BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
Pastor, how clear is your conscience?
Recently there was one more shocking revelation of a well-known spiritual leader who spent years secretly engaging in sexual sin. This led me to consider the proper expectations for pastors in their lives and ministries.
Thriving in ministry
Pastoral ministry is rewarding – but rewarding moments can also be very draining. When good things happen, the workload increases. In my case, that involved planting two churches that ultimately went on to purchase, finance and construct first unit buildings with volunteers.
This dynamic creates a paradox for us. As ministry is draining us, we are to be models of vibrancy and joy. We are to incarnate abundant living. How do we manage to do that when our roles are at times sucking the life out of us? Everyone’s journey is different but here are some things that helped me to thrive during my 34 years of serving in my native New England.
The birds of the air and the hope of your heart
As I sat down to write this article, I looked at the computer for a few moments and wondered how to start. I typed a few words, hit backspace, then tried again.
Writer’s block is part of life. Whether you are writing a paper for school or a report for work, there are often times where you stare at the computer screen and feel as if your mind is stuck in quicksand. Though our minds might struggle to find words to write, our minds rarely struggle to muster things to worry about.
People movement, God movement
One of the great aspects of living in New England is the opportunity to interact with peoples of all tongues, tribes and nations. The multicultural diversity in this area is not only fascinating but also poses tremendous opportunities to further the Kingdom with the potential of impacting the whole world. World leaders are being formed in our universities here, and God has shifted the mission field to our neighborhoods. This reality also comes with some daunting challenges.
Ten revitalization steps for 2021
Revitalization is happening in churches around America! As a pastor or church leader, you are responsible for shepherding and caring for the congregation God has given you. But certain actions can help you be more effective and successful in guiding the church where God has planted you toward renewal.
How the world distorts reality
In the movie The Matrix, the hero Neo is given the choice to take a blue pill and continue to live in his current world or take a red pill and “wake up” to reality. Neo takes the red pill and discovers that the real world is nothing like the world he thought he knew.
When the nation is shaken
It feels like recent events in our country have shaken us. The nation as a whole has been shaken, and many of the individual citizens and residents feel shaken. We are witnessing quite a bit of chaos, anger, and divisiveness.
But, if we read our Bibles, this is what we should expect. Generally speaking, we should never be surprised when the world acts like the world, as the old saying goes. Sin has visible effects on the world around us – effects that should bother us, but not surprise us.
Four ways to honor marriage
God commands us, “Let marriage be held in honor among all…” (Hebrews 13:4a) The word “honor” is sometimes translated “precious” in the Bible. It is used to talk of precious stones used in the Temple (1 Kings 7:9-11 in the Greek translation of the Old Testament), of the precious stones that make up the walls of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 18), and of Christ’s precious blood (1 Peter 1:19). In other words, whether married or single, young or old, Christians are called by God to prize marriage. It was created by him for blessing and to be embedded in the world as a pointer to the Gospel (Ephesians 5:22-33 which quotes Genesis 2).
The theology of cultural adaptation: part 2
In Part 1 of this article, I made a case for the importance of ethnic churches adapting to the local culture instead of remaining separate and distanced from the majority culture. We looked at how principles the prophet Jeremiah shared can apply to today’s immigrants. This article follows up by discussing New Testament passages that shed light on the importance of cultural adaptation.
Feeling cared for and staying connected during the pandemic
Health officials predict it will be several more months before social-distancing restrictions can be lifted and life can return to normal. In the meantime, people everywhere, including church members, struggle with pandemic fatigue. Faithful shepherds of God’s people must remain vigilant during the remaining months of this protracted pandemic.
In a recent meeting of Greater Boston pastors, we asked the question: What are you doing to help your people feel cared for and stay well-connected during the pandemic? Here are some helpful insights from these church leaders.
Rejuvenating your small groups for 2021
For many churches, small groups are the spiritual and relational lifeblood for the congregation. It is in these groups that we practice life together through encouragement, Bible study, accountability and relational investment. It is in our small groups that strong friendships form and strengthen. It is here that the Word of God comes to life and we see it applied in our own lives.
The theology of cultural adaptation: part 1
Although my church is made up in large part of Brazilian immigrants, we are intentionally transitioning to become a multicultural and contemporary community fellowship in order to reach people from all ethnic groups with the Gospel. This kind of change involves cultural adaptation. It can be hard, and ethnic churches can only pursue it successfully if we understand the mission as a whole.
Welcoming the critics
My wife, Natalie, was about to criticize me. She prepared me for it. She assured me it wasn’t personal. She even confessed that she might not be right in what she was about to share. And then she said, “From my perspective, I think you…”
I was busted. She was right – and she loved me enough to say something.
Holy impatience: “How long, Lord?”
There is nothing like a global pandemic to remind you that life is short and you are but a frail mortal. A microscopic virus could send you or someone you love to the hospital or to the grave.
Moses experienced something similar with the people of Israel when they were exiled to the wilderness for forty years. He witnessed the deaths of all the older generations during their wilderness wanderings. Although he himself lived a long time, he was well aware of the shortness and frailty of human life.
The generational relay race
As much as 2020 was a year of shut downs, frustration and anxiety for so many, it was also a year of creativity, miracles and divine intervention. One thing I have particularly noticed in the region where I serve is that I am beginning to see a transition. The baton of church leadership is being passed on to the next generation, and those handing off the baton are grabbing hold of another baton as they enter a new Kingdom role.
Walking with wisdom toward outsiders
Last January, just after a Sunday morning worship service, I stopped by Trader Joe’s to buy a special dessert for a gathering of college students we planned to take on an international mission trip during the summer. It was a signature dessert from the very country we’d be traveling to, and I was excited to serve them something unique to this Middle Eastern culture. The friendly cashier commented on the new dessert they had just started carrying, asked me how my day was going and what my plans were for the afternoon. It was a wide-open door for conversation, but this is how I replied: “Oh, just buying a little food for some friends who are coming over to hang out later.”
Building momentum for church revitalization
It has been said that your church zip code is not an accident, and neither is your position in the church. God has placed you to speak into the brokenness of your community and capture your town for Christ. However, sometimes we do not feel like we have the momentum to do so.
The good news is that the people in your church can actually be the key to getting moving forward. Think back to high school physics when you learned that to gain momentum you need two things: mass and velocity. In religious terms, a church gets moving when a number of people buy into Jesus’ vision (mass) and decide to act on it (velocity).
Timeless truths for Christians in a divided world
Last week I listened and watched in distress and disgust as a crowd of “protestors” overwhelmed security measures and ransacked the Capitol building. The images reminded me of the unstable governmental situations that prevail in too many African nations and the dysfunction and hardship that inevitably flows from that. It is not a place where anyone in their right mind would want to go. I pray that the church will play a vibrant role in leading our country back from the brink of irreconcilable division. If we are to be used of God in this way, these events need to remind us of some great truths that we must remember and incarnate.
From challenge to triumph
As a mom of school-aged children, I was struggling to manage all of my responsibilities. Stress, feelings of being overwhelmed and insecurity were my unwelcome companions. I turned to God for help, and He heard my cry. He answered me in a way that I did not expect – He used one of my son’s diagnoses to bring healing and hope in my life.
Much more than a meal: Serving and connecting during a pandemic
During this unprecedented and seemingly never-ending season that is COVID, fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ has taken on a new form. Togetherness during Sunday morning services is impacted by elders making very complicated decisions. Hospitality looks different and is potentially non-existent given your context, capabilities and convictions. For some, hugs and handshakes have given way to waves and greetings from six feet away. Meals around the table occur more frequently through a computer screen for some or not at all for many. May I encourage you to consider bringing someone a meal?