BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
Prophesying out of their own hearts
Scrolling through Instagram the other day, I landed on a post that was both startling and encouraging. It was written by a Christian woman I follow and contained forthright words of biblical wisdom targeted to women. In essence, she called out our recent memorials of glass-ceiling-crushers as idolatry.
Leaf lessons
Most of us have favorite routes that take us to and from work, church, and the grocery store. We know when to speed up and slow down, when the road curves, or where traffic backs up. No map app is needed on these trips. But during this season, I am astounded as trees shed leaves and see the new revelation of hidden gems. Structures, scenic views, a helpful business, or just a fun object seem to jump out at me.
The good and bad seasons
Fall is my favorite time of the year. Not only are the leaves ablaze with color, reminding us of God’s creativity, but there is a crispness in the air that seems to make everyone joyful.
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.
Where do you find security?
Autumn leaves dancing in the breeze. An apple pie baking in the oven. The crack of a baseball bat during a Little League game. A freshly bathed baby. Ocean fog rolling in during late afternoon. The ringing bells of the ice cream truck. These sights, smells and sounds stir up joyful memories.
If you love your pastor, do these (free) things
Before I became a pastor, I used to attend church every Sunday and watch the pastor on stage and think, “Wow, what a great job he has! He must really enjoy it!” And because I thought he had an amazing job, I never really told him how amazing he was or that I thought he was doing a great job. I just sort of assumed that he knew.
Becoming an inefficiency expert in relationships
COVID-19 totally changed my pastoral rhythms. It seemed like the weekly tasks quadrupled! I felt like what was once 45-50 hours per week in a pre-COVID world became 60 or 70 hours per week in spring and summer. I learned to cut corners and do in 10 minutes what once took 15. Because traffic was less dense, I could get to a spot in 30 minutes that once took 50. Every trip and every task became an area where I was looking to save time and energy — get things done with excellency but increased attention to efficiency. I felt like one of those bike riders in the Tour de France, speeding downhill through the Alps, trying to lean into the bends and turns just right at terrifyingly blistering speeds, saving inches to beat an opponent by seconds or less.
Church finances during a pandemic
Many churches have experienced extraordinary giving amidst the pandemic. Instead of retreat, some churches saw generosity. Why? Because people experienced at a very personal level the purpose for which the church exists — worship in a caring community that models love and compassion. Pastors and other church leaders took initiative to serve their communities. They led by example. The actions of the church were driven by a commitment to the Kingdom of God. Church leaders explored every possible platform to continue engaging in worship, Bible study and community building.
The power of a story
Narratives can be very powerful. Good stories can give you great joy, produce awe and fear, or make you feel a sense of heroism. What’s more, they can help you become more courageous, spark great ideas and produce ambition. Good stories can also help teach Truth.
Many happy returns!
There are many things that I love about being a Christian. The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting have always been my favorites, but lately I have grown to truly appreciate the blessing of the “happy return.” That is, after I have gone astray, wandering into all kinds of worthless distractions and selfish indulgences, I then come to my senses and long to return to God. The Gospel gives me the great assurance that I can get up quickly and return happily to my heavenly Father. I don’t even need to grovel or slink back under cover of night.
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.
Should Christians follow “the science”?
During the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a tremendous amount of pressure upon all of us to “follow the science.” Our governmental policies and our individual actions are supposed to be prescribed by medical science. But now that the initial panic has largely subsided, it is time for some cool-headed reflection. Should it be a goal for Christians to follow the science?
Kingdom collaboration: raising, maintaining and honoring partners
Anything Kingdom-sized in our lives and ministries will require Kingdom collaboration. While I have learned so much over the past twelve years of church planting, including four years of planting in New England, that one reality would be near the top of my list.
God’s judgment is our hope
One evening eight years ago myself and a few others sat down for dinner with a woman who was about to cross a lifeless border, pass through a foreboding customs office, board a worn-out city bus, and take a journey that would likely end in death.
Come over to Europe and help us
The Bible records how the Gospel was first preached in Europe. While on his second missionary journey, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia (modern Northern Greece), who called out to him, “Come over and help us!” And Luke the physician, wrote, “. . .we immediately looked for a way to go to Macedonia, because we were convinced that God had called us to tell the people there the good news.” (Acts 16:10)
Raising tiny theologians: A matter of life and death
Christianese can really trip people up. Sometimes terminology intimidates well-intentioned Christians when these words are actually filled to the brim with rich, treasurable truths. Take the word “theology” for example. We assume theology is for the scholar, the pastor, the apologist – but never for us. Yet theology is simply the study of God, His existence and attributes and His relationship to His creation. We all have views about these things. That makes us all theologians. And if you’re a parent, then you’re raising tiny theologians.
5 ways to help small groups flourish in 2020
With September comes the beginning of small groups for many churches, and I hope that this is still the case this year! Don’t let the current state of our world distract you from being able to gather your church for small group experiences this fall. Because of the challenging times that we are facing, consider these actions as you get started.
Working through your feelings while pastoring in a pandemic
The COVID-19 global pandemic has brought to the surface many difficult emotions and feelings in people, and pastors have not been immune. Depression, anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, feelings of loss, and loneliness are just a few things that people are dealing with during these unprecedented times.
As pastors, we are often the ones that the people in our churches turn to for spiritual guidance and advice. But what do we do when we are feeling the exact same things while carrying the responsibility of our congregations on our shoulders?
How moving changed my perspective on being “called” to ministry
Before moving to Rhode Island two years ago, I lived most of my life in Florida. Jacksonville is my “hometown,” although I was born in Georgia. It was in Jacksonville that I surrendered my life to Christ and accepted His call to ministry.
Armed with a two-year Bible degree back in 1998, I set off to fulfill my calling. I spent the next 20 years serving in various roles of ministry. It seemed as though the vocational ministry possibilities were abundant while living in Jacksonville. Many of my friends served in part-time or full-time ministry roles. In fact, I was probably in a subculture of Christianity called the “ministry bubble” without even realizing it.
Seven lessons I've learned while ministering in a pandemic
COVID is an accelerant speeding change along. Online education, online platforms and multi-mode communication already existed, but now they are present everywhere. In addition, the pandemic has amplified the stresses that we faced daily and exposed fissures in our homes, relationships and ministries.