UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Responding to the TPS Ruling: How Greater Boston Churches Can Help

As our nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States this week, we are invited to ask: Who belongs in America, and what do we stand for as a country? This question feels urgent as we reflect on the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold birthright citizenship, and another decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian and Syrian immigrants. Read below to hear reflections by local Christian leaders and action steps you can take to stand in solidarity.

As many Americans are celebrating the Fourth of July this week, a profound moral crisis is also unfolding in our own neighborhoods. Following the Supreme Court ruling on June 25, over 350,000 Haitian and Syrian nationals are facing the sudden termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), including approximately 45,000 with TPS status in Massachusetts.

For many in our pews, the reality of immigration is often obscured by political talking points. We often hear the refrains: “Come the right way,” or “Get in line.” In fact, many Haitians came to the United States through the CHNV parole process—a lawful process created because of the instability and humanitarian crises in those countries. They had U.S.-based sponsors. They were vetted. They received permission to enter and work. They did not sneak in… Then, because Haiti continued to collapse, many moved into TPS.

Rev. Dr. Daniel Montanez, UB Cohort Member and director of the Mygration Christian Conference, shares, “Many of these individuals have been here for well over a decade. They have made their homes, established families, and sought legal and viable pathways for citizenship. Now they are being told that those pathways are no longer welcome. The rules are being changed in the middle of the game, the ground is shifting beneath their very feet.”

Sarah Blumenshine of the Emmanuel Gospel Center’s Intercultural Ministries also points out the volatility of the situation, “One minute people have work permits, jobs, homes, and the next minute they do not. Can you imagine? You thought you had found safety, and then your hosts back out of the deal.” She notes that TPS holders are not a drain, but vital, tax-paying, law-abiding pillars of Greater Boston—working in churches, education, medicine, construction and transportation. 

The U.S. Department of State currently maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti due to extreme violence, kidnapping, and instability. If a nation is too dangerous for U.S. citizens to visit, how can we declare it safe enough to deport hundreds of thousands of families back to? 

Dr. Gabeau, IFSI-USA’s Executive Director, delivers remarks at a rally outside the State House this week alongside Boston City Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune (right). Photo: Steph Solis/Axios

A Systemic Disruption to Our Communities

This decision forces individuals into a harrowing choice: return to unstable, dangerous conditions abroad, or remain in the U.S. in the hopes of future immigration relief. Many local Christian leaders are also speaking out with grief and conviction:

  • Pastor “Keke” Dieufort Fleurissaint, founder of the Mattapan-based True Alliance Center, reports being inundated with calls from TPS holders fearing sudden separation from their U.S.-born children. As he told The Boston Globe, “My hope was for compassion to prevail… How could anyone let children go back to Haiti like that—into such a dangerous situation?” He adds: “This abrupt termination threatens family stability, job security, and the well-being of thousands of hardworking individuals who have contributed to our economy, paid taxes, cared for our loved ones, and strengthened our neighborhoods. We call on policymakers to pursue humane solutions that recognize the dignity, contributions, and aspirations of those who have long called this country home.”
  • Bishop Nicolas C. Homicil of the Voice of the Gospel Tabernacle Church reports that the end of TPS for Haitians has caused significant economic and emotional distress within his congregation. Many members have received work termination notices, creating deep uncertainty about meeting basic living expenses like rent and food. This unemployment affects not only those in the U.S. but also their families in Haiti who rely on their support. Furthermore, some parents are making the heartbreaking decision to appoint Bishop Homicil as their children’s legal guardian should they face deportation and family separation.
  • Catholic Archbishop Richard G. Henning strongly condemned the revocation and shared a rare public statement calling the decision a “disaster” for local communities and encouraged people to raise their voices on behalf of the vulnerable.
  • Rev. Kelly Fassett, shares, “Last week, while in New York for a conference, I was looking across the harbor toward the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and saw a quote by President John F. Kennedy about how immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life. This is TRUTH – Yet there is so much misinformation spread about immigrants being a drain. In fact, research has shown that the taxes immigrants pay actually save the government trillions of dollars in real terms and fuel the entrepreneurship that keeps our local economies growing.”

How Christians in Boston Can Respond Right Now

This Fourth of July invites us to do more than celebrate; it calls us to reckon with how we are actually living out our Christian values. Does my ultimate allegiance belong to the Kingdom of God, or do I subtly put my hope in my political party? How can I better embody Jesus’ call to love my neighbor, recognizing that every person bears the image of God and is bestowed with inherent dignity? Finally, how can we navigate the tension between respecting our nation’s laws and fulfilling our biblical mandate to protect the vulnerable?

Damaris Velasquez, Director of Programs of Agencia ALPHA, shares, “This is the time for the Church of God—and I emphasize ‘Church’ with a capital ‘C.’ It is that Church, representing many races, languages, skin colors, and socioeconomic backgrounds, that needs to take a stand and reflect the values given by Christ: love, compassion, humility, grace, and placing others before ourselves. Let us not forget that we are testifying to the God we serve—to our families, neighbors, elected officials, and systems—every time we support or fail to support the call God has given us.”

Here are tangible ways you and your congregation can follow Jesus to stand in active solidarity with our Haitian and Syrian neighbors this week:

1. Individual Legal Aid and Emergency Planning

Ensure that the immigrant families within your sphere of influence are legally protected and prepare:

2. Congregational Planning

Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, emphasizes the importance of preparing sacred spaces for potential ICE activity. 

  • Stay Informed: Review the Governor’s new statewide guidance for Houses of Worship. If you witness federal agent misconduct, please report it via the state’s official portal. The Massachusetts Council of Churches is hosting a training on this guidance on Tuesday, July 28 at 6 p.m.
  • Utilize Wisdom: A Boston-area pastor has developed a guide for pastors to support immigrant congregants before, during, and after detention: [English Version; Spanish Version].
  • Join the Chaplaincy of Presence Team: the Massachusetts Council of Churches coordinates a ‘ministry of presence’ in the parking lot of the Burlington ICE facility to support neighbors attending mandatory check-ins where unexpected arrests frequently occur. Chaplains provide listening, support, and prayer to those arriving and their families. As detentions are expected to rise with the end of TPS, clergy and board-certified chaplains are invited to join their weekday morning rotation (7:30–10:30 a.m.). Contact Rev. Dave Woessner at dave@masscouncilofchurches.org to sign up or for more information.

3. Advocacy and Education

  • Call Your Representatives: Reach out to your Senators and urge them to support S. 4814, a legislative pathway to extend TPS protections for Haiti. The 5 Calls Website and App is a fabulous resource to find your senators, with scripts to advocate for the issues you care about.  
  • Join the Boston Immigrant Resource Dashboard: Partner with local faith and community networks to share real-time updates, support initiatives, and coordinate localized responses for immigrant families.
  • Deepen Your Perspective: In his local pastoral reflection, For Such a Time as This, Gregg Detwiler explores the Church’s response to 2026 U.S. immigration policy, arguing that this is not merely a political issue, but a human, theological, and missiological one.

4. Financial Solidarity with Haitian-Led Organizations

Families are already being affected by the end of TPS. Now that the end of TPS has gone into effect on July 1st, Haitians have lost their work authorization, jeopardizing their ability to work and care for themselves and their families. With this in mind, the most pressing needs are funds to provide housing assistance, food assistance, and legal fees. 

Johane Alexis-Phanor of the Boston Haitian Resource Hub emphasizes the importance of supporting Haitian-led organizations. These groups provide essential, culturally competent services to the community and remain dedicated to long-term support even after the initial crisis fades.

Here are a few trusted and vetted Haitian-Led Organizations & Nonprofits:

5. Pray

Rev. Manny Daphnis, Migrant Resource Coordinator for the Fellowship of Haitian Evangelical Pastors of New England (FHEPNE), offers a powerful challenge to the Church: he urges Christians to pray fervently for mercy from government officials, asking that they suspend TPS deportations and halt enforcement actions that cause families to live in constant fear.

O God, we lift up our Haitian and Syrian brothers and sisters, as well as many immigrants who are facing deep uncertainty today. 

We pray for your protection to surround families who fear separation, and we ask for your mercy to rest upon our nation’s leaders, that they may choose compassion over harsh enforcement. 

Help us to live into our nation’s ideals of liberty and justice for all. 

Grant us, your Church, the courage to stand in the gap—to be a sanctuary of hospitality that welcomes the stranger, knowing that in caring for the ‘least of these,’ we are truly serving you.

Bind our community together in this work, and help us to trust that even in these harrowing times, your Kingdom of justice and belonging is near. We remember that Christians shall be known by our love; may that be said of us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Illuminate Photoblog: A Celebration of Christian Unity, Reconciliation, and Hope in Boston

On May 29, 80 people gathered for UniteBoston’s “Illuminate” Fundraising Celebration and Community Gathering. In a season where profound division, polarization, injustice and violence can feel overwhelming, we came together to declare that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it” (John 1:5). At UniteBoston, we are committed to equipping Christians to be bridge-builders and agents of reconciliation, justice, peace, and repair. This gathering called Christians in Greater Boston to embody the light of Christ boldly and beautifully for the flourishing of our city.

Voices of the Movement

The gathering featured a rich tapestry of local leaders and storytellers who bore witness to God’s work of reconciliation, justice, and peacemaking.

Rev. Gina Tillotson-Cordy (Pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Lynn) shared a moving testimony from her time in the Beloved Community Lab. She spoke of the hard, holy work of sixteen diverse pastors meeting monthly to learn and practice unity, justice, and reconciliation in their own contexts – and the vital truth of seeing everyone we meet as beloved children of God.

Rev. Dr. Melinda Priest (UB Board Member and Lead Pastor of Awaken City Church) highlighted the importance of Convene. She shared a powerful blueprint for city-wide renewal based on her research interviewing 39 Greater Boston faith leaders. Her research shows that regular, cross-sector convening strengthens the Christian witness, fuels innovative resource sharing, and contributes to the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches.

Loving Big: Keynote Address by Rozella Haydée White

The centerpiece of the evening was an inspiring keynote address by public theologian, author, and coach Rozella Haydée White. Drawing from her foundational work on The Power of Revolutionary Relationships to Transform the World, Rozella challenged attendees to look past sentimental, anemic forms of love to practice a love that is Christ-like, life-giving, justice-seeking, and restorative.

“UniteBoston’s mission rests on a profound theological truth – relationships change us. When we sit across the table from one another, hear one another’s stories, and choose curiosity over assumptions and judgment, light begins to emerge. I believe the future of the Christian church will not be in how loud we argue but by how deeply we love… May we illuminate. May we bring light to hard places. May we create clarity in confusion. And may Boston encounter in us not only a more brighter church but also a more loving one, for the witness of the gospel and the glory of God.”

Following her address, Revs. Kelly and Devlin joined Rozella for a dynamic, interactive fireside chat, utilizing live polling from the audience to address the real-life tensions and questions surfacing in the room.

Growth and Sustainability

A central milestone celebrated during the evening was a monumental structural shift for the organization: for the first time in its 16-year history, UniteBoston is operating with two full-time staff members. This growth allows Executive Director Rev. Kelly Fassett and Managing Director Rev. Devlin Scott to step out of day-to-day administrative bottlenecks and focus strictly on scaling regional programmatic innovations and institutional strategy.

Your investment directly fuels these core avenues of citywide transformation:

  1. The Beloved Community Lab: Moving from a pilot framework to offering direct training, coaching, and workshops for local congregations to cultivate peacemaking habits.
  2. The Boston Sankofa Journey: Centering and preserving the legacy of historic Black Christian leaders on a public digital archive, and inviting individuals into a personal “story-collecting movement” to foster historical truth-telling.
  3. Collaborative Outreach: Convening platforms like Boston Flourish and the Boston Immigrant Resource Dashboard (BIRD) to build a connected system of care and resource-sharing, so all might flourish in our city.

The Glow-Pass: Keeping the Momentum Alive

Throughout the evening, Christian leaders, pastors, and community members from diverse traditions gathered to celebrate what God is doing across Greater Boston through collaboration, reconciliation, and relationship. This closing moment captures the heart of UniteBoston’s mission: that the light of Christ shines brightest when we walk together.

Through the immense generosity of our attendees and sponsors, we have raised $28,673 towards our fundraising goal! We are still pushing to hit our next critical campaign milestone of $30,000. Will you help us close the remaining gap to fund the buses, staff time, resources, and shared tables that keep our bridge-building movement running?

👉 Partner with Us: Click Here to Give to the Illuminate Campaign

A heartfelt thank you to our event sponsors who made this beautiful evening possible!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Illuminate and who continues to support UniteBoston’s work of nurturing unity among diverse Christians for the flourishing of Greater Boston. We are grateful to have you in our community!

Brewing Community: How Three Ministries Teamed Up to Transform a Historic Boston Space

What happens when local ministries choose collaboration over isolation? In our featured article today, UB Cohort Member Rev. Dr. John Ames, regional director of Send Relief, shares the inspiring journey of a dream that began in 2022 between Tremont Temple Baptist Church, Send Relief, and The Well Coffee House. What started as a casual conversation about an underutilized, street-facing first-floor space in downtown Boston has officially become reality: a brand-new nonprofit café location right inside Tremont Temple!

This partnership is about much more than warm drinks and shared tables. Through innovative efforts like the BREW Program—which provides paid internship opportunities and pathways to long-term flourishing for individuals from underserved communities and local refugees—this is a space where organic Gospel conversations and care can shine every day of the week. Read more below, and stop by soon to support this incredible kingdom footprint in the heart of Boston!

By Rev. Dr. John Ames

Boston is a community of dreamers. That’s one of the things that I love most about our city. Here’s the story of when a group of us came together to do just that—envision something new.

In 2022, Jaime Owens, Senior Pastor of Tremont Temple Baptist Church and I began a set of conversations about what the future of ministry could look like in one of Boston’s most historic church buildings. As we talked, dreamed, and prayed together, our attention kept returning to one particular first-floor space. Unlike much of the building, this area opened directly onto the street and yet most of it was largely unused on a regular basis. Outside, tens of thousands of people passed by every week—college students, downtown professionals, tourists, commuters, and residents from every corner of the city.

We knew that this space was an opportunity, but what could be done there?

As one conversation turned into several, we kept dreaming and processing together. What if that space could become a place where people naturally gathered? What if it could become a place where conversations could begin, and relationships could develop? What if it could become a place where ministry could just happen organically? 

At one point, and I honestly can’t remember exactly when it happened, almost casually, Jaime said, “I’ve always liked the idea of a café.” I remember responding immediately, “I love that idea, and I think we could partner together to see it happen.” 

Since 2021, Send Relief (the organization that I have the pleasure of representing), has been housed out of the 5th floor at Tremont Temple and to that point, we had been looking for a way to help their church creatively engage the city and this idea seemed perfect. 

Micah 6:8 Banner at SEND Relief Offices on the 5th floor at Tremont Temple

That’s how it started. A couple conversations between friends about ministry. 

As we continued to dream, we envisioned an intentional café located inside Tremont Temple—a place where Gospel conversations and compassion ministry could develop over shared tables and warm drinks. We imagined students studying between classes, professionals stopping in before work, visitors coming in while they were touring downtown Boston, and neighbors finding community. We imagined the underserved getting jobs at the cafe and ministry happening every day of the week, not just on Sundays during worship services.

At some point during those conversations, I suggested that we not reinvent the wheel, but that Jaime and I connect with Matt and Jullie Love, who had already been faithfully leading The Well Coffee House, a Christian nonprofit coffee ministry with three locations serving communities across Greater Boston.

A few weeks later, in the spring of 2023, representatives from Send Relief, Tremont Temple Baptist Church, and The Well Coffee House gathered together in downtown Boston. After touring the space, talking logistics, and considering the ministry partnership between the three of us, we walked across the street and set our eyes on the building with a fresh perspective. As we gazed upon Tremont Temple and prayed, all we could see were the possibilities. As we said “amen,” there was excitement, enthusiasm, and a shared sense that God might be bringing us all together for a greater Kingdom purpose that could not have done on our own. 

From that point forward, Jaime, Matt, Jullie, and I forged a collaborative partnership and got to work. 

Over the months that followed, we worked alongside many others to establish a shared vision and take practical steps forward. Plans were developed. Partnership was formalized. Funding was secured. Permits were obtained and renovation work began. 

Like any meaningful ministry endeavor, the process was not without challenges. There were delays. There were obstacles. There were frustrations and adjustments. There were moments when progress felt slower than we hoped. Yet throughout the process, the partnership remained strong because we were united around a Kingdom friendship and a common mission. During that season, Matt and Jullie Love displayed unbelievable perseverance and faith as they trusted God through every curve ball. Their persistence and faithfulness remain an amazing testimony. 

Last week, as summer began in Boston, that vision became reality when The Well Coffee House officially opened its newest café location inside Tremont Temple Baptist Church.

The vision then is the same vision now. 

All three organizations wanted to create a space that would engage the city in a tangible way while simultaneously proclaiming and demonstrating the goodness of God.

One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration is the notion that more ministry synergy will develop in the years to come. 

One of the areas where we are hoping to see even more collaboration happen is through the BREW Program, which provides paid internship opportunities for individuals from underserved communities.

Since Jullie Love created it, The Well Coffee House has utilized the BREW program to serve numerous participants. In the past couple of years, as Send Relief has come alongside, we have had the privilege of funding and connecting three local refugee participants to these opportunities. Two of those individuals ultimately transitioned into full-time employment with The Well Coffee House after their internships concluded and the third secured a full-time job elsewhere. 

In a conversation with Jullie recently, she reflected on that partnership, saying, “We are so grateful for the opportunity to partner with Send Relief and can’t wait to see how God uses our BREW internship program as an instrument for His glory.”

Both The Well Coffee House and Send Relief recognize that compassion ministry is most effective when it creates pathways toward dignity, opportunity, and long-term flourishing. It is not simply about meeting immediate needs; it is about helping people thrive. 

Looking ahead, we are excited about expanding these partnerships in this new location. As a ministry collective of Send Relief, The Well Coffee House, and Tremont Temple, we are already exploring additional opportunities to collaborate together. One possibility includes hosting conversational English classes onsite, which would create another welcoming environment where relationships can be built, and practical needs can be addressed while opening doors for meaningful Gospel engagement. 

In addition to compassion ministry, our collaborative partnership is deeply committed to supporting church planting and church revitalization throughout New England.

As the café grows and becomes established, we are exploring a ministry agreement that would allow this collective effort to support future church planting initiatives across the region. We envision ministry residencies being hosted through Tremont Temple Baptist Church, where emerging leaders can receive training, mentoring, and practical ministry experience. 

Together, Jaime Owens, Matt Love, and I bring a shared background in pastoral ministry, church planting, and church revitalization. We believe that combining those experiences can help equip the next generation of church leaders to faithfully serve communities throughout New England and beyond.

Jaime recently reflected on why this partnership works so well: “The Well Coffee House and Send Relief are the ideal partners for our church. So much of compassion ministry and discipleship is around a shared meal or a cup of coffee.”

Ultimately, this story is not about a building renovation project or a new coffee shop.

It is about what can happen when ministries choose collaboration over isolation.

It is about local churches, ministry organizations, and Christian leaders coming together around a shared mission.

It is about creating spaces where relationships can flourish, compassion can be demonstrated, and the Gospel can be proclaimed.

What began as a conversation in 2022 has now become a tangible expression of ministry in the heart of Boston. We are grateful for all God has done, excited for what lies ahead, and eager to see how He will continue to use this partnership to impact lives, strengthen churches, and advance His Kingdom throughout our city and region.

We invite you to come, sit, and enjoy a cup of coffee at The Well Coffee House at Tremont Temple and consider how God might be leading you towards Kingdom collaboration in your own context.  

Come out to The Well Tremont at 78 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02108 to support this meaningful kingdom collaboration! Open Mon-Fri 7am-3p or Saturdays 8am-3pm

Top Picks: The Chicken Pesto Panini, the gooey Cinnamon Roll and our Crem Bru-latte or Iced New Orleans Latte!

Learn more about The Well here, including events and coffee subscriptions!

A Common Game, A Common Ground

What happens when local churches trade their differences for a whistle and a soccer ball? Now in its 17th year, Soccer Nights has grown into a powerful movement involving over 200 children and 150 volunteers across Greater Boston, proving that churches working together can build real bridges in a divided world.

In our featured blog post today, Athens Fitzcheung from Aletheia Church shares how kids and volunteers from vastly different worlds have been transformed by a free, weeklong summer soccer clinic. Read on to see how ordinary acts of play reveal God’s love—and learn how you can sign up your kids or volunteer before the June 7th deadline!

By Athens Fitzcheung

I’ve always loved soccer.

During my years in the UK, any chance to play was a good one. So when I first heard about Soccer Nights, a free weeklong summer evening soccer clinic for kids hosted by local churches, signing up felt easy. A few evenings of soccer, some fun, maybe meeting people from other churches in Cambridge. Brilliant.

At the time, nearly ten years ago now, I had recently graduated from one of Cambridge’s big-name universities, and my impression of the city was probably the same as many outsiders: ambitious, intellectual, career-driven, full of brilliant people doing important work. But Soccer Nights introduced me to another Cambridge entirely.

Going into Soccer Nights, what began as a way to enjoy soccer evolved into something more meaningful: mentoring children, building relationships with families in the neighborhood, and discovering how something as simple as sports can connect people whose worlds rarely overlap.

One child in particular changed me. Let’s call him Aiden.

He was eight years old on Team France in the 7–8-year-old division, and honestly, he was a handful. He ignored instructions, ran off mid-drill, roughhoused with other kids, and regularly tested the patience of every coach around him. Internally, we called him a “flight risk” because the moment you turned around, he’d disappeared halfway across Donnelly Field.

At first, I saw disruption. But over time, something began to change.

We kept showing up consistently. He kept showing up consistently. We corrected him consistently. We also encouraged him consistently.  And slowly things changed.

That came later that week when Aiden started bonding with another boy on his team — let’s call him Sam. They could not have been more different. Sam was calm, polite, and came from a different culture and environment. Yet by Day Four, the two of them were laughing together, encouraging each other, celebrating goals like they’d been lifelong friends.

It was beautiful.

And somewhere in the middle of all this, I began changing too.

As I came to know Aiden more deeply, I had the privilege of discovering more of who he is — his personality, his story, his heart. God began to show me that he was never simply a disruption to deal with, but instead a precious child of His. Over time, my patience grew, and I was able to truly see him, understand him, and love him.

That, to me, is the spirit of Soccer Nights.

What began 17 years ago as a partnership between Central Square Church and Pentecostal Tabernacle was never simply about running a soccer camp. The vision was to bring together children, families, churches, and neighbors across Cambridge through a shared love of the game.  This year alone, Soccer Nights will involve more than 200 children, 150 volunteers, and partnerships with over 10 churches across Greater Boston.

In this divisive cultural moment, Soccer Nights offers a glimpse of a different way of being: churches working together for the common good of their neighborhood. Simply to serve. And to serve in one body. A gift for everyone no matter their religious or cultural background.

If you care about children, community, and building bridges across our city, there’s a place for you.. If you also love soccer, even better!

Join us for Soccer Nights to participate in this beautiful expression of collaborative community outreach, for the glory of God and the good of our city! Here is how you can get involved:

  • Pray: Lift up the children, families, and volunteers gathering this summer—that through ordinary acts of play, encouragement, and friendship, they might experience the love of God and the oneness of God’s people.
  • Register: Sign up your child to participate in the soccer clinic and connect with other families in the neighborhood.
  • Volunteer: Step onto the field or help behind the scenes to serve the community alongside Christians from across Greater Boston.

Registration is still open for both participants and volunteers, but the deadline is fast approaching on June 7th!

👉 Sign Up or Volunteer for Soccer Nights Here

About the Author

Athens is a proud Brit who has made it across the Pond, where roughly half the folks has no clue what he says. He’s proud of his dry humour and loves poking fun at fellow Commonwealth accents. He firmly believes every social occasion should end with “just one pint,” even if it’s two in the afternoon and ideally somewhere showing the Premier League. By day, he works in tech, confidently telling software engineers what to build and thinking he’s in charge – he’s not. He writes about leadership, faith, technology, and the strange business of being human at his Substack Here.

In a Time of Division, the Church Must Shine

Are Christians simply mimicking the divisions of our culture, or are we offering a counter-cultural witness?

In this week’s UB Newsletter, we are featuring an inspiring sermon from UB’s Executive Director Rev. Kelly Fassett on Ephesians 2:14-22. Originally delivered at the 2026 American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts (TABCOM) Annual Gathering, Rev. Kelly Fassett highlights how we can represent the gospel by moving past our internal divisions to become true agents of the hope and peace of Christ.

We invite you to read the full reflection below and listen to the complete sermon on Youtube, “Removing Walls of Hostility to Preach Peace.”

P.S. You can explore more photos and key talks from the 2026 TABCOM Annual Gathering here.

P.P.S. Don’t forget to mark your calendars—we would love to see you at our “Illuminate” fundraising celebration and community gathering on May 29!

In a Time of Division, the Church Must Shine: Tearing Down the Walls of Hostility

By Rev. Kelly Fassett, Executive Director of UniteBoston

We live in an age of fractures. Look around, and you can’t avoid seeing how our world is siloed by political affiliation, ideologies, and digital algorithms. The world is experts at erecting walls—walls of suspicion, walls of fear, walls of indifference—which only contribute to our growing polarization and underlying postures of hostility.

But what about the Church? For those of us who call Jesus “Lord,” the time has come to ask: Are we mimicking the divisions of our culture, or are we offering a radical, counter-cultural witness?

This is the core question that drives the mission of UniteBoston. My own journey as a bridge-builder began years ago. I arrived in Boston in 2008 as a young woman with dreams of joining an elite rowing team on the Charles River. One morning, however, I woke up with a complete lack of desire to row. I asked God, “Why am I here in Boston if I’m not here to row?” And I sensed God’s voice more clearly than anything else I had known before: “Kelly, you are here to unite My bride.”

Woah! What does that mean? This moment led me into a beautiful, messy, and challenging experiment that became UniteBoston. I became passionate about not only orthodoxy but orthopraxy – right belief and right practice – that in our divided world, us Christians need to not just “talk the talk” but “walk the walk” and put our commitment to neighbor-love into practice in the places where we live, work and play.

The urgency I feel today is captured powerfully in one of my favorite passages of scripture: Ephesians chapter 2. In our current, deeply polarized context, this letter feels as though it was written for our exact moment. In my preparation for this sermon, one verse, in particular, continued to stand out:

“Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” (Ephesians 2:17)

This simple statement is a profound theological challenge. Are we, the modern-day “household of God,” preaching that same peace to those near and far from the Church today?

The Scandal of Our Disunity

We must take a hard, honest look in the mirror. When we analyze the witness of the Church today, the results can be sobering. The research confirms what many of us feel on a daily basis.

In the Great DeChurching, Jim Davis and Michael Graham tracked 40 million Americans who stopped attending church in the last 25 years. They found that hyper-politicization, inability to listen, and an emphasis on culture wars are among the top reasons people leave. Additionally, Barna research has shown that 87% of people view Christians as “judgmental,” and 85% see us as “hypocritical.” It is clear that there is a widening “witness gap,” where the grace of the gospel is drowned out by internal hostility, division, and fighting.

The primary criticism isn’t about our doctrine; it’s about our posture. It isn’t just about what we believe, but how we believe it. The world is watching, and what they see is often a “hostility” that looks identical to the divisions outside the Church.

I say this as a practical theologian: we cannot just talk the talk; we must walk the walk. To become the agents of peace Christ calls us to be, we must commit to three practical and difficult steps: grieving our disunity, finding our walls, and extending a hand of fellowship.

1. Grieve the Scandal of Disunity

When we think of ecclesiastical “scandals,” we usually imagine financial theft, abuses of power, or sexual misconduct. While these are truly grievous, Scripture suggests that our divisions, hatred, and hostility are just as offensive to God and are equally effective at distorting the core message of the Gospel (Eph 4:3).

The root of this sin is a posture our UniteBoston team calls “righteous hubris.” This is the insidious, often subconscious belief that “me and my people are the ones truly following Jesus, and those people (whoever they are) need to become like me to really be Christian.”

This hubris is not new. Ephesians 2 addresses this exact dynamic between two groups of people defined by a history of animosity: Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles often despised the Jewish people for their “otherness,” while the Jewish people saw themselves as the exclusive possessors of the only path to God. They considered the Gentiles “far away” spiritually, devoid of access to God, and inherently unclean.

Archeologists have actually found a physical stone barrier that used to separate Gentiles from the holy parts of the temple. The wall stood five feet tall and bore a terrifying inscription: “Let no one of any other nation come within this fence around the Holy Place. Whoever is caught doing so will himself be responsible for his death.” This was a literal wall of hospitality that promised death to those who were “far away.”

Temple Warning Inscription. Copyright CBN Israel

This makes Paul’s message in Ephesians 2 truly radical. He looks at this historic, violent divide and makes an astonishing claim: because of Jesus Christ, there is an exchange, a transfer from hostility to fellowship.

  • To the Gentiles, God says, “You who were once far away are now brought near because of Christ.” (v. 13)
  • “For [Christ] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (v. 14-16)

This is ground-breaking! It means that “they” (whoever your “they” is) are actually part of our same family.

  • The hostility between Jews and Gentiles? Banished at the foot of the cross.
  • The hostility between Democrat and Republican? Eliminated by the cross.
  • The hatred between Liberal and Conservative? TORN DOWN by the cross.

When we preach peace to those who are near and far, we must remember that there is no longer a “closer to God” group and a “further from God” group defined by culture or politics. The cross is the great leveler. And why is it the leveler? Verse 12 is vital: because we were ALL enemies of God. Every single one of us was separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship, without hope, and without God. But now—only because of God’s grace—we are chosen. At the foot of the cross, we are all just God’s children in need of grace.

The Greek word Paul uses for “reconcile” in verse 16 is apokatallassō, and it implies this radical exchange—a transfer from hostility to intrinsic oneness. It’s not just a cease-fire; it is a declaration of belovedness that we must extend to all who are created in God’s image.

2. Find Your Wall of Hostility

If Jesus modeled this radical fellowship across dividing lines—purposefully choosing both Matthew the tax collector (who worked for the empire) and Simon the Zealot (who wanted to overthrow the empire) as his disciples—then we must do the same. We cannot model the kingdom of God monoculturally or monopolitically.

Yet, somehow, over the years, we always seem to lose our way. History is cluttered with the fragmentation of Christianity, from the Great Schism to the bloody slaughters of the Anabaptists. We might not be killing each other physically in Boston today, but we are too often ostracizing, publicly calling out without relationship, and acting out in destructive ways.

This issue of “righteous hubris” was made painfully clear to me last summer when I traveled to Northern Ireland to study peacebuilding. I learned about the Troubles, where hostility between Catholics and Protestants became so profound that in 30 years, 3,700 people were killed. I stood before “peace walls” that were 20 feet tall and extended for 21 miles. People told me that as they built the walls higher to “keep the peace,” others just threw larger stones and bombs over the top.

Peace Walls (Right)
Pastor Steven

But I also met a pastor named Steven, a youth worker who knew the walls had to come down. He told me, “I knew the youth had to grow up together because it’s hard to throw stones at someone you know.” He partnered with Tracy, a Protestant leader, and it took them eight years to build enough trust to start a joint youth group. But by God’s grace, transformation took place. This neighborhood that once saw 30 youths jailed annually now sees only one youth jailed every four years. Violence was replaced by community.

Pastor Steven said something that I will never forget: “We have to eliminate the word ‘themens’ from our language.” This is Irish slang for “them,” a word that conveys profound suspicion and a posture of inner hostility. He told me, “When you talk about ‘themens,’ remember you’ve got three fingers pointing back at yourself. It’s not something that happens out there, but ‘in here.’”

There Are No Walls in Heaven: What Peacemakers in Belfast Taught Me

This is our work. We must go back to the imagery of Ephesians 2 and find our own walls that are keeping some “in” and some “out.”

To “preach peace to those far away,” you must first be willing to consider the people you see as “far away.” Yet, the tricky things about walls is that they are often invisible.

You can ask yourself: Which groups do you avoid? Who feels threatened? Who makes you uncomfortable? Which particular group do you cringe at the thought of praising? Is there a people group where you feel the world would be better off if there were less of “those people” around?

I invite you to dig deeper and get curious about where this comes from. Howard Thurman once said, “Often the degree to which we oppose a thing marks the degree to which we do not understand it. Sometimes we use our opposition to an idea to cover up our own ignorance.” Some of us are carrying hurts and trauma that need the healing balm of the Holy Spirit, not the projection of our hostility onto others.

I invite you to pause and give God a moment to reveal your wall. What precious thing are you trying to protect with that wall? What “themens” are on the other side? What might be their story, their hopes and dreams?

3. Extend Your Hand of Fellowship (With Curiosity)

Once we find our wall and our “themens,” the answer is simple, ancient, and difficult: Beloved Community.

In the early Church, cities were divided into ethnic enclaves, with physical walls keeping groups separate. But in Antioch, they did something radical: they crossed those walls to worship, eat, and fellowship together. Historians believe it was this behavior—not their dogma—that made them notice they were “little Christs.”

UniteBoston is carrying out a holy experiment called the “Beloved Community Lab.” We have been in a multi-year process of listening to stories of unity and disunity in the Church, and have landed on some clear understandings and practices to help all of us live out God’s call for unity, justice, and reconciliation in the places where we live, work, and play. We currently have 16 group of incredible pastors from many backgrounds who are journeying together to do the hard, deep work of beloved community.

We are learning that this unity isn’t just about a “kumbaya” moment that papers over our differences or focuses on what we have in common. The unity we are called to runs through our divisions, not around them.

To build a strong bridge, our hearts must stay tender. We need to ‘tend to the wounds’ of our estrangement. Bridge-building can feel like finding the right tools and skillsets. Tending to wounds requires us to lean in close to someone who is hurting and ask, “What happened? What hurts? How can I help?”

By God’s grace, we are seeing the Holy Spirit shift postures of hostility into humility, hospitality, and curiosity.

  • We are seeing Black pastors challenge White siblings to stand with them in the face of the injustices they are facing in our city.
  • We are seeing Conservatives help everyone remember Scripture and stay centered on Jesus.
  • We are seeing dreams emerge of collaborations across churches that would never be possible if we stayed in our isolated silos.
  • People are saying, “I don’t get how it all works out—but I’m really starting to love and care for these kin in Christ and want their good over my own.”

This are signposts of Beloved Community. We’re not there yet, but in a season of profound polarization, our ability to gather across differences bears witness to Jesus’ prayer for oneness (Jn. 17:23), serving as a living sign of the Gospel and a powerful testimony to Christ’s reconciling work in the world.

Tending to the Wounds Through Curiosity

Our final tip for bridge-builders is this: When the going gets tough, get curious. Turn to wonder. Ask: What is going on inside of me causing this reaction? and Where is Jesus here? What is the gift I need to receive from this other person?

We are inviting all who are stirring with a desire to see this kind of unity and reconciliation to join us. We are beginning to offer training and coaching for pastors and congregations in the practices of the Beloved Community Lab.

What should Christians be known by? Scripture’s answer is simple: Love (Jn 13:35).

Love has always been the mark of the Christian church and our greatest apologetic.

May this be true of us today as we embody the radical grace of the gospel by grieving the disunity, finding our walls of ‘themens,’ and extending a hand of fellowship that turns hostility into curiosity, and preaching peace to all.

My closing blessing for you is a prayer by Fr Gerry Reynolds. Fr. Gerry led a movement called the Unity Pilgrims who traveled between Catholic and Protestant churches in Northern Ireland. He wrote this prayer for the Unity Pilgrims:

 Lord Jesus,
who on the eve of your death,
prayed that all your disciples may be one
as you in the Father and the Father in you,
make us feel intense sorrow over the infidelity of our disunity.
Give us the honesty to recognize,
and the courage to reject,
whatever indifference towards one another,
or mutual distrust,
or even enmity,
lie hidden within us. 
Enable us to meet one another in you.
And let your prayer for the unity of Christians,
be ever in our hearts and on our lips,
unity such as you desire and by the means that you will.
Make us find the way that leads to unity in you,
who are perfect charity
through being obedient to the Spirit of love and truth.
Amen. 

P.S. UniteBoston recently released a missional letter to clarify our calling as an organization, offer clarity about the values that hold our community together and what you can expect as you journey with us. Check it out below!


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