East Coast Baptist Association: On Mission in New England

Team members (l-r) Jim Tranquilla, Nathan Fiddler, Devon Chamberlain, Michael Thomson, Janet Terris, Charlie Wright, and Daniel Smith. Jim, Nathan, and Charlie are from Hope Community Church in Mactaquac, NB. The others are from Providence Christian Church in Riverview, NB

Since its inception, one of the desires of the ECBA is to give ourselves away for the Kingdom of God. Our new partnership with the Baptist Convention of New England provides a practical and affordable way for us to do just that.

June 3-8, 2009 a team of seven adults from two ECBA churches went to Franklin, Massachusetts for the association’s second mission trip (see team photo at right). Led by Michael Thomson from Providence Christian Church in Riverview, the group helped Pleasant Street Church with activities to reach their community as they “re-launch” and make a new beginning with a new name, new location, and new facility. The ECBA team helped Pleasant Street by:

• Building a wall in the educational space to create a nursery.
• Landscaping the church grounds.
• Touching 300 homes with fliers for the church.
• Landscaping the yard of a Sikh family who are church prospects.
• Helping with a community outreach event with a BBQ, games, music, etc.
• Leading Sunday worship 

Team leader, Michael Thomson, said the team experienced no negatives. Thomson considered an additional benefit to helping the Massachusetts church was the opportunity the team members had to get to know each other better, both those from the other church and those from their own church. Such an experience helps each of us appreciate the other churches in our association. The team also ended each day with a group Bible study of 1 John. Thomson said that time together discussing God’s word was another blessing enjoyed by everyone on the team.

Photo at left: Devon Chamberlain and Daniel Smith erect a wall for a new nursery.

Submitted by: Michael Thomson, 
                     Moderator East Coast Baptist Association

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in "The Beacon" The East Coast Baptist Association Newsletter.