Mission & Ministry 2019

2 0 1 9 | MISSION & MINISTRY

By the Spirit

[live]

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal 5:25) 1

HOWARD BURGOYNE Superintendent

By the Spirit

[live]!

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:25) In the beginning, the Spirit, the living Breath of God, is painted as moving – encircling, gliding, hovering, brooding as a mother bird above her fledgling nest. The Spirit moves with pregnant purpose! While God is the Composer, the Spirit is the Conductor of creation, while the Word sings each verse before the angel chorus. Within Israel, the Spirit is the sole inspirer of the Word’s prophets, artisans, and priests. The hovering cloud and pillar of fire broods over the tabernacle of presence, and the nation kept in step with the movement of the cloud. Across the Old Testament, the Spirit is the personification of Wisdom, Beauty, Glory, Grace and Truth.

relationship to this theological reflection and vision. We live in a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit – “we live by the Spirit” (our very existence) and therefore our life (our very mission) is to “keep in step with the Spirit.”

What steps is the Spirit taking in the world, and in our particular communities now, bearing witness to Jesus Christ? How are we discerning together the pregnant purposes of the Spirit in creation, through Christ, for the salvation of the world? The Spirit is taking strategic steps, in real time, that are advancing the Kingdom of God in every domain of creation and culture. Our calling is to live by the Spirit – to live and pivot in a conscious

We live in a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit – “we live by the Spirit” (our very existence) and therefore our life (our very mission) is to “keep in step with the Spirit.”

In the New Testament, the seven-fold resume of the Spirit continues to unfurl in the pregnant fullness of time. The same circling Spirit overshadows again as midwife of God’s own incarnation. In confirmation of John’s vision, the Spirit-dove came to roost within this peaceful Jesus as an adjutant advocate for a public ministry. The Spirit and the Word; the Analog and the Logos. The renewing source and substance of a pure and fiery baptism for the penitent – welding them into the divine life itself. The stork-like Spirit who inseminated the Father’s Son in the virgin womb of Mary, from a virgin tomb raised Mary’s fatherless son – the firstborn of an ever-new creation!

The Spirit is also, now, “The Lord, the Giver of life” and therefore chief executive of the divine mission. What we are called to be and to do together as East Coast Conference lies in direct 2

dependence on and discernment of the Spirit’s movement. Our discipleship is to join the Spirit’s advance, neither racing ahead, nor lagging behind – but keeping in step. Conscious that we are a movement of God, we pray and labor, and partner together as a fellowship of Christians and congregations – to live by the Spirit, and to keep in step with the Spirit.

Mobilize church planting Organize regional networks Vitalize congregations Equip leaders Make disciples Engage justice for the marginalized Nurture Covenant identity Tell the story of Jesus

BARBARA ETTINGER Executive Associate Superintendent

By the Spirit

[lead]!

Leadership development in God’s kingdom flourishes when godly people influence others to pursue and realize God’s purposes.

This means we work closely with our leaders to help them influence and lead well. We also work on the processes and systems of leadership so that our life together reflects better practices. Ultimately, leadership development in God’s kingdom means we listen carefully to the Spirit and follow the Spirit’s lead as best we can.

Pastor and author Eugene Peterson translated Galatians 5:25, “Since … we have chosen the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.” Working out the implications of leading by the Spirit brings insights, challenges, and hope to our life together as the family of God here in the East Coast Conference.

Foster Clergy Health and Vocational Competency at the Leadership RoundTable Where does your pastor go for connection, theological reflection, and spiritual refreshing? A decade of research on clergy well-being indicates that a pastor’s flourishing depends on healthy social connections and a growing sense of vocational competency as a minister. The Leadership RoundTables I host meet via video conferencing for three or four meetings on each topic. More than 60 pastors signed up this year! Together we discussed Fellowship of Differents by Scot McKnight; Wanna Talk? Women, WillowCreek, and #metoo; Evangelical Sacramental Pentecostal by Gordon T. Smith: and Gender Roles and the People of God by Alice Mathews. Meeting with colleagues to discuss a book on pastoral theology helps your pastor stay in touch with friends, make new connections, and dive into some of the best thinking and practice in ministry today.

“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” John Maxwell Strengthen Conference Leaders by Strengthening Conference Systems We have fortified and renewed several East Coast Conference systems and processes so that leaders and those they influence can flourish. For example, we launched a Conference-wide Care Network to enhance connections between the Conference staff and our 175 credentialed clergy in the field. Pastors

Clockwise from left: Research proves that clergy flourishing depends on healthy social connections and a growing sense of professional competency as a minister; The new Conference Care Network enhances connections between Conference staff and clergy in the field; The Generosity Cohort helps church leaders shape discipleship pathways in generosity for an emerging generation of Christ followers.

and Chaplains have responded positively to the Care Network outreach, knowing that they are seen, valued, and prayed for!

We also retooled the Conference Annual Meeting as a leadership development experience that fosters celebration, networking, and training. Lay people and clergy rated Annual Meeting workshops highly and suggested new training topics now being offered at this year’s Meeting. Closer to home, in the Conference offices, we redesigned our Conference staff meetings to maximize efficiency, offer training and equipping, and increase collaboration across all our ministry areas.

Empowering Conference leaders for healthy ministry includes providing resources of all kinds from the Spiritual to the Practical and everything in between. Supporting churches during times of pastoral transition is an important ministry of the Conference. I began partnering with Superintendent Howard Burgoyne in working with Search Committees, helping to orient these teams to the process, referring potential candidates for their consideration, and providing a Conference-led Service of Installation once the search reaches a successful end.

We relaunched a network for Conference Spiritual Directors and are supporting their efforts to bring Spiritual Direction to the lives of leaders and laity alike. Direction is a professional ministry of listening, discernment, and prayer in a confidential setting of encouragement and compassion.

Our network of Spiritual Directors offers this ministry of caring presence to anyone in the conference recognizing the need for spiritual companionship.

Check out their page on the eastcoastconf.org website under Networks: Spiritual Direction.

We piloted the East Coast Conference Generosity Cohort in partnership with the Lake Institute on Giving and Covenant Financial Leadership. I selected teams from five of our Conference churches and one agency to learn from the best in the business about how 3

to shape discipleship in generosity for an emerging generation of Christ followers. Your Conference staff also initiated research into what motivates our churches to partner financially with the mission of the East Coast Conference and to gather ideas from our churches to fortify our partnership moving forward.

With the dynamic kingdom-expanding advance of church planting, many of our newest clergy come from outside the Covenant. It is important to foster Covenant identity and empower these new leaders to pursue affordable, high quality seminary education. We began researching options for bringing Masters level seminary training to the East Coast Conference in partnership with North Park Theological Seminary. This exploration has included a site visit to North Park West (“Ignite”) and collaboration with the Midwest Conference as they research similar options.

REGIONAL COHORTS New England Cohort NY/NJ Metro Cohort

30 23 9

11 5 36

“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”

–Rosa Parks Focus Ministry on Individual Churches, Church Chairs, and Pastors With a “parish” that extends 1,106 miles from Maine to Virginia, I want to spend as much time in our congregations as is reasonably possible.

In the last year, you invited me to preach in Conference churches an average of once a month. I also led seven speciality workshops on either discipleship or vision formation in a wide variety of settings–and I enjoyed a rainy yet still refreshing week at Pilgrim Pines as Family Camp pastor for Week Five.

Cultivating a culture of coaching in our Conference is an increasingly important aspect of our life together as leaders in God’s kingdom. A strong coaching culture helps us to develop and empower volunteer and vocational leaders alike. This year, I coached leaders from established churches and emerging church plants–both pastors and lay leaders including church Chairs. Statistics show that outcome-focused coaching results in greater fruitfulness among leaders who have been resourced in this way.

Leadership development offers a powerful opportunity to work out the implications of our discipleship as Christ followers at every level and in every arena of congregational service and missional life. May we continue to live by the Spirit as godly leaders.

2019 Spiritual Directors Luncheon

4

26 34 14 4

Mid-Atlantic Cohort

13,16,32 1, 2, 3, 8, 10,12,19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 28, 31, 33, 35

18 17

15

10 year CHURCH PLANTs 1. Covenant Church of the Heights/ Iglesia del Alto Manhattan (Jan 2019) 2. Reconcile Brooklyn CC (Jan 2019) 3.Queens Covenant Church [MCC] Sunnyside, Queens, NY (Jan 2019) 4. Highrock CC Haverhill, MA (Oct 2018) [HCN] 5. Ecclesia Covenant Church Trenton, NJ (Oct 2018) 6. Highrock CC Malden, MA (July 2018) [HCN] 7. Highrock CC South West Boston, Roslindale & Hyde Park, MA (July 2018) [HCN] 8. Hope East Village CC NY (Jan 2018) [NCN] 9. Brockton CC MA (June 2017) 10. Hope Westside CC Manhattan, NY (June 2017) [NCN] 11. Hope Jersey City CC Jersey City NJ (June 2017) [NCN] 12. Hope Midtown CC Manhattan, NY (April 2017) [NCN] 13. Sanctuary Eastside CC Providence RI (Jan 2017) [SCN] 14. Nashua CC NH (Dec 2016) 15. Still Waters CC Newport News VA (May 2016) 16. Sanctuary North CC Providence RI (March 2016) [SCN] 17. Center Church ECC Richmond VA (Jan 2016) 18. Table Covenant Church Fairfax VA (Oct 2015) 19. Hope Long Island CC NY (Sept 2015) [NCN] 20. Hartford City Covenant Church CT (July 2015)

21. Disciples NYC CC Queens NY (March 2015) 22. Movement CC Staten Island NY (Jan 2015) 23. Highrock CC Acton, MA (Dec 2014) [HCN] 24. Hope CC Roosevelt Island, NY (Dec 2014) [MCC] 25. Hope Midtown CC Manhattan NY (Fall 2014) [NCN] 26. The Commons ECC (April 2014) Rochester NH 27. Tokyo Life CC Japan (special partnership, Fall 2014) [HCN] 28. Church of the Resurrection ECC New York NY (July 2013) 29. Highrock CC Quincy, MA (May 2012) [HCN 30. Highrock CC North Shore, Salem (Feb 2012) [HCN] 31. Hope Astoria CC NY (Feb 2012) [NCN] 32. Sanctuary Providence CC RI (Jan 2012) [SCN] 33. Elements CC Bronx NY (Aug 2011) 34. Sudanese ECC Manchester NH, Dinka & Arabic language (July 2010) 35. Promised Land CC Bronx NY (July 2010) 36. Life CC Morganville NJ (March 2009)

[HCN] = Highrock Church Network, Greater Boston, highrock.org [NCN] = New City Network of Hope Church NYC, hopechurchnyc.org [SCN] = Sanctuary Church Network, Providence RI, sanctuaryri.org [MCC] = Mosaic Covenant Collective (emerging network, coming out of New City Network), NYC, cov.nyc

6, 7, 29,

JASON CONDON Associate Superintendent Director of Church Planting

Kingdom Partners in P lanting

Expanding Partnerships for Planting the Gospel Our ministry efforts flourish best when done in gospel partnership. The original “Director of Church Planting” (!) puts it succinctly...

“For we are co-workers in God’s service...”

– The Apostle Paul to the Church Planted in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:9a NIV) Our strong kingdom partnerships work both within and beyond the East Coast Conference and Covenant. This past year especially saw effective collaborations with World Impact, Stadia Church Planting, and Redeemer City to City, through specialized training, assessing, resourcing, and residencies.

Joined in this faithful and fruitful partnership, you and your churches advance our shared church planting efforts, leading to an ever-growing mosaic of vibrant congregations co-laboring with Jesus in sharing his Good News!

Through our shared church planting efforts, you’re helping create a beautiful family portrait, leading to an ever-growing family of vibrant congregations that join us in sharing not only the gospel, but our very lives in Jesus!

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel...” ~ The Apostle Paul to the Church Planted in Philippi (Philippians 1:3-5a NIV)

Top to bottom: Omar Lilly signing covenant agreement; Ian Graham and Omar Lilly at ECC Church Planters Assessment Center; Cory Morgan signing; Dan Sadlier signing covenant agreement; Sadlier Family

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KREIG GAMMELGARD Associate Superintendent Director of Missional Health

The V itality Movement of God

how strong churches are paying attention to their missional health My job title while working for the East Coast Conference for the last seven years has been Director of Congregational Vitality. During that time, Vitality work among our churches has been primarily focused on helping a church move forward in its mission rather than remaining stuck or falling behind.

CELEBRATING MOVEMENT AND MOMENTUM IN OUR CHURCHES VITALITY STATS FOR 2018 • • •

62% of our established churches have engaged in Vitality to date 50% moved into the Healthy Missional category after completing the Vitality Pathway 79% of these churches have made missional progress since engaging in Vitality, and are postured for even greater health in the future 2008

2012 Conference

2018 Conference

17%

0%

50% for those

Denominational Stats Healthy Missional

Starting Point

Healthy/Missional

Stats

completing CV 24% engaged in Vitality

33%

29%

52%

• Stable • • Critical Moment 32%

Stable

Stable

68% Critical

21% Critical Mo-

18% At-Risk

5% At-Risk

3% At-Risk

Moment

ment

All of our Vitality churches are trending in a solid missional direction!

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• • • • • • • • • •

29 Vitality Coaching engagements 25 Vitality Churches preached through the BLESS Series on Intentional Evangelism 18 Vitality church served 9 Vitality Workshops attended by 375 people 5 Vitality Churches are offering Alpha evangelistic courses exploring Christ and faith 4 More female leaders added to the national DCV team 4 Church Plants in the Vitality “Pipeline” 3 New Vitality Churches engaging in Vitality process 1 Justice Journey (East Coast Version of Sankofa) coming this Fall 1 Mission Trip for East Coast Conference focusing on LMDJ in 2019

NEW FOCUS IN MISSIONAL HEALTH My new job title is now Director of Missional Health. Because of our commitment to helping every church become healthy and missional, the Vitality resources and coaches have advanced our churches in a great direction. Once a church learns what it takes to make missional progress, and regularly practices new habits, pays attention to healthy culture, and learns effective on-going planning strategies, they follow a new trajectory and engage in new priorities. In the simplest of terms, Vitality churches that have taken the time to work on their church have changed their focus from inward to outward; from self-centered to other-centered; and from their agenda to Jesus’s agenda.

Missional Engagement: An outward focused church sees the world as their mission field. One experience that any church can have together is participating in a cross-cultural mission trip. Those who have had this experience know what happens as you see the world in a new way. You see more needs that need meeting, you notice more opportunities that require serving, and you notice your heart expanding to love others as Jesus would. Many churches that do “missions” well, can often translate their experience to their “home turf ”, and begin to become more “missional” in their own communities.

Loving Mercy, Doing Justice: The Missional priority of LMDJ has been a focus of mine this past year. A wonderful team of people have gathered around this common cause spearheaded by Pastor Dierdra Clark to plan “The Justice Journey”. This East Coast Conference version of ‘Sankofa- A Journey to Racial Righteousness’, will visit major cities on the East Coast in order to learn, see, and experience what people of color have endured in those cities- all in our conference. Our hope is that this Justice Journey will build upon the work of The Covenant Justice Coalition that organizes The Justice Conference on the East Coast. Usually hosted by NYCC in New Rochelle, NY, this year’s conference will be hosted by Metro Community Church in Englewood, NJ. V4CP’s: Vitality for Church Plants has been a collaborative effort this year among our staff in order to serve our church planting pastors and maturing church plants better as they move from infancy to maturity.

After a church has been off appropriations for a year, drafted their constitution and bylaws, and applied for membership within the Covenant denomination, they have often been on their own… too old to still be considered a church plant, and not old enough to be considered an established church… yet facing a completely new phase in their church life.

From experience, this is the time in the life of a young church where mission drift can occur, pastoral burn-out can happen, and when leadership is becoming more broadly owned and shared in the life of the church.

So, Jason Condon, Barbara Ettinger, and I have gathered and strategized this year to serve several churches, pastors, and leadership teams as they continue to pursue their missional health and effectiveness with the same sense of urgency as when they launched 4-6 years ago. No church is too old or too young for vitality/not to pay attention to their missional health.

ADDITIONAL HELP TO CHURCHES •

•

•

Legacy Discernment and Kingdom Multiplication: In John 12:24 we are reminded that with Jesus’s power, death always leads to new life!

Such is the case when a church corporately discerns and boldly obeys His leading to “pass on” for all of the right reasons. Rather than two churches merging to become one, one church passes on and stewards their resources to fund a new church for every $100K in assets, and a huge Kingdom WIN becomes their living and lasting legacy!

Pastoral Transition: When a pastor leaves or retires, it is often a time of significant congregational readiness for renewed clarity, commitment, and change. Transition Pastoral training has, and will continue to be, a collaborative coaching priority.

On-going Resourcing: Post-Vitality graduates receive continual resourcing through retreats, training, and coaching. One of our most fruitful resource retreat this past year focused on the “7- Systems”, that seeks to make evaluation a normal and natural practice of every church. Beyond a simple evaluation tool, the training also encourages next steps in order to seek continual improvement in those practices (“systems”) that help every church fulfill its missional priorities.

Top to bottom: Vitality Mobile at Bethany Covenant Church (Berlin, CT); Dream Again workshop at Douglas Memorial; 7 Systems Retreat with Alex Rahill

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WOMEN MINISTRIES ASSOCIATION NAN LINGENFELTER President

The WM Leadership Team meets monthly through a telephone conference call and during the year at conferences and special events.

the inside. We need each other to be real, honest, brave, and true to our faith. When women come together they can bond even though we are so different because we are sisters in the faith. Others outside the faith need to see this relationship. So, we have fun events, decorate, and invite our work colleagues, friends, and neighbors.

Our differences were celebrated and blended at our annual Fall Retreats in New Hampshire and Maryland.

UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMON PLACES As women it is so relaxing and restful to be among women who “get you.” Who understand the pressures and the privileges of being a woman today more than women? Whether it is an evening event at your church, someone’s home, a day conference, or a weekend retreat, gathering together does bond us in laughter, challenges, and in women who seek to change this world for Jesus Christ. The Women’s Ministry of the East Coast Conference exists to help women gather together locally and regionally to further develop in ministry skills, plans, and to create spaces that women seeking to know Jesus can see how the Body of Christ works together to create a lovely and loving place. When we gathered for our rotating yearly Spring Celebration in Springfield, Massachusetts on April 14, 2018, we enjoyed finding many common places with each other.

UNDERSTANDING WHAT WOMEN’S MINISTRIES CAN DO FOR YOU

UNDERSTANDING OUR DIFFERENCE PLACES

Please reach out to us with issues that we need to address, ideas on speakers and topics, questions, comments, or to talk “next steps” in ministry and disciple making. While we host two large events we recognize what women do daily in their church community and neighborhoods is the key to changing our world for Christ. We are here to encourage, support, and train you. Connect with us. We welcome your questions, comments, and insights.

We comprise a wide variety of living spaces from the inner city, the suburbs, and rural living. Some women are only months old in the faith and others have decades of loving the Lord which they can use to mentor others. We stay home, we work, we want to work, we want to quit work, we volunteer, and we volunteer even more. We help each other and we need help. We pray and cry and wonder and feel lonely. We come to worship looking great, yet crumbling on

Contact Nan to learn more about how to join us and learn to lead. nlingenfelter@charter.net

Left to clockwise: Small light house an a big smile; Mug exchange with Delores; PP 2018 Entire room

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PILGRIM PINES JIM CONDAP Executive Director

God has given us another year and we are grateful!

What a privilege to share this incredible ministry with our East Coast Churches and other churches throughout New England. Over the past twelve months there has been much to celebrate.

• • • • •

A summer celebration of 60 years of ministry Elimination of all long term debt We hosted hundreds of campers at Camp Squanto. Squanto continues to be an amazing, safe, and faith building camp for our conference young people Family Camp attendance was again strong for the 2018 summer season We ministered to over 8,500 guests. 2,044 summer campers / 1,300 other PP Retreat Attendees / 4,477 Guest Group Attendees / 516 Road Scholar Guests

Many improvements were made to our beloved camp: • New water system in our camping area • Completed Arts Barn at Camp Squanto • New ceiling fans and electrical upgrades in many units • New paving in and around the Strand Chapel and Plymouth Complex • New windows in Mayflower Lodge • Completion of the new Elm bunkhouse in the camping area • Hillside Cabin remodels The building of the new Arts Barn was completed in early June of 2018 and was an amazing addition to the Camp Squanto program. We are so grateful to our volunteer builders!

Other highlights from the past twelve months include: • A snow filled Family Winter Weekend • An amazing group of over 130 volunteers for our Work & Worship Weekend • A great summer season of relationship building, teaching, learning & fun • Spiritual formation & fun at the Exhale Weekend • Meaningful and fun Men’s Retreat • The launch of The Match Fund • Mother/Daughter Weekend • Thanksgiving Retreat at the Pines • Overflowing, energetic and life transforming winter youth • retreats • 6,870 ice cream cones were enjoyed from the Snack Shack We are thankful for your support and prayers and we are excited for your next visit to camp as we trust and rest in God’s good plan for the future of Pilgrim Pines.

Right: We welcomed two new staff members : Erin Shea from Milford, MA and Kelsey Shears from Hampden, MA. Both Erin and Kelsey and their families have been affiliated with the Pines for many years and we are delighted to have them with us on our year-round staff.

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NEW ENGLAND SEAFARERS MISSION STEPHEN CUSHING Executive Director

Extending hospitality and offering help are the prime directives at the Seafarers Center.

Welcoming strangers and becoming friends through acts of kindness, conversation, ‘coffee, tea and homemade cookies.’ It is that simple. Since our last Annual Meeting we have provided ministry and service in Boston to 154 cruise ships, 147 industrial ships in 5 ports and nearly 40,000 interactions with crew members. We partnered with 4 paid staff, 7 staff volunteers, 11 interns and 221 church volunteers. Our most notable milestone last year is that NESM will have interacted with our 500,000th seafarer during my tenure here at Seafarers.

God has truly blessed this ministry as we are all part of His marvelous ministry to seafarers and the working waterfront. Providence continues to remain steady and constant with its numbers of ships visited and combined with numbers from Boston the count of Industrial Ships visited for the previous 12 months this year is 476.

in general. However, last year proved to be quite the opposite. Our regular cruise ministry season extended into November by 2 weeks, with the last visit by the Norwegian Dawn into Boston happening on the 9th. She is being relocated to other ports, replaced for this 2019 season by the Norwegian Gem. Her first visit in 2019 will be March 29th! In an odd twist, because of the gas line explosions in

The cruise ministry has been especially fruitful, and exhausting.

Just 4 years ago we truly worried about the foot traffic from some of our cruise ships that came in on weekends through most of the year. Many days it seemed we could have sent our volunteers home and run the mission with just part time staff. But through listening and responding to the changing needs of the seafarers we provided the kind of assistance they were seeking. Last year we regularly

Seafarers receiving Christmas gifts from Chaplains

Volunteers staffing Mission Store

Seafarers have been vocal in their thanks for what NESM provides and the Christian care and help they receive. Our staff and volunteers have been extraordinary in providing these services so that our chaplains can provide quality pastoral care when needed with crew members. Gods’ intention is that we should be a place where the stranger finds community, lonely are made welcome, the one in need finds help, lost are cared for and hope, healing, and love abide. Being present is the key. We don’t always know what will arise as the day unfolds. Thank you to everyone who takes the time to volunteer at the mission or to donate money so that this ministry can continue. There are many ways to help seafarers whether by signing up for a ministry day in South Boston, being an industrial ship visiting volunteer, baking at home, knitting hats, making mending kits, ditty bags or joining us on packing day to assemble gifts for seafarers. There is a job for everyone!

saw 300-400 seafarers come through our doors from almost every ship. Before the start of the Cruise Ship Ministry in 2018, we relocated several of our services to different floors at the Center.

This allowed for the continually growing services to operate with less effort and greater control. This could be seen and heard in the feedback from crew and volunteers. Case in point, our package service expanded to include ships coming in for the irregular but busy fall cruise season of Boston. This has increased our exposure to these crew as they realize who we are and what we have to offer.

This season has not been without challenges however. We are pressed for space once again in our ever-expanding Store and Package services. We have rededicated a prayer niche on the 3rd floor next to the Money Gram operations. Typically, November is the quietest month of the year regarding cruise ships and shipping 10

the Lawrence/Andover area north of Boston, the repair workers were housed on a chartered cruise ship, the Grand Celebration, docked in the port of Boston just 10 minutes’ walk from NESM. We found ourselves “helping those, who are helping those who are helping others” return to their homes. The winter got significantly shorter for NESM.

Please look at the calendar at neseafarers.org to sign up early for a cruise ship ministry day as over 150 cruise ships will visit in 2019. Thousands of people from all over the world will enter the seafarers’ mission and find a place of hospitality and hope.

THE HIGHROCK NETWORK DREW HUNTER Director

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” ~ Romans 12:4-6a The Highrock Network exists to start new churches, strengthen existing churches, and amplify God’s impact in Boston. In the last year the original five unique Highrock churches grew to eight and now have Sunday services in ten locations: Acton, Arlington, Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Malden, Needham, Salem, Southwest Boston, and Quincy. The Network staff serve the Highrock churches, pastors, and staff in the Greater Boston area by providing support in key areas of structure including finance, human resources, operations and more.

Exciting Highlights from the Highrock Network: Start New: Three churches planted out of the Highrock Network in Massachusetts this year. Matt & Meghan Webel had their first service on October 7, 2018 in Haverhill, Edwin & Kelsey Menon had their first service on October 14, 2018 in Malden, and Andy & Lisa Ober had their first service on Oct 21, 2018 in Southwest Boston. The Network is continuing to developing a hub of Human Resources, bookkeeping, and event logistics.

Strengthen Existing: On June 9th, all the Highrock churches will gather in one location to worship as one Highrock family. This will be the 6th All-Highrock Service. Friends from around the city will be able to reconnect, worship, pray, swim, play, and eat together. Quarterly, The Highrock Network hosts All-Staff Development Days. Each day has a theme relevant to our churches & staff meant to offer both invitation and challenge. Additionally, we make time to celebrate what God is doing in and through each of the Network churches. The stories of God’s grace, faithfulness, and goodness across our spheres of influence help to spur us onward.

The All-Staff Development Days are filled with hugs, tears, and laughter.

Amplify Impact: Impact begins with prayer and is accomplished by God. On March 9th, the Network held an All-Highrock Prayer Gathering to orient ourselves toward God and God’s power to bring about His will for us as individuals, as churches, as a Boston-area network, and as a nation. The Network will host our second World Vision “Walk for Water” this Spring. Last year we had participation from all the Highrock churches, 200 walkers, and raised $14,200 to provide clean water to families in Congo. This Spring the Network is participating in Pilgrim Pines’ Men’s Retreat and their Weekend Away for Women: “Exhale.” We are excited to partner with Pilgrim Pines and form friendships across the East Coast. This Summer the Network’s Internship Program will be bringing our Vacation Bible School, “Summer Blast,” to 5 locations around the Network. The Internship Program is a discipleship immersion experience that engages high school and college students in a transformative summer of connecting to God personally, connecting to God’s people, and connecting to God’s purposes.

We celebrate all the amazing things God is doing in and through the Highrock Network! It is our hope that the Network enables: church planting into diverse demographics, the existing churches to be healthy, and collaboration to have a greater impact. We have only begun to discover how to accomplish these goals and respond to the spiritual needs of Greater Boston. Please pray that the city would flourish, that Highrock would be a blessing to its neighbors and that we would constantly depend on Holy Spirit as we make decisions.

Top to bottom: Plaid Flannel is how we roll at Highrock Haverhill; Walk for Water; Brynn Harrington - All Highrock Women’s Event; Highrock SW Boston; Highrock Malden launch team; Highrock Arlington 2018 Interns

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MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION

2018 ORDINATION CANDIDATES Phillip Beatty

David Capozzi

Cynthia Comiso

Angelina Giancola

Brynn Harrington

William F. Johnson, III

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Pastor/Church Planter Brockton Covenant Church Brockton, MA M.A., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Pastor/Church Planter Hartford City Covenant Church Hartford, CT Studies, North Park Theological Seminary

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Youth Pastor Highrock North Shore Salem, MA M.Div, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Senior Associate Pastor Highrock North Shore Salem, MA M.Div, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

Ancy Post

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Interim Associate Pastor Church of the Redeemer Bowie, MD M.Div, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Th.M, Boston College

2018 INCOME FROM CHURCHES

ORDINATION ANNIVERSARIES

$598,916

$587,806

$580,073

$541,211

553,573

$495,306

$400K

$636,090

$700K

$600K

$300K

0

2012

2013

2014

East Coast Conference 52 Missionary Road Cromwell, Connecticut 06416

ÄDELBROOK BEHAVIORAL & DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES www.adelbrook.org Alyssa Goduti, President & CEO 860-635-6010 COVENANT TRUST COMPANY www.covenanttrust.com Donna Lewis, Financial Services Rep. 847-583-3274 dklewis@covenanttrust.com

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2015

2016

2017

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Lead Pastor Cornerstone Church Boston, MA M.Div, Westminster Seminary D.Min, Trinity Seminary

Joseph Riffe

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Pastor of Student Ministries Metro Community Church Englewood, NJ M.Div, Alliance Theological Seminary

$500K

Ordination to Word & Sacrament Associate Pastor Highrock Quincy Covenant Church Quincy, MA M.Div, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

2018

860 635 2691 office@eastcoastconf.org www.eastcoastconf.org

5 YEARS Nathan D. Albert (OWSa) James C. Condap (CSM) Joshua R. Danielson (OWSa) Paul D. Guiliano (OWSa) Corenna R. Hoyt (OWSe) José Humphreys (OWSa) Derrick Jackson (OWSa) Peter Kim (OWSa) Matthew J. Marzluft (OWSa) Richard D. Wild (OWSa)

25 YEARS Craig S. Carlson (OWSa) Douglas M. Wysockey-Johnson (OWSa)

10 YEARS Whitney L. Hall (OWSa) Stephen C. Sharkey (OWSa) Christina M. Tinglof (OWSa) Peter C .Tullson (OWSe)

45 YEARS G. Timothy Johnson (OWSa)

30 YEARS Howard K. Burgoyne (OWSa) Glen A. Halvorsen (OWSa) 40 YEARS Paul A. Day (OWSa)

50 YEARS Philip M. Axelson (OWSa) Donald A. Johnson (OWSa)

20 YEARS Peter E. Nielsen (OWSa) Catherine E. Stanley-Erickson (OWSa)

Howard Burgoyne, Superintendent Barbara Ettinger, Executive Associate Superintendent

NATIONAL COVENANT PROPERTIES www.covchurch.org/ncp Rob Hall, Regional VP – Real Estate Services 773-655-6687 rob.hall@nationalcovenantproperties.org COVENANT VILLAGE OF CROMWELL www.covenantvillageofcromwell.org Dan Stegbauer, Executive Director 860-635-2690

Kreig Gammelgard, Director of Missional Health Jason Condon, Director of Church Planting Sandi Lee, Administrative Manager

NEW ENGLAND SEAFARERS MISSION www.neseafarers.org Steve Cushing, Executive Director PILGRIM PINES CONFERENCE CENTER www.pilgrimpines.org James Condap, Executive Director