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Testimonies

Each Sunday during our Pledging season we have enjoyed testimonies about our life together. Last week we heard from Dick Ransom, Jonathan Dwyer, and Anju Lamichhane.

This Sunday, Dave Tolley and Wendy Sheehan will be share their testimonies.

Excerpts from last week: 

Dick: “When we moved from Baltimore to Newton, our family’s plan was to tour different churches and make a decision about a church home. The ‘problem’ was we came to First Baptist first. We met some wonderful people. We recognized there would be a place in the church for our son, Jimmy. I appreciate the opportunity to lead adult Sunday School. I’ve also appreciated being part of the church’s podcasts, Red Chair Conversations, and Soap Box Sermons. I cherish that the church is Open and Affirming and therefore progressive in every respect.”

Jonathan Dwyer: “I was on the lookout for a liberal Catholic church. My wife, who was a soloist at that time at First Baptist, invited me to come and I have been here ever since--now about 17 years or so. Seeing familiar faces, seeing people get older, watching their children grow, hearing their questions and listening to topics they are interested in--each of those things help me to hush what’s going on inside my head and get closer to one another and God.”

Anju: “I’m from Nepal. I grew up in a Hindu family. I came to the U.S. to pursue education and am now obtaining a Masters in Social Work. I chose to be baptized in the U.S. and this place has thus helped me get an education and also grow in faith. When I moved from Texas to the Boston area, First Baptist was the first church I found. Everyone was welcoming. Heather and Doug’s welcomes are really special. Sean was there for me both in and out of Sunday mornings, even helping me to connect with congregation members who helped me in my research. Sze-kar Wan and Maria invited me to my first Thanksgiving dinner and that was special. Others like David dropped me at school when the trains were not running. As social workers, we speak a lot about self care. For me, this church is an essential part of my self care.” 

How would you like to serve?

In the next year, we are looking to mobilize our community in a new and fresh way. Even small investments of your unique gifts and experience can contribute significantly to the ministry and legacy of our church.

 Our leadership would love to know where and how you are interested in contributing your unique abilities and experience. 

- Does your heart beat fast for meeting the practical needs of others, for putting compassion into action?

- Are you interested in helping address the needs of our facilities and properties, either hands-on repairs and maintenance or helping us manage our rental profile, including working on new rental opportunities? 

- Are you interested in contributing to our worship experience on Sunday mornings? Music, readings and creative elements? Greeting, serving communion and offering hospitality? We want to grow as a worshipping community.

- Would you be willing to open up your home just to share a meal?

- Do you have an interest or experience in finance that would make you a good fit for our finance team? 

- What other interests do you have?

Take moment to email our Council directly (Council@fbcnewton.org) or Sean and John (Sean@fbcnewton.org, John@fbcnewton.org) with any thoughts or ideas you have about needs you see that you might be interested in contributing to. No obligations or commitments, we just want to get to know you better.