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| Sights of New England |
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Reflections on New England
I have just returned from a Mission Project with the Singing Men of South Texas. You may want to peruse the "photo gallery" on the SMOST website for pictures of the trip.
One of the things that God impressed on me last week was the "lostness" of New England. Only about 2 - 3% of New Englanders attend an Evangelical church. As I was trying to process that information I was reminded of the influence the area has had on Baptists and missions. Two New Englanders, Luther Rice and Adonirum Judson were early pioneer missionaries. Their influence on missions and the future of the Cooperative Program were critical for Southern Baptists. How far has New England moved away from their mission-minded past.
In the Boston area, there are some 80 universities they comprise over 300,000 college students. There are some of our nation's top universities included in that number (Boston University, Tufts, MIT, Harvard). Yet, with all of those students and universities, Baptists are struggling to make an impact. The colleges will not allow Baptists to be on campus, so one of our missionaries, is working to reach college students through house churches. She has been able to start 10 house churches in the area.
It was also in New England in the early 1700's that the First Great Awakening began. That awakening began primarily with college students. Could God be using the churches, pastors, and missionaries to bring another Great Awakening to New England?
One of the things that God impressed on me last week was the "lostness" of New England. Only about 2 - 3% of New Englanders attend an Evangelical church. As I was trying to process that information I was reminded of the influence the area has had on Baptists and missions. Two New Englanders, Luther Rice and Adonirum Judson were early pioneer missionaries. Their influence on missions and the future of the Cooperative Program were critical for Southern Baptists. How far has New England moved away from their mission-minded past.
In the Boston area, there are some 80 universities they comprise over 300,000 college students. There are some of our nation's top universities included in that number (Boston University, Tufts, MIT, Harvard). Yet, with all of those students and universities, Baptists are struggling to make an impact. The colleges will not allow Baptists to be on campus, so one of our missionaries, is working to reach college students through house churches. She has been able to start 10 house churches in the area.
It was also in New England in the early 1700's that the First Great Awakening began. That awakening began primarily with college students. Could God be using the churches, pastors, and missionaries to bring another Great Awakening to New England?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Beantown
I will be leaving Wednesday morning with twenty or so people representing the Singing Men of South Texas. We will be singing for the New England Baptist Convention in Marlborough, MA. It is outside of Boston (Beantown, The Walking City).
The New England Baptist Convention is celebrating their 25th anniversary as a convention and the 50th anniversary of Southern Baptist work in that area. We will be providing the music for all the sessions of the convention, singing in churches on Sunday morning, and leading in a Thanksgiving Praise Sing on Sunday afternoon.
Your prayers for our safety and for the Lord to use us while in Boston will be appreciated.
The New England Baptist Convention is celebrating their 25th anniversary as a convention and the 50th anniversary of Southern Baptist work in that area. We will be providing the music for all the sessions of the convention, singing in churches on Sunday morning, and leading in a Thanksgiving Praise Sing on Sunday afternoon.
Your prayers for our safety and for the Lord to use us while in Boston will be appreciated.
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