Keep Moving Forward

At the 2021 Pastors Encouragement Dinner, Pastor Lierte Soares Jr. brought an encouraging message to the 30+ pastors gathered. Lierte’s ministry is unique in that he pastors two churches, Framingham Baptist Church in Framingham, MA (pop. 72,308) and Precision Valley Baptist Church in the small town of North Springfield, VT (pop. 644).

Lierte Soares is a NAMB church planter missionary originally from Brazil and has been in New England since 2014. Pastor Lierte (or you can call him Pastor Junior) has been pastoring a church in Vermont and planting a multicultural church in MetroWest Boston for the past few years. Each week he makes the 240 miles round trip drive between the two churches several times as he evangelizes and disciples the people in those communities and those churches.

Erik and Don interview with Randy Adams, executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention (NWBC), and nominee for president of the Southern Baptist Convention, top discuss his vision for the SBC as well as ask some questions on their hearts and minds.

See Randy's site for his announcement: https://randyadams.org/2020/01/14/my-commitment-to-southern-baptists/

Don and Natalie discuss the need for pastors and their wives to be transparent in their mental health as the discuss their own struggles after the recent suicide of Paige Hilken.

Link on article of Paige Hilken

Natalie's Blog

New England Pastors Encouragement Dinner

Today we interview another of the SBC President nominees, Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Mobile, AL.

The final live episode of 2021 and Dona nd Natalie talk about three things they've learned while pursuing people for their church.

1. Pastors need to go after the people who "like the church, but................."

2. Pastors need to cast the vision for them

3. Pastors need to pray for God's will

In the second to last new episode of the year, Don goes over his big three after Praying and the Bible for a replanter.

1. Know your community that you are in.

2. Meet regularly with the people in that community

3. Create a battle plan to evangelize and minister to that community.

PCRP S4 E6 Special Needs Ministry in the Church

 

Don interviews Natalie McKinnon on the need for special needs ministry within the Church and the missed opportunity to families that need it. 

13% of Kids in public have special needs

1 in 83 are on the autism spectrum

7% of children 3-17 years of age have ADHD

8% of children 3-17 years of age have a learning disability

17% will experience communication disorder

90% of these families will not attend a church regularly out of embarrassment

 

Reach Natalie at [email protected]

 

http://mintools.com/special-needs-ministry-resources.htm

 http://www.willowcreek.org/disabilities. Ideas for ministry at your church from Willow Creek Church,

Chicago, Illinois

 http://www.hopeingod.org/disability

 http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-adastandards/ada-standards/chapter-2-scoping-requirements#221%20Assembly%20Areas

 http://storage.cloversites.com/christianchurchesdisabilityministry/documents/A%20Place%20For%20M

e%20In%20Gods%20Family_2012.pdf. Nine lessons that will help a teacher lead a person with

developmental disabilities into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/DisabilityEtiquette.pdf. General information

 http://www.understandingdisability.org/DisabilityEtiquette. On-line quiz

 http://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/docs/going_to_church_0.pdf. Booklet for children with

autism about going to church

 http://www.autismspeaks.org

 http://drgrcevich.wordpress.com. A church4everychild site

 http://childrensministry.com/leadership/special-needs-ministry/

 https://www.amazon.com/Start-Hello-Introducing-Ministry-Irresistible-ebook/dp/B019JGEG2I (free

downloadable booklet)

 http://www.keyministry.org

 http://theinclusivechurch.wordpress.com/

 http://www.joniandfriends.org/

 http://www.clcnetwork.org/

Barna’s article discussed the number of pastors ready to quit, with 46% of pastors under 45 prepared to quit. 1,000’s of these pastors are working in dying churches out there. Many do not see the looming crisis and need for pastors to encourage in the post-COVID world. 

1.      Pastors are doing their all in dying churches, and the results are burning them out. No one is set to replace them, and so churches are going to close.2.      Pastors are not seeking out other pastors for encouragement. Either within their denominations or outside. Pastors are lonely and fighting the battle alone.3.      Pastors feel like they are following the Lord’s will, and the results prove they should quit. 

Barna's Article

Don and Natalie interview Dr. David Jackson of the NAMB Replant team where he oversees the East region. Dr. Jackson has four decades of experience in Church planting and revitalization and shares his wisdom with the hosts. Dr. Jackson also served as Don's filed supervisor for his practicums in seminary this past year.

In this episode Don talks about the importance of prayer in a revitalization and why we must do so fervently, but also as an example for those who may not be praying in their own relationship with Jesus.