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Pastor's
Page
Our
pastor, along with an identical twin brother, was born September 28,
1949 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. His name was John Francis McManus IV,
but through Divine providence and after a parting of the ways by his
birth parents (both of whom he eventually met and found to be
enjoyable experiences); his brother, Thomas William and he were
adopted into a thoroughly Christian home. Roland and Betty Daniels of
S. Ryegate, Vermont gave them the wonderful opportunity to become
established in the faith, to have a loving home and stable
upbringing. They had a daughter already, Mary Lou; of course she
became their sister and both loved her very much.
Pastor
Jack’s (as we affectionately refer to him) father was a stone
cutter by trade, worked in the little town where he walked back and
forth from the “stone shed” each noon for dinner (as they called
it). The boys often met him after school and walked home with him.
They raised sheep, pigs – and the boys always had a dog. It was
certainly a perfect environment to raise a family.
The
church Pastor Jack attended and to which his parents belonged was the
Groton First Baptist Church; in those days, a Conservative Baptist
church and one which certainly preached and taught the Word of God.
Life for him consisted of home, school (around the corner) and
church! His mother was a housewife/homemaker, and was always present
when the children were home. Much time was spent in the educational
process, learning math tables, English and Bible. As a common routine
Pastor Jack’s family would gather around the table in the evening
and after dinner would read around, each one taking a section of the
Biblical chapter before them and reading it aloud.
Pastor
Jack believed it was this exercise that taught him to excel in
grammar, reading and comprehension; after all, the KJV was a bit
difficult, but was all he knew at the time. Around that same table
they read the old, unabridged version of Pilgrim’s Progress by John
Bunyan (several times) as his dad would explain the many connections
to Biblical doctrine and every day living. This proved unimaginably
profitable, as he would discover in later life, grappling eventually
with those great Doctrines of Grace.
If our
pastor were to describe the greatest attribute which led three
children, Mary, Tom and him to conversion, repentance and Christian
maturity, each marrying in the faith and leading godly lives, it
would be that of “consistency”! His parents practiced what they
taught. There was no facade, no pretense, what you observed with his
dad and mom was what they were. Almost always, except for school
weekdays, when the church doors were opened for services, Sundays,
missionary conferences, Christian educational programs, youth and
Christian Service Brigade, his folks were sure they were there and it
was definitely a joy. That, along with the faithful home, led him at
the age of 10 to experience conversion under the conviction of the
Holy Spirit of God while an evangelist, Mr. Ted Fix, with his song
leader, Roy Thomas, both of Oklahoma, were conducting evangelistic
meetings at his home church. Whenever there were missionaries or
speakers at the church it seems they dined at the Daniels’ home
and/or stayed with them. These men and others left a great
impression of love and godliness in his mind to this very day.
The
pastors of the church were godly men and even if the particular
sermons do not remain, their love for the Lord and faithfulness stand
out greatly. Three that come to pastor’s mind specifically are Rev.
Guy Kinney, Rev. Wayne Fraiser and Rev. Don Macomber; all are still
living and ministering as God leads, even during their “retirement”
years.
Pastor
Jack loved Sunday dinners, especially when others would be invited,
which was quite often. The linen would be removed from the closet,
the silver distributed and his mom was the greatest cook in the
county. Although he was no doubt unaware at that time, it seems the
conversations did get absorbed into his mind – maybe because he
lived under certain popular rules of that day that when grown ups
were present, children were to be “seen, and not heard”? Well, it
did serve him well as he looks back on those joyous days.
His
dad was always a studious type, and had his Bible marked from Genesis
to Malachi. He was particularly a student of the Old Testament. He
was a quiet gentleman, one who loved God and sought to raise his
family to do the same. He evidently did not require much sleep
because he would be in his “den” at his roll top desk studying
the Word late at night and early in the morning before he went to
work.
Eventually
there were Bible studies in the house on Monday nights, something
that lasted for years, with the complete sanction of the Groton
Baptist Church. The principle teacher for the most part was Dr. Bruce
Morgan, the founder of the Northeast Gospel Crusade. Pastor and his
brother Tom’s room was directly above the dining room where the
study took place. He remembers so clearly how much he enjoyed the
teachings even at that young age. Except for the several times his
mom scampered up the stairs to silence them, and the very few times
his dad did the same, he and Tom would fall asleep hearing the words
of the Bible. The Book of Hebrews, taught by the skillful mind and
lips of Dr. Morgan still rings in his ears.
Not
far from the town where they lived was an extremely small settlement
always referred to as “Limekill”. His dad began a Sunday
afternoon Bible study there, and for a few years faithfully taught
those who came. The numbers were few, to be sure, but he was there
regardless of the numbers. Pastor Jack remembers at one time they
gave his dad $5 out of any “offering” that came in, but he also
recalls how his dad always put it back in the plate. He considered
himself a “tentmaker” for the Gospel, and soon joined the
Northeast Gospel Crusade as a lay preacher.
Then
came the Bible study in Moscow, Vermont, a town just outside of
Stowe. Pastor’s dad traveled there each Tuesday after working all
day and often the boys would accompany him. During those years the
leadership of the Groton Baptist Church approached his dad and
requested that he be ordained. Pastor Daniels declined, saying that
he already felt the hand of God, but they insisted. He was a humble
man and seemed not to make a “big deal” of his endeavors for the
Lord. Well, he finally agreed and was duly ordained to the Christian
ministry. The ministry at Moscow had gone well and became
incorporated as a church. Pastor Jack’s dad, Roland Daniels was the
founding pastor, and was till his death, given the honorable title of
Pastor Emeritus. He later accepted a call to the South Northfield
Little White Church, and was pastor there as our Pastor Jack went off
to school in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
It was
there after many years of ministry that Pastor’s dad was forced
into “retirement” due to his health. Strokes had come upon him by
the dozens, and after preaching multiple times leaning on a cane,
then in a wheelchair, he had to relax at home, receiving his help
from the Lord each day in a special way. His wife, Betty, labored
many years taking good care of him until his homegoing, a faithful,
devoted and untiring wife. She will most certainly be rewarded
greatly in heaven some day for her service to her family.
It was
during the time of ministry in Northfield that Pastor Jack left for
school. The Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music was the choice
he made, a school founded by John Miles, a member of the Independent
Fundamental Churches of America. Pastor graduated from that school in
1974.
During
his school years Pastor met his future bride, Rebecca Michael. What a
joy she was to him. Pastor Jack “lights up” when he thinks and
speaks of his dear bride. She also came from a pastor’s home
living in Pinckney, Michigan. She is the second child in a family of
eight children. Her dad was pastor of the Hiawatha Beach Church in
Hamburg, Michigan for 15 years. He was also a missionary with the
Rural Bible Mission in Michigan for even more years. The year before
Pastor met Becky, her dad was suddenly taken to be with the Lord
through a tragic accident as he and other men worked on the new
addition of their church, leaving Mrs. Michael (Mary) to continue
raising the children, one in college, three in high school, and the
other four in grade school. It is a tribute to Mrs. Michael that all
her children carry on in the faith. Many are in the direct Christian
ministry to this day.
Pastor
says this about her: “Becky was and is everything a man could
possibly desire in a wife, particularly a pastor’s wife. Patient,
kind and of wonderful humor, though she suffers from rheumatoid
arthritis, every joint in her body aching constantly through the day
and night. It is not the arthritis that she is noted for, however,
but her constancy and faithfulness to the Lord, her family and
church. God has indeed blessed me with that ‘choice’ during my
school years. We were married just after she graduated, leaving one
more year for me”.
After
graduation the Lord led them back in New England. During Pastor’s
high school years in Vermont he had been actively involved with the
New England Fellowship of Evangelicals, the Rumney Bible Conference
and Happy-T-Ranch in Rumney, New Hampshire. It was during those years
that his brother and he blossomed in the faith. Rev. Tal McNutt
(Executive Director) and his wife Evie were like second parents, and
they taught the same things that were taught in the Daniels’ home
and church as well. Not enough can be said about the value of
consistency in a youth’s upbringing.
Pastor
began as a camper at “Camp Hope”, operated by the Fellowship at
the site of Pineridge and Cathedral Pines. In those days release-time
Bible teachers would go to the public schools once a month (if memory
serves correctly) and for the great task of memorizing 300 Bible
verses/passages, children were given a free week at Camp Hope. Then
came the time that Pastor and his brother began working on the staff;
Tom labored in the maintenance department under Charlie Woodworth and
Pastor Jack in the kitchen under Lloyd Stratton. A more pleasant and
productive place for teens could not be found, it is certain. Many
lessons were learned and Pastor carries them to this very day.
Eventually he ended up at the Conference grounds as a waiter, and
“singing” waiter (he sings and plays trumpet and piano) and would
sing between the main course and dessert.
After
getting married they joined the staff of the New England Fellowship
of Evangelicals. Becky worked in registration while he was Assistant
Director under Tal. Then they went to Danvers, Massachusetts to
continue year round – Jack as Field Secretary and Becky as
financial secretary.
They
were happy with that life, and enjoyed visiting churches and doing
the administrative duties connected with their positions. Pastor did
have a long-term desire, however, to pastor a church. This was no
doubt due to the wonderfully positive experience relative to the
local church as he grew up at home. One thing he thinks about a lot
these days is, despite any problem that existed in the church (and he
learned about those many years later), his parents never spoke of
them in front of the children. There is so much wisdom in that and
both Becky and Jack are thankful for such an upbringing. They only
knew good things and had great fellowship with all in the church.
The
fulfillment of a pastorate still pressed strongly upon Pastor Jack,
and it was in the fall of 1975 that he did indeed candidate at the
Free Baptist Church of Limerick. Without going into detail here, he
remembers well his inner thoughts. He was called almost immediately,
and wondered what he would do; being scared, apprehensive and
wondering what God had in mind. Well, he did accept, and November 2,
1975 was his first week as the new young pastor, and Pastor and his
wife have never questioned God’s providence and grace that brought
them to this place.
There
were few times that Pastor ever begged God to make His Divine will
known, and accepting this pastorate was indeed one of those times.
They asked the Lord to do specific, miraculous things to show them
His plan, and folks, He did in such a way as to make the answer
completely evident. This was in itself necessary, for it was not long
before Satan attacked, big time, and they never wavered! Thank God
for firmness of conviction. They have continued in the church now for
over 32 years (June 2008) and God has been so precious to them,
providing wisdom, comfort and wonderful friends.
About
six years after their arrival Becky could not move her muscles well.
Everyone was quite concerned because she was a very active woman. As
it turned out she had the beginning signs of rheumatoid arthritis.
Little did they know how devastating a disease this could be. It was
relentless. A number of changes needed to be made including the
building of their own house a few miles out of town in West Newfield,
right beside the New Hampshire border. That is where they have
resided to this day.
About
that time, Becky and Pastor Jack became acquainted with an
organization founded by Larry Burkett, Christian Financial Concepts.
It is a Christian based organization raised up to help people who
believe in the Biblical mandate that they must owe no man anything,
except the debt of love. Knowing so many believers who struggle with
this important matter, they investigated this ministry. Having
traveled to Atlanta, Georgia and receiving the proper training, they
became CFC counselors. This was found to be very worthwhile
personally and also for those who wanted to do better in that area of
life. Then there was the matter of doctor’s bills, constant
therapy and travel. Both Tom and Pastor were interested (that is
putting it mildly) in flying as they grew up, and both worked to get
their pilot’s licenses.
Tom
(he and Jack were identical twins) was bi-vocational, doing itinerant
work with his wife Kay, traveling all over in the United States and
the Maritimes, singing and preaching the Word. Then as their kids
grew up, he added to his work a local charter/freight pilot’s job
out of Pontiac, Michigan. Sad to say, on August 9, 1990 he was
departing about midnight from Greenwood, South Carolina to Pontiac
with a load of freight for a car company. The plane was a twin engine
Beach 18 with radial engines. One of them “swallowed a valve” on
take-off. Being only a few hundred feet in the air, Tom feathered an
engine and began the process of returning to the airport, but could
not make it. He crashed and burned a very short distance from the
airport boundary. Though this is still a great heartbreak, all of us
who knew Tom are resting in the conviction that he is with his Lord
today.
Jack
received a call from someone at Songtime, USA, a well-known Christian
radio daily program out of Cape Cod in Massachusetts owned and
operated by Mr. John DeBrine, asking if they might do a tribute to
Tom. Many folks from the Northeast knew him and his family and had
been calling to request this. As a result Pastor did a telephone
interview with them and they aired it not long afterwards. The tape
is truly a blessing and if you would like a copy of it sent to you,
please fill out the Request
Form.
Now
back to Limerick! Jack began a bi-vocational life as well. In the
early 1980’s he was approached by Maine Aviation in Portland to be
a flight instructor. He did that for a couple of years then
transferred into their freight/charter department, flying Cessna
402’s, 340’s and the like. In June of 1987 he became employed as
a pilot for Delta’s Northeast commuter, Business Express. Being
based in Boston was a chore, but in less than two years he had worked
himself up in seniority, become a captain, and was usually able to
work his days to be free when needed back home as well as weekends.
The equipment he flew was the Beach 1900, the Shorts 360 and the Saab
Fairchild 340, all jet prop aircraft seating from 19 to 36
passengers. He praises the Lord, for not only allowing him to provide
for his family financially, but also for giving him the two greatest
desires of his heart, that of the ministry and flying.
After
flying constantly for 13 years and being as faithful as possible to
both vocations, he knew he was getting tired and not any younger. The
church was so understanding during those years, but Becky and he both
knew they had to make a decision to stop flying, for never once did
our pastor ever consider the airlines as his primary “job”. He
resigned Business Express effective January 5, 1996. Though he does
miss flying with the crews and working with the fine folks at the
company, he does not miss the hassle of juggling his life’s duties
whatsoever. “I do not regret that bi-vocational experience, nor do
I regret being back ‘home’ in Maine, doing the Lord’s work
here”. Now he does a little instruction at the local airport and
also flies part-time for three wonderful clients in their corporate
aircraft. He also does volunteer flights for a much-needed
organization called Angel Flights, Inc. They specialize in flying
folk (many are children) to hospitals. These are seriously ill, and
require ongoing care, but transportation is problematic for them.
This is a wonderful ministry, and he is proud to be one of their
volunteer pilots. Visit their web site at Angel
Flight NE.
All
three of Pastor’s children were born in Sanford, Maine, and are
healthy and profess Christ. John Roland graduated from Liberty
University with his degree in Government. He owns his own landscaping
and arborist business called Creation Property Services, Inc., and is
doing quite well. Thomas Charles graduated from PBU with his Masters
in Counseling and is now completing flight training in North
Philadelphia (PNE). He is planning a career as a pilot with the
airlines. Tom is very musical – singing, playing the piano and
guitar in his local church, and is looking forward to the Lord’s
continued leading in ministry. Kelly Marie graduated from PBU as
well with her BS in Health and Physical Education in May (2004). She
is currently a police officer in East Hartford, CT. and is planning
marriage to a Christian man, Justin Dayfield in August. We pray
constantly for their success in the Lord, no matter their vocation.
The
things mentioned are so memorable to our pastor and wife and trust it
will be inspirational to you as well. People ask sometimes if he and
Becky will ever be going to another church someday, after all it is
the first and only church in which they have ministered. His response
is, “I cannot think of one reason to leave Maine, these dear people
of the church or the community. Of course, if the Lord were to make a
move known, we have always been of the mind that His will is ours, as
well. I do not see a move in the future though, so we are looking
forward to another 32 years here – if He so wills!”
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Free
Baptist Church
of
Limerick