BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
Three things you can do when a church member talks to you about domestic abuse
In my previous articles, I shared some important facts about domestic abuse in churches and ways churches can be prepared to handle domestic abuse situations. Although poor or uninformed responses from church leaders can have disastrous consequences, the good news is that God can use pastors who are humble and teachable to protect victims of domestic abuse and restore their faith. In this article, we’ll cover what a pastor can do when a church member shares her experience of domestic abuse.
Three ways your church can prepare now to help victims of domestic abuse
In my previous article, I discussed the prevalence of domestic abuse within the church. As discouraging and troubling as it is to consider, it is statistically likely that someone in your church is struggling with domestic abuse right now. By taking steps to create an environment that will help survivors of domestic abuse, you can be prepared to respond well and care for church members who are experiencing domestic abuse. Here’s how to start:
Domestic abuse: 4 things pastors and churches need to know
The statistics about domestic abuse are staggering. Each year twelve million people are victims of intimate partner violence. Thirty-five percent of women experience rape, violence, or stalking at the hands of a significant other at some time in their lives. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s what pastors and church leaders need to know about domestic abuse.
BCNE, Georgia Baptists kick off partnership with initial mission trip
As part of a newly launched partnership, fourteen pastors and leaders from Northeast Georgia traveled to New England to meet with pastors and see the region first-hand. Many of these men expressed shock at seeing the difference in New Englanders’ religious perspectives and the relative isolation of New England pastors compared to ministry in the Southern culture.
When everything falls apart
In 2018 my world imploded spectacularly. It was a series of events that would have made Jerry Springer proud. I’m sure it made the devil cheer. And there was absolutely no hiding it or containing it.
Don’t get me wrong – I had been through the wringer numerous times before. But for a former missionary with a Type A personality, these circumstances were almost more than I could bear. And yet, after a little bit of time and space, I can see how times of incredible suffering lead to God-sized opportunities.
SC Baptist meet New England needs during pandemic
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.
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 annual meeting
In the opening remarks of the Baptist Convention of New England’s 38th annual meeting, executive director Dr. Terry Dorsett shared the story of a church that has affiliated with the BCNE from another denomination this year and is experiencing a time of revitalization.
BCNE launches new church planting partnerships led by Hal Haller
The Baptist Convention of New England is creating a new pathway to facilitate direct church planting partnerships between established local churches and church planters who want to work in nearby areas.
COVID brings lasting changes to Baptist Convention of New England
Six months after COVID began to escalate in the United States, pandemic-related changes are continuing to create ripples that affect the Baptist Convention of New England.
Ray Allen: A New England church planting pioneer
When Ray Allen was 13 years old, God called him to a life of ministry. Convinced that this calling would mean working as a pastor, missionary, youth minister, music minister or education minister, Ray began running from the Lord. Little did he know, God would lead him down a path of serving in each of these roles and more over a 51-year ministry in New England.
David Jackson’s legacy of church planting in New England
Editor’s Note: Dr. David Jackson is a North American Mission Board employee who has been assigned to serve as the BCNE’s church planting director and strategist since 2014. Beyond the scope of this role, he has worked in many areas of church planting in the Northeast for nearly 30 years. NAMB has recently reassigned him to a new role as Replant Specialist for the Northeast, effective July 1. While we will miss having Dr. Jackson in our office as a member of our team, we support the new work he will be doing. If you are aware of any churches that have closed or are facing imminent closure, please have them contact Dr. Jackson at djackson@namb.net.
As a seminary student and the part-time pastor of a church going through the revitalization process in the early 1990s, David Jackson hadn’t given much thought to planting churches. But when he attended an event on reaching Californians, God laid an unexpected call on his heart.
Three steps to responding well in a crisis
Like most people, I have lived through my share of crises, both personal and on a broader scale. And if I’m being honest, I haven’t always handled them well. (Practice doesn’t make perfect in this case.) Thankfully, if we are willing to be intentional, there are a few steps we can take to handle crises more like Christ.