Justin Thacker, lead pastor at Praise Assembly of God Church in Rumford for 22 years, said the biggest challenges facing his congregation and community are the breakdown of the family and issues related to mental health.

Besides ministering to his congregation, he ministers to inmates at the Oxford County Jail in Paris. 

1. What is its core mission or vision and how do you see it evolving in the future? The core mission of PAG is loving God, loving each other and (getting) closer to God, closer to each other. Our vision is to be the hands and feet of Jesus by helping people meet their needs (this includes spiritual, physical, practical and mental) as they grow in their relationship with Christ. Our desire is to present and teach a biblical worldview to everyone that wants to learn more about what it means to be a follower of Christ.

2. What are the strengths or unique resources your church brings to the broader community outside your congregation? The strengths that PAG brings to the River Valley Community is that we care about people. We have a food pantry, clothing closet, counseling services, mentorships, tutoring services for students and some case management services for folks that cannot afford it themselves. 

Our plan this year is to distribute 75 Thanksgiving baskets on Nov. 22 with our 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway. We are also going to give away Christmas gifts to at least 25 children in the River Valley in December. 

We just completed our 13th Annual Culture of Compassion outreach where we distributed back- to-school supplies, groceries, clothing and other household items to over 100 families. Yes, there are many opportunities for churches to serve in their communities if they so desire. The need is greater than ever before.

I have been pastoring in Rumford for over 22 years, and the need is only getting more severe. I think it is time for communities, including the church, to come together and discuss ways to better serve the cause of our problems rather than just to help treat or aid the symptoms. 

3. Are there opportunities specific to rural areas for churches to serve their communities? As a resident of Andover and one who serves in public service (as a selectperson) there are many opportunities to bring what PAG does in Rumford to families living in Andover. For example, tutoring children, or delivering food, home visitation for shut-ins, mentoring boys with no fathers, and helping families grieve after the loss of a loved one, or performing the memorial service as a blessing to the family. Jesus traveled all throughout Israel meeting needs. I believe the same thing. At PAG, we long to help and serve anyone that is in need, including those living in Andover. 

4. What are your congregation’s demographics? Are there steps you’ve taken to attract younger families? The demographics of PAG is basically like that of a melting pot. We have babies in the womb, babies, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors all part of a loving family. From the Alpha Generation to the Builders Generation and all points in between, PAG is a family where there is no generation gap or generation missing from the family. We also have single people, single parents, married couples, blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, folks with disabilities and retirees, all consisting of the PAG family. All together we have about 125 people that call PAG home and many others that watch online. It truly is an honor be to part of the PAG family. I am truly blessed. 

5. What are the biggest challenges facing your congregation and the wider community right now? The biggest challenges facing our congregation and community is the breakdown of the family and mental health related issues. Fatherless homes (death, abuse, addiction, or several children that have never been introduced to their father) produce a huge void in a child’s life that produces other problems, such as loneliness, anxiety (especially if addiction or incarceration is present), and problems at school, to name a few.

We try to provide mentorship (and tutoring if needed; I have taught 12 years of school for 6th-12th grade and we also have two other teachers that attend PAG) to these students and help single mothers be both mother and father to their children.

We also are trying to help grandparents raise their grandchildren in any way we can. We have several of these families at PAG and fully understand that it is not easy for grandparents and even a few great-grandparents raise the next generation of kids. This includes babysitting, mentorship, supervision of kids so single parents and grandparents can get away for a weekend vacation and respite.

I would say that half of our congregation struggles with a diagnosed mental illness. Personally, I have lost 13 to suicide and take this concern very serious. We do our best to befriend all, help in any way we can, and provide mentorship and informal counseling (I used to be a mental health counselor in Maryland, I am not licensed, but I know of licensed counselors or therapists that I can refer people to if need be) to assist a person in trouble or do all we can to help them live healthy lives. 

6. Finally, how long have you been a pastor, what is the church governance structure and what is your operating budget? I have been the pastor of PAG for 22 years. I became pastor on Aug. 10, 2003. I was 25 years old and right out of Bible school when I was elected lead pastor. I am also from Maryland, so it was quite a shock when I moved to Andover, very different than what I was used to.

Praise Assembly of God is part of the Assembly of God where our national office is in Springfield, Missouri, and our district office is in Portland, Maine. We do have local board of directors of which I am the CEO. I am proud to serve with our church board. These are four great people (Jacob Ledesma, Roland Laliberty, Vernon Saucier, and Crystal Lake) that love the Lord, church family, and River Valley Community.

I am also the district presbyter (overseer) for seven counties (including Oxford County) in Maine. This includes 14 churches in total, including PAG. Lastly, our operating budget at PAG is $225,000. I am also a selectperson in the town of Andover with a term to expire in June of 2026. I thoroughly enjoy being a pastor and public servant. It is truly an honor serving in both of these capacities.