“My dream is that Christians throughout the city would lock arm in arm, seeing the Melnea Cass area as a mission field to push back darkness, turning Methodone Mile to Miracle Mile, one soul at a time.”

Pastor Sam Acevedo

In these weeks leading up to Boston Flourish on November 10, we’re featuring the organizations that will be presenting at the conference. This week, we’re featuring Miracle Mile Ministries, a long-standing inter-church initiative that is making an impact in powerful ways. We had the chance to learn more about this ministry from Pastor Sam Acevedo – Read below to hear about the transformation they are seeing take place through their ministry!

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Tell us a little bit about Miracle Mile Ministries?

Miracle Mile Ministries is a collaborative of churches devoted to a sustained, deliberate, strategic response to the area we call “Miracle Mile,” a roughly 2-square-mile area in the South End of Boston often referred to as “Mass & Cass” or “Methadone Mile.”  It is led by a core group of six Boston-area Lead Churches (Congregación León de Judá, Antioch Community Church Brighton, Cornerstone Church, Restoration City Church, Hilltop Church and Symphony Church) and also involves a dozen or so churches and parachurch ministries from throughout Boston’s neighboring communities who faithfully support this effort, week after week.

Wow, that’s really awesome to hear. Can you tell us about this ministry began?

This ministry began in 2012 as a weekly sidewalk outreach on Saturday mornings at of Congregación León de Judá , serving coffee and making friends with people in the neighborhood around the church who were enduring homelessness and other needs. In 2014, “the breakfast” moved into Lion of Judah’s basement fellowship hall, allowing the church to serve a fuller breakfast, year-round, and conduct an evangelistic service.  Over time, volunteers from area churches and ministries would flock to the “breakfast,” and today there are dozens of volunteers who contribute to make this ministry happen on a weekly basis.

Over the last 10 years, every Saturday morning – whether amid a snowstorm or on Christmas Day – Miracle Mile Ministries has had the privilege of feeding and clothing anywhere from 60 to 100 guests each week, who come to us from the neighboring streets and surrounding shelters. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Miracle Mile volunteers have provided 100 sidewalk “to go” breakfasts and clothing each week, as well direct interaction with our neighbors at Rosie’s and the tent-dwellers on Atkinson Street’s tent encampment.  That is nearly 800 guests each year – many of them struggling with the ravishes of substance abuse addiction, working hard on coming clean, getting on their feet, and achieving their destiny.

What is the current state of the situation?

Never has the crisis of homelessness and addiction in Boston been more stark, and never has the need for Miracle Mile Ministries been more ardent.  Perhaps the worst expression of Boston’s homelessness crisis has been the “Mass & Cass” tent encampment – located only a couple of blocks from the Congregación León de Judá – that at its darkest, according to a City of Boston survey, included 70 to 90 tents sheltering an estimated 143 human beings.  Most of the tent dwellers reported widespread drug use (87% use cocaine or crack cocaine, 76% use opiates, 20% methamphetamines (1). 

What is the approach you take to serve those struggling with addiction?

First, we seek to meet immediate needs, as Jesus asks his followers to do in Matthew 25: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me . . .” (Matthew 25:35-36). Since the pandemic, we set up tables out on the street to serve our guests a hot breakfast and hot coffee or tea. Many times they form a single line that often reached from our door around the corner to the door of our neighbor, Rosie’s Place.  On that street, we formed a “conveyor belt of love,” giving our guests food, as well as clothing.

Then we introduce our guests to the gospel and its transforming power through outdoor piano worship (including in the sleet and rain) and a street corner “Prayer Booth.” It has a sign that reads “Prayer here!” and we minister in the open air to our Guests – and in fact, to any passersby.  When we visit the Mass & Cass area, we move from tent to tent with care packages and in and invite those we encountere to receive prayer – including to invite Jesus into their lives.  Many of them have.  And several have made their way to our mid-week Bible Studies specific to those experiencing addiction and homelessness.

What transformation have you seen take place?

The ultimate goal of Miracle Mile Ministries is to see many of our Guests – even if not all – take their first solid steps toward a life free of despair and the bondage of addiction.  As other Miracle Mile volunteers hand out care packages, recovery specialists also arrive armed with resource binders ready to refer anyone who is ready for a change to community services such as detox and rehab facilities, transitional housing, or employment.  Between June of 2020 and July of 2021, our Together Initiative workers made 591 follow-up calls to 64 Guests.  Our volunteers have also driven Guests to detox and rehab facilities as far away as Worcester. More than half of them have either received their own apartments or are in transitional housing.  Roughly two-thirds (62%) have been clean – free of illicit drug or alcohol use – for at least year.  Others have successfully completed a residential treatment program. 

For many of our Guests, their first steps to transformation also involves church attendance.  A recent survey identified at least 36 men and women drawn from the Miracle Mile community who have attended services at Lion of Judah more than once over the last 18 months.  An average of 5 to 10 Guests attend either our Tuesday night Bible Study or our weekly Wednesday morning Bible Study (dubbed, “the Freedom Group”). In fact, in 2019, Lion of Judah’s last open air baptisms, 10 of our Guests – the limit of our bus – were baptized into the faith.  These are many of the ways that our Guests are beginning a new life of freedom.

I’d encourage you to watch Jerome’s story below. In the three years since Jerome first came to Miracle Mile, Jerome has moved into his own one-bedroom apartment, he recently celebrated his first Christmas with his family in 45 years, and has become an indispensable member of the Miracle Mile Team. “If I can change in the 60-something years I was doing alcohol and drugs, trust me you can change, too.”

What is your dream for your ministry? How can Christians in Boston come alongside your efforts?

My dream is to see the Church rise up as a synchronized unit to confront the forces of darkness now known as Methodone Mile / Mass & Cass. At this point, we need ownership and infrastructure to shift a longstanding voluntary fellowship of churches around Boston’s homelessness and opioid crisis, into a formal, functioning multi-church organization. Volunteers are needed for everything from organizing supplies, to running bible studies, to picking up and sorting donated food, to picking up needles and trash, to engaging people on the street and meeting guests, to committed prayer. There are times we have to pick and choose whether we do one thing or another and more hands on deck is absolutely necessary for us to have the impact we want to have. My dream is that Christians throughout the city would lock arm in arm, seeing the this as a mission field to push back darkness, turning Methodone Mile to Miracle Mile, one soul at a time.

It was awesome! After a 2-year hiatus, UniteBoston’s 2022 worship concert brought us “together again” to worship Jesus in the heart of Boston. There were 15 different organizations hosting ministry tables surrounding the perimeter of the gathering, 30+ members of a community choir, and hundreds of attendees and passersby who stopped by for a portion of the evening to listen to the music, learn about the various organizations in the city, or receive prayer.

Read on to see photos and read personal testimonies about the impact of this gathering! You can also click on this link to follow the artists on their media platforms click here to listen to the playlist for the concert on Youtube!

All Photos by Rosa Caban

“I really enjoyed the worship and fellowship during “together again”. A highlight of my night was making new friends and praying for a young couple after finishing my set. It’s nice to not just attend a church but take nights like these to go out into the city and be the church… we never know when we’ll meet someone who needs an encounter with the love of Jesus. Thanks Unite Boston, donors, and all those involved in putting this together.” – Ada Betsabe

“It was great to see so many other artists in Boston that are excited about Jesus. It doesn’t always feel that way, so I’m incredibly grateful for the reminder.” – Doully Yang

“One of the things I enjoy about doing music is the opportunity to collaborate. And the UB concert vision really embodied that spirit. It was so encouraging to be a part of an event where Christian artists and musicians supported each other in the heart of worship!” – Caleb McCoy

This year, we brought together the community and had the opportunity to make room for ministries from across the city to share their mission with the city.

There were a lot of great moments of togetherness:

We also had the pleasure of building a community choir that brought together members from Gordon College God’s Chosen Gospel Choir and members of the community who have a passion for worshipping God.

“It was a beautiful glimpse into the true Body of Christ as we worshipped together.  I was especially moved by the Gospel Youth Choir and their fervor for Jesus. And to think that we were right down there at the Boston Harbor proclaiming Jesus!”

-Pastor Richard Rhodes, Grace Chapel

Alexis Monroe and Kika Ghobrial were the MCs for the event and Grain of Wheat Christian ministries brought their musical gifts during the program intermission.

Other testimonies:

“I was visiting from Chicago this weekend and happened upon the choir. It was such a blessing. We were on the way to dinner without reservations. Thankfully we were able to circle back while we waited. May God continue to bless your ministry!” – @acalhy

“My favorite moment was with the lemonade stand owner which was adjacent to where we were setting up. I told him that today is going to be a great day for his business. He said that even when they have concerts here, he doesn’t make any money. I responded, “Today will be different – it’s a different vibe.” He said, “I hope so.” Later I ran into him and told him to make me a lemonade. When I came back to get it, he said, “Oh shoot, I forgot to make yours cause right after you ordered yours, I got so busy with customer after customer. You brought me luck!” I said, “No, God did it.” and he said “Yes he did!” This was a great chance to testify about God to many people who don’t normally go to church!” -Emmanuel Nicolas

“During one of the songs I see an older couple walk across the lawn near us checking things out. They look like tourists from Texas – 2 white people, mid-50s, too nicely dressed for this event. I remember thinking that they looked out of place. Then the man threw both of his hands up in worship and the woman started dancing. They participated until the end and we talked with them briefly after. They are from Texas and are spending a few days in Boston as part of a broader New England vacation. They just stumbled across the event and were excited to see Christian life in Boston. Their son lives in the burbs and hasn’t found a church community, and they didn’t think there was any life here. They were very encouraged by what they saw!” -Jeff Bass, Executive Director, Emmanuel Gospel Center

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Thank you to everyone who contributed to the event and our fundraising goals. Thanks to each of you for being part of the UB community – it is a joy to serve alongside each of you, as together we seek greater gospel movement in our city!

“Together Again” is UniteBoston’s first big concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Taking place on September 17th in downtown Boston, this concert is the opportunity for Christians to come together in a public place to worship.

We have an incredible line-up of Boston-based artists who are performing – Meet them below to hear why they are excited about the concert, and find links to follow them on their media platforms!

You can also hear a little bit about the concert and the music being performed by Jalen Williams and Jen Aldana from this Instagram Live session that took place on Friday.

Jen Aldana

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Doully Yang

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Caleb McCoy

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Ada Betsabe

Jalen Williams

Join us to support Boston-based artists and to hear great jams that are glorifying God filling the heart of the city!

By Alexis Monroe

“Together Again” is UniteBoston’s first big concert since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Taking place on September 17th in downtown Boston, this concert is the opportunity for Christians to come together in a public place to worship. Not only that, we also get to help the city of Boston get a glimpse of what a diverse and loving Christian community looks like – This is why we would like everyone who has a heart to see Boston glorify God to come worship with us!

My name is Alexis Monroe and I’ve had the privilege of working behind the scenes to help facilitate the logistics for the concert – and today I’d like to share with you some reasons why you should attend!

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Reason #1: It’s going to be a big reunion!

Over the last two years, we have not been able to gather as a large body of Christians due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this kept us physically safe, at times, this isolation and social distance brought on feelings of loneliness. “Together Again” is the perfect opportunity to reclaim the feelings of joy, love, and embrace that we find when we are gathered as a community of believers. This year’s concert is a great opportunity to meet up with old friends, stumble upon a work colleague walking through the park, or meet another fellow Christian who also wants to feel and share the love of Christ. 

Reason #2: There’s going to be great music!

We have an incredible line-up of Boston-based artists who are performing, including the Christian hip-hop artists Caleb McCoy & Jalen Williams, the deep soul music of Jen Aldana, rich guitar jams from Doully Yang, and the bilingual rap revivalist Ada Betsabe. This year, we also have a community choir with the core of “God’s Chosen” from Gordon College, as well as our usual united worship band. Join us to support Boston-based artists and to hear great jams that are glorifying God filling the heart of the city!

Reason #3: Boston needs to see the love of Jesus Christ

The Bible says that Christians are a light set on a hill that all the world needs to see (Mt 5:14) – So let’s let our light shine! As our society continues to be divided, love can often seem intangible, but as believers in Jesus Christ, we know the love of God is always around us. “Together Again” is the chance for us to show Boston that love comes in all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, abilities, and languages. While we worship and praise our God, the light we hold will shine brightly through the city. We invite you to help us shine this light. 

Reason #4: We have giveaways to help you stay “Together Again”

Our “Together Again” concert is not just about being together for this one night, but we also want to provide you with opportunities to experience the joy of community with some amazing giveaways! All of our giveaways are activities you can do with someone else. Whether that’s learning how to roller skate at Chez Vous with a buddy, grabbing a matching tee or hoodie from Hope Design, a group workout session with a friend, or a photoshoot with your bestie, our giveaways will help you do something new with someone you love. You can enter to win one of these giveaways by RSVPing on our Facebook page and commenting on our giveaway posts.

Reason #5: We get to be a church without walls

As a body of believers, we often meet within buildings in cities and places we are familiar with, but may be unfamiliar and foreign to someone who has never attended church. When we worship in public places, it gives people who normally would not step into a church building the opportunity to witness authentic worship. With a variety of musical performance styles, a diverse band and community choir, as well as community tables with churches and organizations throughout the city, this is a great way for some people to see Christianity!

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Please join us for the concert and help to spread the word! You can RSVP here via Facebook to receive notifications and enter special giveaways we have just for you. – Local organizations and businesses are also invited to host a Sponsored Table during our fall concert to help connect with all the people who attend!

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This is a book about how to equip young people to navigate school, career, and life with joy and excellence. The first step to doing this job well as parents, educators, or life mentors is to know ourselves. We have to be students of ourselves—by learning who we are, where we came from, what we believe, and where these beliefs came from. How we raise and guide our people is deeply influenced by our own stories. If we’re aware of the core values and scripts that were passed on to us from our families of origin, we can be compassionate toward ourselves—understanding our knee-jerk reactions to our students and their life choices. We can be intentional about what we choose to pass on to the next generation. This has been true for us, as you’ll see from our stories.

Belle’s story: I am the middle daughter of first- generation Chinese immigrants who, like their compatriots, sacrificed heroically so that my brothers and I could get an education in the United States. My father borrowed the little money his sister had to come to the United States to pursue his graduate degree on a student visa. This decision came with another, more significant cost: leaving behind his wife and six- week- old firstborn child, my brother. It was two years before they were reunited on American soil. My mother abandoned her career aspirations when she arrived in the United States, leaving her family and home to live in the United States to pursue his graduate degree on a student visa. This decision came with another, more significant cost: leaving behind his wife and six- week- old firstborn child, my brother. It was two years before they were reunited on American soil. My mother abandoned her career aspirations when she arrived in the United States, leaving her family and home to live in a country where she struggled to work, communicate, and feel a sense of belonging.

She pushed through language barriers to befriend neighbors, so I would have neighborhood playdates. She clipped coupons, so I could buy trendy clothes. All of this probably helped me fit in with the popular kids at my affluent suburban high school. My parents relished the thought that I was a teacher’s pet, two-time homecoming princess, student leader in clubs, class government officer, and a graduation speaker at the John F. Kennedy Center. These “achievements” were shamelessly evoked at afternoon tea with the aunties, because they satisfied every-one’s expectations for me. They were proud that I “fit in” so well.

All their dreams and efforts to make ends meet were fueled by hopes that my brothers and I could achieve more. They expected that we would. It was never a question of “whether I would go to college,” it was a matter of where I went and what I did there to become “successful.” I internalized the cultural value that the point of education was to achieve financial security and respect in society. Like other “first-gen” people, we bought into Horatio Alger’s myth that if you worked hard, you could achieve the American dream, not only for yourself, but to validate your parents’ sacrifices. All of this prepared me to be the most successful student I could be. A rule-following, risk-averse, people-pleasing success. I was the opposite of Cheryl Strayed in the wild, driven by a free spirit to conquer the dangers of the Pacific Crest Trail. My ambition was to take the safest path to financial security and prestige.

I had gleaned from my upbringing that there were certain careers that were especially acceptable. Doctor, lawyer, engineer. I later realized that these were actually the acceptable choices for boys, but that there were alternatives for girls.

Up to this point, whenever faced with a big decision about school, work, and life at large, I asked myself: “What should I do?” Often, the answer that felt right to me was the one that matched the expectations of those around me. After two years of bouncing around multiple majors in the hard sciences and internships in health fields, a well- meaning auntie offered me this career guidance: “Don’t work so hard, you’ll prematurely age and lose your beauty. Just take good care of your hair and skin (your best assets), marry a doctor, and you’ll be fine.”

Imagine how those words landed on an American college woman. Yep, just the nudge I needed to begin listening more closely to my own heart. And trusting the wisdom and direction that could be found there. The women in my life were smart and competent, while content to sit in the back seat. Few were trailblazers, civic leaders, public speakers. With the most honorable intentions, they sacrificed personal goals and de-rived their identities from others. I realized that the standard- bearers I had followed were no longer a perfect match with my own journey. My spiritual-faith adventure provided fresh insight and courage for rewrit-ing the script, following my call.

When I announced to the family that I planned to pursue a career as a psychologist, it was as if I had announced that I was dropping out of college. Had I thought this through? Could I get a job doing such a thing? They saw a huge distinction between doctors who focused on people’s mental health versus those who treated their physical health. But they comforted themselves thinking girls shouldn’t work too hard, and that I would be fine as long as I married a real doctor, who could take care of me.

My transformation continued during graduate school, where I met a mentor and role model who believed in me and nurtured my creativity and confidence. She introduced me to community psychology, a field focused on addressing systemic injustices and partnering with disadvan-taged and marginalized people. I felt such a sense of mission . . . Here was a way that my values, strengths, and skills aligned with meaningful work that could make a difference in the world.

I need to say that as I write this, I am so genuinely grateful to my cultural roots, family, and mentors for watering the seeds of my purpose today. At the same time that there are cultural and moral virtues to my story that I deeply cherish (like respect for your elders and sacrifice for others), there are imperfections. And all of it inspires my current work. I see that while the world is progressing, stories like mine reflect an ongoing ethos that reaches beyond the immigrant experience. In hundreds of our research interviews and surveys, adolescents (and their parents) lamented: “I’m living someone else’s life. I don’t know who I really am and what I’m really living for, apart from others’ expectations of me.” Similarly, I’d been basing my identity on what others told me about myself when I was a child. Trying to mold myself into someone’s stereotype of me left me exhausted and confused. But as my understanding of who I am came into sharper focus during my later college and adult years, this understanding became my guide. It continues to shape what I value and believe, and how I feel, act, and connect. Brené Brown calls this embracing of who you really are true belonging:

True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.

She goes on to say: “True belonging is not something that you need to negotiate externally, it’s what you carry in your heart.”* This internal belonging, this sense of understanding who I was—what I stood for, what I had to offer in the world—began to free me from the need for external approval. It’s been a glorious adventure to discover my innermost being, and to realize that what I’ve turned up there can meet a great need in the world.

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