New England Baptists consider how ‘Multiplication Matters’
By Dan Nicholas/BCNE
MANCHESTER, Conn. (BP) – More than 200 representatives of New England Baptist churches, mission partners from Southern Baptist entities, and interested guests were enthusiastic about multiplication when they gathered Nov. 1-2 at First Baptist Church of Manchester for the Baptist Churches of New England Annual Meeting.
“Multiplication matters because more people need Jesus, more Christians need to be discipled, more leaders need to be developed, more churches need to be started, and more financial resources need to be developed to reach New England with the Gospel,” said BCNE Executive Director Terry Dorsett.
Basing his remarks on Luke 19:10, which says that Jesus Christ “came to seek and to save the lost,” Dorsett reported that in 2023 “New England Baptists set a new record by baptizing 2,075 new believers, which is cause for great celebration! Sadly, though, 170 of our churches baptized zero.”
Rather than blame pastors and churches that have not baptized anyone in several years, he challenged attendees to consider “what we have to do to make sure that doesn’t happen over and over and over again.” He outlined online and in-person training options that will help churches and pastors experiencing tough times.
“What are we doing wrong? Aren’t we supposed to be helping them figure out a way to evangelize their community? What can we do to help a church that has a zero year, year after year after year after year?” he asked. “Imagine what would happen next year if those 170 churches who baptized no one last year, just baptized one each.”
“Brothers and sisters, we know what we need to do,” concluded Dorsett, whose 10th anniversary as executive director will be April 1, 2025. “Do we have the courage to do it … or will we be afraid to say yes to the possibilities?”
Leadership training was also on the agenda. Workshops were held on numerous topics including “Reaching Your Second-Gen Neighbors,” “Starting Gospel Conversations,” “Event Planning that Impacts” and “Effective Fundraising.” In response to the ethical crises in the Southern Baptist Convention, a workshop was held to update participants on sexual abuse issues, and each participant received a packet of information on the topic.
Business
Lierte Soares Jr., a Brazilian “reverse missionary” to New England, was re-elected to a second one-year term as BCNE president. He is pastor of two Boston-area churches and director of the BCNE’s Multiplication Center. David Um, senior pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Cambridge, Mass., was re-elected vice president.
On Jan. 1, Joe Souza, the BCNE’s ethnic ministry and Boston area regional coordinator, will begin a new role as the associate executive director for pastoral networks. He will continue to lead the Boston regional and immigrant church ministries while also guiding the team of other regional coordinators and associational leaders.
Regional coordinators and associational leaders shared the stage for a panel that highlighted the state of New England Baptist ministry. Participants this year included (for the first time) Steve Georgeson, executive director of the Massachusetts Baptist Association; he is also lead pastor of Rice Memorial Baptist Church, Northborough, Mass.
Messengers approved a $2,988,700 balanced budget, and welcomed 24 new churches and church plants. The amount staying in New England to fund local and regional ministry is 80 percent; 20 percent will be forwarded to national and international SBC causes. Both the budget and the CP allocation remain unchanged from last year.
Sharon Haller, the BCNE partnership director, updated attendees on several state and associational partnerships and introduced Tim O’Carroll, representing the Treasure Coast Baptist Association (TCBA), Fort Pierce, FL. He expressed appreciation for the “mutual encouragement” being developed between his association and Connecticut Baptists. Haller then gave TCBA a $1,045 gift from the BCNE to help them recover from the recent hurricane damage.
Next year’s meeting will be Nov. 7-8 at First Baptist Church of Marlborough, Mass.
Oklahoma Baptists ‘Invested’ in Gospel advance
By Baptist Messenger Staff
MOORE, Okla. – On Nov. 11-12, 885 Oklahoma Baptist registered messengers, plus guests, from 400 churches, attended the 118th Annual Meeting of Oklahoma Baptists, hosted at First Baptist Church in Moore.
The meeting began with a time of worship led by the renowned singing group Native Praise Choir, which is celebrating its 25th year of ministry and has performed around the world.
That evening, Todd Fisher delivered his annual executive director-treasurer’s address.
Fisher shared key ministry updates for Oklahoma Baptists, strategic ministry priorities of supporting and serving pastors and churches. Fisher also unveiled plans to add one more regional ministry partner in 2025 with plans to add a sixth ministry partner in the future.
He also shared an update on the move of WatersEdge, Oklahoma Baptists, Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and Baptist Village Communities to the newly acquired Sonic Building in Bricktown. It is anticipated that WatersEdge staff will relocate this month, with the others to make the move in coming months. Several videos throughout the meeting highlighted the many benefits for this strategic office move.
Fisher then shared a powerful and emotional testimony of how God saved his life during a serious automobile accident last July and how the prayers of others have carried him on his journey to recovery.
He detailed how, in providential timing, two men came along and provided life-saving care for him immediately following the crash until medics could be on the scene.
Fisher encouraged those in attendance who are going through any kind of struggle, with what the Lord has taught him throughout the crash and recovery process.
“God sees you. God fights for you. And He is always ultimately at work for our good even when we may not realize or understand it.,” Fisher said.
Business
Messengers elected Michael Butler, pastor of First Baptist Church Chickasha, to a second one-year term as president. Owen Nease, pastor of Emmaus Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, was elected if first vice president; and Randy Hurt, director of missions for Atoka-Coal Association, was elected second vice president.
Messengers also approved the Cooperative Program (CP) giving objective for 2025 of $24.5 million and looked forward to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the CP next year. The budget total is the same as last year. It is allocated as follows: 60 percent for missions and ministry in Oklahoma (45 percent to Oklahoma Baptists ministry and 15 percent to its affiliates; 40 percent forwarded to national and international SBC causes. Last year’s National CP allocation was 43 percent.
“What an amazing Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting we had!” Fisher said. “Incredible attendance and so thankful for the unity, love for one another, and focus on advancing the Gospel our churches and pastors have. What a joy to be part of these dear people and serve them. Grateful!”
The 2025 Oklahoma Baptists Annual Meeting is set to take place on Nov. 10-11 at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
