UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

The Boston Dream Center: The Story

The Boston Dream Center is a new and budding ministry that is already having a huge impact to help connect Boston’s Christian community to the city. This week, we share Sheila Donegan’s story of how God called her back to Boston and helped this dream come to fruition.

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In 2012, Sheila Donegan, an Ordained Minister with the Foursquare Church, knew something was very different. She had the sense that things were changing, so in January she began fasting and praying to seek clarity from God on this leading. Sheila began to have the sense that she would be moving. Since she had previously been a missionary, she naturally assumed that God was leading her on a missions trip to another country.

At the beginning of February, God posed a question very clearly to her heart, “Will you move to Boston?” Sheila’s first thought was – “Boston?” She was totally surprised and had not seen that coming at all. Sheila had been born and raised in Massachusetts, just about 10 miles north of Boston. She had moved away when she was 16 with her family and hadn’t lived there for more than 30 years. The thought of moving back to Boston was crazy! Yes. But oh so clearly God.

Saying yes to the call and to the leading of God to take nothing for the journey, she gave away all she had and arrived back home to Boston on May 15, 2012, with only one small suitcase.

The last two and a half years were a journey indeed…there were times of great faith, miracles, as well as times of trials and testing. But through it all there was the leading of the Holy Spirit, step by step laying out the path. From the beginning, Sheila knew that this would be an urban outreach-focused ministry, dedicated to helping those who would need it most.

In 2013, the ministry took the shape of Freedom Boston with Christ-centered classes and groups dedicated to healing, restoration and recovery ministry. As Journey of Forgiveness and Live.Life.Free groups went into full swing that fall, immediately there was evidence of transformed lives and hope restored in those attending the groups.

Through much prayer, over the past 2 years, the vision grew and ministries were added. In the spring of 2014, a small team of people with the same mind and heart joined Sheila on this journey. Sheila had previously lived and served with the L.A. Dream Center in California, so she knew that a connection to the Dream Center had been a possibility from the beginning. So with the addition of the team, and a sense of God’s timing, in the August of 2014, the Boston Dream Center was launched!

One of the most significant elements of the vision was to build and develop united partnership with churches and organizations in Boston with outreaches to the city of Boston, as well as classes and groups for healing, restoration and recovery.

Many churches don’t have the resources, staff or finances to support these areas of ministry, so the Boston Dream Center helps to enable churches to have the outreach experience or attend classes and groups that will be beneficial to them, without the church carrying the burden of the ministry.
Currently, the Boston Dream Center offers classes at Suffolk County Jail and the New England Center for Homeless Vetrans. Additionally, on December 1st, the Dream Center served dinner at the New England Center for Homeless Vetrans and will be giving away 150 backpacks to homeless friends on Christmas Eve on Boston Common.

Additionally, the Boston Dream Center is delighted to be part of the Dream Center network of Los Angeles, California, joining with other Dream Centers around the nation with a similar heart to help those most in need in our communities.

Seeing the Body of Christ coming together to serve people, with the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ, is the very heartbeat of what they are about.

By the end of this year, the Boston Dream Center will have impacted the lives of nearly 500 people with the love of Christ in a personal, tangible way. May God continue to lead, guide and direct us by His Spirit and may we always have his heart to reach those within our reach in the city of Boston.

If you would like more information on the Boston Dream Center you can visit bostondreamcenter.org or email: bostondreamcenter@gmail.com

“What God is doing in Boston is Truly Amazing” – John Armstrong’s Reflections on His Visit to Boston

John Armstrong, founder of the unity-minded Act 3 Network, visited Boston last month to lead the Unity Factor Forum hosted by Boston’s new Institute for Christian Unity. Read below to hear his encouraging reflections relating to the unity that He sees within the Christian community in Boston.

Blog originally posted here on John Armstrong’s Act 3 Network. Reprinted with permission.

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I was in Boston for three days last weekend working in a number of exciting missional-ecumenical contexts. Boston is best known, in terms of its Christian leadership, for the work of Cardinal Sean O’Malley. I pray for Cardinal O’Malley, a leader who represents Pope Francis and his vision as well as any American leader in the Catholic Church. Let me explain some of what I mean by sharing about my recent experience in Boston.

On Sunday evening (November 16) I met with twelve ecumenical leaders from the city. Included among those at the table were some wonderful folks such as the leader of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the newly appointed dean of the Orthodox Cathedral, the evangelical catalyst for overseeing the joint efforts of ten seminaries in the greater Boston area, a lay leader in the office of ecumenism for Cardinal O’Malley and various religious leaders, both clergy and non-clergy. We were Catholic, Orthodox, charismatic, evangelical, mainline Protestant. We were Asian, white, black and hispanic. We were male and female, young and old. It was quite a group and the energy in the dialogue was rich and Spirit-directed. The prayers moved some of us very deeply and we wept with joy. Friendships were strengthened and made. It was all around a delightful evening meal hosted by two dear Focolare friends that I met in June in New York at the Luminosa Award ceremony. All of these lovely guests are active in mission for unity in Boston. My host for three days was my long-time friend Dr. Mark Yoon and my new friend, Scott Brill. (I also met Scott in June at the Luminosa ceremony.) Scott is an ecumenical leader in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the co-founder of the new Institute for Christian Unity. The Institute sponsored our first Boston Unity Factor Forum on Saturday, November 15.

You should also check out UniteBoston on Facebook, a movement that is doing some great work in the city. The leader, an energetic and visionary young woman, shared in this same dinner. She has a heart for unity like few I’ve met in the U.S. I look forward to forging new friendships through Unite Boston as she gets to know me better. She is now reading Your Church Is Too Small since I gave her my only copy I took along on this trip.

In addition please check out Emmanuel Gospel Center. I will write a longer blog on the EGC mission next week. The story of this evangelical witness in an urban context is truly one of the greatest stories of missional-ecumenism I’ve personally encountered in America. EGC hosted our ACT3 Unity Factor Forum last Saturday, November 15. Mark Yoon is the chairman of the EGC board and also serves as the evangelical chaplain at Boston University. Mark and I met a decade ago in Chicago after his daughter studied at Wheaton College Graduate School. I thank God that Grace Yoon insisted that I meet her dad. We did meet and became close friends for life.

What God is doing in Boston is truly amazing. One older leader called the Boston story a “quiet revival.” I am inclined to agree based upon my small three-day sample. Here, in greater Boston, the Spirit has been moving for decades. This work is not about politics or ideology but rather about unity, grace and reaching the unchurched with the good news of Jesus. This work is neither sectarian nor overtly linked to any one church expression. One of the greatest visible supporters in this movement of the Spirit is Cardinal Sean O’Malley. Cardinal O’Malley was interviewed on CBS 60 Minutes while we were enjoying our Sunday evening meal. You can see the program online. I will watch the entire program in the next day or so. CBS called the interview with Cardinal O’Malley one which revealed his “careful candor.” I love that. Journalists are missing this “candor” because they do not understand it well but many Christians have missed it as well, including some bishops! The second clip is so fascinating if you want to get perspective on how such an interview is actually done.

Pope Francis has called Cardinal O’Malley the leader that he trusts and looks to for leadership in America. I can understand why this is true when I see and hear this man of God speak of the joy of the gospel. Pray for Boston and all Christian believers in this great city.

On Sunday morning, November 16, I preached at a young church on the campus of Boston University. This evangelical church, which is less than five years old, draws well over 300 young adults and is growing and reaching the unchurched every single week. (The average age of the congregation that I preached to in the morning was about 23!) Please do not tell me that young adults will not respond to the gospel when it is presented with joy, in the power of the Spirit, and in a context that understands and relates to their story.

The Cardinal O’Malley interview is worth reading about here:

Cardinal O’Malley: ‘If I were founding a Church, I’d love to have women priests’.

This Thanksgiving, may we count warmth in our blessings #BostonWarm

This Thanksgiving, as we count our blessings, may we remember the 700 Long Island Refugees and 8,000 homeless in Boston.

Dozens of faith leaders have mobilized to fight for those who have been displaced due to the recent Long Island Shelter Closure.

Here is a photo from the “Boston Clergy Call for Thanksgiving Prayer and Action” rally last Tuesday afternoon in the Boston Common:


(Photo Credit: Massachusetts Council of Chruches)

If you weren’t able to attend, check out Michael Horan’s video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpc7l9hwe6E

Read an article from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts here

Ways to participate:

1. Download your prayer card and pray it out your Thanksgiving table

2. Fill out the needs survey from the Immediate Support sub-group

3. Generate buzz. Share with your friends. Tweet #BostonWarm

4. Be a part of the community of faith that is mobilizing together to generate action and fight for the city’s most vulnerable. The next meeting is Thursday December 4, 3:00 to 5:00pm at Old South Church, 645 Boylston St, Boston.

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’
~Matthew 25:35-36

Training for a Prayer Meeting

Intro: UniteBoston was inspired by Derek Arledge’s devotion to attend the various gatherings around the city during the 10 Days of Prayer in October. This week, Derek Arledge draws some fascinating parallels from his experience with 10 Days Boston and his background in fitness.

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”What is that echo?”
”Oh my! Everyone is praying again.“
"Are your arms tired for worshipping so much? My shoulders are getting sore.”
"I’m so hungry; I can’t wait to have communion again.”

Church is a part of life, whether folks like it or not.

But fitness is also a part of life, whether folks like it or not. Sigh.

I was recently a part of 10 Days Boston, a ten day gathering of worship and prayer around Greater Boston. I had the opportunity to visit other denominations as a way of promoting unity among various churches in the Greater Boston Area.

While some rank Boston as one of the least spiritually-minded cities in the nation (with a score of 98 out of 100,) my experience proved otherwise. By encouraging followers of Christ to consider others with love, intrigue, fervor, and an open heart rather than bias, I have seen how 10 Days Boston breaks barriers and builds relationships to express unity the way God desires.

Additionally, I found that God also has a lot of humor that unexpectedly snuck up on me. Oh yes! If you attend a different church every day for one week, then you have to be physically able, trained and ready for the experience.

This brings me to share a bit about fitness. Boston is a dynamic place highlighting many aspects of health; some even consider Boston to be the health mecca of the United States. In fact, there are many parallels between fitness and church, and UniteBoston hints at this parallel. Although there are many houses of the Lord, Boston is not currently known as an area filled with life-giving churches. Someone has to be willing to meet these individuals that are all in for God to dispel the negative stereotype of a church-less Greater Boston Area. So, my encouragement to Christians in Boston is to have an active mind, body and spirit in exploring what God is doing in the city. Indeed, your spirit is the smartest of the three. Let me explain.

During 10 Days, I experienced a Korean worship gathering for the first time. This opened my mind to a different way of worship and prayer. In fact, I felt that the convenience of having a translator and headphones enriched my worship experience. As each person prayed, it was very similar to being in a group exercise class. The sanctuary was rightfully dark and intimate like a spin class in the evening. But here at the worship service, the “instructors” kept changing, each person expressing his/her own genre of energy expenditure. This only made me desire more of God and inspire my curiosity to see what the next day would be like.

The next service I attended was the Taize service at Trinity Church. Below is a selfie of my wife Chandace and I at the Taize prayer gathering on Sunday evening.

The last time I heard Latin spoken was at Gonzaga High School, so it was somewhat of a shock for me to hear this in a Taize service in a preserved church in the middle of downtown Boston. Honestly, this makes exercising in the oldest YMCA in the middle of downtown Boston a run for its sweat. Sometimes, you just enter a service and everything feels sacred. And sometimes…you enter a gym for the first time and everything feels sacred and sweaty. But, the former wins!

After a few days of re-arranging everything on your schedule and getting your family organized to attend these various churches, you thank the Lord that you can actually move well. Then, He reminds you that you need to nourish yourself throughout the day and stretch.

Why? A properly nourished individual will want to eat again if they move more. Hence, one take at communion should make a budding, adventurous, and curious churchgoer hungry for more communion and the body of Christ. “Be still” for one second, because as you lift your arms and open your palms as a sign of receiving the Lord, your deltoids begin to develop lactic acid. Lactic acid gets the bad rep of tiring out your muscles, but I think it brings us back to the Lord to remind us that He is where we draw our strength from.

Practice makes perfect. The energetic services at these UniteBoston gatherings included many prayers. Many people were blessed as a result of lifting hands high. As Christians became healthier spiritually, I believe that the city of Boston and indeed the world was impacted mightily.
All in all, I learned that the city of Boston has some serious worshippers. In my mind, Boston is not only a city that is among the first in health but also a city known for its love towards the Lord!

By Derek Arledge, http://derekteempt.blogspot.com

Boston’s Institute for Christian Unity Founds Library in New Guinea

If you have not heard of the new Institute for Christian Unity ministry here in Boston, you will soon. It’s only a few months old, but they are already mobilizing churches to be a part of God’s work here in Boston and around the world.

Dedicated to the full visible unity of Christ’s church, INCU’s activities include mentoring associates to advocate for Christian unity, engaging in high-level dialogues, and hosting bimonthly WEE forums engaging Christians around issues critical to the life and flourishing of the Church.

A few months ago, INCU came across an opportunity to be a part of a worldwide mission project. Through contact with missionaries, INCU learned that there was a school currently being built in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea that served extremely poor children from the Kiripia District. They wanted a school library but had no books.

INCU responded by linking churches and denominations cooperatively to found this library. Through contributions from Evangelicals, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Catholics over 500 books have been gathered already.

INCU has already brought this project to Cardinal Sean O’Malley and to Bishop Alan Gates of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, who are both interested in the project.

This story is just one of many showing that we can do more when we work together.

The Institute for Christian Unity is currently collecting elementary, middle, and high school books for the library. If you have used books that you would like to donate by November 24, there are dropboxes at Emmanuel Gospel Center and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center at 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, or contact vnicastro@earthlink.net


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