Why New England Baptist Churches Should Do Mission Trips to Europe: The Call of Reverse Mission
The Gospel Has Come Full Circle
Europe once sent missionaries who helped shape the spiritual foundations of the Americas — including New England. From John and Charles Wesley’s revival to George Whitefield’s preaching that sparked the Great Awakening, the Gospel flowed westward across the Atlantic.
Now, centuries later, we see God writing a new chapter in that same story. The mission movement is returning to its roots — from New England back to Europe. This is the essence of reverse mission: believers from once-evangelized lands are now being sent by God to rekindle the spiritual flame in the very places that first sent the light.
“The Europeans brought the Gospel to New England. Now it’s our turn to do something about the spiritual darkness in Europe.”
Why Europe Needs Reverse Mission
Europe is full of magnificent cathedrals but often empty pews. Faith has become cultural memory instead of living reality. Yet beneath the surface, many hearts are searching for meaning, truth, and hope.
As Baptists in New England — a region that also wrestles with post-Christian realities — we understand this struggle. Our shared history gives us empathy and credibility. We know what it’s like to live among the echoes of past revivals, praying for fresh ones.
Reverse mission is not about exporting American culture — it’s about reigniting faith together, through humility, service, and partnership.
Our Experience: Serving in Portugal and Spain
Through our mission teams from New Life Community Church (Georgetown, MA), we’ve served in Portugal and Spain, partnering with local churches to encourage pastors, reach young people, and demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways.
In Lisbon, we saw youth and families reconnect with the Gospel through simple acts of love and genuine relationship.
In Madrid, our partnership in church revitalization gave new energy to local congregations longing for renewal.
Everywhere we went, the Holy Spirit reminded us that reverse mission transforms both the sending and receiving churches — spiritually, relationally, and missionally.
The Reverse Mission Conference – Porto 2025
In 2025, New Life Community Church and Inspire Network hosted the Reverse Mission Conference in Porto, Portugal, bringing together pastors and leaders from across Europe, Latin America, and North America.
The vision was clear:
To encourage and empower European pastors to see themselves not as the forgotten mission field but as mission leaders.
To call churches in Europe and the Americas into mutual partnership for the re-evangelization of Europe.
To remind the global Church that the Gospel is alive and still capable of transforming cultures — starting again in the places that first shaped our faith.
The response was powerful. Leaders left renewed, networks were formed, and the conviction was shared: Europe will be revived again by the Spirit of God.
Mantova 2026 – A New Wave of Mission in Italy
Building on that momentum, in 2026 we are bringing the Reverse Mission Conference to Mantova, Italy.
This gathering will once again unite pastors and leaders who carry the same passion — to see the Gospel return to the streets of Rome, London, Lisbon, and Madrid with the same fire that once reached New England and the Americas.
Through worship, teaching, and collaboration, we aim to:
Equip and inspire European pastors.
Strengthen the bridge between New England Baptists and European churches.
Mobilize a new generation of mission-minded believers.
Why New England Baptists Must Join This Movement
Shared Story: Europe’s spiritual DNA runs through New England’s revival history.
Shared Challenge: Both regions are post-Christian yet ripe for renewal.
Mutual Transformation: Mission trips renew the sending church as much as the receiving one.
Kingdom Partnerships: Cross-cultural friendships expand our vision of the global Church.
Obedience to the Great Commission: The Gospel must flow “from everywhere to everywhere.”
A New Chapter in Church History
The story of mission has come full circle — and New England Baptists have a unique role to play. Through partnerships, short-term mission trips, and conferences like Porto 2025 and Mantova 2026, we are seeing a glimpse of the next great move of God: a multiethnic resurrection of Christianity across Europe.
“The same Gospel that once crossed the Atlantic to reach us is now returning — not as nostalgia, but as a living flame of renewal.”
Lierte Soares Junior is a Brazilian-American pastor, missionary, and educator serving in New England. As a "reverse missionary," he was sent from Brazil to New England to help revitalize churches. He serves as the president of the Baptist Churches of New England.
Soares holds a law degree from Faculdade de Direito Vale do Rio Doce, a business degree, an education degree plus a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Faculdade de Teologia Integrada in Brazil. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Missouri and a Master of Theological Studies with a concentration in cross cultural missions from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Missions and Evangelism from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Lierte Soares's extensive educational background in theology, missions, and evangelism directly informs and empowers his ministry as a "reverse missionary" in New England. His academic path, spanning degrees from both Brazil and the United States, has equipped him with a nuanced understanding of cross-cultural ministry, church planting, and leadership in diverse contexts.