BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
The pastoral care trap
Our traditional notion of pastoral care is kryptonite to authentic church revitalization. I realize how provocative that statement is. It stirs instant hyper-alertness. When I am consulting with churches about revitalizing, this inconvenient truth, once grasped, is the most concerning for them. These churches are nervously evaluating whether they have the chutzpah to give up their myriad personal preferences and traditions, whenever necessary, to be hotly missional. That’s the second greatest threat. But the greatest threat is our desperate clinging to pastoral care.
Pastors' wives and women’s ministry leaders meet for fellowship
It is beautiful when women gather to encourage one another and worship Jesus together. The leaders of Iglesia Bautista Casa de Restauración in Lawrence, MA and Iglesia Bautista Dios con Nosotros in Glastonbury, CT, had two wonderful opportunities in April for women in their congregations to meet and fellowship.
The importance of pastors caring for each other
We live in a time of so much lack of love in our world and this seems to have seeped in to churches in general. This is true not only among members relating to other members, but in some instances, pastors relating to other pastors. It is easier to remain in our so-called relational “comfort zone”, but this usually leads to superficiality and the tendency to not seek help when help is needed. And many pastors are in need of help, the kind of help that can be found in healthy pastoral fellowship.
Vermont Snow Camp for pastors
Our BCNE Vermont Pastors and families recently shared a powerful experience together as they gathered for Snow Camp at Rumney Bible Conference Center in NH. Each family had their own room and enjoyed fellowship, food and fun in an area of stunning natural beauty that reminded them of the awe of God’s Creation.
The pastor’s pastor
The days leading up to our church planting journey are a golden haze in my memory. As soon as we experienced the first missional pull six years ago, my husband and I consumed absurd quantities of Dr. Pepper and scrambled for every pertinent book, article, and podcast in Christendom. Despite the caffeine-induced fog, one sentiment jumped out from the masses of content and wrapped itself tightly around my heart. It hasn’t budged since. In a session on marriage and missions, the trainer asked a group of hopeful church planters, “Men, who’s your pastor?” He waited. Crickets. His answer knocked the wind out of me.