1. There aren't many Christians here.
2. Churches either.
3. There are lots of liberals here.
4. The winter is, like, 18 months long.
5. There's no Chick-Fil-A.
6. Gay marriage is legal in 2 of our states.
7. Many people are hostile to the Christian message and don't like evangelicals.
8. On the odd hot summer day, your odds of escaping into air conditioning are almost nil.
9. People talk funny.
10. You're scared to.
23 comments:
But the summers, as short as they are, are great (if my recollections from high school are to be trusted).
I've always wanted to move to New England (Made it as far east as Denver for 2 years.... Still haven't gone further than an hour east of DIA!). One day :D
And no, I am not scared.
Come on Jared, it's not that bad... 95 today and I did find some A/C. :)
-Art from MA.
I might end up studying at Yale or one of a couple different universities in Boston. My only fear is with so many liberals around I'm bound to get in a fight at some point...
our favorite, since moving from TN to ME 2 months ago: people will tell you what they think, and they'll really mean it.
and yes the summers are amazing!
11. You can get away with being an evangelical and not being a political conservative, most of the time at least. Your brothers usually realize there are bigger things to worry about.
A nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.
no chick-fil-a?! what do you NE christians eat? pagan fast food?
I lived in Vermont for 5 years when I was in school. My family moved there from New Orleans to plant a church after my dad graduated from seminary. I loved it. Definitely a different place than the city of 135 protestant churches I live in now in Georgia.
Being a life long resident of Mass I have to wade in on this. Winning souls in New England is no more difficult than winning souls anywhere else when the Spirit of God is moving through an area as He did here in years past. Church plants and soul winners are always welcome but please come prepared to depend on God for your success. Your methods may need adjusting. Only long term investors need apply.
By the way, This is a lovely place to live and call home. We have four real seasons, some of the best hospital and medical care venues in the world, excellent educational institutions, and terrific beaches, mountains and woodland.
Many liberals here in NE equate Christians with right wing politics so remember you want to bring a people to Christ and not to your political viewpoint.
My husband is from NH, lives in NV, would dearly love to move back, but can't find a job.
Jared,
As a southern guy who moved to NH 7years ago to work witha Church Plant I was worried about the Chic-Fil-A thing....but we actually have one in Nashua, NH and Burlington, MA..good news indeed!!
Oh my. Aslan is on the move.
People ask me why I wear long sleeves inside in the summer here (DFW) and I tell them: we don't use AC where I'm from! They can't fathom that... (Today is the 17th day in a row of temps above the 100s here)
Ok, So I admit i'm a bit of a masochist, and you're reasons were convincing enough. Is there a good seminary you could suggest? (i'm a year away from graduating at Multnomah)
love reason #7.
i've lived here all my life, and have actually been the recipient of a rock throwing contest while performing a street evangelism skit about 15 years ago.
no place on earth i'd rather be.
Is that the same Moe from the old school Desiring God/Piper message board on a site called Sound of Grace (or something like that?)
What a blast from the past!
Someone just sent me your post after reading the one I posted about inviting them to come reach the unreached people in Rhode Island at Deeper with Jesus in Rhode Island. Wonderful to read a like mind! http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/
Jared - my company is based in WRJ, VT - does that count? I get there twice a year for company meetings.
If I were not so ensconced into the south (Atlanta)with my wife and extended family......I'd join you in a heartbeat!.........that is if Redeemer in NYC wouldn't take me!....but I'd definitely heard northeast!
like.a.cannon,
Try Gordon-Conwell (gcts.edu). I'm from TX/DC, and the cold is rough, but I love both Boston and New England proper (though I know that distinction might get me in trouble).
Also, Emmanuel Gospel Center in Boston is an inspiring collection of ministries.
Grew up in NH. Left to spend 5 yrs in IN, 9 in MI and 7 in WI. Moved back in 03. All you say is true. NE is not for sissies. I am daily becoming more aware of the spiritual battle here. It truly is an odd place to take the gospel seriously -- especially outside of cities. The spiritual landscape is a often a crazy quilt of non-choices to the point where simply choosing a church is choosing a mission field. If you truly are considering moving here to minister the gospel in some way, be prepared. I will say again and mean it seriously -- it is NOT for sissies.
Having said that...who knows what can be done with 5 smooth stones or a loaf and a few dried fish?
I LOVE NEW ENGLAND, especially Massachusetts:
the little town of Aldenville, MA;
the National Parks (beautiful!!!),
the Mohawk Trail and the towns of Charlemont (ski country) and Shelburne Falls (with it's charming Bridge of Flowers) . . .
what's not to love?
The people . . . I have news: they are wonderful people filled with good will, and a zest for life.
Are they like 'fundamentalist Christians'? Not that I can see.
Do they like to be 'proselytized'?
I don't think so . . . the people I know are sincere in their faiths and like to do their own thinking.
One really interesting thing: you will find in New England that faith and family are intertwined. So it may not be so easy to 'convert' someone of an ethnic faith to a fundamentalist Southern-style.
Visit the coast . . . eat lobster, hike the mountain trails inland, explore Pioneer Valley, swim in the ice-cold mountain lakes, drink the mountain spring water, and ENJOY this beautiful part of OUR country. Don't not go because someone scares you off. You will love New England AND its people, I promise. :)
I don't know where you've been living, but there are PLENTY of churches in New England. I'm not a religious freak or anything but that fact is just plain wrong.
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