New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.
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!
The Generational Cycle of Sin, Judgment, Repentance, and Rescue
“Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” Very familiar words to those who spend time in God’s Word. These words begin a cycle that has been repeated from the beginning of God’s creation. We see it in the Garden of Eden and we see it in our lives today. The cycle has four parts and has repeated for generations.
Freedom from Shame
I recently started a new Bible study that encouraged me to write out a “mind map” of my thoughts during the course of a day. After some reflection, I was surprised to discover what was at the root: Shame.
When A Pastor Should Not Leave His Church
Pastoral transitions happen. Life happens, and sometimes pastors need to move on. If not, in time our mortality will force a transition! These transitions can be extremely difficult for a pastor, his family, and for the church body. Sometimes leaving is for the better, but too often this kind of transition leaves a wake of broken hearts and missed opportunities.
Why Christ’s Sacrifice Matters Even to Nonbelievers
The story is told of a minister who had two little children. His youngest daughter asked him one Sunday after church why he always said a prayer right before he preached. Impressed that his daughter was actually paying attention to what was going on in the service, he solemnly told her that he always prayed before the sermon to ask God to bless the sermon and make it both inspiring and encouraging to the audience. After a moment of silence, the little girl spoke up again. She said, “Daddy, why doesn’t God ever answer that prayer?”
Sunday’s Coming
This year my longing for Easter is greater than ever before. I don’t necessarily mean Sunday, April 9th. I mean a longing for healing and peace for our world that is only made possible through the resurrection. I mean a greater appreciation for Christ’s gift of salvation.
Rejoicing in God’s Work These Last 8 Years
Eight years ago today I began my service as the Executive Director of the BCNE. It is a great joy to serve the churches. From my very first day, my passion has been to help the churches multiply Christ-followers through partnering, equipping, and encouraging. I’m thankful the Lord has chosen to honor my humble efforts with His favor.
Your Family On Mission
What if you went on a mission trip as a family? What if your family partnered with missionaries for a long weekend or week, learning and serving together? A domestic or international trip to experience God at work, in and through your family. Memories to last…well, an eternity.
5 Ministry Ideas to Reach Out to Immigrants in Your Church’s Community
Some churches in our region are partnering with different immigrant groups for ministry purposes. Others are looking to find a way to reach immigrant groups within their surrounding areas. Here are some basic ways churches are ministering to different people groups…
Laser-Focused Mission
Light is a powerful force. When spread out over a room, it is neutralized. It can however be focused to such a degree that it cuts through steel. When it comes to the mission of the church, laser-focus is especially important. The mission of the church is to make disciples.
Knowing Our Creator
One day, our friends graciously treated me and my husband to dinner at a hotel restaurant where one of them works as a sous-chef. As I studied the menu, I found myself feeling intimidated by the cuisine and the use of French words. I nervously joked that I hoped we were “worthy” of the food we were about to eat, but our friend was understanding and patient as he answered our questions.
Read Like It Matters
Excellent thoughts have been captured and communicated by means of the written word throughout history, and life-changing, culture-shaping wisdom is just waiting to be picked up off the shelf. But no one is born knowing how to read, much less how to read well; the practice is a dying art.
Balancing Your Local and International Missions Efforts
I was asked to consult with a historically strong congregation that once had a fully funded ministry and a full-time, salaried pastor. Their perpetually shrinking budget and unbalanced missions strategy required that a new pastor serve bivocationally, which proved to be a wake-up call for the church members. The church’s commitment to international missions came at the expense of its ministry to internationals now living in their own communities.
The Immigrant Reality, Missions, and the Multicultural Church
For the first time in recorded history, the number of people who are being forced to flee their homes has surpassed 60 million individuals (about twice the population of Texas). The refugee crisis is unprecedented in magnitude. And the West is awakening to it because we are realizing that this crisis can affect us. It became relatable when we were gripped by the photo of Aylan Kurdi washed up on the shores of Turkey.
When the Fight Calls: Spiritual Warfare
This article almost didn’t happen. BCNE Staff frequently submit articles for our blog, and as my deadline approached for the month, I felt the Lord wanted me to write about spiritual warfare. Every time I sat down to write, I had writer’s block. I knew exactly what I wanted to say but had the hardest time getting down the ideas swirling around in my head.
Holy Collisions
Have you ever experienced a collision? Two summers ago, a friend and I were on the Cape enjoying a very impromptu day of sightseeing when a car sped through a stop sign and broadsided me. This was the first major collision I had experienced. It certainly ruined the rest of our day!
Transitions and Church Revitalization: Lessons We Can Learn from Tom Brady’s Retirement
Football is an excellent teaching tool for the Church and its leadership. I have said for many years “Sport speaks.” It speaks about transitions, pressures, training, plays, setbacks, comebacks, and tensions. It is no surprise to New Englanders that quarterback Tom Brady is re-retiring from football.
Inviting Jesus
A few years ago, a popular YouTube channel made a series of videos which highlighted the struggles of poverty among the elderly community in South Korea. The host of the show noted that it had been hard to find people to talk to on camera as many feared “losing face,” worried of what their family and friends would think of them following the interview.
Multiply Your Outreach
I am certainly not an expert on outreach. Doubtless there are pastors and churches who are far more effective than me on this. However, I’ve learned a few things, mostly from my mistakes! Let me share a few things that have worked for me, and perhaps they will spur you on to find ways that work for you and your church.
Historic Equity
Living in New England, we are surrounded by the ghosts of history. The Boston Tea Party, Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s ride (though debated), Lexington, Concord, and many other events. Many of the buildings here are historic, too. New England has more locations entered on the National Register of Historic Places than any other region.