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Connected Mother’s Day by GLOO Happy Mother’s Day! Today we honor all of the mothers in our lives. Whether you come with hope or pain, in joy or in sadness, we see you. God sees you.
1. The Biological Mothers
“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Samuel 1:27
We honor biological mothers because this is how God designed that each of us enters the world. We appreciate your sacrifices, acknowledge your pain, and thank you for instilling faith in us.
2. The Adoptive Mothers
“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5
The process and intentionality of adoption is an honor of its own. You have chosen to adopt children and have a special calling to care for other children as if they were your own. We honor the sacrifices that you have made and recognize how we, too, have been accepted into the family of faith through Jesus Christ.
3. The Single Mothers
“[Hagar] gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13
Today we honor your faithfulness. Like Hagar who was forced into single parenthood; your circumstance may not be one you chose. As the church, we rally around you, we support you, and we recognize all that you do.
4. The Stepmothers
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16
Today we honor your faithfulness to God in loving children that you did not bear. Like Ruth, you have chosen not only to love and unite with a spouse, but to also love and unite with your husband’s children as your own. We celebrate your choices as a reminder of the choice all believers have made to commit to Christ and to Christ-followers.
5. The Foster Mothers
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30
We honor your willingness to fill in the gaps, likely between a biological mother and an adopted one. You choose to show up for children however you can. We thank you.
6. The Expectant Mothers
“So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” 1 Samuel 1:20
This time of pregnancy is often filled with anxiety, especially for the first time mothers who don’t know what to expect, and it can be especially challenging for those who have experienced miscarriage or
7. The Grieving Mothers
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
For those who’ve lost children or your own mother, today we see you. God sees you. We make room for your grief and the healing power of God’s love at every stage of life and loss.
8. The Grandmothers
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1: 5
For the first time in many decades, our church is seeing mothers, grandmothers, and great- grandmothers all at the same time. Today, we celebrate the prayers and faith of grandmothers and great-grandmothers that allowed each of us to be where we are today.
9. Those Longing for Motherhood
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
We acknowledge your longing for children and honor your desires to the Lord. We pray for you and support you on your journey. God, show compassion to these mothers.
10. Our Church mothers
“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases…These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” Luke 8:1-3
To those who are mothers of all in our church, we thank you. You shepherd, guide, and care for us, and are models in the church. God recognizes the sacrifices you’ve made, and we do too.
Today, we are sharing an opportunity to support Pastor Robin Lutjohann and Faith Lutheran Church in Cambridge. Pastor Robin has been on the UniteBoston Board of Directors for the past five years, and their building endured a terrible fire on Easter Sunday. On Tuesday, the FBI determined that the fire was caused by arson. The building has been the spiritual home to a number of congregations and has hosted so many valuable community initiatives, such as a biweekly free supper, children’s groups, a community garden, and more.
There is a sign in front of their church that they put up during COVID stating “We will rise.” Let’s help him do that! Here are some ways that we can support him right now:
- Funds – You can contribute to the construction / re-building costs through their GoFund Me or giving directly on their website http://www.faithcambridge.org and selecting “Building Fund.”
- Office Space – They’re looking for an office space in Cambridge – or even just a room – that they could use as a temporary office for awhile. Their secretary travels in from outside the city so it is best if there is parking available too.
- Encouragement: You can send a note of encouragement and hope to Pastor Robin via email: robin.lutjohann@faithcambridge.org
- Pray – Please pray for the workers who will work on clearing rubble, securing the building etc.; the spirit, heart, and mission of the church, and their connection to one another and the broader community
Left – Faith Lutheran Church; Right – Baptismal font after the fire Thank you UniteBoston community – Let’s show Pastor Robin our love, care and support in this challenging season!
Rev. Edwin Johnson, Director of Organizing for Episcopal City Mission, wrote this spoken word poem as part of his sermon at the 2023 prayer service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme of the prayer service was “Do Good, Seek Justice” (Is. 1:17) and we also heard stories testifying to how Christian unity can help overcome injustice from Rev. Jua Robinson (Boston Collaborative) and Savina Martin (MA Poor People’s Campaign). Watch the video and read his poem to hear Rev. Edwin describe the complexities involved in unity and justice work.
When I hear talk of Christians United,Every part of my being starts to get excited.With visions of loving communities ignited,With the passion for justice needed at this time.I imagine thousands no millions of people,So diverse in language they gotta use deepl,Pouring out from store fronts and shoutin’ from every steeple,Ready to take our world’s course and turn it on a dime.And then in the midst of that vision caressin’A part of me shifts and I start stressin’That instead of sharing and multiplying the blessin’We water things down just to get along.Though tied to a source more vast than oceans,we instead full obliged go through the motions.Treating our strategies like magic potions,So even as we do right it comes out wrong.If our work is to have it’s given latitude,it will require a change in collective attitude.One steeped in love, abundance and gratitude,that will grant us the power of our ultimate source.For then we will find the sustainability,that far out-lasts naked culpability.Or any particular approach’s capability,to do with power what can’t be done with force.So this mi gente is the unity I seek,one that will truly bless and lift up the meek.One that will grant us throughout the week,a resolve befitting of our sacred meal.So that way the picture of Christian unity,will be one we can celebrate with impunity.Will overcome the system’s inherent immunity,to bring closer a Kingdom that everyone can feel
About Rev. Edwin Johnson:
Edwin is a self-described smiling-dancing-Jesus freak. The product of two proud Episcopalians/Anglicans from Montserrat and Costa Rica; Edwin has had a deep appreciation of the broad flavor and diversity of our church, along with the great opportunities that exist to create Beloved Community. He is currently the Director of Organizing for Episcopal City Mission. Prior to joining the team at Episcopal City Mission he served as the Rector at St. Mary’s Church in Dorchester, a diverse, multilingual congregation committed not only to meeting and caring for Lazarus at the gate but also organizing around why there is such poverty and suffering in the first place. After over twelve years of Parish ministry, Edwin is excited to manifest his priesthood more broadly through the work of social justice while continuing his general church leadership around Beloved Community. While confronting the injustice and racism in our world is hard, Edwin has a lot of fun doing so alongside the members of his community and his family including his partner Susan and their sons Francisco and Santiago.
Where is God moving in the city and in the Church? What is God’s invitation for UniteBoston this year? These are the questions that our staff and board prayerfully considered in a recent retreat. Together, we came up with six ministry priorities for this year – We are grateful to have you as part of our mission as we are all UniteBoston!
What does it mean to embody God’s call toward conflict transformation? Today, Lexi Carver shares some insights she gained on her journey studying peacebuilding in Northern Ireland. Lexi is a member of the Church of the Cross and is passionate about understanding how the Church can be a force for peace building rather than violence. Read below to hear her share about some people she met who are actively living out God’s call to “love your enemy (Mt. 5:44).
Last year, I was lucky to take a short class about conflicts in Northern Ireland for my studies in conflict resolution. I knew the Northern Ireland conflict wasn’t “over,” as reverberations were still felt by all who’d lost loved ones during the Troubles (the period of widespread violence that lasted from the 1960s into the 1990s), and many who still suffered from systemic injustices, safety concerns, and bitterness.
Even symbols were still a point of major contention, with flag-burning being something of an annual pastime, considered by some to be a “harmless” way to vent feelings of aggression and dislike of the “enemy” group.
A nationalist (pro-Irish) bonfire stack with the Union Jack and other British symbols burning on it. (Image Credit) 
A loyalist (pro-British) bonfire stack decked out Irish tricolor flags and other nationalist Irish symbols, which will be burnt at the loyalists’ annual summer holiday.
(Jtcorscadden, CC BY-SA 4.0; image credit Wikipedia Commons)The Irish nationalist/Republican residents were primarily Catholic, while the pro-British loyalist/Unionist residents were primarily Protestant. In visiting Northern Ireland, I wanted to know most of all how people drew on their faith in responding to violence, injustice, and ethnic division and discrimination when it occurred across ecumenical lines. So I went to Northern Ireland looking for the Church.
Spoiler alert: Much of what I saw wasn’t very pretty, but its strong parts glow brightly with the love of Christ.
As is often the case in conflicts and oppressive systems that operate on a nation-wide scale, the loudest voices are often ugly or impotent or full of excuses and nice buzzwords that don’t mean much. But the quietest voices are often the best ones to learn from.
I was frequently taken aback by how much of the church décor, sermons, and attitudes were political—even while some priests repeated a refrain insisting that the conflict was “not religious” in nature, as if this absolved them of responsibility. I left many interviews deflated by the clergy’s unwillingness to lead their parishioners in the challenging ways of Christ’s love, including ecumenical respect for their neighbors.
Union Jack flags hanging in an Anglican cathedral in Derry/Londonderry. A sign at the border of a loyalist area of the city that says “LONDONDERRY WEST BANK LOYALISTS STILL UNDER SIEGE. NO SURRENDER.” In addition to the controversy that swirls around flags, the name of the city is contested: it is “Derry” to its Catholic/Republican nationalist citizens, “Londonderry” to its Protestant/Unionist loyalist citizens, and called by the somewhat clunky but reasonably nonpartisan name “Derry/Londonderry” by those in the peacebuilding vocation. By the end of the week, I’d seen many corollaries in Northern Ireland to the sorts of injustice and religious nationalism that make headlines within the US, reminding me of oppression, cross-cultural blindness and obstinacy, and ingrained mistrust back home.
Perhaps the priests themselves, I thought dejectedly, weren’t great examples of reconciliation work. Some of the laity, however, were more open-hearted. I met an inspiring Catholic who’d been a therapist during the Troubles and practiced iconography in the Eastern Orthodox style to help her get through that difficult work:
Marina Sweeny, iconographer and therapist, explaining her iconography practices while holding an icon of John the Baptist. But I wanted to find someone who was leading reconciliation work between churches, and I knew this would need to involve the clergy or at least happen with their blessing. Finally, at Clonard Monastery in Belfast, I found what I was looking for.
The priest who welcomed me beamed with a Christly peace and joy. I discovered that he was one in a line of many at Clonard who intentionally avoided the common attitudes, prejudices, and hand-wavy non-solutions, and instead did the slow work of walking through difficult conflicts in close, loving relationships with their so-called “enemies”. His mentors and predecessors had been willing to lay down their lives for it, including a pair of priests – one Protestant and one Catholic – who had agreed many times that whoever outlived the other would bear the coffin and speak at the other’s funeral1. Another Catholic priest at Clonard had won the trust of both sides’ political leaders and helped to facilitate the 1994 peace agreement—the same one who was known for the then-radical act of performing last rites in the street for a pair of Protestant British soldiers who were killed when they attacked the Catholic funeral of an IRA member.
Fr. Alec Reid performing last rites for British Army Corporal David Howes in Belfast, 1988. By David Cairns (Image Credit) The darkest days of violence were over, the new priest told me, but the conflict remained; ongoing reconciliation was still needed. He told me sadly that many local Protestants and Catholics (both clergy and laypeople) had been furious with the monastery (and the Protestant churches they worked with) for their reconciliation efforts. Despite the fact that the most violent aspects of the conflict had died down some years ago, working with the other group was still viewed as traitorous. No matter; he continued his work. He had recently helped to organize inter-denominational prayer services (a more radical and fraught endeavor in that setting than it would be in the US). He spoke highly and tenderly of his Protestant counterparts, with whom he clearly had real, abiding friendships and genuine respect. When I asked if he would vote for Northern Ireland to join the nation of Ireland, he shook his head and said that even though he wanted it, he would not vote for it unless he believed his Protestant brethren could live peacefully with it. Perhaps one day, they would, but not now.
When I asked if I could take home any incense from the monastery, his face lit up: “Never have I had a Protestant visitor ask me for incense!” He generously insisted on giving me roughly an entire pint of it (thankfully, airport customs didn’t question me about the copious amounts of glittery powder in my luggage). Leaving Belfast that day, my heart was gladder: I’d found the Church as I’d hoped it would be, casting Christ’s light into the world beyond its own doors.
1 Fr Gerry Reynolds, a Catholic priest, and Ken Newell, a Presbyterian minister, were known for their extraordinary and tireless partnership in the work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland. For more about their work, I recommend the book Unity Pilgrim: The Life of Fr Gerry Reynolds CSsr by Gladys Ganiel.
2 Comic relief, while not always polite, is one way the locals deal with the tensions. This video from The Blame Game deals with flags and accents.
P.S. If you’re interested to hear more about a structured conversation model to help churches, individual Christians and communities to engage in conversations across deep divides with greater courage, equity, healing, and fruitfulness, click here to learn about the consulting work we offer on kingdom conversations.
This year’s theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “Do Good; Seek Justice” (Isaiah 1:17); chosen by the Minnesota Council of Churches. This year’s theme integrates a holistic understanding of justice, including how we can live our unity as Christians so as to confront the evils and injustices of our time, and in particular addressing the sin of racism.
The 2023 theme was developed with the assistance of a group of Christians in Minnesota, USA, convened by the Minnesota Council of Churches. Minneapolis, MN became a flashpoint for calls for racial justice and equity during the responses of communities to the George Floyd murder. This received world-wide attention and spurred on an awakening for the unjust reality that communities of color have faced for centuries and the change that is so imperative today.
Read below to hear about how UniteBoston’s staff members Rev. Devlin and Rev. Kelly have been wrestling with the relationship between unity and justice and implications for UniteBoston’s work in the city.
Above: Participants in the Boston Pray march for racial justice in June 2020 Rev. Devlin Scott’s Reflection:
Like the world we inhabit today, the worlds of both the Old Testament and New Testament were ethnically diverse and richly textured by an assortment of cultures, languages and customs. And, also like today, ancient peoples had a number of ways to distinguish between locals and out-of-towners, friends and enemies, the elite and the marginalized. Prejudice comes in all varieties- yesterday, today and tomorrow.
God uses prophets to call His people to a better standard than the one set around them. The Prophet Isaiah called the people to “Learn to do right; seek justice…(Isaiah 1:17).” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King prophesied that “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” And so many other voices call us to this same standard. The relationship between unity and justice is that of true “shalom” – peace; something that activates all of God’s people to participate, protect and promote right relationship between all people and creation.
I have sat in Christian spaces that promoted unity, but lacked justice. I think about the church where I was the only black staff member. I remember when I was given the reason our church wouldn’t acknowledge the atrocities around us (Travon Martin at the time) was because my white pastor didn’t want to offend the police in the congregation. Never mind me, a staff member of color. I have stood on stages and proclaimed mission statements that celebrated the diversity in the room, while I took home less pay than my white counterparts who were less educated, had less experience, and carried a lighter load for organizational impact. Prejudice comes in all varieties: yesterday, today and tomorrow.
This week of prayer is a moment for us to be convicted of Christ’s prophetic command, “Love your God with your heart, mind and soul, strength… love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39).This is the commandment made possible through the redemptive work on the cross that reconciled us to God (vertical) and to one another (horizontal). One is incomplete without the other. The two do more than complement each other; each is worthless, impossible, or false without the other. This concept was revolutionary in Jesus’ day and, I believe, we still have not quite tapped into this revolutionary love in application.
“Revolutionary Love” is about ally-ship. To be an ally is to take on the struggle as your own, to stand up even when you feel scared, to transfer the benefits of your privilege to those who lack it, and to acknowledge that, while you too feel pain, the conversation is not always about you. Is that not what Christ did with his life, death, and resurrection; not just for us, but as an example to us?
Each of us may not have directly participated in the atrocities of our ancestry, but we can accept responsibility. We may not be victims of the pain of the present, but we can mourn the wrongdoings, the loss of life, identity, and self-respect in order to be a part of the healing. We can be allies. We can be like Christ, by taking up our own undeserving cross for the sake of our neighbors. We can uproot the sin of self-preference and preservation that is inherently at the very core of humanity since the first Adam chose obsession over obedience.
I believe the Church is still the hope of the world; not because she is perfect but because she bears the name of the One who is. Therefore…we do good; seek justice.
Rev. Kelly Fassett’s Reflection:
Unity without justice at the heart of it is no unity at all.
This is something that I heard in prayer last spring as I was reckoning with some tough feedback we received as an organization. This feedback led me on a journey of interviewing leaders of color in the city, asking them about UniteBoston’s programs and communication and how we can better include and partner with communities of color towards holistic flourishing in the city.
One thing that surprised me in these interviews was people’s perception of the term “unity.” Throughout my life, unity has been a positive concept, conveying a coming together, peace and harmony. I was surprised when in multiple interviews, people of color described how off-putting the term “unity” was. One pastor said, “Unity”- with a giant eyeroll – “NO, thank you!” She added, “Unity often implies tacit agreement and everything lined up, tidy, and comfortable. Yet for Black people, unity often means that our culture and perspectives are erased.”
I then began to notice how often White people are at the forefront of “unity” initiatives and how persons of color tend to be at the forefront of “justice” initiatives. So this year, Devlin and I are intentionally seeking to clarify the “unity” in UniteBoston and also the relationship between unity and justice.
I am learning that unity and the oneness Christ calls us to is not an ethereal, surface-level concept of getting everyone in the same room, but is instead a deep work, requiring both truth-telling and restorative healing of wrongs. True Biblical unity involves strengthening interpersonal relationships and also dismantling sinful systemic power structures such as white supremacy. In this way, unity and justice are intrinsically linked.
Thus, I am beginning to see that the mission to “unite Boston” is much more deep and complex than I had ever realized. I am currently grappling to understand what this means for how we communicate, operate and serve as an organization. I don’t have many answers at this point, but I am learning that there are a lot of areas I don’t see clearly on my own. Whenever possible, I need to yield my power and privilege and follow persons of color to take the lead.
I want to close with this litany written by Dr. Yolanda Pierce who so clearly conveys the need to pause and sit in the complex realities of working for justice.
A Litany for Those Not Ready for Healing
Let us not rush to the language of healing, before understanding the fullness of the injury and the depth of the wound.
Let us not rush to offer a bandaid, when the gaping wound requires surgery and complete reconstruction.
Let us not offer false equivalencies, thereby diminishing the particular pain being felt in a particular circumstance in a particular historical moment.
Let us not speak of reconciliation without speaking of reparations and restoration, or how we can repair the breach and how we can restore the loss.
Let us not rush past the loss of this mother’s child, this father’s child…someone’s beloved son.
Let us not value property over people; let us not protect material objects while human lives hang in the balance.
Let us not value a false peace over a righteous justice.
Let us not be afraid to sit with the ugliness, the messiness, and the pain that is life in community together.
Let us not offer clichés to the grieving, those whose hearts are being torn asunder.
Instead…
Let us mourn black and brown men and women, those killed extrajudicially every 28 hours.
Let us lament the loss of a teenager, dead at the hands of a police officer who described him as a demon.
Let us weep at a criminal justice system, which is neither blind nor just.
Let us call for the mourning men and the wailing women, those willing to rend their garments of privilege and ease, and sit in the ashes of this nation’s original sin.
Let us be silent when we don’t know what to say.
Let us be humble and listen to the pain, rage, and grief pouring from the lips of our neighbors and friends.
Let us decrease, so that our brothers and sisters who live on the underside of history may increase.
Let us pray with our eyes open and our feet firmly planted on the ground
Let us listen to the shattering glass and let us smell the purifying fires, for it is the language of the unheard.
God, in your mercy…
Show me my own complicity in injustice.
Convict me for my indifference.
Forgive me when I have remained silent.
Equip me with a zeal for righteousness.
Never let me grow accustomed or acclimated to unrighteousness.
– Dr Yolanda Pierce
Through hosting larger public gatherings like the UB concert, and also through collaborating with other organizations, 2022 was a year in which we continued our work as an incubator and catalyst for unity, reconciliation and shared mission, for the flourishing of the city. Read below to see UniteBoston’s top twelve highlighted photos & videos of 2022!
Highlight #12: Film screening and panel discussion on “A Reckoning in Boston” with Rev. Valerie Copeland, and film subjects Kafi Dixon and Tolga. This documentary explores the deep racial history between black and white communities within the city of Boston, including marginalization, gentrification and community violence.
Highlight #11: Prayer gathering during 1000 Fires Boston, where UniteBoston partnered with a variety of other churches and community organizations to host 106 “fires” of prayer for our city and neighborhoods.
Highlight #10: UniteBoston partnered with the New Democracy Coalition and other local partners to host a Juneteenth Jubilee Observance at City Hall Plaza
Highlight #9: In July, UniteBoston hosted twenty-five next-generation BIPOC leaders on a retreat to Spectacle Island to be renewed, recharge and reconnect with other like minded people who are “doing the work” in their various communities. Here, Pastor Devlin Scott shares a devotional on laying down our burdens.
Highlight #8: “Where do we go from here?” A Panel with Next Generation Leaders, including Christian Grant, Katie Lamirato, Andrea St. Louis, Fugi Acevedo and Jane Kyong Chun with Rev. David Wright as the moderator. They shared about the need for the Church to engage in the collective struggle against correcting oppression, to practice what we preach, to partner with anyone and everyone for the sake of a greater mission, and create space for difference rather than fearing it. Watch the full length video or a 3-minute highlight version.
Highlight #7: Interviewing Pastor Drew Thurman about the launch of Common Good Co., a coffeeshop and coworking studio in the Waltham area.
Highlight #6: Intergenerational Kingdom Conversation at Grace Chapel, where individuals engaged in structured conversation, listening and sharing about what it means for their generation to be part of the church.
Highlight #5: Celebrating Rev. Devlin’s one-year anniversary of being on staff with UniteBoston! We are grateful for all that he brings to our ministry and work in the city.
Highlight #4: Fireside Chat at the UniteBoston Fundraising Party. Here, Rev. Kelly and Rev. Devlin share how “nurture” is a key posture for UB’s work in the city, recent learnings around the need to uphold unity in diversity and root out white supremacy, and ministry priorities for this program year.
Highlight #3: Dreaming and Planning at a Fall Retreat with the UniteBoston Staff and Board. From Left to Right – Melinda Priest, Devlin Scott Ayeisha Dennise, Kika Ghobrial, Chuck Hall, Varnel Antoine, Kelly Fassett, Robin Lutjohann
Highlight #2: “Together Again” Concert. 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.
Jen Aldana sings it loud and proud at the 2022 “Together Again Concert. She shares, “The UniteBoston concert was awesome! It was a sure sign that the people of God are hungry for God’s presence and excited to worship Him as one church. It was a great night of celebration and unity. I loved meeting new faces and being reunited with old friends. Might I mention that the band was amazing! We had so much fun worshipping! Thank you UniteBoston for hosting such a great night!”
Highlight #1: Boston Flourish Conference. In November, UniteBoston partnered with other organizations to host a conference called “Boston Flourish,” which is a movement for dreamers and doers to activate and partner towards a Boston where everyone flourishes. Approximately 180 people came out to our day-long conference, and dozens of individuals signed up to be part of ongoing working teams to build capacity for local ministry efforts.
Lunchtime conversations at Boston Flourish. This Sunday, we are featuring a blog written by Reverend David Wright, Executive Director of BMA TenPoint and former UniteBoston Board President. Read below to hear Rev. David’s word about God’s abiding presence, an encouragement for Christians in Boston in this new year.
“Emmanuel: God With Us” print by Mary Fleeson “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.“
– Isaiah 7:14“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
– Matthew 1:23When Judah was on the verge of destruction by its enemies God, through the prophet Isaiah, told King Ahaz to ask for a sign that the catastrophe would not happen. King Ahaz refused God’s offer, so Isaiah provided one anyway. Isaiah tells Ahaz –and us– that a virgin will give birth to a Child and His Name will be Immanuel.
As Israel is suffering under the oppression of the Roman Empire, Matthew reminds us of this sign. “God with us;” what an unimaginable prospect! The God Who is so holy, that people couldn’t approach the mountain on which He appeared for fear of death; the Creator of the Universe whose throne was Heaven and who rested His feet on the earth; the God who parted the Red Sea and allowed Israel to walk through on dry land; this same God is “with us!”
John picks up this theme in his Gospel and tells us, in so many words, that God took on flesh and lived among us. In the person of the Son, Jesus Christ, God walked with, talked with, and deeply engaged with us on a personal level. And this all starts with the virgin giving birth to Jesus; it all starts with Christmas.
While all of this is Good News, to be sure, the Greater News is that He is still with us! The Presence of God, through His Holy Spirit, now abides within and among us. No matter if we face the destruction that Israel faced during the time of Ahaz, or the oppression Israel faced in the days of Matthew, God is with us!
None of us have survived the Pandemic years unscathed. The pains and losses we have suffered –individually and collectively—are real. But the promise of God remains sure. He is with us. He has never left us, He has never forsaken us, and He never will! That is the promise of God. That is the beginning of Epiphany.
Whatever you are facing at this moment, whether good or bad, difficult or easy, remember that God is still with us. And no matter what we face, we can be of good courage because the One who is with us has overcome this world!
“All That is Good” Mural by Alex Cook, painted in partnership with The Boston Project Ministries 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 the City of Boston’s Office of Returning Citizens. We had the chance to learn more about this ministry from the director of this office David Mayo – Read below to hear about what led him to this work and how they serve returning citizens in our city!
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and your interest in working with returning citizens?
I grew up in a family of five with a single mother in an inner city community of neighborhood crews and gangs in New York City. I then became a “Fatherless Son” and spent five years as a foster child in the New York Child/Family Services system. This led me to have an interest in working with returning citizens, which I began in 2014 as a youthful Parole and Reentry Officer. I felt drawn here by God and the greater opportunity to work with incarcerated young men.
Wow, that’s fascinating. Can you share more about your church background?
I was introduced to church when I was 13 by my Great-Grandmother and found my love for God in the choir. I gave my life to Christ in June of 1990 and was called to preach six months later. I now have over thirty years of ministerial experience, having planted two churches and served as founding and senior pastor of congregations in Northern Virginia and South Carolina.
Can you share about how you serve and support returning citizens in your office?
I have had the privilege of serving in this role for the past three months and it is my job goal to engage, equip and to empower the 3000+ returning citizens of Boston with the tools to create and advocate for their independence and stability in restoring their lives. The Returning Citizen process to reentry begins about 90 days before release in setting up a reentry plan and and discussing next steps. Upon release, we connect returning citizens to resources and programs in the community and monitor their transition with case managers.
David Mayo with some of the men in the reentry program. What are you hoping to come out of the gathering on November 10?
I’d love to come away with new partners who are passionate and committed to restoring the lives of returning citizens.Can you share a story about the impact of your work?
We recently had a gentleman who was released into a halfway house. He had no ID, no family, no support and we were able to get him into a housing program. You can also watch Arlis Evans’ story below.
Two days after Arlis Evans was released from incarceration, he met up with the City’s Office of Returning Citizens. This is his story. What is a resource that everyone should know about?
Our website has a great list of resources that are available for returning citizens – everything from birth certificates, to housing and health services, to transportation and food resources. I wish that everyone knew about it so they can help people they know in the process of reentering back into life in Boston.
Participants in a Don’t Overlook Me Workshop What does it mean to you to see Boston Flourish?
Seeing Boston Flourish means the destruction of stereotypes and silos for the purpose of unity and the influence of the kingdom of God in the earth. If we seize the moment of this opportunity to walk in the kingdom principles that God offers to us, we have the possibility to affect change, not only in the lives of the Boston community but in the earth completely! Selah!
“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!
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.
Photos from a recent breakfast with guests and the worship ministry 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
Community choir leading the city in worship 
Worshipping in downtown Boston 
Jalen Williams performing 
Ada Betsabe Performing 
“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 
Jen Aldana performing 
“I think the concert was timely and needed for the community especially after the last couple years, it was wonderful to be a part of something so genuine and Christ centered that united all of us” – Kevin Michel, Restoration City Church “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.
It was so wonderful being a part of UniteBoston both personally and representing Gordon College! There was clearly a spirit of unity in Christ!!!! I was able to meet many pastors and we have already had follow-up conversations. – Dan Tymann, Gordon College 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.
“Such an excellent time celebrating our Jesus together as a city tonight!” – Sarah Riddle “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.
“The UniteBoston concert was awesome! It was a sure sign that the people of God are hungry for God’s presence and excited to worship Him as one church. It was a great night of celebration and unity. I loved meeting new faces and being reunited with old friends. Might I mention that the band was amazing! We had so much fun worshipping! Thank you UniteBoston for hosting such a great night!”
-Jen AldanaOther 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
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
Click here to listen to Jen Aldana’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, or Amazon Music.
Doully Yang
Click here to listen to Doully’s music on Spotify, Apple Music, Itunes, or Amazon Music.
Caleb McCoy
Click here to listen to Caleb’s music on your preferred music service
Ada Betsabe
Click here to listen to Ada Betsabe’s music on Spotify and Youtube. Jalen Williams
Click here to listen to Jalen Williams’ music on Spotify and Youtube. Join us to support Boston-based artists and to hear great jams that are glorifying God filling the heart of the city!
The Worship Band at the 2019 “Engage Boston” Concert 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!
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!
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!
On UniteBoston’s blog this week, we are introducing a new book, “How to Navigate Life: The New Science of Finding Your Way in School, Career, & Beyond (published by St. Martin’s Press). The book is a practical guide for students, families, educators, and professionals to “cut through stress and performance pressure, and find a path to purpose.” Already, in the first week the book has hit #1 Amazon Bestseller, Fortune Magazine Recommended Reads, and has been featured on NPR’s Here and Now. Dr. Belle Liang is co-author, professor of counseling psychology at Boston College, and a clinical psychologist. She is also founder of the Purpose Lab, and member of Grace Chapel. Read an excerpt from the book below, where she shares her own journey of finding a sense of calling and belonging.
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.
This book offers a practical guide which provides shared language and approach for identifying your purpose. Click above to buy the book on Amazon!
