Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Adam Miller: Maine church planters envision communities' spiritual warming


Aroostook County, located in northern Maine and known to residents simply as "The County," takes up half the state's land mass but makes up only 5 percent of its population.

Vast tracts of open space and distinctly formidable weather make The County feel like another country when compared to the rest of the state.

"It's not easy to live here," said pastor and church planter Joshua Presley of Calvary Baptist Church in Caribou, a town six hours north of Portland that sits north of 40 percent of Canada's population.

Presley, a 30-year-old east Tennessee transplant who also works as a banker in neighboring Presque-Isle, has now weathered three winters with his wife Kelsey, who grew up in Portland.

"People who are from here have a sense of pride and independence because they've made it work despite the weather. They're amazing people," Presley said.

The County can be many degrees colder than the rest of Maine. But as long as the snow slows to 12 inches or less per hour, the roads stay open and life goes on.

"It's a dry cold," Presley said, trying to assure that the weather isn't as bad as it sounds. Keep reading

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