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December 9, 2022 at 11:02 pm in reply to: Together again for NURTURE: UB’s Fundraising Party 2022 #21043unitebostonKeymasterNovember 2, 2022 at 9:42 pm in reply to: Boston Will Flourish When We Journey With Formerly Incarcerated Individuals #20898unitebostonKeymaster
In these weeks leading up to Boston Flourish on November 10, we’re featuring the organizations that will be presenting at the conference. This week, we’re featuring the City of Boston’s Office of Returning Citizens. We had the chance to learn more about this ministry from the director of this office David Mayo – Read below to hear about what led him to this work and how they serve returning citizens in our city!
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and your interest in working with returning citizens?
I grew up in a family of five with a single mother in an inner city community of neighborhood crews and gangs in New York City. I then became a “Fatherless Son” and spent five years as a foster child in the New York Child/Family Services system. This led me to have an interest in working with returning citizens, which I began in 2014 as a youthful Parole and Reentry Officer. I felt drawn here by God and the greater opportunity to work with incarcerated young men.
Wow, that’s fascinating. Can you share more about your church background?
I was introduced to church when I was 13 by my Great-Grandmother and found my love for God in the choir. I gave my life to Christ in June of 1990 and was called to preach six months later. I now have over thirty years of ministerial experience, having planted two churches and served as founding and senior pastor of congregations in Northern Virginia and South Carolina.
Can you share about how you serve and support returning citizens in your office?
I have had the privilege of serving in this role for the past three months and it is my job goal to engage, equip and to empower the 3000+ returning citizens of Boston with the tools to create and advocate for their independence and stability in restoring their lives. The Returning Citizen process to reentry begins about 90 days before release in setting up a reentry plan and and discussing next steps. Upon release, we connect returning citizens to resources and programs in the community and monitor their transition with case managers.David Mayo with some of the men in the reentry program. What are you hoping to come out of the gathering on November 10?
I’d love to come away with new partners who are passionate and committed to restoring the lives of returning citizens.Can you share a story about the impact of your work?
We recently had a gentleman who was released into a halfway house. He had no ID, no family, no support and we were able to get him into a housing program. You can also watch Arlis Evans’ story below.
Two days after Arlis Evans was released from incarceration, he met up with the City’s Office of Returning Citizens. This is his story. What is a resource that everyone should know about?
Our website has a great list of resources that are available for returning citizens – everything from birth certificates, to housing and health services, to transportation and food resources. I wish that everyone knew about it so they can help people they know in the process of reentering back into life in Boston.Participants in a Don’t Overlook Me Workshop What does it mean to you to see Boston Flourish?
Seeing Boston Flourish means the destruction of stereotypes and silos for the purpose of unity and the influence of the kingdom of God in the earth. If we seize the moment of this opportunity to walk in the kingdom principles that God offers to us, we have the possibility to affect change, not only in the lives of the Boston community but in the earth completely! Selah!October 20, 2022 at 3:49 pm in reply to: Boston Will Flourish When We Transform Poverty & Addiction #20846unitebostonKeymaster“My dream is that Christians throughout the city would lock arm in arm, seeing the Melnea Cass area as a mission field to push back darkness, turning Methodone Mile to Miracle Mile, one soul at a time.”
Pastor Sam Acevedo
In these weeks leading up to Boston Flourish on November 10, we’re featuring the organizations that will be presenting at the conference. This week, we’re featuring Miracle Mile Ministries, a long-standing inter-church initiative that is making an impact in powerful ways. We had the chance to learn more about this ministry from Pastor Sam Acevedo – Read below to hear about the transformation they are seeing take place through their ministry!
Tell us a little bit about Miracle Mile Ministries?
Miracle Mile Ministries is a collaborative of churches devoted to a sustained, deliberate, strategic response to the area we call “Miracle Mile,” a roughly 2-square-mile area in the South End of Boston often referred to as “Mass & Cass” or “Methadone Mile.” It is led by a core group of six Boston-area Lead Churches (Congregación León de Judá, Antioch Community Church Brighton, Cornerstone Church, Restoration City Church, Hilltop Church and Symphony Church) and also involves a dozen or so churches and parachurch ministries from throughout Boston’s neighboring communities who faithfully support this effort, week after week.
Wow, that’s really awesome to hear. Can you tell us about this ministry began?
This ministry began in 2012 as a weekly sidewalk outreach on Saturday mornings at of Congregación León de Judá , serving coffee and making friends with people in the neighborhood around the church who were enduring homelessness and other needs. In 2014, “the breakfast” moved into Lion of Judah’s basement fellowship hall, allowing the church to serve a fuller breakfast, year-round, and conduct an evangelistic service. Over time, volunteers from area churches and ministries would flock to the “breakfast,” and today there are dozens of volunteers who contribute to make this ministry happen on a weekly basis.
Over the last 10 years, every Saturday morning – whether amid a snowstorm or on Christmas Day – Miracle Mile Ministries has had the privilege of feeding and clothing anywhere from 60 to 100 guests each week, who come to us from the neighboring streets and surrounding shelters. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Miracle Mile volunteers have provided 100 sidewalk “to go” breakfasts and clothing each week, as well direct interaction with our neighbors at Rosie’s and the tent-dwellers on Atkinson Street’s tent encampment. That is nearly 800 guests each year – many of them struggling with the ravishes of substance abuse addiction, working hard on coming clean, getting on their feet, and achieving their destiny.
What is the current state of the situation?
Never has the crisis of homelessness and addiction in Boston been more stark, and never has the need for Miracle Mile Ministries been more ardent. Perhaps the worst expression of Boston’s homelessness crisis has been the “Mass & Cass” tent encampment – located only a couple of blocks from the Congregación León de Judá – that at its darkest, according to a City of Boston survey, included 70 to 90 tents sheltering an estimated 143 human beings. Most of the tent dwellers reported widespread drug use (87% use cocaine or crack cocaine, 76% use opiates, 20% methamphetamines (1).
What is the approach you take to serve those struggling with addiction?
First, we seek to meet immediate needs, as Jesus asks his followers to do in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me . . .” (Matthew 25:35-36). Since the pandemic, we set up tables out on the street to serve our guests a hot breakfast and hot coffee or tea. Many times they form a single line that often reached from our door around the corner to the door of our neighbor, Rosie’s Place. On that street, we formed a “conveyor belt of love,” giving our guests food, as well as clothing.
Then we introduce our guests to the gospel and its transforming power through outdoor piano worship (including in the sleet and rain) and a street corner “Prayer Booth.” It has a sign that reads “Prayer here!” and we minister in the open air to our Guests – and in fact, to any passersby. When we visit the Mass & Cass area, we move from tent to tent with care packages and in and invite those we encountere to receive prayer – including to invite Jesus into their lives. Many of them have. And several have made their way to our mid-week Bible Studies specific to those experiencing addiction and homelessness.
Photos from a recent breakfast with guests and the worship ministry What transformation have you seen take place?
The ultimate goal of Miracle Mile Ministries is to see many of our Guests – even if not all – take their first solid steps toward a life free of despair and the bondage of addiction. As other Miracle Mile volunteers hand out care packages, recovery specialists also arrive armed with resource binders ready to refer anyone who is ready for a change to community services such as detox and rehab facilities, transitional housing, or employment. Between June of 2020 and July of 2021, our Together Initiative workers made 591 follow-up calls to 64 Guests. Our volunteers have also driven Guests to detox and rehab facilities as far away as Worcester. More than half of them have either received their own apartments or are in transitional housing. Roughly two-thirds (62%) have been clean – free of illicit drug or alcohol use – for at least year. Others have successfully completed a residential treatment program.
For many of our Guests, their first steps to transformation also involves church attendance. A recent survey identified at least 36 men and women drawn from the Miracle Mile community who have attended services at Lion of Judah more than once over the last 18 months. An average of 5 to 10 Guests attend either our Tuesday night Bible Study or our weekly Wednesday morning Bible Study (dubbed, “the Freedom Group”). In fact, in 2019, Lion of Judah’s last open air baptisms, 10 of our Guests – the limit of our bus – were baptized into the faith. These are many of the ways that our Guests are beginning a new life of freedom.
I’d encourage you to watch Jerome’s story below. In the three years since Jerome first came to Miracle Mile, Jerome has moved into his own one-bedroom apartment, he recently celebrated his first Christmas with his family in 45 years, and has become an indispensable member of the Miracle Mile Team. “If I can change in the 60-something years I was doing alcohol and drugs, trust me you can change, too.”
What is your dream for your ministry? How can Christians in Boston come alongside your efforts?
My dream is to see the Church rise up as a synchronized unit to confront the forces of darkness now known as Methodone Mile / Mass & Cass. At this point, we need ownership and infrastructure to shift a longstanding voluntary fellowship of churches around Boston’s homelessness and opioid crisis, into a formal, functioning multi-church organization. Volunteers are needed for everything from organizing supplies, to running bible studies, to picking up and sorting donated food, to picking up needles and trash, to engaging people on the street and meeting guests, to committed prayer. There are times we have to pick and choose whether we do one thing or another and more hands on deck is absolutely necessary for us to have the impact we want to have. My dream is that Christians throughout the city would lock arm in arm, seeing the this as a mission field to push back darkness, turning Methodone Mile to Miracle Mile, one soul at a time.
September 28, 2022 at 6:13 am in reply to: Photos & Stories from UniteBoston’s Together Again Concert #20645unitebostonKeymasterIt was awesome! After a 2-year hiatus, UniteBoston’s 2022 worship concert brought us “together again” to worship Jesus in the heart of Boston. There were 15 different organizations hosting ministry tables surrounding the perimeter of the gathering, 30+ members of a community choir, and hundreds of attendees and passersby who stopped by for a portion of the evening to listen to the music, learn about the various organizations in the city, or receive prayer.
Read on to see photos and read personal testimonies about the impact of this gathering! You can also click on this link to follow the artists on their media platforms click here to listen to the playlist for the concert on Youtube!
All Photos by Rosa Caban
Community choir leading the city in worship Worshipping in downtown Boston Jalen Williams performing Ada Betsabe Performing “It was great to see so many other artists in Boston that are excited about Jesus. It doesn’t always feel that way, so I’m incredibly grateful for the reminder.” – Doully Yang “One of the things I enjoy about doing music is the opportunity to collaborate. And the UB concert vision really embodied that spirit. It was so encouraging to be a part of an event where Christian artists and musicians supported each other in the heart of worship!” – Caleb McCoy Jen Aldana performing “I think the concert was timely and needed for the community especially after the last couple years, it was wonderful to be a part of something so genuine and Christ centered that united all of us” – Kevin Michel, Restoration City Church “I really enjoyed the worship and fellowship during “together again”. A highlight of my night was making new friends and praying for a young couple after finishing my set. It’s nice to not just attend a church but take nights like these to go out into the city and be the church… we never know when we’ll meet someone who needs an encounter with the love of Jesus. Thanks Unite Boston, donors, and all those involved in putting this together.” – Ada Betsabe
“It was great to see so many other artists in Boston that are excited about Jesus. It doesn’t always feel that way, so I’m incredibly grateful for the reminder.” – Doully Yang
“One of the things I enjoy about doing music is the opportunity to collaborate. And the UB concert vision really embodied that spirit. It was so encouraging to be a part of an event where Christian artists and musicians supported each other in the heart of worship!” – Caleb McCoy
This year, we brought together the community and had the opportunity to make room for ministries from across the city to share their mission with the city.
It was so wonderful being a part of UniteBoston both personally and representing Gordon College! There was clearly a spirit of unity in Christ!!!! I was able to meet many pastors and we have already had follow-up conversations. – Dan Tymann, Gordon College There were a lot of great moments of togetherness:
We also had the pleasure of building a community choir that brought together members from Gordon College God’s Chosen Gospel Choir and members of the community who have a passion for worshipping God.
“Such an excellent time celebrating our Jesus together as a city tonight!” – Sarah Riddle “It was a beautiful glimpse into the true Body of Christ as we worshipped together. I was especially moved by the Gospel Youth Choir and their fervor for Jesus. And to think that we were right down there at the Boston Harbor proclaiming Jesus!”
-Pastor Richard Rhodes, Grace Chapel
Alexis Monroe and Kika Ghobrial were the MCs for the event and Grain of Wheat Christian ministries brought their musical gifts during the program intermission.
“The UniteBoston concert was awesome! It was a sure sign that the people of God are hungry for God’s presence and excited to worship Him as one church. It was a great night of celebration and unity. I loved meeting new faces and being reunited with old friends. Might I mention that the band was amazing! We had so much fun worshipping! Thank you UniteBoston for hosting such a great night!”
-Jen AldanaOther testimonies:
“I was visiting from Chicago this weekend and happened upon the choir. It was such a blessing. We were on the way to dinner without reservations. Thankfully we were able to circle back while we waited. May God continue to bless your ministry!” – @acalhy
“My favorite moment was with the lemonade stand owner which was adjacent to where we were setting up. I told him that today is going to be a great day for his business. He said that even when they have concerts here, he doesn’t make any money. I responded, “Today will be different – it’s a different vibe.” He said, “I hope so.” Later I ran into him and told him to make me a lemonade. When I came back to get it, he said, “Oh shoot, I forgot to make yours cause right after you ordered yours, I got so busy with customer after customer. You brought me luck!” I said, “No, God did it.” and he said “Yes he did!” This was a great chance to testify about God to many people who don’t normally go to church!” -Emmanuel Nicolas
“During one of the songs I see an older couple walk across the lawn near us checking things out. They look like tourists from Texas – 2 white people, mid-50s, too nicely dressed for this event. I remember thinking that they looked out of place. Then the man threw both of his hands up in worship and the woman started dancing. They participated until the end and we talked with them briefly after. They are from Texas and are spending a few days in Boston as part of a broader New England vacation. They just stumbled across the event and were excited to see Christian life in Boston. Their son lives in the burbs and hasn’t found a church community, and they didn’t think there was any life here. They were very encouraged by what they saw!” -Jeff Bass, Executive Director, Emmanuel Gospel Center
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event and our fundraising goals. Thanks to each of you for being part of the UB community – it is a joy to serve alongside each of you, as together we seek greater gospel movement in our city!
September 8, 2022 at 3:16 pm in reply to: Here’s Why These Artists Are Excited about the “Together Again” Concert! #20573unitebostonKeymaster“Together Again” is UniteBoston’s first big concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Taking place on September 17th in downtown Boston, this concert is the opportunity for Christians to come together in a public place to worship.
We have an incredible line-up of Boston-based artists who are performing – Meet them below to hear why they are excited about the concert, and find links to follow them on their media platforms!
You can also hear a little bit about the concert and the music being performed by Jalen Williams and Jen Aldana from this Instagram Live session that took place on Friday.
Jen Aldana
Click here to listen to Jen Aldana’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, or Amazon Music.
Doully Yang
Click here to listen to Doully’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, or Amazon Music.
Caleb McCoy
Click here to listen to Caleb’s music on your preferred music service
Ada Betsabe
Click here to listen to Ada Betsabe’s music on Spotify and Youtube. Jalen Williams
Click here to listen to Jalen Williams’ music on Spotify and Youtube. Join us to support Boston-based artists and to hear great jams that are glorifying God filling the heart of the city!
unitebostonKeymasterThe Worship Band at the 2019 “Engage Boston” Concert By Alexis Monroe
“Together Again” is UniteBoston’s first big concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Taking place on September 17th in downtown Boston, this concert is the opportunity for Christians to come together in a public place to worship. Not only that, we also get to help the city of Boston get a glimpse of what a diverse and loving Christian community looks like – This is why we would like everyone who has a heart to see Boston glorify God to come worship with us!
My name is Alexis Monroe and I’ve had the privilege of working behind the scenes to help facilitate the logistics for the concert – and today I’d like to share with you some reasons why you should attend!
Reason #1: It’s going to be a big reunion!
Over the last two years, we have not been able to gather as a large body of Christians due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this kept us physically safe, at times, this isolation and social distance brought on feelings of loneliness. “Together Again” is the perfect opportunity to reclaim the feelings of joy, love, and embrace that we find when we are gathered as a community of believers. This year’s concert is a great opportunity to meet up with old friends, stumble upon a work colleague walking through the park, or meet another fellow Christian who also wants to feel and share the love of Christ.
Reason #2: There’s going to be great music!
We have an incredible line-up of Boston-based artists who are performing, including the Christian hip-hop artists Caleb McCoy & Jalen Williams, the deep soul music of Jen Aldana, rich guitar jams from Doully Yang, and the bilingual rap revivalist Ada Betsabe. This year, we also have a community choir with the core of “God’s Chosen” from Gordon College, as well as our usual united worship band. Join us to support Boston-based artists and to hear great jams that are glorifying God filling the heart of the city!
Reason #3: Boston needs to see the love of Jesus Christ
The Bible says that Christians are a light set on a hill that all the world needs to see (Mt 5:14) – So let’s let our light shine! As our society continues to be divided, love can often seem intangible, but as believers in Jesus Christ, we know the love of God is always around us. “Together Again” is the chance for us to show Boston that love comes in all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, abilities, and languages. While we worship and praise our God, the light we hold will shine brightly through the city. We invite you to help us shine this light.
Reason #4: We have giveaways to help you stay “Together Again”
Our “Together Again” concert is not just about being together for this one night, but we also want to provide you with opportunities to experience the joy of community with some amazing giveaways! All of our giveaways are activities you can do with someone else. Whether that’s learning how to roller skate at Chez Vous with a buddy, grabbing a matching tee or hoodie from Hope Design, a group workout session with a friend, or a photoshoot with your bestie, our giveaways will help you do something new with someone you love. You can enter to win one of these giveaways by RSVPing on our Facebook page and commenting on our giveaway posts.
Reason #5: We get to be a church without walls
As a body of believers, we often meet within buildings in cities and places we are familiar with, but may be unfamiliar and foreign to someone who has never attended church. When we worship in public places, it gives people who normally would not step into a church building the opportunity to witness authentic worship. With a variety of musical performance styles, a diverse band and community choir, as well as community tables with churches and organizations throughout the city, this is a great way for some people to see Christianity!
Please join us for the concert and help to spread the word! You can RSVP here via Facebook to receive notifications and enter special giveaways we have just for you. – Local organizations and businesses are also invited to host a Sponsored Table during our fall concert to help connect with all the people who attend!
unitebostonKeymasterOn UniteBoston’s blog this week, we are introducing a new book, “How to Navigate Life: The New Science of Finding Your Way in School, Career, & Beyond (published by St. Martin’s Press). The book is a practical guide for students, families, educators, and professionals to “cut through stress and performance pressure, and find a path to purpose.” Already, in the first week the book has hit #1 Amazon Bestseller, Fortune Magazine Recommended Reads, and has been featured on NPR’s Here and Now. Dr. Belle Liang is co-author, professor of counseling psychology at Boston College, and a clinical psychologist. She is also founder of the Purpose Lab, and member of Grace Chapel. Read an excerpt from the book below, where she shares her own journey of finding a sense of calling and belonging.
This is a book about how to equip young people to navigate school, career, and life with joy and excellence. The first step to doing this job well as parents, educators, or life mentors is to know ourselves. We have to be students of ourselves—by learning who we are, where we came from, what we believe, and where these beliefs came from. How we raise and guide our people is deeply influenced by our own stories. If we’re aware of the core values and scripts that were passed on to us from our families of origin, we can be compassionate toward ourselves—understanding our knee-jerk reactions to our students and their life choices. We can be intentional about what we choose to pass on to the next generation. This has been true for us, as you’ll see from our stories.
Belle’s story: I am the middle daughter of first- generation Chinese immigrants who, like their compatriots, sacrificed heroically so that my brothers and I could get an education in the United States. My father borrowed the little money his sister had to come to the United States to pursue his graduate degree on a student visa. This decision came with another, more significant cost: leaving behind his wife and six- week- old firstborn child, my brother. It was two years before they were reunited on American soil. My mother abandoned her career aspirations when she arrived in the United States, leaving her family and home to live in the United States to pursue his graduate degree on a student visa. This decision came with another, more significant cost: leaving behind his wife and six- week- old firstborn child, my brother. It was two years before they were reunited on American soil. My mother abandoned her career aspirations when she arrived in the United States, leaving her family and home to live in a country where she struggled to work, communicate, and feel a sense of belonging.
She pushed through language barriers to befriend neighbors, so I would have neighborhood playdates. She clipped coupons, so I could buy trendy clothes. All of this probably helped me fit in with the popular kids at my affluent suburban high school. My parents relished the thought that I was a teacher’s pet, two-time homecoming princess, student leader in clubs, class government officer, and a graduation speaker at the John F. Kennedy Center. These “achievements” were shamelessly evoked at afternoon tea with the aunties, because they satisfied every-one’s expectations for me. They were proud that I “fit in” so well.
All their dreams and efforts to make ends meet were fueled by hopes that my brothers and I could achieve more. They expected that we would. It was never a question of “whether I would go to college,” it was a matter of where I went and what I did there to become “successful.” I internalized the cultural value that the point of education was to achieve financial security and respect in society. Like other “first-gen” people, we bought into Horatio Alger’s myth that if you worked hard, you could achieve the American dream, not only for yourself, but to validate your parents’ sacrifices. All of this prepared me to be the most successful student I could be. A rule-following, risk-averse, people-pleasing success. I was the opposite of Cheryl Strayed in the wild, driven by a free spirit to conquer the dangers of the Pacific Crest Trail. My ambition was to take the safest path to financial security and prestige.
I had gleaned from my upbringing that there were certain careers that were especially acceptable. Doctor, lawyer, engineer. I later realized that these were actually the acceptable choices for boys, but that there were alternatives for girls.
Up to this point, whenever faced with a big decision about school, work, and life at large, I asked myself: “What should I do?” Often, the answer that felt right to me was the one that matched the expectations of those around me. After two years of bouncing around multiple majors in the hard sciences and internships in health fields, a well- meaning auntie offered me this career guidance: “Don’t work so hard, you’ll prematurely age and lose your beauty. Just take good care of your hair and skin (your best assets), marry a doctor, and you’ll be fine.”
Imagine how those words landed on an American college woman. Yep, just the nudge I needed to begin listening more closely to my own heart. And trusting the wisdom and direction that could be found there. The women in my life were smart and competent, while content to sit in the back seat. Few were trailblazers, civic leaders, public speakers. With the most honorable intentions, they sacrificed personal goals and de-rived their identities from others. I realized that the standard- bearers I had followed were no longer a perfect match with my own journey. My spiritual-faith adventure provided fresh insight and courage for rewrit-ing the script, following my call.
When I announced to the family that I planned to pursue a career as a psychologist, it was as if I had announced that I was dropping out of college. Had I thought this through? Could I get a job doing such a thing? They saw a huge distinction between doctors who focused on people’s mental health versus those who treated their physical health. But they comforted themselves thinking girls shouldn’t work too hard, and that I would be fine as long as I married a real doctor, who could take care of me.
My transformation continued during graduate school, where I met a mentor and role model who believed in me and nurtured my creativity and confidence. She introduced me to community psychology, a field focused on addressing systemic injustices and partnering with disadvan-taged and marginalized people. I felt such a sense of mission . . . Here was a way that my values, strengths, and skills aligned with meaningful work that could make a difference in the world.
I need to say that as I write this, I am so genuinely grateful to my cultural roots, family, and mentors for watering the seeds of my purpose today. At the same time that there are cultural and moral virtues to my story that I deeply cherish (like respect for your elders and sacrifice for others), there are imperfections. And all of it inspires my current work. I see that while the world is progressing, stories like mine reflect an ongoing ethos that reaches beyond the immigrant experience. In hundreds of our research interviews and surveys, adolescents (and their parents) lamented: “I’m living someone else’s life. I don’t know who I really am and what I’m really living for, apart from others’ expectations of me.” Similarly, I’d been basing my identity on what others told me about myself when I was a child. Trying to mold myself into someone’s stereotype of me left me exhausted and confused. But as my understanding of who I am came into sharper focus during my later college and adult years, this understanding became my guide. It continues to shape what I value and believe, and how I feel, act, and connect. Brené Brown calls this embracing of who you really are true belonging:
True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.
She goes on to say: “True belonging is not something that you need to negotiate externally, it’s what you carry in your heart.”* This internal belonging, this sense of understanding who I was—what I stood for, what I had to offer in the world—began to free me from the need for external approval. It’s been a glorious adventure to discover my innermost being, and to realize that what I’ve turned up there can meet a great need in the world.
This book offers a practical guide which provides shared language and approach for identifying your purpose. Click above to buy the book on Amazon! unitebostonKeymasterThis past weekend, UniteBoston hosted about twenty-five BIPOC friends on an retreat to Spectacle Island to take a break from the demanding work of reconciliation, justice and racial dynamics and instead be renewed, recharge and reconnect with other likeminded people who are “doing the work” in their various communities. Read the blog below to hear UniteBoston’s Communications Administrator Rev. Devlin Scott answer questions about this “circle of restoration” retreat and its impact!
The group of retreaters ready to board the ferry! Why did you organize this retreat day?
When Rev. Kelly and I read Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil’s book Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0 earlier this year, the part that stood out to me was how she added the “restoration cycle” to her new book to acknowledge that people of color need restoration to be a part of their journey of reconciliation. UniteBoston wanted to support the BIPOC community by acknowledging that they are constantly doing the work of reconciliation and embodying the tension of living and working in a racialize society. And to respond to the BIPOC community by providing space to “renew, reconnect and recharge.”
Circles of Restoration are intentional spaces created for the BIPOC community who are weary from the ongoing battle of working for reconciliation to get away for self-care, solitude, and connection in community.
A group of attendees enjoying the ferry ride to Spectacle Island. New and old friends enjoying each other. What did the day entail?
This group of justice seekers, cultural drivers and Gospel bearers, traveled out to Spectacle Island for the day to enjoy beachside fun, private massages, food and fellowship with their peers. We even got to enjoy a hiphop dance competition happening on the island at the same time as our visit.
The time on the island started with a devotional that I had put together on laying down our burdens. I reflected on how Jesus willingly displayed His humanity when he dropped the cross on his way to Calvary. This gives us validation that sometimes this cross is too heavy to bear and it also shows that it is okay to put it down at times along this journey. I also ended the day encouraging the group to pick up their cross again and return back to the work set before us knowing that His grace is sufficient for each of us and we all must bear our cross as we have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
Pastor Devlin leading a devotion time on laying down the burden of the cross. Attendees enjoyed time with the group; feeling affirmed in who they are and the shared experience of the work of reconciliation. We also enjoyed solitude time on our own to reflect, pray and recharge.
Jane and Tim on the ferry. Seong, Andrea and Kelly in the water. Alexis and Cleo enjoying the time. We closed the evening with food from Brato — a taco and burrito place on the island and attendees were able to pick from a table full of restorative items; soaps, journals, gift cards, etc — all from black owned businesses. And although we had an amazing time on the island — the ferry ride back was the best way to top off the evening; complete with a DJ and party put on my the hiphop dance competition participants.
What did the attendees think of the retreat?
- “It was so refreshing to get out of the city and be on an island!”
- “The devotional was spot-on; it was a great reminder to lay my burdens down and give them to God.”
- “I’m leaving here feeling lighter and encouraged in the work that I’m doing.”
- “The music was so culturally relevant!”
- “I had some great conversations and people I’m excited to get to know better. I am coming away with a sense of solidarity of all those who are on a similar journey of faith and action.”
Personally, this was the first time that UniteBoston had done something like this, and I was anxious to see how it would go, in addition to “running on empty” due to a missed plane flight back from Chicago! But I found it to be incredibly refreshing. To be with other people of color in the faith and fight for justice was affirming. This truly was a circle of restoration and we look forward to building on it in the coming years!
– Reverend Devlin Scott
unitebostonKeymaster(Photo by Maria Teneva on Unsplash) Today, we are featuring an excerpt from a new book entitled The Church and Migration: A Theological Vision for the People of God. Local theologian Daniel Montanez is a PhD student at the Boston University School of Theology and is the primary editor for this book, which explores the theme of human migration throughout the grand narrative of Scripture.
Read the excerpt below by Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, Academic Dean of Centro Latino & Associate Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, who reminds us of the need to start any conversation about migration from the perspective of our faith in order to foster unity and reconciliation.
“What about illegal do you not understand?” I have received this question and similar questions after multiple presentations about immigration in different churches over the past forty years. The questioners have been angry, frustrated, sometimes confused. It seems obvious to them that there is no acceptable reason for crossing a border without legal documentation or overstaying a VISA. At the same time, however, there are often people in the same audience (if the church is large enough) or at a minimum in the same Church denomination, who have personally experienced a broken immigration system and who empathize deeply with those who have ended up on the wrong side of that system. Many churches and denominations owe the majority of their growth over the past decades to immigrant Christians and to immigrants who become Christians through the missionary efforts of migrant believers. This is a family fight, a conflict between children of the same God, brothers and sisters, members of the same Body of Christ. The battle is often fought on political grounds, with little to no input from the scriptures that they share.
This book reminds Christians that we are standing on common sacred ground. If we are to have any hope of reconciliation, we must start any conversation about migration from the perspective of our faith. That perspective includes theology, of course, disciplined reflection on the Word and will of God. The authors in this book are grounded in orthodox Christian theology. They are also creative. I have been working with and teaching about these issues for many years, yet I found myself moved, inspired and provoked. The contents of this book go beyond theology to spirituality. The authors of these chapters call us to the deepening of our faith, hope, and love. Most of this book is written by people who have experienced migration, either through their own personal journey and/or through the experiences of their loved ones. They call us to incarnate the heart of God as we approach not only the issue but the people who are impacted by it. For that reason, it also goes beyond asking us to reconsider how we think about migration to how we practically respond to the plight of migrants.
To fully receive the gift of this book, approach it with both an open mind and an open heart. If you are a migrant, you may be encouraged and perhaps even healed from some of the wounds of shame, slander, and rejection. If you are confused about migration, you may attain some clarity. If you are angry about migration, you may hear a challenging but important message that could deepen your faith. Regardless, you will be blessed.
Get your copy of “The Church and Migration” today! unitebostonKeymasterToday, we are featuring Dan Elliott as our guest blogger. Dan serves as the Promotions Manager for K-LOVE Boston and describes that his goal and his mission are simple: to help his audiences take one step closer to Christ. Dan holds a Master’s Degree in Ministry and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Ministry with a focus on Advanced Expository preaching. Read below to hear Dan’s testimony of how he has seen God change lives and how KLOVE can partner with you to celebrate God’s great work in our region.
I love stories.
Stories that have a great beginning, middle, and end. I love stories that are as captivating as they are encouraging, ones that can take our attention forever and make the hours fly by. Where a great hero defeats evil and saves the people. And, when asked, I’m sure many of us can tell these kinds of great stories in our own lives. Stories of both pain and fulfilled promise, stories of devastating lows and incredible highs, and stories that are amazing examples of how good God is.
Great storytellers know how to engage people with what they’re doing and how to take the audience with them into the story. My story is an example of just that. I’ve grown up in church, have seen God do great things in the lives of people and have gotten to watch many stories changed for the better by Jesus. As a former Pastor, I have gotten to connect with people from all walks of life and see how the presence of God in their lives has made all the difference. As a traveling speaker, I’ve seen many people and their stories from a variety of places and have gotten to have a front row seat to the story that God is writing through His church here in New England. This story is one of unity and community, where God glorifies Himself through the collaboration that we can all have in working out His plan.
Worship band at the 2019 UniteBoston Concert I have also known significant pain, that has resulted in two books being written by my family. We have seen abuse, injury, and autism, as well as good times, hard times, and everything in between. I have seen God meet us in the middle of that pain and show how skilled of a storyteller He is. In fact, there is not a greater storyteller than Jesus, and the stroke of His pen changes the world.
As we look at scripture, we can see God working both in our lives individually and in the lives of all of us together. Isaiah 43: 19-21 says this:
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”
We can see God writing the story of His people and His work that culminated in both His resurrection and the creation of His church. Isaiah was writing this about future generations to come and to set the stage for one of God’s greatest stories, The Church. And the best part is, He isn’t done writing stories through His church, His eternal partner in His work for a renewed world. His love for the world is shown by His love for the church, because through the church the world will see Him.
At K-LOVE, we see the value of the local church, and we exist to push it forward. We want to partner with churches in telling the stories of how God is moving in their midst to do great things for His glory. God is doing so many amazing things throughout New England, and we know that the church at large here could truly benefit from hearing some of these things and seeing themselves encouraged. God is moving here, and we love sharing the stories of it. One of our favorite stories is of the time God used our radio station to prevent someone from taking their own life. While on their way to a bridge, they were moving through the radio dial, and they providentially came across our station. Through the message of the songs that they heard they realized that there was hope available, even when life seemed hopeless through a relationship with Jesus. Once they came to this conclusion, they got involved in a local church and the rest is history: this person began a relationship with Christ and never looked back.
Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash Personally, I love hearing these stories of how God is changing lives through His church and doing great things. If you would like us to be a part of your church’s story, we’d love to talk about how we can help. We have a variety of platforms that we could feature your church or organization on including our text club, Instagram page, and our website events page. We don’t ask for anything financially, rather we see it as an opportunity to partner alongside your church to tell others about the story that God is telling through you. We love stories and can’t wait to tell others about God’s work in the middle of yours.
For more information about how we can help please shoot us an email at boston@klove.com or reach out to us on Instagram @kloveboston.
unitebostonKeymasterIt was, indeed, a Christian celebration of liberation filled with preaching, music, singing/rapping, poetry, testimony and prayer! Let’s take a photographic scroll down memory lane as we use this Friday to flash back to the first inaugural Juneteenth Jubilee Observance! Thanks again to Rev. Kevin Peterson for the vision and The Table, Restoration City Church, New Democracy Coalition and UniteBoston for the partnership in making this happen!
Boston City Hall was lit in liberation colors at the end of the festivities. Pastor Valerie Copeland preaching. Pastor Josh Wilson preaching. Pastor Deric Quest opened with the invocation. Attendees danced the night away. Pastor Devlin Scott preaching. Words from Nika Elugardo shared by her daughter. Words from Nika Elugardo shared by her daughter. Attendees enjoying the celebration. Attendees young and old had a great time. Young attendee enjoying the drums. A beautiful evening for a powerful event. The City of Boston was blessed that night. Attendees enjoying the event. Attendees enjoying the event. The event started with prayer for those who were participating. Some of the participants and attendees at the end of the night! Attendees celebrating with the African American flag. Restoration Church Worship team lead songs of worship. Performance by Troupe Fall West African Drum and Dance Kevin Peterson hosting the event waving his flag of liberation. June Cottrell singing. Pastor Davie Hernandez preaching. Photos courtesy of Josh Wilson, Devlin Scott, Davie Hernandez, Kelly Fassett and Fons Cervera.
unitebostonKeymasterThe beauty of the resurrection is that death is not the end of the story – but leads to ultimate life. Similarly, we often see how there are signs of God’s redemptive life coming out of painful circumstances and broken realities in our world. In this season of Eastertide, we want to feature The Boston Project Ministries, which “engages and equips neighbors, volunteers, and churches to build strong communities characterized by God’s shalom.” Below, Paul Malkemes shares how they worked with residents of the community to create a mural symbolizing hope after the heartbreaking loss of a young man in the neighborhood.
Youth Artists from the Boston Project Ministries in front of the “Hope” Mural “We have learned that healing as a community is often rooted in relationships.”
– Paul Malkemes
Our community has experienced some real heartache this year. Maybe you have to?
Early in 2021, we lost a young man to violence. He was deeply loved by his family, school, and community. He was an artist, a comic and video game enthusiast, a promising student, and a beloved son. An outdoor memorial and healing service brought together over 100 young people to grieve. Unexpected loss can sometimes be the hardest to recover from.
Then in the spring, retaliatory violence shook our community again. Trauma reawakened. Parents kept their children inside; neighbors wanted to move. What was happening?
Neighbors began to ask: How do we heal as a community? How do we find hope?
Our sense of safety had been shattered. The COVID-19 pandemic layered health concerns, loneliness, economic hardship, and learning loss on top of this tragedy. We have learned that healing as a community is often rooted in relationships. “Knowing and being able to talk to my neighbors helps me get through,” shares one resident.
So we began planning monthly events – a book fair, a vaccination clinic, building raised bed gardens, and having cookouts. But we wondered – could we have a more permanent reminder of our healing-hope journey? One youth expressed it this way, “Hope is like looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.” The idea for a mural was born.
The vision was cast for a mural that would both memorialize the loss of our beloved young person, and speak to the eternal message of hope found in Jesus – even as we face challenges in our individual lives and within our collective community.
Summer arrived and the time to create began. The process of building the mural was a sacred act of hope. “It was a beautiful experience, and I felt really honored to be part of this healing and catharsis for the community, and my friend,” expressed one youth. Another teen shared, “For me, it was an impact to see a memory coming to life. Watching adults, kids, and teens grieving together. At the same time, it gave people life. It was very beautiful – to some people, it was remembering our friend, for others, it was seeing hope for our community.”
Muralist Alex Cook reflects “It is powerful to have a human figure (in the mural) enveloped in hope. It is about our identity, our inner experience, and our struggles. It is intimate. It makes you think about your own relationship to hope. The butterflies represent our letting go and the healing process. You don’t keep a butterfly, but you let it rise.”
As we were completing the mural, a neighbor walked up and said to us, “that person in the mural, it’s Jesus right? It has to be Jesus.” We believe Jesus is the one who restores and embodies HOPE. In the words of Pastor Valerie Copeland, “Art has a way of pointing our hearts toward God.”
We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope, is in you alone.
Psalm 33:20-22
March 25, 2022 at 10:53 pm in reply to: “The people showed up!” Creative Lenten Ministry at Roxbury Presbyterian Church #19605unitebostonKeymasterAs we emerge from the pandemic, we wanted to highlight the creative ministry at Roxbury Presbyterian Church, where church leaders imparted ashes to congregants in their cars after their Zoom Ash Wednesday service. Read below to hear Elder Chase Grogan, Elder Kim Houston, and Rev. Dana Baker describe the significance of this practice, how it blessed the broader community, and what the Church should focus on moving forward.
Elder Chase Grogan, Parish Associate; Elder Kim Houston; and Rev. Dana Baker, liturgist; imparting ashes to the broader community at Roxbury Presbyterian Church How did you decide to impart ashes on the cars? What was the most meaningful moment of that day for you?
Chase: Throughout the pandemic, we have been going back and forth with how to create and foster a sense of community while existing in this space of isolation. We’ve done other creative events like this and we figured we would provide the best solution for a circumstance where we knew people would gather. Our creative worship team, along with our church administrator, put together the logistics and THE PEOPLE SHOWED UP!!
Maybe the most meaningful aspect, however, was not just the members that drove from around the city – some even on the bus – but there were community members walking down the street that asked for ashes and prayer! They wanted to know what we were doing and so there was a sense of evangelism and outreach that also occurred that was the biggest blessing!
Dana: One woman was on the phone as she walked by – she stopped right in front of us and told the person on the phone, “I’ve got to go, I’ve got something much more important to do right now.” The fact that she recognized that what we were doing was something significant, and would stop a conversation in which she was in the middle, just said to me how much meaning these sacramental moments can have even when people aren’t directly connected with a local congregation. We prayed for each person afterwards as they walked away. Who knows what God will do through that moment.
Kim: Also, one of our congregants got off the bus with so much excitement, waving and shouting “I’m here!” All I could say to myself is: “Look at God!”
For me the meaning of Lent has evolved as I have grown spiritually. In the beginning it was just a time to give up something for 40 days, sugar or coffee or even TV, flat and one dimensional. Now I see it as multidimensional, not just giving up something but adding on something to get closer to God, like prayer, journaling or more studying. The giving up of something is to remove the distractions so you can allow more of God in.
What is significant about the mission and ministry of Roxbury Presbyterian Church?
Chase: The significance about RPC is that we’ve existed for over 130 years as a place where the community can be ministered to. Social justice and community outreach have been central to the narrative of our church’s history and seem to be woven into the fabric of who we are. Our church has been used to house programs for the Black Panthers, Alcoholics Anonymous, educational and community programs and now our Social Impact Center where we open ourselves to the community through our trauma-informed programming. Even as we have entered a new season after our beloved pastor, Rev. Liz Walker, retired in December, the outreach and the impact of being involved in the community remain a vital part of what we do and why we exist. Rev. Liz impressed on our hearts the importance of being the love of Christ and the mission and ministry of RPC seeks to embed that in everything that we do.
Is there anything you’d like to say to Christians in Boston?
Chase: We know everyone is excited about seeing “the light at the end of the tunnel.” Soon, our congregations may be back to “normal,” but we must reflect and put into practice what we’ve learned through the pandemic. As the world changes, and the needs of the community change, we as the Body of Christ also must evolve. We must be ready to incorporate technology into our services. We must be ready to speak to the growing mental health challenges in our communities. We must be creative and intuitive and willing to color outside of our traditional lines; and yes, it may be challenging but ministry must be intentional. The Bible reminds us that those that win souls are wise and we, at RPC, are praying for that wisdom so that we can continue to reflect the love and compassion of Christ as we minister to a broken world.
Dana: These are some words and a prayer that I used to open the RPC Ash Wednesday Service. May they continue to challenge us to reflect on these in the remaining days of Lent.
“Father God, I find myself tonight so thankful for the liturgical calendar. For rhythms that remind us to pause and reflect. For the invitation to stop numbing ourselves or busying ourselves so we don’t notice what really ails us: that the world is not as it should be.
To remember the tension of being dust and beloved, living and dying, the here and not yet. That although all of nature will soon remind us that winter and death does have an end – that You have also provided this space. This muddy place. This making room for the resurrection of new blooms.
So as we enter into this service, I want to commit to you Lord the words of a prayer, a poem that really captures the cries of my heart, and I hope the cries of others, of a place between dirt and divinity, between ashes and the hope of the resurrection.
“Art and Prayer by Jan Richardson”All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners
or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—
did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.
This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.
This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made
and the stars that blaze
in our bones
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.”
unitebostonKeymaster“We must pray for peace in Ukraine, but we must pray for the kind of peace that accompanies justice and virtue and truth—even if that takes time and, perhaps, some fighting to secure.“
Today, we want to offer a reflection on how we can be praying amidst the growing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Our guest blogger is Greer Bates Cordner, who is a Ph.D. student at Boston University School of Theology and a former missionary in southern Ukraine. Read below to hear her suggestions on what it means to pray for peace in Ukraine right now.
(Photo: Nadya Ershova is originally from St. Petersburg, Russia and here stands in support of Ukraine at a rally in front of the Massachusetts State House. Photo by Pat Greenhouse / Boston Globe) Many people have committed to fast and pray or attend special worship services to ask God for peace in Ukraine. As we prepare for those important devotions, though, I felt an urge to share a caution that I received during some of my own pleadings.
It is important to consider what kind of “peace” we desire for Ukraine. More specifically, I think that we need to pray for a “peace” that means something much more than an end to the armed conflict.
The war needs to end—absolutely. The shelling and killing and destroying must stop. But there are many ways for the conflict to end, and not all of them constitute “peace,” in my mind.
After all, if Ukraine surrenders, gives in to Putin’s puppet government, yields her territory, and turns vassal, the fighting might end. But would that mean “peace”? If Ukraine falls (without surrender), and time passes before any meaningful pods of resistance can form, there might be a lapse in armed conflict for a while. Would that interim be a time of “peace”? Has there been “peace” in Ukraine for the past several years while the fighting and occupation have simmered out of sight from our headlines and news feeds? Was there “peace” in the months leading up to this most recent invasion, before the fighting broke out?
We must pray for peace in Ukraine, but we must pray for the kind of peace that accompanies justice and virtue and truth—even if that takes time and, perhaps, some fighting to secure.
Let us pray that the armed conflict ceases without the destruction of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Let us pray that the invaders’ hearts will sicken at the realization of their actions, and that anyone with an ounce of authority over the troops will begin to pull back, resist Putin’s commands, and leave their neighbors be.
Let us pray that the defenders’ hearts will strengthen to endure whatever amount of fighting it takes to achieve the kind of peace that doesn’t mean victory for the abusers.
Let us pray that the civilians will find shelter and support, that international aid will rally behind them, that countries will embrace the refugees, and that families can somehow be reunited and live in enduring security.
Let us pray that in the aftermath of this war, Russia, Ukraine, and the rest of our nations take hard stock of our governments, and begin (or continue) the process of rooting out corruption, self-interest, and greed.
Let us pray that this war doesn’t set up a precedent of inaction by those of us whose personal security affords us the option to look away, or to call for the speediest end to the fight, no matter the cost to a faraway country.
Let us pray for the stomachs to fight for hard peace instead of the absence of conflict.
Oh God, pour out peace on Ukraine, on the world, but please let it be this kind of peace—even if it takes time and some fighting to reach. And if the road to hard peace isn’t fast or free of conflict, then pour out strength and courage and faith on anyone who battles for what’s right and true.
“Ego eimi, I am, Do not be Afraid,” by Soichi Watanabe. О Боже, дай Украине настоящий, тяжёлый, справедливый мир. И дай ей храбрость бороться для него. Пусть это будет в Украине по словам Твоего Сына: «Мир оставляю вам, мир Мой даю вам; не так, как мир даёт, Я даю вам. Да не смущается сердце ваше и да не устрашается.» Во имя Иисуса Христа, аминь.
[Translation: Oh God, give Ukraine a real, hard, just peace. And give her the courage to fight for it. Let it be in Ukraine according to the words of Thy Son: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.]
January 27, 2022 at 3:41 pm in reply to: Highlights from the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 #19357unitebostonKeymasterWe had a wonderful set of gatherings this year for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity! The theme for 2022 was the Epiphany, taken from the second chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew. The material was developed by the Middle East Council of Churches and, in particular, churches in Lebanon. The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “coming forth.” Each year in January, the Church recalls the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, as they come to see God’s redemptive work in the Incarnation of Christ. Together, we discerned God’s shining light in front of us.
See highlighted photos & videos from the various prayer gatherings below!
In the midst of humanity’s darkness, the star from the East shone. The star’s light was not only an illumination at a particular historical moment but it continues to shine and change the face of human history. Despite the vicissitudes of history and the changing of circumstances, the Risen One continues to shine, moving within the flow of history like a beacon guiding all into this perfect light and overcoming the darkness which separates us from one another.
-Opening prayer from the worldwide worship service for this year’s Week of Prayer
Wednesday January 19: “Where do we go from here?” A Panel with Next Generation Leaders
Featured panelists included Christian Grant, Katie Lamirato, Andrea St. Louis, Fugi Acevedo and Jane Kyong Chun with Rev. David Wright as the moderator. They shared about the need for the Church to engage in the collective struggle against correcting oppression, to practice what we preach, to partner with anyone and everyone for the sake of a greater mission, and create space for difference rather than fearing it. There is so much wisdom here that we all can glean from – Click here to watch the full length video and here is a 3-minute highlight version.Closing photo from everyone who attended the “Where do we go from here?” Next Generation Leaders Gathering
Friday January 21: Prayer Gathering led by the Focolare Movement in Boston.
This ecumenical prayer service included the intercessions and inspirations suggested in the materials presented by the Middle East Council of Churches on this year’s theme. It was a beautiful time of prayer and song in different languages, led by members of the Boston Focolare community originally from Middle Eastern countries.Three children closed out the prayer gathering singing, “You call us by name to be your own people…come make us one in you. Here we are.” These lyrics were from an original song “You Call Us By Name” written by the Focolare women’s community.
Sunday January 23: Song & Stillness: Taize at MIT
“We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Mt 2:2). Through melodic singing, scripture, silence, and prayer, the Taize community at MIT hosted a beautiful prayer service. Participants sung songs and and heard scripture read in multiple languages in alignment with Taize’s international message of reconciliation.
Tuesday January 24: Prayer with Boston-Area Pastors
Here is a screenshot of the Boston-area pastors who gathered online to pray for God to unite the church. They prayed for His Spirit to heal, comfort and deliver. Pastors on the call, included Revs. Robin Lütjohann, Melinda Watson Priest, Devlin Scott, Barry Kang, Josh Wilson, Samuel Acevedo, Gloria White-Hammond, Wendy Miller Olapade, and Davie Hernandez.From Pastor Robin Lutjohann: “I was moved by the prayers people shared – and felt that this was well worth our time. I feel strengthened in Christ.”
Wednesday January 25: Listening Prayer and Discernment
What God is speaking for the Church in Boston in 2022? Pastor Devlin Scott and Kika Ghobrials led us in a time of listening to God, discerning, and sharing words to hold onto for 2022. Here is our collective Word of God for the Church in Boston in 2022:
Participants prayed for God to speak to them, listened for 15 minutes for scriptures, words that kept coming to mind, images that they saw or even things that seemed to “distract” them. They each shared what they heard and saw one at a time as Rev. Devlin Scott wrote their messages down, in the order they were shared and written as God speaking. We humbly submit this as a word from the Lord for His Church in Boston recorded on Tuesday, January 25, 2022. May you hold on to it in seasons of plenty and lack, growth and shrinkage, momentum and stagnation.
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