SC Baptist meet New England needs during pandemic
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of three articles discussing how changes related to COVID-19 have affected the BCNE. Read the first article about reduced funding and layoffs and the second article welcoming our new church planting director and explaining our new direct church planting partnerships.
It didn’t take long for New England Baptists to realize that the quarantining was going to last longer than a couple of weeks – and that the climate created by the pandemic was making people in search of hope more open to hearing the Gospel.
An urgent need for evangelism funds
But with giving down in most local churches and an indefinite freeze on over $180,000 in evangelism and church planting development funds from national partner NAMB, what could be done?
BCNE executive director Dr. Terry Dorsett decided to look for some alternate funding – and the South Carolina Baptist Convention came through.
“Dr. Gary Hollingsworth, the executive director of the South Caroline Baptist Convention, is a great friend. I reached out and asked him for help. He immediately said yes and then went to work with his leaders to make it happen,” said Dr. Dorsett.
Church grants, salary assistance and more
A partner Southern Baptist Convention, SCBC donated $100,000 for use in New England in the initial weeks of COVID. This generous gift made it possible for the BCNE to provide grants to 45 churches planning outreach projects during the pandemic, as well as help 20 BCNE pastors who needed salary assistance due to the coronavirus, and even meet some organizational financial needs.
Churches in all six states used the grants to share the love of Christ in unique, relevant ways by doing things like purchasing grocery gift cards for struggling families in the community, putting together appreciation gifts for teachers, providing boxed lunches for senior adults, supporting homeless teenagers and running errands for vulnerable people who couldn’t leave their homes.
Moving forward
“Being able to help churches move forward instead of retreat during the pandemic was a game-changer,” Dr. Dorsett said. “It set the tone for how our churches would thrive during this national crisis.”
As the NAMB evangelism fund freeze was extended through the end of the year, the need for more evangelism and emergency funds has continued to grow. New England Baptists and friends of New England are stepping up to the plate by giving to the New England Mission Emphasis, which will provide more funds for local church outreach and emergency assistance.
Kimber Huff is the communications coordinator for the Baptist Convention of New England.