Be a New England Missionary
I am a New Englander, through and through. Born and raised in Massachusetts, I love to travel, but there is nothing like coming home to the Atlantic Ocean, the colonial homes lining the streets, and the four seasons. New England is not only my home, but also a ripe mission field. Here are a few things to keep in mind about New England.
New Englanders are independent-minded
This attitude is pervasive throughout the northeast (New Yorkers and New Jerseyans included). When people outside the northeast come to visit, their initial reaction is often, “These people are rude.” While that may be the case, it is often just a mild form of culture shock. A lengthy conversation with your grocery store cashier may be seen as demanding on their time. Showing up at a neighbor's house unannounced may be commonplace in the Midwest, however, in New England, it can be considered intrusive. Some of my neighbors still don’t wave back to me!
New Englanders are slow to trust. While this means that outreach and fellowship might not come as naturally here, don’t mistake that for lacking the universal need for friendship and community. Stick with it, and in time relational capital will pay off for the kingdom.
New Englanders are highly educated
Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire rank in the top six States with a high school diploma or higher, while Massachusetts ranks #1 in the country for highest educational attainment. It is not unusual to meet folks with a couple of master's degrees or to have a half-dozen Ph.D.s sitting in your pews.
New Englanders are natural skeptics. They are less likely to give you a lot of leeway in Christian worldview assumptions. Your lack of sermon prep will likely show. But this cuts both ways. It also means they are willing to think carefully about the Scriptures as you proclaim the Word. Don’t be afraid to go a level deeper in your preaching or teaching.
New Englanders are mostly Roman Catholic
Rhode Island leads the country in Roman Catholicism, with Massachusetts right behind them at #2. It is usually safe to assume that people you meet in New England have some background in Catholicism. Most will have at least grown up Catholic, done some CCD, and will attend mass every once in a great while.
I see this as a missionary asset. The unchurched here are not completely oblivious to key doctrines like the Trinity, the authority of the Bible and the Lord’s Supper. Consider adding traditional elements into your worship. For many, a loud rock concert-feel with a high energy sermon may be overkill. If I might make a suggestion: don’t yell in your preaching here. That may preach well in the South, but in New England it comes across more theatrical than powerful.
New Englanders are pretty liberal
Vermont takes the cake for being the most liberal in the whole country, with New Hampshire coming in at #3. This is likely no surprise for you, but worth considering. What is happening in Europe now will likely follow in a few years in New England, and what is happening in New England now will likely follow in the rest of the country in a few years (starting with colleges). As a Christian, if you are not comfortable around people who disagree with you on social issues, New England is probably not the place for you.
Please do not bring your politics into the pulpit on Sunday mornings. I likely agree with you as a conservative Christian, but it still makes me cringe to hear someone rant politically at a worship service. If you do this as a pastor, your members will be very hesitant to ever bring a non-Christian friend under 50 to church with them.
This liberal worldview offers a few missionary opportunities that I think the Christian church can tap into. Value and pursue multiculturalism. It is biblical and will be valued by New Englanders. Major on the majors, and show a lot of tolerance on the minors. Preach and pray for biblical justice issues, like caring for the poor and human rights around the world.
New England may be unique, but it is also a wide open mission field.
Rick Harrington is a pastor at First Baptist Church - Haverhill in Massachusetts. He is the author of the books "How to Find a Church: Seven Steps to Becoming Part of a Spiritual Family" and "The Weight of Preaching: Heralding the Gospel of Grace". You can follow his writing on his blog The Lamp Post.
