Leadership
Scott Field (Elder term began Jan. 2005)
Scott was born in 1958 in Lowell, MA and grew up in Nashua, NH. After High School, he spent some time working, before following an interest in aviation. He graduated with a B.S. degree in Aviation Technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in December 1982. His career path has taken a few turns including Logistics Engineer, Technical Writer, and various roles as an IT support professional. He is presently employed as a PC Specialist at Hollis Brookline High School.
He married his wife Jennifer in May 1987. They were blessed with twins, Timmy and Amanda, in November 1994. Jen had come to the Lord prior to their marriage, but had been away from Him. She came into relationship with Him again at Nashua Baptist Church and was baptized April 1997. They rededicated their marriage in Christ as Christians in July 1998. Timmy and Amanda both accepted Christ and were baptized in 2002. The Field family lives in Merrimack, NH and have been attending Christ’s Church of Amherst since 2003.
Scott has lived most of his life as an ardent atheist. Oswald Chambers writes, “Christ sometimes has to wreck a life before he can save it.” He found himself in such a situation in the latter part of 1995. God got his attention and started a series of amazing events that led him step-by-step to examine what he believed and to look at the message and promises of Jesus Christ. It started with his reluctant attendance at a Christmas event. ”Back To Bethlehem” at Nashua Baptist Church in December 1995 was his first real exposure to Christianity. Those steps led to his acceptance of Christ as his Lord and Savior in January 1998.
God has helped Scott learn about Him, and more about himself and their relationship. This has led to an interest in people and their belief systems, Christian Apologetics, Philosophy, Psychology, and study of other religions.
Scott shares, “I have missed people for a large part of my life; I don’t want to miss people anymore, especially my family. God has taught me so much about relationships, what they are, and how important they are. The best part is He’s still teaching me and I’m still learning. And as an Elder, I get to see and help shepherd relationships in the Body at Christ’s Church.”
Richard Griffin (Elder term began Jan. 2005)
Richard grew up in Tennessee, and went to college as a Music Education major, planning to be a band director. Jesus had other plans, though, and pulled him into His kingdom as a freshman in college, sometime between 10:00 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. on March 19, 1973 – primarily as a result of the witness of his voice teacher, Vicki Terrell. God called him into the pastorate that night. He transferred to Gordon College in Massachusetts his junior year, where he met Pam; they married in 1977.
After seminary, he pastored churches in Sumner, Nebraska, Oak Park, Illinois and Wilton, New Hampshire. Between those churches he worked stints at Abbott Labs and Baldwin Pianos; he currently writes technical courseware.
Pam and Richard came to Christ’s Church in 2003; he became an Elder in 2005. They have three kids; their two oldest children are currently in college in Tennessee.
You might bump into Richard in the line at the service desk at Home Depot, or in the aisles at Milford Paint. (They’re restoring a Victorian Painted Lady in Wilton.) You might also see him in the Science Fiction reader’s group at the Toadstool Bookshop in Milford or picking through the walnut at Currier lumber.
Mostly, Richard enjoys the people of Christ’s Church and he enjoys seeing God work through them to build Jesus into one other. He is active in several small groups (ask him about them!) and in enjoys developing new leaders.
Ralph Paul (Elder term began June 2009)
Ralph Paul was born and grew up in Oakland, California as an only child. His parents provided a good and loving home but it was not an overtly Christian home. After high school he served a stint in the Army spending most of his time in Germany. He then returned to his education and graduated from California State Polytechnic University with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1959.
He married his wife, Cynthia in 1961. With their two sons, a career choice moved them to upstate New York. Unknown to him this was part of God’s plan for him. Through the loving patience and prayers of Cynthia and her friends he met Jesus in 1976 while they attended a Marriage Encounter weekend. Shortly thereafter he and Cynthia were privileged to be able to present that same Marriage Encounter experience to other couples for 14 years.
After being employed by others for a good many years he became self employed as a consulting engineer designing equipment for a number of different client companies. During this time their sons married and presented them with a total of eight grandchildren.
Finally, retirement arrived and after caring for their ageing parents the Lord decided they should leave upstate New York and move closer to their children and grandchildren in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Ralph and Cynthia have made Milford their home since 2003. It is a blessing to be able to continue to serve our God here at Christ’s Church.
Darin Shaw (Teaching Elder)
Darin is the youngest of five siblings. His oldest brother shared the gospel with him when he was sixteen. Dave invited Darin fishing. They rowed a little row-boat out on a heavily aligator populated Florida lake. After having rowed out into the middle of numerous gators, Dave is said to have told Darin, “I want to talk to you about Jesus and if you don’t like it, swim for shore!”
As a teenage new believer in Christ, Darin attended a Presbyterian Church a couple of miles from his home. It was at that church where he spotted the girl who would become his bride. Afraid to talk to her, Darin stalked Shari for nearly two years before actually introducing himself. Their first date was a Bruce Springsteen concert in 1985 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Darin received a BA degree in Pastoral Studies and Biblical Education at Florida Bible College and his MABS at Southwest Theological Seminary. He considers generative conversation to be one of his great enjoyments in life–the chance to share the lessons God is teaching him, and to hear the lessons that God is showing others. He enjoys reading–a lot–especially where reading and corresponding conversation provides him with thought provocation.
Darin plays guitar and sings in a band, and may often be found playing music in a local pub. He is a wannabe writer–writer, blogger, lyricist, essayist, and story-teller–keeping busy with his literary pursuits. His passion for old Fords is legendary, and presently attested to in the 1970 Ford F100 pick-up truck he drives and the 1967 Ford Mustang he is restoring.
He and his wife Shari and their four daughters, Amanda, Katie, Becky and Emily, live together in a red house surrounded by lots of really cool people.
