Jack Brown, executive director of Grow New England, the Grace Brethren church planting organization in the New England states, recently sent a report to friends and supporters. Here are a few excerpts:
Our Essex church (North Shore Bible Church) has made some incredible inroads into the Town of Essex and is quickly becoming known as the church that can be counted on for assistance at community events. This has greatly raised our visibility and has given us new doors of opportunity to bring the Gospel to our neighbors. Please pray for Dana Moore and Phil Shearer as they provide the pastoral leadership in Essex.
Grow New England (GNE) became a cooperating organization of the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches in 2015. I am looking forward to my first gathering of cooperating organization leaders in Columbus OH on January 11 and 12. I am also looking forward to meeting with key leaders in FGBC churches during my time in Ohio. …
Your generous gifts have allowed GNE to assist NSBC Danvers in getting started; purchasing chairs and tables, kitchen appliances, monitors for the worship center, signage, etc. Also, GNE will be paying the rent for NSBC Danvers current meeting space for the first year. Thank you for giving, praying and investing in this new church.
How can you be involved in Grow New England?
- Pray
- Pray for continued growth in both Essex and Danvers.
- Pray for openness to the Gospel.
- Tell people about Grow New England.
- We are looking for potential church planters.
- Organize a short-term mission team to come and serve with us.
- Check our website: GrowNewEngland.net
- Give: We are certainly in need of financial gifts as our expenses increase.
All checks should be made payable to Grow New England and sent to Grow New England, c/o North Shore Bible Church at 65 Eastern Avenue Essex MA 01929. If you would prefer you can also make donations on our website.
I was eating dinner with a couple from Pennsylvania last week, who was passing through our area, and I was asked, “How we decide where to plant a church?” My response was that you can plant a church in just about any town or city in New England and there is a need, with a population that is less than 4% evangelical.
We are currently focusing our efforts on Boston’s North Shore. This will allow us to encourage and support one another as we launch these new churches. However, if God is directing someone to any part of New England we would be glad to assist.
As I write this letter there is only one official Grace Brethren Church in New England… our Essex church. Danvers will be the second church. I would encourage you to join our team as we seek to reach this most needy part of our country.