New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.

Why It’s Time for Us to Come Back to Church (With a Smile)
Over the past few years, many have quietly drifted from regular church attendance. Life got busy. The pandemic messed with our rhythms. Somewhere along the way, Sunday morning turned into a “maybe,” not a “must.” If that’s part of your family’s story, you’re not alone, but maybe it’s time to come back. Not out of guilt. Not just to punch a spiritual timecard. But because something beautiful—and even a little miraculous—happens when God’s people gather.

Our (Not-So-Secret) Weapon
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples,” Jesus said, “if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). The reference here is not our love for nonbelievers (as important as that is), but Christian love for one another. Our love as a church is our not-so-secret weapon to witness to the world about Jesus Christ. The local church, far from an obstacle to evangelism, is the God-ordained means to share the Gospel with the world.

Winning Moves to Connect with Guests
One of my favorite games to play with my grandsons is Connect 4. I love it because every time we play, they win! Well, I realized when preparing for a recent trivia game, that if you go first in Connect 4, you have a strong chance of winning 100% of the time. I always love to see the look on their faces when they beat me!