Baptist Convention of New England

    He has two churches in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, a rural area that is similar to Appalachia.  He and his wife, Linda, and son, Timmy, have been ministering to these two churches for seven years.

    Pastor Tim received a phone call from a woman in the community who said that her 83 year old mother, whom we will call Ruth, wanted to talk to a Baptist preacher.  Pastor Tim and Linda went to see the woman. 

    "Ruth" told them that she had attended churches before, but had never really understood the Bible and what it meant.  She said that she had been in the hospital recently and someone gave her a Bible.  When she recovered and returned home, she began reading it.  She read through the entire New Testament and something stirred in her.  She had many questions for Pastor Tim.  He spent about an hour answering her questions.  Then, realizing what "Ruth" was really asking even though she didn't know how to put it into words, Pittman explained the plan of salvation to her.  When he asked her if she was ready to accept Christ, "Ruth" said, "Oh yes!  Now I finally understand what I've been missing my entire life!"

    This dear woman had never heard the gospel presented clearly in all her 83 years, and when she heard it, she was ready to respond.

    When Pastor Tim Pittman told this story to Dr. Jim Wideman, Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of New England, Dr. Wideman commented, "This is why every pastor and leader must continue to be faithful and consistent in ministry and witness in the community.  There are many lost people just like Ruth who may have attended a church for years but have never heard the gospel.  We must be there when they are ready to respond.  Thank God for that faithful person who gave Ruth the Bible in the hospital, and thank God for Tim & Linda Pittman who have earned the right to share their faith through seven years of faithful service in a hard and remote place."

    Pray for "Ruth" and many others like her in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.