BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
What do you believe about stewardship? Part 1
Spoiler alert: this is one of my most embarrassing ministry moments!
About thirty years ago, I was attending my first meeting with state convention stewardship leaders. After hearing presentations on various stewardship programs to offer to our churches, one of the more seasoned leaders asked me, “So, Stan, what are you going to do to help your churches in the area of stewardship?”
Why are our churches dying?
The first step toward addressing a problem is admitting we have one. Our churches in New England are in times of trouble. Without doubt, God is on the move, the Church is Christ’s Bride being beautifully prepared for Him and we are already overcomers. This is our identity. Given these truths, we might balk and say, “Don’t be so doom and gloom,” pointing to the churches that are doing very well. They are clearly thriving. But do these examples merely take the edge off the problem and dull our urgency to face it?
10 ways to pursue renewal as a pastor
At the end of a long, difficult season, many of us need renewal. Pastor, church renewal starts with you. If you are not renewed and refreshed, it will be difficult for you to lead your church to renewal. Begin the work of personal renewal by taking the following ten steps.
The youth group rebuild
One year ago we were stepping into the unknown. In many ways we are beginning to rebuild into the unknown. Here are five ways you can create a solid base as you begin to re-establish your youth group.
Three keys to keeping long-term mission partners
There’s no doubt about it, energetic volunteer mission teams are one of the best resources to give a boost to your church’s ministry. Every year scores of churches, mostly from the South, send teams to New England. Unfortunately, some of these do just one project and never return, while others come back year after year and accomplish an enormous amount of good. What is the difference?
Called back to Vermont
In 2006, Trey Cates, along with his wife, Robyn, and children, Rachel and Joshua, moved to Vermont to serve with the former Green Mountain Baptist Association in planting a church in Central Vermont. Nine years later, after successfully launching New Life Community Church in Northfield, Vt., Trey and his family were called to Huntsville, Ala., to serve with another ministry. By God’s providence, Trey was able to keep his employment with the Central Vermont Supervisory Union, working remotely to serve the district’s technology needs for six years.
Walking with patience
I have walked 500 miles over the last several months. To reach this milestone, I had to exercise patience in not giving up but continuing toward the goal. If we do not set goals to reach, we may never get anywhere. Thus, having goals in life is important and motivates us to strive for something, whether in our education, our career, our marriage, or even in our journey of faith. The Bible says, “…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
A word for young worriers
My son turned 18 last month. Yikes! This event got me thinking about my own experience and what counsel I might give to young adults heading out of the home and into the world.
My first decade as an adult was indeed full of adventure and discovery. To be more accurate: these were years full of anxiety and heartache. You see, when I was a child, I didn’t know anything about the world, but I didn’t have to worry so much because my parents made all the important decisions for me. Then I left home … I still didn’t know anything, but suddenly I had to make life-changing choices on my own – a truly terrifying prospect!
6 things this Easter weekend taught me about revitalization
While this Easter still looked different from Easters of the past, it was amazing to be able to celebrate the resurrection together both in person and online. As I have been reflecting on what I saw and heard from church members this Easter weekend, God gave me six insights for the ongoing process of revitalization that should be taking place in every church.
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.
Spring cleaning for the church administrator
The start of spring ushers in a great opportunity for churches to do some much needed “spring cleaning.” I have been part of a local church for almost 40 years, and the paper and digital files that we have amassed over the years has been overwhelming. I have only recently been involved in the administration of the ministry again, and it is amazing the amount of data that we have been keeping. Many are reticent for fear we might need it, but I am here to tell you … it is time to purge! Here is some guidance that has helped me to begin paring down the mountain of information that we had in our possession.
What baseball teaches us about change & growth
I love baseball but can barely watch the sport these days. At some point, teams began to shift infielders from traditional positions on the field to these lopsided defensive positions based on hitters’ tendencies. With a left-handed batter, like David Ortiz when he played for the Sox, a team would have three fielders on the first base side and one hovering just away from second base on the third base side of the field. Because of these calculated alignments, batters have a completely open opposite side of the field to which they can hit the ball. And that’s where I start getting annoyed.
Unclaimed gifts
I came across an interesting fact recently. It seems that the US government is holding some $40 billion in unclaimed funds in its coffers for either unknowing or uncaring Americans. Billions more in unclaimed monies are being held by the individual states, banks and businesses. But surely, if people knew that such monies were being held in their names, then they would reach out to claim it, right?
Tithing = celebration?
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (1 Cor. 9:7)
How many of you reading that verse winced just a little … or maybe a lot? It’s those last two words, isn’t it? “Cheerful giver.” They almost seem to expect too much commitment to the process. Trust me, I am not throwing any stones here – there have been many times over the years that I played with this phrase like the lawyer in Luke 10 who toyed with the idea of just who is a neighbor? You know, how cheerful does cheerful need to be, really?
The Easter reveal
I love the reveal. In my house, we watch a lot of HGTV. Good Bones, Fixer Upper, Windy City Rehab, Property Brothers, Home Town...you name it, we watch it.
Renovation, rebuild, structural correction, add-on, or total make-over; doesn’t matter. Normally I am working on the computer, glancing occasionally until the reveal: the last 10 minutes when they walk you through the house and show the before and after. All the work is done; beautiful, fun decor is added; and it is time to celebrate. The reveal is when I fully engage.
Lent has me thinking about my draw to the reveal.
5 popular social media platforms your kids might be using
Maneuvering this digital age is challenging for today’s youth and their families. The attempt to identify what is right and what is wrong is often blurred. Kids today need help in the management and use of their social media applications and social networking sites. They need guidance on what social media applications are safe, which ones are not, and what they should do if they find themselves in a dangerous situation online. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular social media and networking applications, focusing on warnings for each and safeguards that can be put in place to help protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Six lessons from the Shunammite woman
One of my favorite Old Testament stories is about a woman without a name. Interestingly, we have more biographical information about her than any other woman in Scripture. We only know her, though, by the name of the town where she lived: Shunem. You may remember the Shunammite woman as the one who offered a room in her home to the prophet Elisha. Her story, found in 2 Kings 4 and 8, is a beautiful example of the Christ-like character qualities we can all cultivate.
An Isaiah-sized vision of God
When I decided to begin a sermon series in the book of Isaiah, I knew that my church and I were embarking on a trek through a sometimes-dense forest of difficult-to-understand Old Testament prophecy. Sure, I had a reasonable familiarity with Isaiah from my own previous reading and study of the book. I suspected that we would behold God in his august glory in that vivid manner in which one finds in Isaiah. But I did not plan on Isaiah causing me to be undone by turning the spotlight on the rebellious disobedience of God’s people, and I did not realize I would receive the incredible gift of seeing my own sin.
Modeling a life our children can imitate
Growing up, the familiar mantra “do as I say, not as I do” was most commonly used to discourage us from cussing and smoking cigarettes. Yet, as I parent my girls, I find myself living through this same lens in all sorts of ways. I tell my daughter to speak with a kind tone towards her sister as I bark orders at them both. I encourage her to wait patiently but I grumble at slow traffic and halted grocery lines. While we’re certainly called to teach our kids how to live out the Christian faith (Prov. 22:6 and Deut. 6:4-9), we must also resolve to live out our Christian faith in word and in deed.
Dishwashers & broomsticks
“I want help you, peas.”
That is what my two-year-old granddaughter says when she sees me unloading the dishwasher.
For some reason she thinks that is the most exciting thing to do, and she always wants to help me. Honestly, I could do it faster without her “help.” But I always let her help for two reasons. First, I enjoy spending time with her and, second, unloading the dishwasher is a life skill she needs to learn, and the best way to learn is by doing.