September 26th was a memorable day for the South Shore. Seventeen churches were gathered together in the middle of a nor'easter for a youth conference. A total of 120 people sang God's praises, heard from His Word, attended breakout sessions that they were curious about, and played games. All walked away with a glimpse of how they could live out their faith unashamed.
The second annual Good Soldier Men’s Weekend at White Mountain Camps brought together 82 men from across New England, an encouraging 20% increase over the previous year. More than simply gathering men for a weekend, Good Soldier was designed to call men back to the fundamentals of the Christian life: knowing Christ, surrendering to Christ, standing firm in Christ, and faithfully serving Christ.
Redemption City Church, led by Pastor Keith Cabral, recently celebrated its first anniversary with much to be thankful for: 32 baptisms, growing attendance, hundreds of gospel conversations, and lives being transformed through the power of Jesus Christ.
77 ladies attended the 2026 BCNE Ladies Retreat, which was held at the White Mountain Camps in Rumney, New Hampshire, from September 25-27. Most of the ladies came with others from their churches, but a few came alone. The theme, “No Ordinary Book,” drew attention to the heart of the retreat: interaction with God’s word in a way that would be easily transferred as each lady returned to her context.
A new chapter in missions training is taking shape in New England as the Baptist Churches of New England (BCNE) Multiplication Center celebrated the graduation of its first class of students from the Reverse Mission Course: The Full Circle of the Gospel. The graduation celebration brought together pastors, ministry leaders and students from across New England for an evening marked by worship, partnership, celebration and a renewed commitment to the Great Commission.
Recently, church planters and their team members from across New England gathered in Connecticut for our Send Network Training Retreat, an intensive time focused on the missionary task: engage the city, make disciples, plant the church.
What are 50 people who love eating healthy and are committed to following Jesus doing in the parking lot of the BCNE Multiplication Center?
You might see the title of this article and think that it is about VBS, as "Illumination Station" was the theme for 2026. But what I've noticed over the years is that the Lord very often puts the same ideas and thoughts on people's minds related to how He is moving. I saw that this year, the "Illumination Station" theme didn't just stay in the states, but journeyed across the pond to London.
Participation at NEXUS will help pastors and church leaders find ministry partners and equip members for leadership. The conference speakers, worship, and practical training offered will “encourage your spirit so that your church can flourish!”
“I am going back home a lot lighter.” That was how one student described leaving Evergreen Spring Retreat 2026, held at Camp Spofford in New Hampshire. Over the course of the weekend, students and leaders from across New England gathered to worship, pray, build friendships, and seek the Lord together.
Several hundred immigrants in Greater Boston accepted such invitations to at least ten watch parties held at or sponsored by immigrant churches that affiliate with the Baptist Churches of New England (BCNE). At least six Brazilian and four Haitian churches held unadvertised watch parties for World Cup matches.
When they decided fourteen years ago to plant New Hope Bible Chapel in the North Worcester County community of Templeton, Massachusetts, Bob and Michelle Cote could not have imagined what would happen in the years ahead and especially what transpired the evening of June 1 when they were called in to meet with the Select Board that governs the town.
Growing up, I was blessed to know my great-grandmother and her sister, both of whom were our family historians. From an early age, I heard stories about those who had gone before us—a father and son who served in the Civil War, an ancestor who fought at Ticonderoga during the French and Indian War and later served in the Revolutionary War, and generations of family history that I did not fully appreciate at the time.
Kinism is the fringe but growing belief that the Bible teaches races and ethnicities should primarily interact and intermarry only within their own “kin.” It is a dangerous path that Bible-believing Christians need to be wary of, and be sure to get right biblically.
There are moments in history when a cry rises that cannot be ignored. In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul receives a vision in the night: a man from Macedonia stands and pleads, “Come over and help us.” It was not just a personal experience—it was a divine redirection. The Gospel would move into Europe, reshaping the future of Christianity. But long before that cry, Scripture had already given us a warning.
For generations, the global missionary movement followed a familiar path. From the historic centers of Christianity in Europe and North America, missionaries crossed oceans to proclaim the Gospel in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This movement shaped the modern Church and carried the message of Christ to the ends of the earth.
I am an introvert. That's no surprise as roughly half of the world’s population are said to be introverts. While some might think that pastors, whose vocation includes frequent public speaking, would mostly be extroverts, my own experience has not shown that to be the case. As with the general populace, so with pastors: about 50%. If you are an introvert in pastoral ministry, fear not! There are some blessings, along with the challenges, that come with introversion.
Europe once sent missionaries who helped shape the spiritual foundations of the Americas — including New England. From John and Charles Wesley’s revival to George Whitefield’s preaching that sparked the Great Awakening, the Gospel flowed westward across the Atlantic.
A great mission work is being done in Europe even as you read this! The Baptist Church of New England has been given an open door to play some small part in this.
Every church desires to be a place of hope. Week after week, congregations gather to worship, pray, and encourage one another. Yet within nearly every congregation are people quietly carrying profound emotional pain. Some are wrestling with depression, despair, or thoughts of ending their lives.
Recently, my small group Bible study became aware that one of our members had received news about a very serious health condition. The moment she shared the diagnosis; the room became quiet. You could see the concern on everyone’s faces. Some of us didn’t know what to say. Others immediately began asking how we could help. In that moment we were reminded that small groups are more than just weekly Bible studies—they are spiritual families that walk through life together.
Every great turnaround has a moment. A line in the sand. A day when everything shifts from what was to what will be. For the church, that moment has a name: it is Palm Sunday.
A sixty-person church can plant another church—size isn’t the issue. A church of sixty can plant another church effectively and with mission, but not if it’s dying and grasping for air. A congregation that is plateaued or declining can’t think about multiplication when it’s fighting for survival. The energy goes to keeping what exists, not creating what’s next.
For many people in New England, a church’s online presence is the first (and sometimes only) interaction they will have with your congregation. Long before someone considers walking through your doors, they will quietly Google your church, scroll your social media, and form conclusions about who you are, what you value, and whether they would feel comfortable visiting.
