Dr. Desiree Etienne, with her co-leaders Pastor Edris Webbe and Minister Ava-Ann Pennyfeather, leading a virtual ‘Boston United’ revival service on April 10th-11th. 

When UniteBoston’s staff heard about a church event called “Boston United,” we knew we needed to talk with the organizer of this event, as it had such synergy with UniteBoston’s own name. We had the chance to interview Dr. Desiree Etienne this past week – read below to hear her goals for a time of revival and awakening for Christians in Greater Boston that transcend traditional church (or virtual) walls. 

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By K. Percy Ballah

Twenty-seven years ago, Dr. Desiree Etinenne moved to the United States from Antigua with a dream to pursue higher education. As she began pursuing this, God placed another dream in her heart to “see a revival that would awaken the church and the world.” While pastoring at Bethel Abundant Life Church over the past twenty-three years, she has grappled with how to make her God dream a reality. As her experiences in life and ministry revealed the spiritual and emotional challenges people were facing, and as she perceived the widened divisions within the body of Christ, she sensed that it was time to launch a gathering to invite the Holy Spirit to do a deep work of awakening in the hearts of Christians throughout the city. Last year, she took the next steps by meeting with two other women pastors to establish a revival gathering called “Boston United.”

 In UniteBoston’s work to highlight the beautiful work that God is doing through various churches and ministries throughout the city, we wanted to meet with Dr. Desiree to learn about what makes her dream for awakening and revival unique. In our conversation with her, we discovered some key things that undergird her God dream: 

First of all, we learned that her dream was birthed out of a personal spiritual encounter that she witnessed when her husband was miraculously healed at a revival worship service. She described, “I believed in miracles and often prayed for them, but I never saw a physical miracle happen until my husband was healed five years ago at that worship service.” That defining experience clarified her vision for what could be possible at a revival gathering. She wanted to see this type of supernatural healing take place with Christians from among the city because many people are facing overwhelming challenges that require divine intervention. 

In the past year, there has been a significant increase in the struggle with emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. Also, many people are feeling lonely because they have been living in isolation. Dr. Desiree believes that these complex challenges have presented an opportunity for people to experience a spiritual awakening that could happen through a revival service. 

With the restrictions in place for in-person gatherings, it has been difficult for churches to host physical gatherings. Finding a solution to this significant problem was critical to making her dream of awakening a reality. She expressed that she had been thinking through these types of questions since last year when her original revival service was canceled because of the pandemic. Consequently, Dr. Desiree and her team have adjusted their strategy to host a virtual revival gathering on April 10th and 11th. This gathering will have a virtual worship experience, praying together in breakout rooms, and a sermon by Bishop Dr. Jonathan Ramsey Jr., the Bishop that God used to heal her husband. 

This adjustment to the original plan has been an unexpected twist to how Dr.Desiree envisioned awakening would happen in this revival service.  However, Dr. Desiree and her co-leaders, Pastor Edris Webbe and Minister Ava-Ann Pennyfeather are determined to host this gathering because they believe that it is God’s timing. They know that God is not restricted by our distance physically from each other. God’s spirit can easily travel through the barriers of our computer screens and smartphones to touch our souls–and perhaps, wake us up so that we will step boldly into His greater purpose for our lives.  

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Historically, something special always happens when Christians unite to worship and pray together. This type of unity has always been a spark that ignites great awakenings and revivals. Dr. Desiree believes that “when we as a Church can unite across the denominations, and ethnic backgrounds, we will have a greater testimony to offer the world.” At times it has been frustrating for this team of women pastors to see the church not reaching its full potential and seeing the fiery love some believers once had for Jesus to grow dim. 

Ultimately, they expect God to show up in a mighty way up to strengthen the bond of Christians and rekindle believers’ fire and passion for Jesus. In recognition that the oneness that Jesus prays for in John 17 is a testimony about the reconciling love of Jesus, they hope  that unbelievers will then be attracted to the Church and also experience a spiritual awakening.

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The “Boston United” revival service will take place on Saturday, April 10th, from 5:30pm to 7:00pm and Sunday, April 11th, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. We would love to see Christians throughout Greater Boston join with Dr. Desiree in her dream for awakening and see how the Holy Spirit might show up as we seek God together.  Click here for more information and to register.

Hey UniteBoston!  You may remember Kika Ghobrial, our incredible emcee in UniteBoston’s annual concerts such as last fall’s “Love Boston” concert. Did you know that Kika also planted a church called “Lighthouse” for young adults in West Roxbury, and has been working to produce a new Podcast called “Social Media Revivalists?” This new podcast highlights how Christians with hundreds of thousands of followers are using social media to share the gospel. We had the chance to catch up with Kika to hear more about this initiative – Read his story below to hear how people are creatively sharing the gospel and engaging with future generations.

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UB: This sounds incredible. Kika, tell us how did this project get started?

Kika: Yeah it’s been a fun journey and honestly, I’ve always been interested in videos and the media world and love having some sort of creative outlet. At the end of 2020, I was ready to commit to doing something big like this so I finally made it happen! I reached out to some “big Christian Tiktokers” who have hundreds of thousands of followers to hear a bit of their story and how they are seeing God use them to bring people to Christ! Here’s a quick clip of one video that shares a bit of that story that I’ve used to promote the show on Tiktok as well. It really is amazing to see Christians online bringing real world revival and I’m just here to listen to their stories and share the good news with the rest of the Christian world. 

UB: Why do you think these posts on social media took off?

Kika: I think that the pandemic increased the isolation and brought many people to ask the big questions about God, the meaning of life, and seeking greater purpose. Christians took to social media platforms, especially to Tiktok, to publicly share their faith and the strength of trusting in God in challenging times. As you’ll find out on the show, there are testimonies after testimonies of young people starting their faith journey because of what they heard others share online. In fact, in a Tiktok livestream, a young man named Elijah Lamb saw over 300 people give their life to Christ! All in one night!

UB: Wow, how does that work for all those people to indicate a profession of faith online?

Kika: With the livestreams they can see how many people are in attendance and then people can respond on the chat so Elijah had people respond through that. Crazy stuff! There’s a lot more going on that I thought when I first started this podcast – I never thought the impact was that wide-spread.  You can watch the Elijah Lamb soon as it will be released on Monday night March 22.

UB: Awesome, Kika. Can you tell me more about yourself and what else you are passionate about? 

Kika: I live on the Gordon College campus with my wife Rachel who is a resident director there. One of the perks of living at Gordon is that we live close to the beach and can go surfing when it’s warm enough! 

I’m also passionate about connecting with young adults and growing the influence of their church to impact the local community. The big project I am working on currently is launching the English church at the Arabic Church which will be called “Lighthouse Church” and will open its doors on Easter! When I look back, it’s been quite a journey since I moved to West Roxbury from Cairo, Egypt in 2002 when my father accepted the position at this church!

UB: What do you appreciate about UniteBoston?

Kika: I love the vision of UniteBoston and the opportunity to bring Christians from all backgrounds together to unite in worship. I have built incredible relationships through those worship nights as well as through the West Roxbury community dinners that UniteBoston also hosts.

UB: What’s next for you with Social Media Revivalists?

Kika: I’m dreaming of creating a resource with names of churches and youth pastors in all major cities, so when young people give their life to Christ through online social media platforms like this, they can get connected to a local church. I recognize that this is key for life-long discipleship – and I am talking to a few people about that now! 

UB: What’s your take-home message to Christians in the Boston area?

Kika: COVID has made it challenging to reach out to others to share our faith because we can’t see people as easily. What if we learned to be comfortable on social media and share our faith through the technology that is available to us? While some say technology is bad, God can use anything and redeem all things, so I would love to see us continue to find creative ways to share the hope that we have even in the midst of a pandemic!

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Kika will be releasing an episode of “Social Media Revivalists” every other Monday – Check it out on Kika’s Youtube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts

“I have been on a long journey to arrive at this point, but I am finally planted in New England to be a Pastor in Providence and a Bridge Builder in Boston for many years to come.”

After ten years with only one staff person, we are grateful for God’s provision to be able to hire Rev. K. Percy Ballah to the UB staff! Percy considers his life-long calling to be a bridge-builder. He brings skills in administration, leadership, and racial reconciliation to UB. Read below to hear Percy’s story of moving to Boston as a young adult, then pastoring at Impact Center Providence, and now his journey back to Boston to work with UB.

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Coming Home: My Journey Back to Boston!

Hello UniteBoston Family!

Thank you for welcoming me to your team. My name is Percy, and I am excited to join this beautiful community! I am grateful to the faithful donors who made it possible for me to assist Rev. Kelly in the mission of nurturing Christian unity for the flourishing of the city.

Background

I was born in the country of  Liberia, which is located in West Africa. I moved to America at twelve years old after surviving three brutal civil wars over a ten-year span.  It was an epic journey that I’d love to tell you about at another time! Unlike most children in my country, I was allowed to come to America because my mother was a hard-working resident in the South Jersey and Philadelphia area for many years. I lived with her for most of my teenage years before God called me to move to New England. 

Currently, I reside in Providence with my wife Katie and our three children Sophia, Oliver, and Mia! As my kids would say, together, we are Team Ballah! Our team takes pride as a family unit on a mission to glorify God and bring wholistic transformation to people and communities through Christ. In 2019, we planted a church on the Southside of Providence. And recently, we merged our church with an older congregation. Now, we are excited that I will be working with Kelly to fulfill UniteBoston’s vision in a city that is close to our hearts.

Before moving to Rhode Island, we lived in Boston for five years. I served in ministry at The Boston Project Ministries and Morning Star Baptist Church. This season shaped us in incredible ways. We learned how to impact communities holistically and to strategically serve those living in disenfranchised communities. We learned how to be parents: two of our kids were born at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. God used the experiences and lifelong friendships we developed in Boston to shape our identity as a ministry family. Even though I was not a native Bostonian, I adopted Boston as my home city! 

Fun Facts 

One of my favorite characteristics of Bostonians is their passion for local sports teams. This culture resonates with my love to cheer for the Philadelphia Eagles and Sixers. For many years,  I watched the New England teams win championships ngnyear after year, while my teams always had heartbreaking losses. After endless debates about which teams were better, I finally accepted the reality that Boston had the best sports teams in the country. I still support my Philadelphia teams, but I don’t root against the New England teams in the playoffs because of their championship pedigree. 

I am even more passionate about playing sports than watching it. When I lived in Dorchester, I enjoyed playing basketball at the local parks, participating in flag football games between various churches, and coaching young men during the summer league. However, some of the best parts about sports transcends actually playing together: we built friendships and learned essential life skills such as managing our emotions and being people of integrity.

Additionally, I also appreciate the emphasis Bostonians place on education and critical thinking–this resonates with my love for reading and playing competitive chess. I loved going to Harvard Square and the public library in Roxbury to play against great players. Nowadays, when I am not playing sports, reading, or competing in chess, I am usually hanging out with family and friends.

How you got involved with UB and what you love about UB

Since I left Boston to pursue God’s calling to be a pastor, I always stayed connected to the Holy Spirit’s work in the city of Boston. As I conversed with various groups of people and ministries in my Boston network, I realized they had one thing in common — they were all connected to UniteBoston. I was intrigued by this organization’s ability to gather Christian leaders and churches from diverse backgrounds. According to Reverend Kelly, UniteBoston is “called to unite the bride of Christ” to fulfill Jesus’ prayer of unity and oneness in John 17. While Christians can often be divided over various issues, UB is building bridges to connect believers.UB creates a space for the body of Christ to experience healing from self-inflicted wounds and a safe place to have conversations that will bring reconciliation. 

Therefore, when the opportunity came for me to work for this incredible organization, it was a no-brainer because they aligned with my lifelong calling to be a bridge-builder. Even though my various ministry experiences equipped me with the skillsets to support Rev. Kelly at UniteBoston, I am more excited about the opportunity to learn from her and the UB community about building bridges and connecting Christians.

I have been on a long journey to arrive at this point, but I am finally planted in New England to be a Pastor in Providence and a Bridge Builder in Boston for many years to come. God is the author of my story, and I am excited to live the next chapter in working with UniteBoston. Most of all, my heart is happy because God is allowing me to serve the city that welcomed me with open arms and the place I have adopted as my home city. 

“The biggest thing that has kept me afloat this season is learning to receive God’s love. It’s hard to trust anyone when you don’t truly believe they love you. When I struggle with that trust, I do my best to sit and receive God’s love, to remember He’s a good father that loves me.“

This week, we are excited to share about Jen Aldana’s full EP (Extended Play) release! Jen was one of our featured artists in the Love Boston concert last fall and she has been working hard to put together an amazing array of music collectively called “Trust in You”, which is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music. Jen took time for an exclusive interview with UniteBoston resident journalist Peter Seremetis; read below to hear the impactful story behind the EP’s creation, and some hopeful words from Jen!

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Peter: Tell me about your first EP. It sounds really exciting!

Jen: Yeah absolutely! The whole EP is called “Trust In You.” It’s about trusting in God every step of the way. I’ve had to trust that the path I’m on is the track that God has for me, trust that His promises are good and that they will be fulfilled, trust that even in the midst of a pandemic and struggles and fears, He’s got me and He loves me, and He’s guiding me. It’s like a big part of this whole journey for me. 

Peter: Have you been working on this full EP for a while? Or is this a recent project? 

Jen: This has been a long time coming. 

Peter: Admittedly I’m not as familiar with the music business, so I’m curious what exactly is an EP, and how did you put it together?

Jen: So EP stands for “Extended Play”, and is a collection of songs that’s a little shorter than an album (e.g. albums usually have 7+ songs, and this EP has 5). Usually with music, you first have to write the song and come up with demos. Then you produce the song by bringing in other musicians and record it. Then you get help to mix and master the song, and once this is finished, it is ready for release. So I had this project mastered, done and ready to release (for distribution, shipment, etc.) since December 2018. 

Peter: Wow! So it’s been ready for two years. What had been holding you back from releasing it? 

Jen: The last two years, I was almost waiting for the right moment and I just felt there was never the right time. It was really just fear that was holding me back. I was fearful that it wouldn’t do well, or that people wouldn’t resonate with it, etc. So what I ended up doing was releasing it song by song–like “Heaven Rejoices”, “Trust in You”, and “Your Peace” performed in UniteBoston’s Love Boston Concert last year. 

So come 2020, I’m like “this is the year! I’m gonna release it! No matter what!” And then the relationship I was in at the time ends the week right before quarantine, and now we’re in this pandemic and everything is completely shut down! So all of my motivation and all of my inspiration is just kind of gone and shattered, and I’m like “how am I supposed to go through with this project in a pandemic? What is even going on in the world?” I had so many plans, I was going to do a tour, I was going to do an EP release show, I was going to do this and that, and suddenly I couldn’t do those things anymore. So, I was sad and heartbroken about it, and again, I didn’t release it.

Peter: It sounds like you’ve been through a lot with this EP, and a lot of those feelings definitely resonate. So what motivated you to release it now?

Jen: Come 2021 I was like “Man, I have to do this. I have to move on!” I have other projects and music that I want to work on and release, and by holding onto this project, I just felt like it was keeping me from that. So I said to myself “I have to do this.” But at the same time, I wanted to be obedient to God because I have felt led through the Lord to work on faith-based music to begin with. This wasn’t the direction I was going in before artistically, so this EP is an act of obedience and a leap of faith for me. 

Peter: Since your EP is called “Trust in You” and since all of us wrestle with trusting God sometimes, I’m curious what encourages you to press through in those moments when you have a hard time trusting God? Especially during this challenging season you’ve been going through?

Jen: The biggest thing that has kept me afloat this season is learning to receive God’s love. It’s hard to trust anyone when you don’t truly believe they love you. When I struggle with that trust, I do my best to sit and receive God’s love, to remember He’s a good father that loves me. He’s not a God waiting with crossed arms for me to make the “right decision,” He’s a God waiting for me to run into His arms, and that brings me more peace than anything.

Peter: Such a powerful and important perspective. So what can people expect to see in this EP now that it’s released? 

Jen: People will hear familiar songs I’ve written and released already like “Trust In You” and “Heaven Rejoices,” but also some new songs like “Come Away With Me / Come Away” and “How Good You Are.” The “Come Away With Me / Come Away” song I’m especially excited for people to see because it’s a cover medley between the pop song “Come away with me” by Nora Jones, and a worship song called “Come Away” by Jesus Culture. Even though the two songs are different genres, the medley between them in the Trust In You EP is almost like this love song of God just loving His children and His people. For example one of the Nora Jones verses is “Come away with me on a Bus. Come away with me, I’ll never stop loving you;” and in the Jesus Culture song it says, “Come away with me. It’s not too late for you. I have a plan for you.” So the statement I wanted to make in putting the two songs in a medley together was that God really is in everything, we’re just not always looking for Him. We can find God in a bus. We can find God both in secular pop music and in worship music. We can find God all throughout His creation. So people listening can see that we honor God so much more when we can identify him in the mundane, not just when we’re sitting in the pews of the church or listening to a sermon. 

Peter: Why should people listen to the EP, and how can they support you in this EP release?

Jen: I really just want folks to feel God’s love & peace as they listen, and the EP can be listened to in all kinds of situations. It’s great for background music while praying, a workout playlist, a commute playlist (or while you’re doing work at home!), and really great for any time you want to get in the presence of God. I’ve even had a pregnant mother reach out once that she’s adding it to their birthing playlist, I’ve seen videos of folks listening while working out, and many stories of folks feeling encouraged by the honest lyrics. I’m also just excited for people hearing the EP’s music as a project, a journey and a story being told all the way up until the last note. Heaven Rejoices are the first words of the EP, and I want people to really feel that tug on their heart and come closer to the Lord. In terms of support, any listen, re-share, Spotify follow, and email subscription is super helpful! 

Peter: Do you have any encouraging words for Christians in Greater Boston at this time? 

Jen: I do! My word of encouragement is something powerful my pastor shared: The key to this season isn’t always doing something new, it’s consistency. In a time where it’s so easy to get discouraged in our faith, our ambitions, and relationships, it’s taking one consistent step in front of the other that will help keep us afloat. You’re doing better than you think.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

“Once this health crisis passes, our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation. If only we might rediscover once for all that we need one another. God willing, after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those,’ but only ‘us.'”

This week’s blog is written by Father Tom Ryan, director of the Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in downtown Boston. Father Tom shares about a recent encyclical that Pope Francis released entitled “Fratelli Tutti” which means “Brothers and Sisters, All.” Father Tom expands on the core of this timely message by describing how organizations in the Boston area are living out God’s call to be connected with and care for our neighbors. 

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Fratelli Tutti (Brothers and Sisters, All) is the encyclical that Argentine Pope Francis released on October 4^th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, after signing it in the previous day in the Italian town where the Franciscan saint lived most of his life.

An encyclical is the highest ranking document of authority that a pope can write on his own. Fratelli Tutti builds on his previous encyclical in 2015, Laudato Si’, which focused on the environment and on the care of creation, and which taught us that everything is connected. It indicates an inherent relationship that extends not only to human beings, but also to the earth.

Fratelli Tutti teaches us that everyone is connected. Its focus is biblical.  Pope Francis asks us to look at ourselves and ask: Who is my neighbor? 

We need to acknowledge that we are inclined to ignore others. The Pope is challenging us to overcome the individualism in our culture and to serve our neighbors in love, seeing Jesus Christ in every person, and seeking a society of justice and mercy, compassion and mutual concern.

In analyzing conditions in the world today, the Holy Father provides us with a powerful and urgent vision for the moral renewal of political and economic institutions from the local level to the global level, calling us to build a common future that truly serves the good of the human person and of “all of us together.” 

We already have some undertakings and networks in the Boston area that show us what this looks like in the concrete and practical. Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM) is the greater Boston area’s oldest interfaith social justice network. It was founded in 1966 by faith communities to address poverty, housing, and racial justice in Boston and to link urban and suburban congregations in just, transformative partnerships.

CMM has tackled the most pressing issues facing our communities, working to build Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of a Beloved Community for all citizens. CMM’s members and partners include nearly 100 congregations, nonprofit agencies, and educational institutions in Boston and 16 surrounding cities and towns. CMM’s approach to social action and cross cultural/interfaith partnerships affirms the necessity of collaboration, as well as the dignity and value of all persons in our common quest for justice and peace.

Yet another example of what “all of us together” looks like is St. Francis House in the heart of downtown Boston on Boylston St, which offers basic care and services that make the difference between hope and despair, and for some the difference between life and death.

Many guests come to St. Francis House initially because they need a hot, nourishing meal. They serve breakfast and lunch 365 days a year. Meals are free, no questions asked. St. Francis House is also the largest distributor of clothing to the poor and homeless in Boston, and provides nearly 10,000 showers a year to its guests, along with toiletries, including shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

And in its Atrium and Resource Center, a safe, comfortable alternative to spending the day on the street is provided. Here, guests can escape the elements, enjoy the company of friends, and watch the local news or a movie. The Resource Center also features a library, telephones, and computers with Internet access, vital tools for keeping in touch with loved ones and job-hunting.

On yet another front, the Park Street Church and UniteBoston have joined together in a Love Thy Neighbor Grocery Delivery program in which Christians throughout the Greater Boston area can assist families with basic food needs. This program is focused on families and households who have someone that tested positive for COVID-19, by providing them with groceries. Their goal is 100 per week, and as of January, 126 volunteers from 31 churches have been able to provide 14,438 meals to families! In fact, 14% of families requesting groceries through the State of Massachusetts have been served by this program! And just down the street at the Paulist Center, there is a weekly Wednesday eve supper offered for the homeless and the hungry. You would be welcome to participate in one of these ministries.

In another project, UniteBoston recognized the need to address the sin of racism and the pervasive inequities that persist in our city and nation. Justice is not peripheral, but intrinsic to the gospel, and Christians should be leading the way in the movement towards racial justice today. In it’s Be the Bridge for Boston program, UniteBoston is actively working against racism and towards reconciliation, equity, and justice in our day-to-day lives.

In short, says Pope Francis, the Church “in the power of the risen Lord, wants to give birth to a new world, where all of us are brothers and sisters, where there is room for all those whom our societies discard, where justice and peace are resplendent.” The encyclical overturns the perspective of “we and they.” The perspective is “all of us together,” and the Church has a public role in working for universal fraternity and sorority.

Pope Francis sets out his vision for a post-COVID world. The pandemic offers us a unique opportunity for conversion. If anything, we have seen how interdependent we are on every level, political, social and economic. We have no choice but to truly live as brothers and sisters, with humanity as well as with our ravaged planet Earth.

From the outset the encyclical makes clear how Francis of Assisi extended fraternity not only to human beings – and in particular to the abandoned, the sick, the discarded, the least, going beyond the distances of origin, nationality, color or religion – but also to the sun, the sea and the wind. The perspective is therefore global, universal.

The perspective is “all of us together.” Solidarity is the core, and he seeks to universalize it. “Once this health crisis passes,” Pope Francis writes, “our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation. If only we might rediscover once for all that we need one another. God willing, after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those,’ but only ‘us.’ “

The Encyclical lends itself well to study groups reading it, praying with it, reflecting on it, and discussing it together. Click here to read it.