new hampshire

Immeasurably More: Reflecting on Two Years of Church Planting

Peter LeDucLeave a comment

Two years ago—today—a group of us launched Grace Church of Dover in the Tri-City area of the New Hampshire Seacoast. Two months into the plant, I wrote a prospective philosophy of ministry called Simple, Small, and Strategic. In it I shared our distinctives, laid out expectations, and charted our course as a new church. I laid out a vision where culture eats strategy and maturity beats momentum. In other words, when it comes to church growth, depth is more important than breadth, and conviction is more essential than ingenuity. I explained that the truth-and-love, Gospel culture of deep doctrine and deep relationships we aimed for could not be fast-tracked without bypassing the hard, consistent groundwork that needed to be done. I’m humbled and happy to report the extraordinary fruit that God has provided in spite of our many insufficiencies and despite myriad obstacles. He has rewarded our ordinary faithfulness.

Continue reading →

Our Mother

Peter LeDuc2 Comments

Thank you all for being here. Your presence is a tremendous source of comfort to our family and a testament to the fact that Mom invested her life in people. You are all here because Kathy LeDuc touched your life in a profound way. I know Mom would not be comfortable with us making much of her this morning. She would only want Jesus Christ to be glorified and made much of. But I hope to do both. 

Continue reading →

Haunted Dreams and Hallowed Nightmares

Peter LeDuc1 Comment

“I’m going home, back to New Hampshire. I’m so determined; I’m so determined.” As a sojourner in CA for eight years, I maintained a certain soundtrack to my life. I listened to songs that reminded me of and made me reflect on home. One of my most-often-played and most-often-listened-to songs was “New Hampshire” by Matt Pond PA—an eerily beautiful song about regret and nostalgia.1 When some people on the West Coast had the audacity to tell me I would never go back, this one line became my prayer, my manifesto, my stubborn anthem that I sang along to. The line resonated with my heart and reinforced my deepest desire. Returning home was my burning passion and most cherished dream.

Continue reading →

Simple, Small, and Strategic

Peter LeDuc1 Comment

Two months ago, I moved back home to NH from eight years of studying and serving in CA. And four weeks ago, a small group of us launched a brand new church (Grace Church of Dover) in one of the most secular regions of our country. This church plant was the culmination of two years of prayer, planning, special providence, and personal relationships.

Continue reading →