BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
The wrong ministry advice
Have you been listening to the right people? Rehoboam was a famous king of ancient Israel who was best known for listening to bad advice. Perhaps you have been turning to the same set of counselors.
Rehoboam had a hard act to follow. His father was Solomon – the epic, larger-than-life sage-king. Solomon had a thousand women and mountains of riches. He had expanded Israel’s territory and influence, and he had constructed palaces, gardens and the temple of God.
The importance of women’s faith to the Church
Written in a time and culture that devalued women, the Bible is remarkable in the honor it ascribes to the faith of women. For example, this theme is one of the elements we see clearly in the Gospel of Luke. Let’s take a look at what we can learn from the stories the Holy Spirit prompted Luke to record.
5 reasons I love being a pastor
Being a pastor is difficult. I remember my mentor in ministry telling me when I was in my early twenties that if I could do anything else, I should do that. He warned me there would be days that I wished I was working in any other sort of job. He was right. I can tend towards dwelling on the difficult and the negative some days because they are what so often are calling for our attention: solving problems, considering the next step in loosening or tightening COVID restrictions, wondering how this next phone call or meeting will go, remembering that I forgot to check in with somebody undergoing a trial. The list goes on.
But there are also many blessings in being a pastor. There are so many reasons I count it one of the greatest privileges of my life, so many reasons to thank God for being a pastor and so many reasons I love being a pastor.
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.