the building handicap accessible. The fact that a building of this age still stands today is a testament to its importance in the community, and that importance grew when ownership of the building was given to the Baptist Church. Today, the building continues to serve as a place where members of the community can come for support, friendship, and most importantly to learn about and worship our risen Lord, Jesus Christ. 

GEOGRAPHIC AREA AND CULTURE

Located in North Sutton, New Hampshire, our church sits in a quaint town nestled between Warner, Bradford, and New London. The town is home to roughly 2,000 caring and friendly residents with a median age group of between 30 and 60. One of the things that makes the region so attractive is the abundance of natural beauty including lakes, mountains, and forests. During the summer, this allows for many different kinds of recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, and camping.  During the wintertime, the region also offers three ski resorts (Sunapee, Ragged Mountain, and Pats Peak), all within a short drive. The church itself is conveniently located approximately three minutes off Exit 10 from I-89 which is about a half hour outside the cities of Concord (to the south) and Lebanon (to the north). Furthermore, within two hours or less, one can visit Boston, the White Mountains, or the seacoast. 

The church graces the area with its presence alongside beautiful Kezar Lake and the Follansbee Inn, in a quiet yet central part of town. Many residents and visitors enjoy spending time on or walking around the lake most seasons of the year. The three-mile loop around the lake will take you through scenic Wadleigh State Park, one of New Hampshire’s hidden gems. And a short distance further, you can visit the historic Muster Field Farm Museum, home of unique community events such as the annual ice-harvest, June Jam, Farm Days, and Harvest Days. The church is still the main meeting place for many local functions as was its purpose when originally built.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Mission Statement:

Our mission is to unite followers of Jesus Christ for the worship of God and the promotion of His Will in the lives of individuals, the community, and the world in accordance with Matthew 28, Verses 19-20; “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.

Statement of Faith:

We believe in...

• Scripture: The Bible is the inspired, authoritative and infallible Word of God and is our sole rule of faith and practice.  It is the standard by which all human conduct and creeds should be tried.
• Trinity: There is only one true and living God who is manifested in three eternal and coequal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  God possesses holiness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, love, mercy, and all other perfections.  All humankind owes to Him supreme faith and obedience.
• Atonement: Human beings can be forgiven of sin and justified solely through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ who died for sinners and rose again from the dead. Only by repentance from sin and by faith in Jesus Christ the Lord can acceptance with God be attained.
• Work of the Holy Spirit: Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer receives a new nature from God. Christian growth or sanctification is the continuation of the life principle which begins in the new birth.
• Church: The church in its widest sense includes all believers of all ages. The church is manifested visibly in the local body of believers who covenant together to worship, observe the ordinances, and evangelize.

OUR CHURCH LIFE

Like many rural churches in New England, we have a small-town congregation, with an average attendance ranging from 25-65. There is a true sense of family among us, especially with younger families joining our congregation. This has rekindled a purpose among many of our elderly. The church building is much more than a place of worship; it’s a hub for the majority of town events and meetings, making it a big part of the community’s identity.

DISCIPLESHIP

Only by knowing and understanding God’s Word can we begin to be His disciples. To that effect, we hold Sunday school for pre-K through high school during the church service. Our youth are also involved in special music/drama programs that are staged for Easter, Christmas, and Children’s Sunday. On Easter morning, we have an Easter egg hunt for the children and incorporate Resurrection Eggs at this time to retell the resurrection story with the whole congregation. All this is done to instill Biblical fundamentals in the lives of our youth members. We also offer a Bible Study before the morning worship service to help our adult members continue to learn and grow in their walk with Christ. 

We follow Christ’s example in baptism. Blessed with the proximity of Kezar Lake, we have been able to hold baptisms in the presence of the local community. Over the past several years we have also held services outside of the church building in an effort to witness our faith to the community. This has included a sunrise service on Easter, an outdoor service next to the manger on Christmas Eve, and an annual service at the historic Muster Field Farm. Finally, we attempt to show the love of Christ to the community through our actions. This includes the physical and financial support of local charities and broader mission projects.

FELLOWSHIP/OUTREACH

For a congregation our size, we are very active. Internally, we have a weekly coffee hour following the service and a potluck lunch on the first Sunday of each month after observing the Lord’s Supper. These events have allowed our congregation to become very close as a church family. 

One of our biggest events of the year is the Holy Moly Yard Sale which raises funds for multiple church functions. In July or August each year, we hold a summer barbeque and invite the greater community to attend. We also host a game night once a month and encourage the community to participate. In the future, we hope to start social gatherings for youth that include pizza and fellowship.

Our largest mission and outreach event of the year is our participation in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child program. The church collects items such as school supplies, toiletries, and toys to pack into shoeboxes. We then invite the congregation and community to a “Packing Party”, where all the items are carefully distributed and placed into the shoeboxes. In 2024, our church became a collection center for the Kearsarge area during National Collection Week. The boxes are then transported to even larger collection centers where they are shipped out to children around the world. In this way our small congregation is able to share the love of Christ on a very large scale.

MISSION AND OUTREACH PROJECTS

• Helping Hands
• ABC/NH-VT Regional Offering
• America for Christ Offering 
• One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
• Camp Sentinel (Camp/Retreat)
• Adult & Teen Challenge
• Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Efforts
• Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child
• Food Pantries in Bradford and Warner, NH
• LSRVNA Elf Fund
• Sutton PTO-Cougar Cupboard

STEWARDSHIP

We are fortunate to have many members and attendees of the church who carry out the maintenance of the building and grounds. Though a small congregation, we have members who are dedicated to tithing and donating their time and money to our church’s budget and building needs.

OUR WORSHIP LIFE

Our worship services include both pastoral and lay participation. We are a conservative church and expect the message to be both Biblically based and instructional for every aspect of our lives. We are a praying church and every Sunday we take prayer requests from the congregation. We believe prayer is vital to a Christian’s walk with God and a bonded church family. A piano or organ prelude prepares the congregation for worship and the church ends with an inspirational rendition of a hymn on the piano. We celebrate key Christian events such as Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and when it falls on a Sunday, Christmas.  Special music is presented on Christmas Eve.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE A MORE HEALTHY AND FAITHFUL CHURCH?

• Increased new attendance and membership
• Strengthened outreach and evangelism
• Enhanced Bible study and options for both adults and youth
• More events to connect with the local community and make our church more visible and vital within the community
• Youth support (meetings, mission trips, scholarships, church camp)
• Enhanced shepherding
• Musical ministry to complement our congregation’s talents 

WHAT WOULD THIS CHURCH LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD WITH A NEW PASTOR?

• More members – full attendance at worship services
• Increased excitement/enthusiasm/passion/engagement
• Fostering our relationship, presence, and connection with the community

WHAT MINISTRIES DO WE NEED TO START OR STRENGTHEN OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS?

• Additional youth programs and family activities
• Increased community outreach
• Growing our Bible studies/classes to further understanding of the scriptures

HOW DOES OUR CHURCH DECIDE ITS VISION?

• Prayer
• Discussion/sharing to get unified visions/consensus
• Look for opportunities/open doors to witness

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN OUR NEXT PASTOR?

• Strong Biblical knowledge of the scriptures
• Teaches the Word of God in an understandable and effective manner which encourages people to relate their faith to their daily lives
• Enthusiastic about teaching the Word and works of God
• Prepares and delivers an engaging scriptural message
• Helps people develop their spiritual life
• Encourages mission outreach beyond our community 
• Pastoral calls/visits with the support of the Deacons
• Builds a sense of fellowship among the congregation
• Is effective working with committees
• Has a strong commitment to the educational ministry of the church
• Is compassionate and caring

PASTORAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

• Barbara Denault
• Luke Hahn
• Nita Jackson
• Laurie Logue
• Jenny Menning
• Robert Ray
• Tim Wakeman