Called and Unqualified

As I was a guest, praying one evening in late 2003, alone in a sanctuary of the West Rindge, NH Methodist Church, the Lord spoke clearly to my heart. The exact words were burned into my spirit forever. It was a directive, more accurately, two directives. The words were not “heard” by my natural ears. I understood – clearly understood, beyond any reasonable doubt that God was calling upon me and commanding me to do something well beyond my current capabilities, knowledge, and education. What I heard was; “Build a communications tower, and pastor my pastors”.

I was both shocked and frightened by the prospect of being made responsible personally to God. I was used to volunteering for ministry service – and not used to having the terms of my service spelled out for me supernaturally. Such clear and precise requirements, and as it turned out, such anointing to empower me for the tasks ahead.

When I was first called to minister to pastors, the idea of actually doing that was overwhelming. What do pastors need? How am I qualified to meet those needs? What is God really asking of me? Is there really any truth to this, or am I imagining this “call” upon my life or misinterpreting it?

So, I did what any other red-blooded American would do. I avoided that calling, and prayed into the tower thing. After six months or so of “pulling” down from heaven, by meditating and soaking for a couple of hours every morning, I had a plan for the tower. It would be called Net2Church Global Ministries. God made me add the “Global” part, because He suggested that I (of all people) wasn't thinking big enough.

“Okay”, I said, “Now what?”. Again that instruction in my heart - “Give it away”. Give it away? “Yes, give it away!” How do I do that (after six months of pleading)? “Call upon some pastors and leaders that you trust to evaluate your vision. If they say it is of me, then you may proceed. If not, crumple it up and throw it away.” Throw it away? After all this? ...silence.

From the night I first received His word in that church, until the morning of the evaluation nothing was mentioned about “pastoring my pastors”, so I thought maybe that I had escaped the command. But that morning as I was to meet a group of local pastors and leaders, I heard this in my heart, “Don't forget to mention the second half of what I have asked you to do... It's all or nothing.”

Okay – now I'm nervous. I was okay until then, but how can you prepare yourself to tell a group of pastors (never having graduated from college, never mind seminary) that I am called to pastor them, without expecting that they would call the nice men in white jackets to take me to a calm place to relax where doctors can help me? Apparently not. These pastors actually saw my calling (both of these callings), and endorsed my ministry on the spot.

Disclaimer -

Pastoring in the context of this testimony does not mean "preaching" or "teaching" necessarily. Although some pastors have teaching gifts, and most of them preach; in the truest sense, pastoring or (shepherding) is more like nurturing, protecting from harm, and providing for basic needs. It is a love walk of taking responsibility for the caring of others. I feel called to love and care for pastors, build trusting relationships and accountability - even to provide them with a safety net, so that we don't continue to lose them (at a rate of over 1500 every month).

Sheep (those being pastored, and we all need to be pastored) don't need to be spoon fed, they just need a safe environment for the activities of daily life. Show them the field, and the watering trough, and they will choose what to eat, and how much to eat, and when to eat. Shepherds are facilitators. Yes, there are boundaries, and yes we need to gather back those that have wandered, but the primary function is spiritual hospitality.

In this way, the Crestwood vision of building this new retreat center requires us to provide a "safe place" for pastors to come. It is also an environment of expression for some, and a sanctuary of peace for others. The focus being on helping them to re-establish their footings according to their own methods of reconnecting with Christ, or with the body of Christ, in order to get back on track, refreshed, and sent back fully recharged.

- end of disclaimer

Over the next six years, God continued to prepare me and establish His purpose within me. I would love to tell you that it's all been smooth sailing - ha! Those of us who have been given much know that much is expected. Within two years I faced financial ruin, lost a thirty year marriage, and the support of some pastors in my close circle of influence. I was defeated, and I shut down the ministry for the next three years.

Two years later, in June of 2008, I was awakened by an audible voice that said "drive the head of the stake and ground will be established". I called upon some friends with prophetic gifts for a clearer understanding. I had never before heard an audible voice, though I have known the Lord since age seven, so I had to know its origin. My friends and I ended up placing a stake in the ground where Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts come together on the Connecticut River bank. We felt that this was to "claim" and bless the surrounding area for the Kingdom of God to include all of New England plus New York state. We prayed for the people, the land, control over the powers and principalities, and all inhabitants, businesses, etc.

Just about one year later, June or July 2009, I saw something in my mind's eye - it was a retreat center with a chapel on the grounds. I knew that it was mine, and I knew it was for the purpose of ministering to pastors, as well as my own home. The vision seemed random, but vivid enough to spark my curiosity.

On October 8, 2009, I had a vision. This was in the middle of the day (!:00 pm) while working on my computer. This is what I saw:

“It's time..."

I am in an industrial machine shop (metal working). I see the flipping of industrial power breakers to the on position. I hear the turbines begin to wind up, and the compressors pumping and filling with air. The machinery has been abandoned, it's old, dusty and is in the color typical of industrial machines – a dull green. There is a large wheel in front of me (standing vertically), mounted on the front edge of a machine. The wheel is the type that one might use to manually adjust the tolerance of a metal piece (job) with a precision cutting tool – somehow I know that my hands belong on that wheel, and tolerances of the final product are my responsibility, and in my control. It's old, it's dusty, but it's time, it's time. - time to get the equipment operating and production started.

My interpretation of this was that it was time to get going with Net2Church.

Note* - Somewhat bothered by the previous vision for the retreat center, I occasionally checked MLS listings in NH for property that I thought might come close to what I saw that day.

On the 26th of October 2009, I stumbled onto a local listing for a mountaintop property in Winchester, NH. A Bed & Breakfast pavilion, AND a chapel on the grounds. This is a 157 acre property, in need of maintenance, that is called Crestwood Chapel and Pavilion.

I saw the property in a vision, and actually walked on the property within about 90 days of seeing it in my spirit. I grabbed a local pastor and some ministry leaders to come with me. We prayed, and agreed that we would build a Christian Pastoral Retreat Center on this location last October.

In retrospect - The "river stake" that we drove into the ground in 2008 is within a few miles of this property. The views from this mountain top estate overlook land in all three states (MA, NH, VT), and the chapel was originally built by Cyrus Scofield, where some of his work was said to have been completed with pastors meeting here in the late 1800's (Scofield study bible). Coincidence?

Call to action - This is now leading Rhonda (my new wife) and I to establish this property as a physical location for this ministry to be a home base for a Christian communications center as well as a "spiritual care center" for pastors of Christian faith - including home fellowship pastors, and others who may not be "ordained" pastors, but have pastoral roles, and gifts. It will be the first of it's kind to serve all of New England states, plus New York (though others may come).

Rhonda, and I will soon be sitting down with the property owner, hoping to offer $1.6 million (after prayer agreement) for the purchase of this old well called “Crestwood”. We don't have the cash even for a down payment in our possession, but we have a God that has met all of our needs (including this one, I'm sure).

If the vision is His, Crestwood will become the first pastors' retreat center for the northeastern USA. You have my testimony, you decide. If you believe this is God's work, please ask Him if you can support it with your prayers and offerings.

Please pray that God will establish this ministry of love and unity across all denominational lines.

Thank you!

Warmest Regards,

David R. Thayer

Net2Church Global Ministries