BCNE News
The latest news from our network of New England churches. Looking for our New England Perspectives Articles? Click here.
Quest 26 Recap: Learning to Serve Like Jesus
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
-Mark 10:45
This has long been the theme verse for Quest, the BCNE’s leadership development experience for 11th-grade students. At the completion of its 26th year, Quest has now seen 571 students participate. The 25 students from 15 congregations around New England who participated in Quest 26 spent time over the last 9 months learning what it looks like to serve humbly as Jesus did, how to work on a unified team, and how to use their gifts to meet the needs of their communities.
What Are You Building Your Life On? – YEC 2025 Recap
I’ve been attending YEC since I was a sophomore in high school, and it has always been a life-changing experience. But this year? This year was different. It was personal.
CrossWalk 2024 Recap: Running the Race Together
The verse above is one of the verses we looked at in our Bible study groups at Crosswalk this year. And to me, this verse really captures the heart of Crosswalk. For anyone wondering, Crosswalk is a weeklong Bible camp for middle school and high school students throughout New England, taking place at Nichols College. Youth pastors, leaders, and parents take a week off to chaperone these students - 30 congregations being represented! - and give them a chance to learn the Bible and worship the Lord with other believers.
Renée Ghobrial Challenges Today’s Teens To Experience Genuine Christian Life
A New England native with family roots in Egypt and an abiding love for mentoring teenagers and young adults, Renee Ghobrial has been serving BCNE churches since January 1 as the leader of Next Generation Youth Ministries.
Clark retiring from a lifetime of dynamic youth ministry
When Allyson C. Clark moved from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, to metro Boston in 1991, the Nashville, TN, native was often asked “How long are you staying?” New England Baptists were accustomed to enthusiastic Southern Baptists serving a church for a few years before retreating to warmer, friendlier climates. “This question had a great impact on me. I told them I was here to stay. It took five years and they finally stopped asking,” she said.
CrossWalk 2022: The Fab Four, God’s revival, and beginning again
A CrossWalk 2022 snapshot: 242 students (including 33 graduated seniors and 37 juniors) with 26 congregations participating, with 80 chaperones and 20 staff leaders. Attendance was about 350 total. This year there were revelations of firsts: about half of the attendees were first-time campers, CrossWalk took place on a different campus, and we welcomed a new camp pastor.
Youth leader: Your student became a Christian - now what?
“How do I follow up with a student who became a Christ follower during YEC?"
This question came from a youth leader following BCNE’s winter Youth Encountering Christ conference. A few simple steps can be key in affirming a decision and setting a new believer on their spiritual journey.
4 aspects to know about CrossWalk youth camp
When I was a student myself, summer meant two things: no school and CrossWalk! And for New England students, this year was no exception.
CrossWalk is traditionally a week-long sleep-away camp for 6th-12th graders. The staff, curriculum author, and students are all from New England, making this camp exceptionally impactful! At camp, students follow a purposeful schedule that incorporates the best of camp activities with the growth and encouragement of Bible studies and worship!
Legacy
Twenty years.
Six summer days.
Over 5,000 students and leaders.
Eternal impact.
For over 20 years teenagers and their leaders have gathered each summer for CrossWalk, a week of camp in New England. Themes and Bible studies developed and written with New England students in mind. No fluff, rather tackling subjects like the Holy Spirit, global missions, and sacrificial discipleship, all based in the redemptive Gospel story.
The youth group rebuild
One year ago we were stepping into the unknown. In many ways we are beginning to rebuild into the unknown. Here are five ways you can create a solid base as you begin to re-establish your youth group.
A word for young worriers
My son turned 18 last month. Yikes! This event got me thinking about my own experience and what counsel I might give to young adults heading out of the home and into the world.
My first decade as an adult was indeed full of adventure and discovery. To be more accurate: these were years full of anxiety and heartache. You see, when I was a child, I didn’t know anything about the world, but I didn’t have to worry so much because my parents made all the important decisions for me. Then I left home … I still didn’t know anything, but suddenly I had to make life-changing choices on my own – a truly terrifying prospect!
5 popular social media platforms your kids might be using
Maneuvering this digital age is challenging for today’s youth and their families. The attempt to identify what is right and what is wrong is often blurred. Kids today need help in the management and use of their social media applications and social networking sites. They need guidance on what social media applications are safe, which ones are not, and what they should do if they find themselves in a dangerous situation online. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular social media and networking applications, focusing on warnings for each and safeguards that can be put in place to help protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Winter reflections
January is a busy time of celebrations. It is the start of a new year, and the month we will hold YEC (Youth Encountering Christ), the BCNE’s winter weekend conference for teens. This month both of these things are on my mind.
Don’t waste this time: Helping your teen live intentionally
As we look ahead to additional time at home and the absence of some extracurricular activities in the months ahead, it’s important to make plans so that we don’t waste these days. We need intentionality to help navigate this season well and not waste these days.
Youth must be on mission, too
We had just finished roasting marshmallows over the charcoal grill—the coals still hot from the amazing Brazilian BBQ we had eaten. We were all outside, sitting spaced out in a circle, trying our best to do youth group in the “new normal.” But this week I had a challenge for the teens. I announced that we would be helping to launch a brand new youth group on the South Shore of Boston.
Happy birthday, Google: What you need to know about ministering to Gen Z
Did you know Google celebrated its 21st birthday last year? Wait, what?
The millennial generation may have grown up as technology made new strides, but Generation Z has grown up with the world being just a click away, thanks to technology. However, don’t picture today’s kids glued to their computers. Smartphones have taken over their world, and technology is mobile. They don’t follow their parents’ habits of going home and catching up on Facebook. Instead they inhabit a world of constant access to YouTube, Snapchat and Instagram. It is estimated that Gen Z teens receive an average of over 3,000 texts a month!
Digital camp helps students tackle challenge
For the first time in its history Crosswalk Youth Camp is going digital. Not gathering in person on a college campus for a week is disappointing to be sure, but with almost 200 teens signed up for afternoon Zoom Bible studies and evening worship services from July 13-18, it’s also very exciting. This year’s theme is Crux: Christ and the Climb of Your Life.
Leading youth during #stayhome
I know this is a lot to take in.
What we are going through right now is unlike anything we have experienced in the U.S. The challenge will grow in the days ahead.
I know some of you are only a year or so out of high school yourselves. Others are tackling schooling children at home, and some are also caring for parents. I hear you, and I am praying for you.
Kids these days: How culture affects Gen Z’s mindset
“Kids these days!”
It’s an expression many of us have either said or thought. They seem so different from the way we were at their age. And usually, it’s not in a good way. (Although if we’re honest, we probably need to question the reliability of our memory of our teenage lives.)