BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
Clark retiring from a lifetime of dynamic youth ministry
When Allyson C. Clark moved from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, to metro Boston in 1991, the Nashville, TN, native was often asked “How long are you staying?” New England Baptists were accustomed to enthusiastic Southern Baptists serving a church for a few years before retreating to warmer, friendlier climates. “This question had a great impact on me. I told them I was here to stay. It took five years and they finally stopped asking,” she said.
A tree grows in New England
When I bought my first home in Barre, VT, there was a tree in the backyard that the former owner had planted when his children were young. He was emotional as he shared how his family had watched the tree grow from a seedling to a small tree during the twenty years he owned the house. It was our joy to watch over the next twelve years as the small tree grew. A decade ago, when I sold the home, I shared the story with the new owner so that she would know about the tree’s journey and what it meant to the family who planted it. That tree is now mature and looks great in her backyard.
Dr. and Mrs. James Wideman: A lifetime of service, prayer, and generosity
James (Jim) Wideman, a native of Texas, and his wife Sandy, a native of Florida, invested much of lives in New England, first moving to the region in 1970. After dating at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, in the summer of 1970, they were assigned as short term missionaries to Screven Memorial Baptist Church (now called Seacoast Community Church) in Portsmouth, N.H. Jim later returned to Texas to finish his seminary studies but in 1979, a growing sense of call to New England led them back to Portsmouth where Jim became pastor of that church.
Leaving a legacy: Lessons from Tychicus
Do you ever skim past verses in the Bible where Paul sends greetings to or from fellow Christians who are all but forgotten in our day and age? Although it’s easy to pass by verses like this in favor of Scriptures that are more easily applicable to our daily lives, all Scripture is God-breathed and profitable. Let’s take a closer look at one such verse.
Legacy
Twenty years.
Six summer days.
Over 5,000 students and leaders.
Eternal impact.
For over 20 years teenagers and their leaders have gathered each summer for CrossWalk, a week of camp in New England. Themes and Bible studies developed and written with New England students in mind. No fluff, rather tackling subjects like the Holy Spirit, global missions, and sacrificial discipleship, all based in the redemptive Gospel story.