Daryl & Mary Witmer have lived and ministered from their home base in north central Maine for over 45 years. During 30 of those years Daryl served as the pastor of three local rural Maine churches. The Witmers have three grown sons — Andrew, Stephen, and Timothy — each of whom are married with three children of their own.
In 1991 Daryl founded, and currently continues to serve as Executive Director of, the AIIA Institute — an organization committed to the practice and promotion of Christian apologetics in Maine, New England, and beyond. AIIA’s purpose is to fortify believers, persuade seekers, and convince skeptics of the truth of the Christian worldview.
AIIA is headquartered in a former Swedish church building by the shores of Lake Hebron in Monson, Maine. The facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Each year hundreds of Appalachian Trail hikers pass through Monson. The town is also home to Monson Arts, an initiative that enrolls art students from all over the world for workshops and residencies. This provides AIIA with multiplied opportunities to engage with hikers, students, visitors (including scores of young people and volunteer mission teams from Grace Point Church over the years), and neighbors, about the truth and gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 1984 Daryl was diagnosed with a particularly severe case of Guillain- Barré syndrome, leaving him to minister from a wheelchair ever since. Mary has faithfully supported Daryl over the years and is also involved in many vital aspects of AIIA’s operations. Details and photos of AIIA’s work (including a photo of the Witmer family) are featured on the ministry website at AIIAInstitute.org.