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Presbyterian Traveler: Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Intern Nathan Eshelman Edition

Berkshire County has a great history of Puritanism and Reformed theology. In 1735, Reverend John Sergeant began to minister to the Housatonic, Mohican, and Stockbridge Indians. This ministry had seen some success in the training of the native people in the ‘far west’ colonies. With the blessing of the Holy Spirit, this ministry thrived as natives were converted to Christ and other white settlers began making the journey over the Berkshire Mountains.

Jonathan Edwards took a call to the established ‘First Congregational Church’ of Stockbridge in 1750. Edwards followed in Sergeant’s footsteps with missions to these native bands as well. He had a congregation of settlers and a congregation of 150 Native Americans that were ministered to through Housatonic translators (Edwards was never able to learn Housatonic, but all of his children learned the language). He ministered there until he accepted the call to Yale and died this month, March 22, 250 years ago.

The Reformed Presbyterian Church had an impact on this area as early as 1759 under the ministry of Reverend John Cuthbertson. Berkshire County never had an established congregation at that time, but had a ‘praying society’ of five families that were ministered to by itinerant ministers. It is not known how long this ministry lasted. There was ministry in the Commonwealth that continued, but the focus was on Boston and other eastern areas of the state.

July 9, 1895, saw the establishing of a new congregation in Cambridge Massachusetts. This congregation is the ‘mother kirk’ of the new Berkshire Mission Church that I visited last Lord’s Day. (Cambridge also has a mission church plant in Rhode Island. It is amazing that this congregation is able to sustain themselves and these two mission works since there are only between 70-80 members in the Cambridge congregation.)
The Berkshire Mission began 22 years ago when an elder from Cambridge and his family moved to the Berkshires. This work faltered and was not able to be established as a congregation. The family continued to pray and to hope for God’s blessing upon this area of Massachusetts that has no other Reformed voice. The Burger family drove the 2.5 hours to Cambridge when they could and worshiped in their homes other Lord’s Days. Admittedly, this was less than ideal; but they continued to pray for God’s help and blessing upon their area of Massachusetts.

Seven years ago they began the work on a new mission station by hosting Bible studies in their home. They had another family begin coming and soon had two families to begin the hard work of a church plant. Since then they have had others come and go and have experienced much blessing as they wait and pray.
I was invited to preach by the current minister, Rev. Brent England. Rev. England has labored faithfully for two years and now is seeking another call in the denomination. I gladly accepted the invitation so that I could meet the brethren back East and minister among them. I had some knowledge of these saints, since this was the congregation from which the Andersons came to us.

I left Grand Rapids on Saturday the 13^th and flew into Detroit. In Detroit I had a layover, so I enjoyed a $10 gyro while reading Dr. Laurens Bilkes’ doctoral dissertation on theological ethics. I arrived in Albany, New York to be picked up by my host family.

To my surprise, I knew the daughter of my host family. We had met at Rose Point RPC in 2007 when I filled that pulpit. On our 45 minute ride into the Berkshires we had a nice discussion about the joys and frustrations of being a small mission church.

Arriving at the Burgers’ home, I was greeted by a Bichon Frise, named Tony as well as the 9 other people that live in the home. It was a full house! We promptly sat down to a wonderful chili dinner that the daughters had prepared, complete with homemade breads and pound cake. The family worship was encouraging as we sang hearty Psalter selections and read the Word of God. Mr. Burger led us in prayer as we lifted up his home, my family, their minister, the denomination, and all who love the Lord Jesus Christ. The love of God filled this home!

On the Lord’s Day, we made our way to the little Methodist church that is rented for morning worship. This is a lovely little building that dates to c. 1900. It was an ideal New England church: white siding, functioning bell-tower, and lovely stained glass to bring in the sun.

One of the kids jested that the 10 old Methodist ladies would be out by 10:30. He was right. We ‘set up’ for worship by taking down the liturgical tchotchkes; including crosses, Jesus paintings, and liturgical banners. Worship began promptly at 11 AM with a call to worship from Psalm 96. 25 people were in attendance. Mr. Burger led a wonderful congregational prayer, and I preached from The Beatitudes giving special application to their situation as a church plant. The singing of Psalms was lively and heartfelt!

After worship we all went back to the Burgers home for the remainder of the Lord’s Day. We had fellowship and Psalm singing. The congregation hosts a fellowship meal every Lord’s Day. We ate Hungarian goulash and steamed vegetables that were perfectly cooked. For dessert we had Swedish gingerbread that was cut in the shapes of various animals.

The afternoon rolled on with a lot of spiritual discussion and mutual encouragement. Our dear friends, the Ibarra’s were there and we discussed some of his work with Spanish translation. Edgar and his co-laborer, hope to have a Spanish Psalter available this year with the help of Rev. Lanning.

At 4PM we gathered in the living room for a Bible Study. Mr. Burger stressed that they hope to have an evening service in the future, but the Bible study has served them well thus far as a congregation. I led a study on Christ’s letter the Church in Ephesus and gave special attention to Christ’s command to ‘remember’. We discussed some of the blessings in the congregation’s past and went to Jesus Christ in prayer for a mighty work to be done in that place. The people were open about their discouragements and the trails of their location. I shared a number of ideas to help the work to grow and continue (all with the help of what First Church has done as a congregation, of course!).

We closed the study with the singing of a number of Psalms and an extended time of prayer and thanksgiving. The fellowship continued past dark, and I began to feel the exhaustion of a day of joyful ministry to the saints.

7:30 Monday morning brought us all back to the kitchen table for family worship. We read, sang, and prayed for help and mercy on our week ahead. After breakfast the teenaged children scattered off to their duties and Timothy, the nine year-old son, and Betty, the mother hosted a tour of the area.

We began with driving up into the high places to see what lovely country Western Massachusetts really is. From there we drove into Stockbridge to visit the Private library there which hosts an extensive collection of Jonathon Edwards’ artifacts. We saw First Congregational Church, Reverend Sergeant’s home, and many other historical sites. We then spent the remainder of the morning in the Norman Rockwell museum, which was a lovely place to visit. They host a very impressive collection of the most notable of his 4000 works.

For lunch we picked up victuals at the deli captured in Rockwell’s painting, The Runaway ( A young boy sitting with police officer at a lunch counter over a bowl of ice cream.). We then headed off to the airport so that I could make my way home to the very missed, Lydia, Anna, Owen, and Watson.

My time in the Berkshires was more than a preaching assignment. I was able to be ministered by a very godly home filled with people and love! I also received a sense of what a wasteland New England has become. I am thankful to the Lord Jesus Christ, the King and Head of His Church, that he has put it on people’s hearts to stay and to fight for the Reformed heritage that is almost gone in that region of the country.
The Berkshire Mission needs the prayers of the saints. We have so much of the Reformed faith in Grand Rapids- Berkshire County has three families. I pray that the Lord continues that work, strengthens the weary laborers there, and once again shines his face upon them, that they may be saved!