NCS New Canaan

Founding Chapter

Faith in the Midst of False Accusation and Hatred (Dr. Carter Page – 9/18/20 – Joint Meeting of the Three Oldest NCS Chapters)

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The New Canaan Society is a faith-centered organization focused on Jesus, but it is not a political or religious organization. Because NCS is a place for all men to feel welcome, regardless of religious denomination, political leaning or anything else that tends to divide rather than unite, politics must be left at the door. Whatever your views may be about the politics that drove the various dynamics and circumstances that impacted the life of Carter Page, try to suspend those to hear a story about a brother—a fellow human being–who was put through an almost incomprehensible trial, and about a God who has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Page respectfully left politics at the door during this talk to a joint meeting of the three oldest NCS chapters–NCS New Canaan (the founding Chapter), NCS Orlando (started in 2003) and NCS Winston-Salem (started in 2005).

With tremendous humility, Carter Page shares how is faith was central to his “survival” while under investigation for several years by the FBI, the Department of Justice and other government arms (based upon what have now been shown to be false accusations pursued through a corrupted legal process). During those years, he was the subject of death threats and often lived in isolation, moving frequently. He notes that recent declassifications of information reveal one of his hotel rooms was even broken into by FBI agents. As horrible as that sounds, Page does not dwell on the difficulties (in fact, he barely mentions them) or bad-mouth his accusers.

Carter describes his Catholic education and his Naval Academy education and how it helped prepare him for the trials he would eventually face. He also shares some of the life principles and Biblical passages that he leaned upon during his ordeal. Page talks about the Biblical focus on “truth”, the importance of keeping things in perspective, and the power of remembering what truly matters and being able to maintain a sense of humor in the face of adversaries, whether investigators or news personalities. He also explains how he grew from the ordeal.

Carter Page is the author of the recently published book Abuse and Power: How an Innocent American Was Framed in an Attempted Coup Against the President (click link to find on Amazon)

In Chapter Two of his book, Page writes “What happened to me . . . can happen to anyone.” The book’s dedication reads “To the honest members of the U.S. Intelligence Community, law enforcement, and the media–may their brave professionalism continue to shine as a beacon of hope amidst the destruction“

Shame on Me (and How To Get Free) (Hal Rosser – 7/10/20 – NCS CT Chapters)

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With great courage, humility and transparency, Harold (“Hal”) Rosser shares the amazing journey of his life, including the fears, struggles, failures and challenges, as well as the joys, victories, miracles and lessons learned.

Hal takes us along the road that brought a kid with a 1.86 GPA in college who drank heavily to being a senior credit officer at one of the most respected financial institutions in the world and then to being the co-founder of a successful private equity firm and finally to founding his own private equity firm. He vulnerably tells about his fears and how he was always trying to prove he was good enough. Hal also talks about how he came to know Jesus and the profound impact it has had on his life, both personally and professionally, including an immediate healing through prayer that has led to 25 years without alcohol.

Looking back on his life, Hal ends by sharing and explaining eight lessons learned along the way:

  • Keep asking “Am I actually fully committed to Jesus?”
  • Living for yourself leads to an empty life.
  • Being in a community with other followers of Jesus is essential and life-fulfilling.
  • Many people are hurting and living superficial lives because they lack purpose and hope.
  • We are all created uniquely and need each other.
  • We need to release the expectations we have for others (particularly our closest loved ones) and learn to delight in them as God created them to be.
  • Looking back at even our most difficult times, Jesus is with us every step of the way.
  • Shame is a barrier to loving others and feeling loved, but we can get free of Shame by experiencing the unconditional love of Jesus.

This is a story of healing for anyone who has ever felt the shame of failures or being “not enough” or who is struggling with an addiction. It is a story of hope for anyone who wonders if Jesus is real or if God really has a purpose for their life. But mostly, it is a story of God’s unceasing love for and delight in one of his children–a love and delight he feels for each of us–and the miraculous power of accepting the open invitation to meet Jesus.

“Dad” Cares (Even in a Pandemic) (Rev. Richard Berry – 5/29/20 – NCS New Canaan)

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Rev. Richard Berry may call himself “just a dumb hick from Skowhegan, Maine”, but he is a country pastor filled with much wisdom, a huge heart for humanity, enormous (yet simple) faith and an endless supply of stories about how “Dad” (what Richard calls God) has shown up in a homeless shelter in central Maine.

We first heard from Richard in 2016 before his first book was released. Since then, he has published three and a fourth is on the way. He comes back to share more stories of hope, human dignity, miracles, joy and self-reflection from the Covid pandemic.  Why should you listen?  For the same reasons you might want to read his books:  If you want to smile, if you need to laugh, if you are willing to cry, if you are lacking hope, if joy seems to be hiding, or especially if you are questioning your belief in God, Jesus or the role of his Church in our world today.

Those interested in learning more (or helping) about Richard’s homeless shelter can visit https://sheltersbyjesus.com or read Richard’s first book “Sheltered by Jesus”, available at this link https://amzn.to/3cdYIL4

Setting a New Default (Nigel Mumford – 5/15/20 – NCS New Canaan/Manchester/Virginia Beach)

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In the midst of the “Covid crisis”, Rev. Nigel Mumford explores where we go when we are stressed–how we respond when our “buttons” are pushed or our “triggers” are triggered–and how we can be healed from those buttons and triggers. By looking to Matthew 6:33 (“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”), Nigel helps us understand how to set a “new default” through God’s healing of our past. He vulnerably shares from his own life traumas, including those suffered as a British Royal Marine Commando, as well as his near-death experience with Swine Flu when he was in a coma for three weeks and in the ICU for three months.

Through examples from his own life as well as experiences from his global healing ministry, Nigel unpacks two sayings “Hurt people hurt people, but healed hurt people heal people” and “Don’t let your past ruin your present or your future.”

In an extensive Q&A session at the end, Nigel addresses questions about topics such as: healing from the trauma of Covid-19; sharing your deepest fears and hurts; strengthening marriages; going through a near-death experience; fearing death; the difference between forgiving, reconciling and healing; and quarantining alone.

Donations to Nigel’s ministry may be made at www.byhiswoundsministry.org

Nigel has just published a new book on healing titled “This Is Where Your Healing Begins”. Click this link to purchase a copy: https://amzn.to/2LvP5ML

“Didn’t I” Put the “It” In Your Hand? (Dr. David Young – 5/1/20 – NCS New Canaan/NoVa/Washington DC)

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Dr. David Young, founder of Oxford Analytica and formerly a member of the National Security Council staff (and Special Assistant to Dr. Henry Kissinger) during the Nixon administration, shares a lifetime of wisdom from his faith journey, encapsulated in two phrases–“Didn’t I” and “It”. It is about remembering what God has done for us and recognizing the gifts and tools He has put in our hands to steward and put to work.

As one participant noted during his talk, “This is a privileged sitting with a sage.” Another commented, “This is about as good as its been since I started coming to NCS in 2002.” The talk itself is just under 20 minutes, but it is followed by 50 minutes of rich and deep Q&A in which David talks about topics such as the spiritual dimension of politics and power, the difficult journey of building Oxford Analytica and the people who have most impacted his life.

This talk was given to a joint meeting of NCS New Canaan, NCS NoVa and NCS Washington DC on May 1, 2020.

During his talk, David referenced various resources. Here are relevant links:

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