Indeed, God is great in every way! God has been busy at work in Waterville, Maine, over the past two years. Since we arrived in 2023, it has been a blessing to witness the Lord perform the countless miracles that only He can. Whether it is seeing a soul come to Christ, watching a new Christian grow in the Lord, or seeing God’s unending provision, I count myself blessed to be part of the work in Kennebec County.
Last time I wrote, I mentioned a pastor by the name of Randy Risinger. He began pastoring Getchell Street Baptist Church in December 2024. This church has been active in Waterville for over 100 years. Around the same time that I first met Pastor Risinger, the Lord began to work in my heart about the possibility of leaving Waterville. At first, I was very hesitant. God had led me to Waterville, and I had no intention of leaving that growing work.
Pastor Risinger graduated from Ambassador Baptist College and served as a missionary in Nova Scotia for over 10 years before returning to the United States to serve in the state of Maine for several years. He became the Pastor of Getchell Street Baptist in December. After getting to know him, the Lord put the idea in my heart to pray about Heritage Baptist Church merging with Getchell Street Baptist Church. When I went to Waterville to plant a church, I found no like-minded church or pastor in the city. Since Bro. Risinger arrived, that was no longer true. I was conflicted. After getting counsel from my sending pastor, it was clear what I should do.
At the end of May, Heritage Baptist Church joined the Getchell Street Baptist Church. I am pleased to report that approximately 75% of our congregation has been faithfully attending the church since the move, and the remaining 25% are actively serving in other fundamental Baptist churches in the area.
Once the Lord made His will for the church clear, the doors for my family to stay in Maine began to shut rapidly. The week of June 18, my family and I moved to Kentucky to regroup before taking another ministry opportunity.
We are so grateful to everyone who supported us during our time in Waterville! Though it came to a close much sooner than I anticipated, the Lord used the support of everyone in more ways than words can even express. God began a great work in the area through us, and I believe that He will continue that work long after we are gone.
Pastor Risinger looks forward to continuing to reach the Waterville area with the Gospel of Christ and will keep in touch with the people God allowed us to reach.
When I met with Pastor Risinger, I became convinced that he is a fundamental, Bible-believing pastor with a burden to reach Waterville. The congregation of Getchell Street Baptist Church is excited about the opportunity for spiritual growth through the Bible, as well as expanding its outreach into the community. Along with providing school supplies for children in the area, the church also serves as the local host of Waterville’s annual Walk for Life, a pro-life fundraiser for a local life center.
Pastor Risinger has demonstrated a heart for God and the people of Waterville, and we look forward to helping him in whatever way we can in the future.
Following is a small portion of Pastor Risinger’s testimony:
“I was born in Waterville, Maine. My parents raised me in East Benton. Not born into a Christian home, my mother took my brother, sister, and me to church regularly, but my father did not go to church. My mother was the first in the family to be born again.
While reading a booklet on baptism at the age of 8, I asked my mother what it meant to be born again. The following Sunday, I walked the aisle during the invitation time of the service and asked the pastor to explain the Gospel. After hearing about my need for salvation, I trusted Christ as my personal Saviour.
The Lord led me and my family to Ambassador Baptist College, where I enrolled as a freshman at age 36. While attending school, I worked on the maintenance staff at Ambassador. I graduated in 2010 with a Diploma in Theology.
After college, my family and I followed the Lord’s leading to pastor Calvary Baptist Church in Plympton, Nova Scotia, Canada, from 2010 to 2020.”
The time, effort, and money invested in the Heritage Baptist Church and Waterville have not been wasted. Its fruit is evident in the people who were saved and the lives that were changed. Now, that work continues through Bro. Risinger and the Getchell Street Baptist Church. Let’s get to know this dear servant and Christ and encourage him in the Lord’s work as he serves the needy people of Waterville.