BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
Clark retiring from a lifetime of dynamic youth ministry
When Allyson C. Clark moved from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, to metro Boston in 1991, the Nashville, TN, native was often asked “How long are you staying?” New England Baptists were accustomed to enthusiastic Southern Baptists serving a church for a few years before retreating to warmer, friendlier climates. “This question had a great impact on me. I told them I was here to stay. It took five years and they finally stopped asking,” she said.
Where is the BCNE headed in 2023?
We are rejoicing that the pandemic is finally behind us. Though ministry looks different now than it did before the pandemic, at least it is becoming easier to find the new rhythm that will help us be more effective in the year to come. Perhaps one of the greater changes that we must make for effective future ministry is one of attitude.
Immigration and integration: The challenge of building a healthy multi-ethnic church culture in New England
A half century after Martin Luther King Jr called 11 a.m. on Sunday morning the most segregated hour in America, things are changing and we are helping to build a new mindset of the new portrait of our country by building a culture of healthy churches in New England. The increased cross-border movement of millions of people, which is a common feature of globalization and the diaspora movement, changes many Western societies and the church in these countries.
Love for God’s Word
One of my favorite pastimes is listening to podcasts. I love that I can listen to them while I go about my daily life. I’m often listening to something while I’m in the grocery store, folding laundry, or going on a walk. I can even say that a podcast helped to lead a spiritual revival for me and a lot of the women I know.
The year of trust
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). I recently came across a New Year’s resolution I had written during my junior year in college. They were short and sweet aspirations written out as prayers to God. In addition to listing some lofty health goals, I also asked God to help me prioritize my quiet time and trust Him more, especially with my future.
Grace Harbor Church, New Bedford: A Gospel beachhead on the South Coast
Located between Cape Cod and Providence, the SouthCoast region of Massachusetts has a population of approximately 350,000. Its largest city is New Bedford. Once home to 500 whaling ships, New Bedford became the wealthiest city in America and was known as "The City that Lit the World." But, today 18.5% of the people live below the poverty line. And the city that lit the world is now receiving a different kind of light.
Prayer brings peace
J.I. Packer once described prayer as “finding our way through duty to delight.” What an apt description of the journey that prayer leads us into. The path of prayer will always lead us away from anxiety and toward peace and delight.
A tale of two cups
An invisible cup was handed to me on the occasion of my first breath, filled with a story I'd sip one day at a time until kingdom come. The taste of this narrative fluctuates—periodically sweet, often tangy, frequently bitter.
Jesus lived, Merry Christmas!
Christmas is right around the corner! We as Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as God coming, crashing into our world, in history and clothed in flesh. There is a growing objection to Christmas that goes something like this: “We don’t even know if Jesus was a real person. He may have been a myth made up by the Church.” The good news is this is a question we can answer without too much difficulty, since our faith is a historical one, rooted in God’s work within time and space.
Christmas: God with us
We are getting close to that time of year when our social media and photo apps will offer up our “Year in Review,” allowing us to see the highlights of one year all in a few minutes. I love being reminded of the good days, the moments of laughter, and of the Lord’s faithfulness stretching out over another year of my life.
Light of the world
I love living in New England. I love the history, the ocean, the people. But there’s one thing that I just do not like. I hate that in the winter the sun goes down so early and the days are so short. I find myself really looking forward to the Winter Solstice. It may be the shortest day, but I know from that day forward each day will get a bit longer and include a little more daylight. It’s a bit easier to face the shorter days, when I know we are one step closer to spring and sunshine.
When staff become stuck in church revitalization
Staffing issues in church revitalization can be frustrating. There are seasons when your staff can become stuck and set in their ways and thinking. This can result in barriers that stop the church from moving forward. Typically, when a new staff member joins a church staff team, there is a sense of excitement. They are fresh with lots of new ideas, but over time that excitement can begin to wane.
Preparing your family to savor the Christmas season
We are just days away from gathering with our family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. Many will probably enjoy the meal and then quickly launch into the Christmas frenzy! Let me suggest four practices that you could incorporate into the four weeks leading up to Christmas in order to bring your focus back on the meaning of Christmas and give your family an opportunity to bond in a special way and savor the true meaning of Christmas.
Preaching lessons
After having just finished a lengthy series through the Epistle to the Romans, which took over a year, it is a good time to reflect on the ministry of preaching. Here are some practical tips I have found helpful that other preachers might find helpful as well.
Bells and whistles
When I was serving as the pastor of a local church, I remember how exciting it was to see a young family come into the church. I recall one family that came to us with a lot of challenges. For two years, we poured into their lives and helped them overcome financial hurdles, marriage struggles, challenges raising their kids, and past trauma. Over time, they gradually shifted from being our perpetual mission project to becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. It was exciting to watch.
Living thankful
Sounds easy—a prayer before your meal, a “#blessed” tag on social media, a bumper sticker, a t-shirt, or a thankful post a day during November. When done with a reflective heart, these point to gratefulness. Living in thankfulness day in and day out is most often another matter.
A song of thanksgiving
It was a Thanksgiving I’d never forget. A few years ago, I stayed home while my family traveled out of state for the holidays. Fresh out of college and wanting to assert my independence, I didn’t let my grandmother, who lived down the road from me, know that I would be home alone. The day before Thanksgiving, I drove home from work in some light snow, thinking it would stop after a couple inches.
New England Baptists celebrate ethnic ministries leading in evangelism
“The mission field has become the mission force” – the theme and phrase heard most at the Baptist Churches of New England’s 40th Annual Meeting on October 28-29, 2022. The phrase, coined at last year’s annual meeting, describes what God has been doing within and through ethnic ministries in New England. It was a historic meeting for multiple reasons.
Learning to feed yourself
When I was little, my grandfather would let me feed myself whenever I was at his home, a welcomed change from my mother feeding me. It was messy as I was still learning to do it correctly. But eventually, by doing it myself, I mastered it. It is not strange for a baby to be fed, but that must change as they grow and mature.
What’s wrong with being old?
In today’s youth-obsessed American consumerism culture, no one wants to be considered “old.” It’s regarded as a playful insult (but still an insult) when a younger person says to an older person, “ok, Boomer,” indicating that the older person is a part of the Boomer population. Using Facebook instead of Instagram or Tiktok is considered old. I recently read an article that said responding with a thumbs-up emoji is now a sign of being old. And only “old people” still write checks for things!