In-roads, Barriers, and Necessary Tools for Working in New England
- Jan 19
- 6 min read
This week, we received a couple of excellent questions. They hit at the heart of important issues that mission-minded individuals and families need to consider if they are exploring the possibility of working in New England. We'll discuss the negative impact of aggressive/overreaching denominations, such as the ICOC, as well as the approach we've found that navigates the cultural skepticism that has come about as a result.
Are there states in this region where the church has been able to make real inroads into their cities/communities? Also, are the barriers more related to people being connected with traditional denominations, or having no church tradition at all?
(Disclaimer: We can really only speak about New Hampshire directly since our experience is centered here.)
Yes, inroads are being made in our communities, but it is SLOW work. In some places, a handful of baptisms one year (and others, maybe none at all) might appear to be stagnation. But here it may still represent forward movement. A boom year of 5 or more converts may follow a period of internal focus (mentorship, training, and edification in the congregation ) in which no conversions occur. We consider both scenarios to be successes, not failures.
No, the barriers are not so much related to sticking with tradition (or lack thereof). We've seen people convert themselves through personal study, leaving their denomination to seek out the true church because the Bible didn't provide confirmation that what they were seeing and hearing was legitimate. They investigated the Scriptures, and ended up on our website or visiting for service because it match biblical teaching more closely. What we encounter most in these cases is a genuine appreciation for finally getting straightforward, Bible answers to questions.
So which challenges DO we encounter most in our ministry here? Here are the top 2:
Cynicism (a result of religion, amongst other things)
New England was, at one time, a hub in the states which prided itself on a heritage of hard work, strong faith, and national influence. But, in the last century, a number of factors also turned it into a region in which people are inherently distrustful - especially of religion. While there remains a strong presence of denominations, most people are unaffiliated, being apathetic or jaded toward religion altogether.
The Boston movement (now the ICOC) is one example of a wave of religious enthusiasm which at one time swept through the region... and left a bad taste in the mouth of many.
It promised a genuine culture of church family and faith, and, being an offshoot of the genuine article, appeared to be legitimate and gained a lot of traction. But, then reality set in. Even people who were unaware of doctrinal problems inherent in its structure still figured out that something was "off" in this organization - especially in its approach to evangelism and "discipling."
“In the less-than-half-century existence of the movement, many thousands have been brought to Christ through its works,” said Doug Foster, a church history professor at ACU. “Many thousands also have been burned out and left the ICOC and sometimes Christianity altogether." -excerpt from the Christian Chronicle
The ICOC demonstrated a tendency for overreach, domineering leadership, and a cult-like invasion of privacy - things which New Englanders have an especially low tolerance for. As a result, this denomination left in its wake an general aversion to religious commitment. And this is just one of several examples we can point to of situations like this.
So it's no wonder people seem to expect that we'll turn out to be fake (or crazy) if they sit back and watch long enough.
Many of the people we encounter are suspicious by nature, slow to open up, and even more hesitant to make big changes. Even after people convert, a small percentage of them will really struggle to fully commit, often distrusting that any church family genuinely cares this much.
And that's why optimism is critical for someone in ministry here... Not everyone is a cynic, but you will indeed run into many. Sometimes, as you strive to convert people to Christ, you'll encounter someone who seem just as determined to convert you to pessimism. It can be frustrating, so remember - it's not a reflection on you or an indication that you lack the effectiveness to work here. Shore up your optimism, and keep creating opportunities for your efforts to move forward.
Economic struggles
Another major disadvantage in this area is that many industries which made this area boom in the past were moved to other parts of the country by the early- to mid-twentieth century. The economy suffered severely. Entire towns shut down when paper mills closed or textile factories were moved to places with a lower cost of living (and, therefore, a cheaper workforce).
Depression, anxiety, other mental health issues, as well as drug-related issues and homelessness, they are very prevalent here. Many people are prone to isolate themselves. Because of this, many congregations in the region struggle to grow. Some are just trying to keep their doors open.
So, experience has shown us that, here, inroads only happen with a multi-faceted evangelism approach... and LOTS of patience. Sitting back and waiting for leads to fall in your lap (or the church foyer) is not an option. In this region, most congregations rarely have new converts if they have any at all. So a congregation having 6-7 baptisms a year has been a bit out of the norm
In light of the barriers, why would you recommend this specific region to people interested in domestic missions, and why or why not?
Absolutely and without a doubt. Despite the sarcastic pessimism characteristic of many in this region, of the people who DO convert (after much searching, waiting, watching, and investigating) a large percentage of them clearly recognize the value of what the church offers.
They become fully invested. They can't stop talking about the positive changes they're seeing in their lives because of Christ. There is no doubt in their mind this has given them what they were looking for. The genuine love, solid truth, and real hope appeal to them because they see the contrast with what they found elsewhere.
We have been truly blessed to have several first-generation Christians become very passionate in their service of the kingdom. They use their talents to make a tremendous impact on the success of our outreach. The support, encouragement, practical help, and opportunities to grow are unlike anything one would find out in the world, and they have no desire to walk away from it.
As we mentioned before, many in our communities won't have any interest in the message. And a few who convert will struggle to ever feel like this is really the answer. But many who answer the gospel call become forces to be reckoned with in their desire to serve God and spread their newfound hope.
So what does a worker need to bring with them to this mission field to make in-roads?
The short answer: consistency, and optimism. Since any attempted effort may likely take 2, 3, maybe even 4 years to start showing an impact, the best strategy is to "dig the heels in" and see what happens over time.
These efforts in particular have been working well for us:
During "slow times," staying positive, and using those seasons to improve internal processes.
Having a well-maintained, accurate, and attractive website.
Providing a warm, inviting environment visitors want to return to, and hosting lots of events.
Having a preaching theme each year for Sunday morning sermons - one that meets an observed need and builds anticipation of the subjects to be covered.
Utilizing House to House, Heart to Heart publications.
Fostering positive interactions through booths at several community events in our area.
Nurturing recognition by always showing up again at those events (it's so fun to see people smile and strike up conversations when they recognize one of our members!)
Live streaming everything so people can check us out from a distance several times before they visit.
Regularly providing evangelism training, mentorship, and fun social activities for the congregation.
Always exploring new avenues for advertising and training the congregation to share and encourage engagement with our ads.
House to House, Heart to Heart has been especially helpful because loneliness can be somewhat epidemic in the northeast. This gives people something positive and encouraging with our information on it. They can open it in the privacy of their home and investigate what we are all about at their leisure without any pressure - a recipe for success in New England.
And that's the culture here... Either people are actively searching and they come on their own to check you out, or they want to sit back and watch for a good, long while to see if you're genuine (or just another scam... or cult).
So, we hope we've answered the questions satisfactorily. The main takeaway is that, for the best possible chance of successfully spreading the gospel in New England, you need to be convinced results are around the corner and have a plan to make them happen. Be persistent and consistent in serving the Savior, loving the brethren, and seeking the lost.
What questions do YOU have about the work in New England? We want to know! Leave us a comment below. If you're new to this site, take a moment to visit our about page for an introduction to our family, and an opportunity to subscribe to our newsletter.
In His service,
David and Keeley Rollert
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