About Us
Vision
Loving God and loving others.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.
(Mark 12:30-31)
Mission
Making disciples of Jesus Christ that make disciples.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28:18-20)
…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
(2 Timothy 2:2)
Our Origin Story
In a deeply spiritual journey marked by faith and dedication, Michael and Nicole Gilchrist have found their lives converging on a divine mission: establishing a church in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. This journey represents a harmonious blend of their unwavering commitment to God and their desire to serve through church planting.
Michael's professional beginnings as a meteorologist led him on an unexpected path to ministry. Guided by divine grace, he transitioned from understanding the mysteries of weather to unraveling the depths of spirituality. His commitment to this new calling was so strong that he pursued a degree in Bible studies, followed by roles as a Middle School Pastor and then an Outreach Pastor at Calvary Church in Lancaster, PA, serving faithfully for 13 years.
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Similarly, Nicole's journey in nursing, which saw her providing care from the hospitals of Pennsylvania to the Mercy Ships in Africa, also took a significant turn towards spiritual service.
Together, united in marriage since 2012 and blessed with three children – Isaiah, Claire, and Adrielle – the Gilchrists have embarked on a shared mission. Their goal is to bring the transformative light of Christ’s message to the spiritual landscape of New Hampshire, a region deeply in need of spiritual awakening.
Their decision to plant a church was not made lightly. It followed a profound period of prayer and discernment, during which they sought and received guidance from the experienced elders of Calvary Church, fellow church planters, and church planting organizations. This journey of exploration affirmed their sense that God was leading them to sow seeds of faith in New Hampshire.
Research into church planting revealed a stark need in New Hampshire, a state characterized by Gallup and Pew Research Polls as spiritually wanting. They discovered over fifty towns without a visible Christian presence, where many have never heard the name of Jesus. Motivated by this need and inspired by Jesus’ declaration in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," the Gilchrists committed themselves to this monumental task.
This mission, for the Gilchrist family, transcends mere duty; it is a heartfelt calling to kindle hope and faith, transforming the spiritual terrain of New Hampshire. Their journey, shared with the 316 Church family, is a testament to their dedication to spreading hope and faith throughout their corner of New Hampshire in Mont Vernon.