As Director of Operations Kelly Steinhaus has had a front row seat to seeing what God is doing through this ministry and the power of unity in the Christian community.  Kelly will be taking a one-year sabbatical from her role with UniteBoston to serve with World Race on a global missions trip.  This week we are highlighting Kelly to thank her for her dedication, vision, and love for increasing unity in the Christian community. 

 

What is your hope for the city of Boston?

Revival. For me revival looks like this: The world has yet to see a city that is united in Christ’s love.  I say lets make Boston that city.  Lets see what God will do with his church that is united in that way.  How would the world view Christians if we really emanated and were permeated with Christ’s love?

 

How have you seen God working in Boston during your time as Director of Operations?

In the beginning when we started sending out the UB newsletter there were a lot of people that understood what God had put on our hearts.  But there were a lot of people that were skeptical and didn’t want to invest effort in what we were doing. In the past year and a half, I’ve seen more and more people praying for unity, longing for unity, talking about unity, and desiring the church to be more than it has been, to be greater than any one congregation or group in the city in the city but to be what God called us to be, truly the body of Christ. I see God really bringing forth that unity in a lot of different ways, not just through UniteBoston, and its a joy to take part in that every day.  Boston was founded to be a City on a Hill and light to the nations, as described by John Winthrop (first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony)  and we’ve in the past 2 years have seen that start to come into greater actualization.  

 

What is one experience that really stands out in your mind as personally moving over the past 2 years?

The experience that’s shaped me the most was the 10 Days of Prayer last fall. 10 Days Boston was such a unique opportunity to worship in 10 different churches of all denominations, neighborhoods and ethnic groups, and really see God’s heart in this city.  I think before those 10 days, I used to view race as something that made us different from one another.  Now I see it as being something that is so supremely unique and special. I guess it changed the way I view people in general. I really encourage people to participate in it this year on September 16 to 26.

 

Where will you be going with World Race?

Ireland, Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozabique, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Malasia, and one other country.

 

One other country?  What do you mean?

Our team prays about one final country that God is sending us and Adventures in Missions helps us get there. 

 

How is it structured?

I will be traveling with a team of 5 or 6 people.  Each month we will be partnered with a different missions organization: teaching, building, medical, and others.  Every month will look different based on needs of community, the needs of people in that area, and the ministries themselves.   

 

Why did you decide to participate in the World Race?

Its the opportunity to live out the gospel and the great commission to make disciples of all nations. Today there are still places where less than 1% of people are Christian, there’s no church, and people are not being reached.  There are places in Turkey with 1 Christian in 20,000 people.  Think of Fenway Park for example filled with people and only 2 Christians in the whole place.  It breaks my heart.  I have a passion for people coming to know who God is.  As John Piper said, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t.“

 

What are your goals for this year?

I have been taking a class called Perspectives in the World Christian Movement and learned that if we have the mentality that we are going to come and bring the answers, that’s the American way of looking at the world.  I want to go not to do, but to learn and to come alongside what God is already doing there.  I feel that when we leave we will have made a lasting impact, not as a fleeting burst, but as coming alongside what the community is doing with a learner’s heart and learner’s spirit. 

 

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I think the biggest thing I want to start to understand is gaining a heart for people of all different cultures, backgrounds, and ethnic groups, not just a head knowledge but an experiential knowledge in being part of their culture. I don’t just want to travel, I want to be part of peoples lives and build relationships and experience each individual culture for a month. I’ve heard amazing stories of things that God is doing all over the world and I am excited to see these in action. I think that having that understanding will really impact the way cultures and people groups interact through UniteBoston, understanding what different ethnic groups brings to a city, the gifts that each community, each country brings to a place that is as diverse as Boston, a kaleidoscope of the nations. Not many people know that 26% of the population in Boston and Cambridge were born outside of the United States (Boston Redevelopment Authority).  To date, UniteBoston.com has reached users from 47 countries and 882 cities that have connected with our city in one way or another.  This diversity isn’t just necessary, its beautiful.  

 

When you miss home, will you be visiting UniteBoston.com?

(laughs) Of course. I have a deep love for this city – I think that no matter where I go, my heart will always be here in Boston.