NETS 2009 Annual Banquet

“What a fun and uplifting time!” That’s been the typical response from the over 280 folk that attended the Eighth Annual NETS Banquet in South Burlington on June 1st. The banquet theme was Strengthening the Churches, from Acts 15:40-41.

We were very blessed to have as our keynote speaker Dr. Jerry Sheveland, president of Converge Worldwide. Jerry, a real encouragement and true visionary, showed us how the Apostle Paul planted churches and appointed and mentored leaders to lead those churches. He demonstrated how Paul very intentionally visited and strengthened those churches, even years after they were planted. It’s clear that Paul wasn’t simply planting as many churches as he could.At NETS, we call Paul’s model strategic multiplication. And we’ve adopted his strategy of carefully planting strategic churches that will survive, even flourish, reproduce, and eventually mentor church planting leaders themselves.

Our banquet was a time of celebrating God’s blessing of this strategy, as we heard from our field pastors in Hanover, NH, Georgia, VT., and Cameroon, Africa. It was also a time of anticipating God’s blessing on our latest effort, Redeemer Fellowship in Boston, which seeks to launch this fall. And current NETS residents laid out their visions for Portland, ME, Providence, RI, and Bamenda, Cameroon.What an evening of celebration! We’re thankful for those who joined us and committed to pray for these churches, to help build or renovate their new facilities, and to give financially to fund the work. May the Lord continue to build His church!

Adapted from an article in the NETS newsletter.

Adapted from an article in the June 2009 edition of the Washington Witness