UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Six Ways to Celebrate Boston’s Black History

This is the 100th anniversary of celebrating Black History Month, and UniteBoston celebrates Black History Month by honoring the rich legacy of Black leaders, churches, and communities who have shaped Boston. We recognize the pivotal role of the Black Church in the Civil Rights Movement, whose faith and resilience followed in the footsteps of Jesus Christ to champion racial justice, equality, and shalom.

This month, we invite you to join us to celebrate Boston’s Black History with the opportunities below:

1. Glean From the Stories and Perspectives of Black Pastors

In his powerful sermon on Psalm 78, entitled “What Will We Tell the Next Generation?”, Pastor Willie Bodrick II of Twelfth Baptist Church reminds us that remembering our history is a spiritual responsibility: “Black history isn’t just something we celebrate – it’s something we need to survive our present. The moment we are living in is trying to make us forget who we are. Remembering is our spiritual responsibility and we tell our history so people can put their hope and trust in God.”

Click above to watch Rev. Bodrick’s sermon preached on February 1, 2026 beginning at 1:30

We also commend a message by Rev. Sabrina Gray from Bethel AME Church on how Black history isn’t only what we remember. It’s what we live, what we carry, and what we continue.

2. Dive into EGC’s Fact Friday series

Jaronzie Harris explores the church’s history and legacy in Boston, one short video at a time. Click below to watch their Instagram videos!

  • Did you know that the African Meeting House on Beacon Hill was co-founded by Cato Gardner, a formerly enslaved man born in Africa? 
  • Or that Twelfth Baptist Church was the spiritual home of Wilhelmina Crosson, a pioneering Black school teacher in Boston, who also was instrumental in launching the precursor to Black History Month? 
  • Why is a church on Warren Street in Roxbury called “The Historic Charles Street AME Church?”
  • How about this gem? The founding pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rev. Peter Randolph, led a group of 66 freed slaves from Virginia to Boston before the Civil War and also obtained a lawyer to win their rightful freedom! His autobiography is available online!
  • And Union Methodist Church was a stop on the Underground Railroad as well as the home church of David Walker, author of one of the most important early attacks on slavery, Walker’s Appeal. 

3. Take a Black Theology course

This course is part of the Theology Lab at Highrock Church and features scholars, musicians, and church leaders, including Prof. Tom Baskett (Highrock; Berklee College of Music), explores how the faith experiences of Black Americans open up distinct ways of reading Scripture, shed light on the gospel’s liberating power, and model the importance of social engagement for all Christians. Central to this class is the theological claim that the faith of Black Americans is a gift to the whole church. There are six videos and a discussion guide is available here.

4. Learn about Boston’s Black History

Experience Boston’s Black History Firsthand:

  • Use this guide from WBUR to experience the history firsthand in downtown Boston, Cambridge, or Roxbury
  • Use this Map to go on a Boston Greenbook Tour, compiled by Rev. June Cooper, Sankofa cohort member and Theologian in the City at Old South Church. The Boston Green Book was part of The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide published from 1936 to 1967 that listed safe businesses for Black travelers during segregation. Featuring hotels, restaurants, and social hubs along Columbus Avenue and Tremont Street, it highlighted key establishments like Slade’s Bar and Grill and Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe, which remain cultural landmarks today.
  • Use this guide to discover places associated with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King in Boston.

Other resources on Boston’s Black History:

Hidden in Plain Sight is a new documentary that tells the history of the Black Catholic community within the Archdiocese of Boston through interviews and archival footage of people and meaningful places within the community. This 30-minute documentary explores the contributions, experiences, and enduring faith of Black Catholics. Watch Video Trailers Here: Trailer #1 Trailer #2

They are hosting screenings in Boston on February 10, February 22, and March 21! More info here

5. Incorporate Black History into your daily devotional time

The Evangelical Covenant Church has just published a Love Your Neighbor: A Black History Month Devotional Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. This seven-day devotional explores biblical texts on sacrificial love, justice, and Christian neighboring through the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beginning with young Martin’s painful encounter with racism and his parents’ affirming response, it moves through the Parable of the Good Samaritan, examining what it means to truly love our neighbors—including our enemies. Drawing on Dr. King’s sermons and Scripture, this plan invites readers to address both immediate needs and systemic injustice, ultimately calling Christians to embody Christ’s countercultural love in a divided world.

6. Join us for the upcoming Gospel Experience Tour & the “Boston Sankofa Showcase“event!

 The United Gospel Experience Tour concert on February 21 will be from 3:00 to 5:00pm at UMass Lowell, 220 Pawtucket Street, Lowell, MA 01854, hosted by New Purpose Gospel Choir.

Centered on the theme “Come together, stay together, worship together” (Mt. 18:20), the tour centers on Jesus’ promise that “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” In these challenging times, our prayer is that, through this united worship, God’s Spirit will move mightily to bring healing, reconciliation, and new life. We’ve discovered that when students from across New England join their voices in one choir, gospel music rises as a powerful proclamation of hope and freedom.

Click here to read the story behind this year’s tour and how you can be part of it. And don’t miss this documentary of highlights and testimonies from last year’s gospel experience tour!

Also, please plan to join us for a Moth-style storytelling night on Thursday, March 26 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM at Twelfth Baptist Church. As part of the Boston Sankofa Journey, our team has been working to record the stories of twelve Black Christian leaders whose faith in Jesus has fueled the work of racial justice and reconciliation in our beloved city. This gathering will bring these testimonies to life through a powerful evening of spoken word, art, and communal reflection. The showcase is designed to bridge the gap between history and the present, inviting the broader community to sit at the feet of these elders and discern how to carry the work of truth and repair forward.

Boston Sankofa Journey Luncheon we hosted in January 2026 with many of the leaders who are being featured in our story archive

It also serves as a launchpad for a city-wide season of story-collecting, encouraging others to record the living histories in their own neighborhoods to ensure that the leadership and spiritual vitality of the Black freedom movement continue to illuminate our path towards racial healing and shalom.

Sankofa teaches us that we cannot move forward unless we look back. By honoring those who paved the way, we carry their courage, conviction, and faith into what’s next. We’re grateful for every story shared and excited to preserve this living legacy for generations to come. 

Black history IS Boston’s history! There are so many onroads here… we encourage you to choose one or two of these this month!

As each of us take steps to learn and experience Boston’s Black history, we discover how remembering the past can help us pursue racial justice, reconciliation, and shalom in our city today.


Mayor Wu’s Gathering of Faith and Community Leaders – A Joyful Faith-based Appreciation Brunch

This past week, Revs. Kelly Fassett and Devlin Scott joined clergy and faith leaders from across Boston at Mayor Michelle Wu’s Morning of Hope. Over breakfast, prayer, and shared reflection, civic and faith leaders came together to express gratitude, name the challenges of this moment, and renew a shared commitment to the wellbeing of our beloved city. What unfolded was a powerful glimpse of what is possible when the Church and the City choose partnership, unity, and hope for the flourishing of all who call Boston home.

P.S. Thank you to Will Dickerson, director of Faith-Based Engagement from the Mayor’s Office, for coordinating this gathering, and Jeremiah Robinson who took these incredible photos.

On a winter morning marked by warmth, prayer, and quiet anticipation, clergy and faith leaders from across Greater Boston gathered for Mayor Michelle Wu’s Morning of Hope—a breakfast convening that felt less like a formal program and more like a sacred pause. Hosted during Inauguration Week as Mayor Wu and the Boston City Council began a second term, the gathering created space to name gratitude, renew partnership, and speak hope over the city we love.

For UniteBoston, whose mission centers on Christian unity for the flourishing of our neighborhoods, the morning was a living snapshot of what becomes possible when civic leadership and the faith community meet not as silos, but as collaborators.

Entering the Room: A Spirit of Welcome

The day opened with hospitality—breakfast served, greetings exchanged, stories quietly shared. Will Dickerson, Head of Faith-Based Initiatives for the City of Boston, welcomed the room with a clear conviction: “We can move mountains with the people in this room.” His words set the tone for what followed—an invitation to shared responsibility rooted in trust.

Father John Currie offered the opening prayer, calling leaders to push back on despair and choose hope, grounding the morning in a posture of humility and dependence on God.

Voices of Faith, United in Purpose

Throughout the program, leaders from diverse faith traditions reflected on the moment we are living in—and the kind of leadership it requires.

Rabbi Marc Baker named the gathering itself as a sacred act, especially in divided times. Coming together across differences, he reminded us, is not a liability but a strength—one that Boston embodies.

Mayor Wu addressed the faith leaders in the room, sharing that

“Boston is a city where we have seen what happens when people from different faiths and traditions choose to stand together. We don’t agree on everything, but we do agree on what matters most: that every person deserves dignity, that love is stronger than hate, faith is more powerful than fear, and faith is a beacon guiding us through the darkness. These are the values of our congregations and they are the values of Boston as well. These are the values that make it so that when the country feels like it’s coming apart at the seams, Boston has remained the safest major city in America.”

One of the most moving moments came through Rev. Laura Everett of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, who shared from 1 Kings 19, drawing attention to God’s still, small voice. Her reflection lingered in the room:

“Beloved Boston, if we are to survive the days ahead, we will have to seek out the silence to hear from the Lord… It is possible to hear the voice of God in the city but only if we listen together. Only if we are reflective, not reactive. Only if we plan and pray and prepare, together.”

It was a timely word—not only for faith leaders, but for a city navigating complex challenges with courage and care.

Highlights video from the gathering compiled by the UniteBoston team. More highlights can be seen on UniteBoston’s social media: Facebook and Instagram
Highlight Video from Boston City TV
Highlights from the gathering from CBS News

Civic Leadership with an Open Door

When Mayor Michelle Wu addressed the gathering, her remarks reflected deep appreciation for the faith community’s decades-long partnership with the City of Boston—particularly over the past four years. She named shared values that transcend tradition and doctrine: dignity for every person, responsibility for one another, love over hate, faith over fear.

In a moment that resonated strongly with many in the room, Mayor Wu affirmed that Boston’s safety and resilience are inseparable from the quiet, faithful work happening every day in churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples—spaces where people are known, loved, and protected.

Her words were echoed by Police Commissioner Michael Cox, who spoke about trust, accountability, and the importance of partnership between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The morning also celebrated civic leadership emerging from the faith community itself, recognizing Miniard Culpepper, Senior Pastor of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and newly elected City Councilor for District 7—a visible reminder that faith and public service often walk hand in hand.

Praying for the City, Together

As the program moved toward its close, Imam Ismail Fenni offered a prayer for the city, followed by a closing prayer from Rev. Dr. Dana Gonsal, sending leaders back into their neighborhoods grounded in hope and shared calling.

“Are we willing to unite and work with Mayor Wu and her vision to improve the quality of life for all Bostonians? My response, I am willing to work and unite with our Mayor to help improve the quality of life for the Neighborhoods of Boston. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity (Psalm 133).” 

For many, the gathering left a lasting impression.

“The gathering felt less like an event and more of an invitation—an invitation to relationship, collaboration, and shared responsibility for the wellbeing of our city.” – Rev. Philomena Hare

Virginia Ward

“Mayor Wu reminded us of our role as a refuge for families, emphasizing that faith is a beacon. I am grateful that different faiths are standing together to create a strategy for every family’s flourishing in Boston.” – Rev. Dr. Virginia Ward

Rev. Reggie Smalls echoed that sentiment, naming the blessing of living in a city that recognizes the vital role of the faith community in building hope during challenging times.

Why This Matters for UniteBoston

At UniteBoston, we often speak about Christian unity not as an abstract ideal, but as a practiced commitment—to show up, to listen, and to partner for the common good. Mayor Wu’s Morning of Hope embodied that vision. It affirmed that this administration sees the faith community not as an afterthought, but as a trusted partner in the work of justice, compassion, and community flourishing.

As Rev. Rocklyn Clarke shared:

“Listening to the speakers, it was clear to me how important it will be to have disciples of Jesus working together to fulfill that hope… Together, let’s make disciples who make disciples who make a difference in our city.”

The Morning of Hope was exactly that—a reminder that another way is possible. A way where faith informs action, where civic leadership welcomes prayer, and where unity across difference becomes a beacon for our city and beyond.

“We are commanded to pray for those who are in authority over us 1 Timothy 2:1-2, so I joined with other leaders from the body of Christ in Boston and other faith leaders across the city to pray for our mayor as she begins her next term,” said Rev. David Searles, pastor of Central Community Church in East Boston. “I am encouraged to continue my work in Boston with hope and I am more committed to pray for our mayor, to pray for her family, and to pray for the peace of the city.”

As we left the room, we carried with us a renewed sense of calling—and a quiet confidence that when faith and city walk together, hope is not just proclaimed. It is practiced.

Revs. Kelly and Devlin were grateful for the opportunity to meet Mayor Michelle Wu at the gathering!

UniteBoston’s Top 15 Photos of 2025

From hosting the United Gospel Experience Tour, to building and launching the Boston Immigrant Resource Dashboard, to hosting two leadership cohorts, and hiring our second full time staff person, this was an incredible year for UniteBoston! Check out our year in review for 2025 – Glory to God!


#15: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Clergy from many Christian traditions were invited to join for a prayer service by Archbishop Henning for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Archbishop Henning shared, “I hope and pray that, in gathering together, we will all be strengthened in that same power of Gospel, in the midst of a world that is too often about violence, hatred, and taking, to give that witness of solidarity, of compassion, and faith in God.” Lutheran Bishop Nathan Pippho also shared a powerful sermon on how our belief in Jesus Christ is a witness to the world about God’s love.


#14: Partnership with Gordon College: Rev. Kelly was honored to share about UniteBoston with students in the new M.A. in Community Transformation program at Gordon College. We’re excited about the innovative ways they’re reimagining theological education—and their support for UniteBoston’s ministries as we collaborate together to seek the flourishing of the city.


#13: Maundy Thursday Prayer Service – On Maundy Thursday, hundreds of Christians from dozens of churches gathered for Churches Praying Together—a Spirit-filled night of worship, communion, and healing prayer where many lingered long after the service ended, moved by God’s presence.

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#12: “Prayers for Liberty” Walk. On Labor Day, Rev. Kelly Fassett and Rev. Devlin Scott joined 300+ people of diverse faith traditions to walk 11 miles from Lexington’s Town Green to the MLK “Embrace” monument on Boston Common with Prayers for Liberty. Together we reversed Paul Revere’s ride to publicly witness to the need to build just societies where every person is treated with dignity as beloved children of God, and to uphold the foundational commitments of our Constitution—principles of liberty, justice, and equality.


#11: UniteBoston Cohort Alumni Friendsgiving: Our UB cohort alumni gathered in November for a Friendsgiving-style reunion at Pho Que Restaurant in Dorchester — a small, pastor-owned Vietnamese restaurant with some of the best pho in the city. Around steaming bowls of soup, we reconnected with friends old and new and shared both the joys and challenges of ministry today.

P.S. Pho Quê doesn’t just serve delicious food — it is owned by a local pastor of an Assemblies of God church. Pastor Daniel has a party room in the back, which he would love to see as a space for Christians to gather in community!


#10: UB’s Sankofa Cohort – This cohort seeks to cultivate a common memory and nurture the spiritual vitality that has sustained the Black freedom movement—past and present—rooted in the liberating heart of the gospel. This spring, the cohort members are conducting living history interviews, pairing seasoned Black Christian leaders with our Sankofa team members to capture their experiences and insights for future generations. Stay tuned for a Boston Sankofa Showcase in Spring 2026—a Moth-style storytelling night featuring voices, art, and testimonies gathered throughout the year.


#9: UniteBoston BIPOC Island Retreat – In July, we hosted our four annual “Circle of Restoration” Island Retreat. This annual day of rest and restoration brought together over 30 BIPOC leaders from across the city for a time of connection, creativity, and care. From a powerful devotional to dancing, painting, massages, and more—it was a sacred space to breathe, laugh, and be renewed. 


#8: Christian Unity Cohort Retreat – This group of thirteen Christian leaders gathered under the shared hope of building something that could help the Church become more whole. Month by month, conversation by conversation, they started co-creating a discipleship experience for those longing to see reconciliation in the Church and the world. Read their testimonies of how it was a journey of unity, truth, and transformation.


#7: Civic Engagement Pastors Cohort – This courageous group of local pastors committed to staying in relationship through a divisive political season. Beginning in Fall 2024 with a gathering of 80+ diverse Christian leaders, they chose to resist “us vs. them” narratives and model a Christ-centered way of civic engagement rooted in curiosity and respect. They met monthly for one year to listen and share stories with one another on race, political engagement, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, immigration, and more, seeking to explore how the way of Jesus meets this civic moment.


#6: Boston Flourish. In November, UniteBoston worked with other organizations to convene a conference where 266 leaders gathered across sectors to collaborate around essential issues facing our city. Here, Rev. Devlin leads the session on Next Generation Engagement.


#5: “Fortify” Fundraising Party & Community Gathering – Over 100 people gathered together for an incredible evening where we enjoyed a delicious Caribbean BBQ meal, gained wisdom from a keynote talk by Rev. Michelle Sanchez, and heard a live music performance by Rev. Devlin Scott. We also met our fundraising goal, which enabled us to hire not just one but two full-time employees!


#4: Launch of the Beloved Community Lab cohort. This incredible group of pastors and leaders are a pilot cohort for our Beloved Community Lab, a new curriculum we’re working to develop to disciple leaders in holistic spiritual formation—loving God and neighbor, and living this love out in tangible ways, through belovedness, diversity, reconciliation, justice, and shalom. 🌿


#3: Hosting the United Gospel Experience Tour – 100+ college students from six campuses across the region have united this year for a United Gospel Experience Tour with four different concerts. There is something about being led in worship by 70+ young adults from diverse backgrounds, all part of a mass gospel choir that has strengthened each individual campus as well. Save the date for the next concert at February 21 in Lowell and April 18 at Morningstar Baptist in Boston!


#2 – Launching the Boston Immigrant Resource Dashboard – This year, UniteBoston catalyzed congregations and leaders to care for and accompany our new immigrant and refugee neighbors through continuing our “Sanctuary for Strangers” resource page and convening a breakout session at Boston Flourish. Additionally, Rev. Kelly and Rev. Melinda led a team from a variety of organizations to build and launch the Boston Immigrant Resource Dashboard, which provides real-time, accessible information on essential resources for immigrants, refugees, and service providers—ensuring timely and effective support. Please check it out and spread the word about this new resource!

#1: Christmas Eve Worship Service. More than 200 people gathered outside the ICE detention facility in Burlington to proclaim the Good News of Jesus’ birth at a Christmas Eve service co-hosted by the Massachusetts Council of Churches and UniteBoston—lifting up separated families and bearing witness to the light of Christ that shines even in places of deep pain, injustice, and darkness. Prayers, Scripture, and songs rose in Spanish, English, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, and Portuguese. One especially powerful moment came as we lifted our hands toward the building and prayed for those held inside who are separated from their families this Christmas.

We were grateful to see so many people join us in worship and to see the media pick up this story: MSNow, GBH, and the Boston Globe. Follow us on Facebook/ Instagram for more highlights from this service. Detention walls and documentation status cannot divide the Body of Christ. As the diverse Church comes together, we can bear witness to the good news of Emmanuel—God with us.

It’s been incredible to see UniteBoston’s programs and impact grow in significant ways these past few years, glory to God! Thanks for joining with us – your prayers, participation, and finances have made this ministry happen! We look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2026!

Would We Notice? Is There Room?

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this week, we invite you to reflect on the wonder of Christ’s coming through “Would We Notice? Is There Room?”, a new Advent poem by Bill Ivanov. Bill is a nature photographer, poet, pianist, and Christian storyteller, seeking God’s presence in the beauty of creation. With Evangelical roots and a Catholic spiritual home, Bill is a journalist for UniteBoston to capture stories of faith and unity across the city and is currently developing a series of photography books exploring the presence of God in creation.

We invite you to read Bill’s poem below, which invites us to slow down, lift our eyes, and ask anew whether we are making room for Christ in our lives and in our world.

Tonight the skies shimmer with wonder—
a moon brushed in copper flame,
auroras lifting like veils of green fire,
comets stitching silver prayers into the dark.
The heavens still speak.
They whisper. They tremble. They sing.
But do we look up long enough
to listen?

Photo by Antonin Duallia on Unsplash

For once—long ago, Bethlehem breathed,
and the heavens carried another message.
Jupiter bowed toward Saturn,
a king inclining toward Israel
in the silent dark.
Mars drew near—
three wandering lights gathering like witnesses
to a story about to break the world open.
A comet burned for seventy nights,
a royal announcement written in fire.
Creation held its breath.
Heaven leaned toward earth.

And then, one night, it happened.
Not in a palace,
not in a city of gold,
but in a stable where no one had room,
where every door was shut
to the One who carved the galaxies.

Light broke through the cracks of the manger—
falling softly on a mother and her child,
radiance resting where heaven touched hay.
The baby stirred beneath its warmth,
and even the critters grew still.
A cow lifted its voice, low and reverent,
as if creation itself recognized
what had finally come to rest among it.

No trumpets,
no anthems of earthly choirs.
Only the soft cry of God
wrapped in swaddling cloths,
the hush of breath,
the crunch of hay beneath holy feet.

Breath met breath in the cold of night.
Mary pondered what her heart
could not yet hold.
Joseph stood silent beneath borrowed stars,
guarding a mystery too vast for words.
The weight of eternity slept between them—
small enough to cradle,
yet strong enough
to save the world.

“Joy to the World” by Paige Payne

The angels came—
not to kings or scholars,
but to shepherds
the world had already forgotten.
Heaven tore open above a field
and poured its glory on the poor.

Far away, wise men saw the star—
a brilliance unlike the others,
steady, insistent, calling them forward.
They stood in awe of what they saw,
knowing the heavens were pointing
to something the earth had never held.
And so they went—
leaving comfort for dust,
certainty for wonder,
following light wherever it led.

They carried gold for a King,
frankincense for a Priest,
myrrh for a Savior
who would offer the greatest gift
ever given.

Yet when He arrived,
only a handful knew.
The world slept on,
lost in its distractions.
To most,
nothing had happened.

And tonight—
with our faces lit by glowing screens
instead of the skies
still declaring His glory—
I wonder…

Would we notice
if heaven announced His coming today?
Would we lift our eyes long enough
to see the heavens dance again?
Would we recognize the divine in the stranger,
the holy in the unexpected,
the Savior in the place
we least expect?

If Christ came now,
is there room?

Who among us—
in this spinning, shimmering,
distracted, and broken world—
would be the first
to see
the light?

Mary and Joseph look with faith on the child Jesus at his Nativity By Elizabeth Wang

Bio: As a member of the Blue Nose Society, Bill has traveled as far north as the Arctic Circle, photographing grizzly bears, orcas, reindeer, and the luminous skies that declare the work of God’s hands. He also serves in the choir at the Apple Valley Catholic Collaborative and plays piano, believing that music, nature, and spirituality move in harmony to illuminate the human soul.

Bill is an open mic storyteller at the Harvard General Store, sharing narratives shaped by wonder, faith, and the beauty of the world. He is currently developing a series of photography books exploring the presence of God in creation—offering images, reflections, and meditative experiences that proclaim YHWH’s name and invite readers to fill their eyes with goodness so their lives may be full of light.

Inspired by Garrison Keillor, Bill aspires to continue telling stories that reveal the sacred in everyday life, blending art, music, and nature to awaken awe and reflection.

Faith in Action: Boston Churches Step Up to Feed Their Neighbors

When the nation faced the longest government shutdown in history, millions of families were left wondering how they would feed their children. Even as Congress reconvenes, the effects of halted federal food assistance programs—like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—continue to ripple across the country. Here in Greater Boston, the need remains acute.

According to a recent report by The Greater Boston Food Bank, nearly 45% of adults in Suffolk County experienced food insecurity between late 2022 and early 2023—one of the highest rates in Massachusetts. The City of Boston estimates that more than 100,000 residents lack reliable access to fresh, healthy food. Despite the city’s goal of ending food insecurity by 2030 through the Mayor’s Office of Food Justice, the immediate crisis is far from over.

Read below to see how churches and Christian organizations across Boston are coming together as the hands and feet of Jesus, responding to these needs to show God’s love and care for our neighbors.

Send Relief: Partnering with Churches to Meet Immediate Needs

As federal food programs stall, Send Relief, one of the nation’s largest faith-based compassion ministries, has expanded its hunger relief efforts through local ministry hubs. In Boston, UB Cohort member John Ames and his team are coordinating shipments of food and resources to families in need.

Send Relief Boston has mobilized four local church partners—Arborway Community Church (Jamaica Plain), Timothy Baptist Church (Roxbury), Redemption Hill (Medford) and Hope Fellowship (Cambridge)—to distribute groceries and provide meals to neighbors as early as this weekend.

“As these hubs operate, we anticipate that each location will serve approximately 150 families, providing meaningful and timely relief over the course of the month of November. We believe healthy compassion ministry flows through the local church,” said John Ames, North Regional Director Send Relief and the Boston Ministry Center Director of Send Relief Boston. “We have been so inspired by each of the pastors, staff, members, and volunteers who have mobilized quickly to respond to food insecurity in Greater Boston.” On left, see members of Hope Fellowship Church in Cambridge launching the new food hub.

These Send Relief Hubs will continue their efforts as long as the need persists, reminding the city that hunger is not just a statistic—it’s a shared human story that the Church can help rewrite.

Dorchester Neighbors Respond: Community and Compassion

In Dorchester, local leaders are finding creative ways to ensure no one is left behind. The Dorchester SNAP Cuts Community Response group—organized by community organizers like Hannah Hafter from Episcopal City Mission —has become a lifeline for residents navigating sudden reductions in benefits.

Through mutual aid and collective care, they created a “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” group which connected families with groceries, gift cards, and delivery support, prioritizing those whose needs often fall through the cracks—seniors, people with disabilities, and those with dietary restrictions.

“A group of us from the neighborhood used Facebook, and existing neighborhood groups like “Nothing for Sale” and “DOT Parents,” to create a network where neighbors whose SNAP benefits were impacted could connect with neighbors offering to help with groceries through the crisis,” says Hannah Hafter. “It became a lot bigger than we ever imagined, with over 60 families that ended up being matched, and we had to close out the form unfortunately to make sure we could follow through for everyone. We felt like this offering was really important because there are a variety of barriers people can face related to food pantries, whether it’s transportation, or timing, or having dietary restrictions and allergies in the family that aren’t met by pantries, so we wanted this to support and supplement the rest of what already is out there.”

This grassroots model reminds us that food justice is not only about access but dignity—ensuring people can receive the foods that meet their cultural and religious needs.

Churches Offering Hope and Hospitality

Across the city, congregations are transforming their sanctuaries into spaces of hospitality and hope. First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain, under the leadership of Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird, has long hosted regular community meals and food pantries for their neighbors.

Pastor Ashlee describes, “Our Centre Food Justice Program provides low cost food, free groceries and two hot meals a week to our neighbors in Boston. Every month over 75,000 pounds of food are made available to people in Jamaica Plain and throughout Boston. We believe that food is a God-given right for all people. By providing meals and food to our neighbors, we embody the love and justice of Jesus.  All God’s children deserve a full stomach.”

Churches, like this one, exemplify what it looks like to live out the gospel in public—feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and building tables big enough for everyone.

Faith Communities Working Together

UniteBoston celebrates how faith leaders and organizations are joining forces during this time of need. From large-scale operations like Send Relief to neighborhood-based efforts like the Dorchester SNAP Response, these collective acts of compassion are a testament to the power of collaboration and sharing the gospel in word and deed. But the work is not over.

“While SNAP has been restored in MA, lots of people are reporting reduced benefits, which seem to be permanent due to changes in the system coming down from the Trump Administration – it’s not just partial payments this month,” says Hannah Hafter. “One mother of 3 tells us that her SNAP was cut to $26 a month. This really highlights that food security among our neighbors is going to continue to be a big concern.”

In addition to these local efforts, churches across the state are collaborating through SNAP Sundays, an initiative of the Black Ministerial Association Tenpoint of Massachusetts, the Pastors Council of Greater Springfield, and the Black Ecumenical Council of Massachusetts. Together, these networks are gathering canned goods, funds, and essential resources to continue to support families affected by the SNAP cuts and fall-out of the government shutdown.

No matter what happens in Congress, the Church’s call remains clear: to love our neighbors as ourselves and to ensure that no one in our city goes hungry.

It can be hard to look beyond ourselves when money is tight and resources are dwindling. However, we celebrate how these congregations and organizations are choosing God’s kingdom economy of generosity and abundance, knowing that what affects one of us affects all of us: “But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:25-26). Together, they remind us that the beloved community Jesus prayed for is built one shared meal, one open table, and one act of love at a time.

Local Food Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, here are local resources you can share:

  • Food Resource Guide for the Greater Boston area that is updated frequently
  • Greater Boston Food Bank Pantry Finder
  • City of Boston SNAP Resources
  • Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline
    Call or text 800-645-8333 for information about local food programs.
  • Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)
    Continue to use your SNAP card to get fresh food from farmers markets, farm stands, and CSAs.
  • Boston Double Up Food Bucks
    Get 50% off fresh produce with SNAP at participating stores.
  • Dorchester SNAP Cuts Community Response
    Join or support neighbors by offering groceries, gift cards, or deliveries:
    Support form
  • Fresh truck – If people have $.01 on their SNAP, card they are eligible for $40- 80$ of fresh produce
  • Send Relief Boston Food Drive
    Donate non-perishables or give financially:
    Send Relief Boston Facebook
  • Support the Centre Food Justice Program with First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain – GoFundMe Link

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