Mountain Missionary Institute was born in 1975 as a non-profit Christian vocational school to train workers for Christ’s vineyard. The young institute flourished with every available space being occupied by workers, students and families. A bustling health food distributorship was one of the main activities. In the years that ensued MMI went through many changes. Most recently it was even put on the market to sell. What could have been the end saw birth to a “use it or lose it” determination to make this place all it can be for the Lord. President Craig Ashton has outlined a three phase building program. It encompasses bring the centerpiece of MMI, an 1840’s mansion, to a workable center for evangelistic training, natural health care and education, and a center for our church conference to use for various ministries and speakers. We see progress daily as Craig’s three sons and local craftsmen combine to do an excellent job of turning a run down building into a work of art.
Boston Country Life, a ministry of MMI, has been involved in a teaching ministry for the past three years called Sons of the Tabernacle. Craig Ashton Jr. has invested many hours in research to present the various messages about the Sanctuary that connects the character of God found in Jesus Christ through the sanctuary. Craig and his family frequent churches around New England with his series on the life of Christ or Last Day Events. They have traveled as far as California and have touched hearts and inspired many.
On the campus of MMI families are gearing up for the gardening season. Regular organic gardening classes are being taught by a local Pastor and a long time gardener, Mark Harris. With the increase of genetically modified foods in our food supply we look at gardening not as a pleasant hobby but a necessity. One statistic from the Center for Disease Control states that since 1994 when GMO foods were introduced in U.S. supermarkets there is a combined increase in Lymphatic Cancer of 1453%! Also in laboratory test animals lymphatic cancer developed in the animals after being fed GMO foods. Several families are learning for the first time the ABC’s of education after leaving the large cities of the East and are now discovering the joys and satisfaction of gardening.
Staci Bishop, a resident of MMI, heads up our prison ministry at a nearby correctional facility. The response of the inmates has been positive. “That was the best Bible study we’ve had!”
Irene and Gordon Zacek regularly give of their time and talents to the Boston Van Ministry. Each week we thrill at the stories they share of people’s lives being changed and impacted by the right arm of the gospel.
Country Life Natural Foods in Keene, New Hampshire has recently gone thru some much needed remodeling. Operating since 1987, what started out as a small health food store has developed into a thriving Vegetarian Restaurant, which also has a small bakery. Our witness there has been the consistency of a Christian family, the Paton's, in this world of sin and woe. We have had the pleasure and joy of seeing many of our customers come to various programs offered by the church and MMI. We await the harvest from the seeds we’ve sown.
By God’s grace we hope to report soon about future programs offered at MMI and the souls touched for eternity.
