UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Churches Praying Together

Join us for Churches Praying Together – an important prayer gathering on Saturday, February 21, at 7:00pm at the Symphony Church Office.

The meeting is organized by a group of pastors who pray together regularly via Zoom and every couple of months in person – and  is led by Barry Kang, Pastor of Symphony Church.

The goal of the meeting is to unite God’s people in prayer for a spiritual awakening in Greater Boston.  We all agree on the need for an awakening.  Almost all spiritual awakenings in the past have started in earnest prayer by God’s people.  Thus this is your chance to participate in such a gathering, and to invite those you know who have such a burden to join in too.

There is a small attached lot with limited parking in the evening (Back Bay Mental Health). The best place to find street parking is on Babcock Street (metered parking on the Boston side is free after 8pm, and the Brookline side has free 2 hour parking). There is also paid parking under New Balance field in the Langsam Garage – $14.

We believe these gatherings honor our Lord Jesus as we unite in Him as He prayed in John 17. Hope you can join us!

Housing Community is Hiring a New Cook!

The International Fellowship House is seeking a part-time (25 hours/week) Cook. Combine your passion for serving others with your passion for cooking! 

What is the International Fellowship House?

The International Fellowship House (IFH) is a non-profit organization hospitality ministry, and is home to around twenty male international students and researchers. More than just a boarding house, the IFH strives to have as much of the atmosphere, comfort, and fellowship of a home as possible. We believe that sharing meals is essential for creating a home and for true community to develop. Therefore, the position of Cook is of vital importance to the IFH.

To help facilitate this environment, the primary responsibility of the Cook is to provide food for meals and events, and to manage the IFH kitchen and groceries. The Cook prepares dinner Monday-Friday, provides food for events, and manages the kitchen while working closely with the Resident Managers. In addition to the work itself, the Cook is encouraged and invited to be an active participant in the community by participating in activities, sharing occasional meals, and cultivating relationships.

Expectations/Main Duties:

  1. Work joyfully, independently, and efficiently within 25 hours per week.
    1. Create a hospitable, pleasant kitchen environment through attitude, demeanor, organization, and cleanliness.
  2. Prepare meals Monday through Friday (up to 25) and for special events (up to 50).
    1. Prepare dinner for our community meals Monday-Friday.
    2. Submit menus 2 weeks in advance for the following 2 weeks.
    3. Shop weekly and/0r as needed for house groceries.
    4. Prepare meals for residents with dietary restrictions (e.g. vegetarian, halal, gluten intolerance).
    5. Prepare event menus and meals approximately 5 times/year for large IFH events.
  3. Manage the organization and maintenance of the main kitchen.
    1. Manage the house groceries and kitchen equipment budgets.
    2. Manage kitchen grocery and equipment inventory.
    3. Organize and manage the kitchen space.
    4. Maintain a clean kitchen and organize semi-annual cleaning days.

Compensation/Benefits: salaried position of $1700 per month, paid holidays and vacation days, transportation allowance, parking, dinner on nights cooked.

Options (please specify when you inquire): Flexible hours if needed.

For more information about the Cook position, contact Anna at: managers@ifhboston.org

CityFaith: A New Book by Local Pastor Jared Kirk

Today, we are excited to share about a new book entitled “CityFaith: Following Jesus in Expensive, Transient, Secular Places” written by Jared Kirk, pastor of Renewal Church in the Back Bay. In it, Pastor Jared shares his wisdom on topics such as living generously when housing is expensive, building healthy life-long relationships, and navigating singleness so that the city can be a place of spiritual growth and renewal. Jared is also an Eagle Scout with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, and you can find him around the city sailing, teaching, writing, drinking coffee, and searching endlessly for decent Mexican food. Below is the excerpt from the book about the fruit that emerged as the Rabens family committed to a church community from the get-go: a powerful story to combat the transience that is so common in cities. If you like what you read, you can purchase the book here!

Book Excerpt from City Faith Chapter 4, Decide to Make a Difference 

The city isn’t just for young people looking to advance in their careers nor is it mostly single-again people living near the action. Cities pick up everyone, and one of our most interesting families was the Rabens family.

Clay was an active-duty doctor for the Army. He found himself in the city because the military was sending him to Harvard School of Public Health. If you weren’t aware that the Army sent people to Harvard, then welcome to the club.

When Clay walked in the door of our church, he came with his two amazing teenage daughters, Madison and Jocelyn. Those two girls were godly, mature, and hard workers. They grew our youth ministry from zero to two. If you’re good at math you know that is infinity percent growth. By percentage, in my opinion, we were the fastest growing youth ministry in the universe. 

Even more impressive than his daughters was his wife, Brittany. She was a force of nature who could organize and improve the second coming of Jesus. Her passion for Jesus was off the charts, and when you met her, you instantly liked her. Within a day, you knew she was probably a better leader than you. She was that good.

When you are a Harvard educated army doctor who is the fourth most impressive person in your family, that’s really saying something.

What we learned from the Rabens family is the impact you can have when you decide to make a difference from day one. Because they were military, they already knew what so many in the city take too long to learn: if you’ve only got a year or two, then you need to invest from day one, otherwise you will miss out on the meaningful relationships or the impact you would have had.

The second week they came, the Rabens joined our church as members. A month later, Brittany was leading the outreach ministry to Mary Ellen McCormack, the largest, low-income housing development in the city. Within a few months, she was leading a small group with a mix of church attenders and housing development residents. By the end of the year, one of our friends from Mary Ellen McCormack was baptized in a repurposed horse trough in a one hundred-year-old high school because of Brittany’s influence in her life.

Brittney (center) at Mary Ellen McCormack housing development in Southie with a couple friends from the neighborhood.

It would have been so easy for the Rabens to coast for the one year they lived in Boston. There were good reasons to just wait and join a church when they moved away to Ohio, or they could have visited six other city churches before they made a decision on where to worship. Our church wasn’t a great fit for them demographically. I mean, we didn’t even have one other teenager. Yet Clay and Brittany learned something from the Army that can benefit every person who ever moves to a city: when time is limited “good enough” is good enough. Find a place where you can make an impact and throw yourself into it because you might change someone’s eternity, like the Rabens did.

You have the same choice to make. You can wait for the “perfect” church, you can coast until you move somewhere more permanent, or you can decide to invest right now, right where you are, and make a difference. I’m not talking about going to a church that teaches heresy or not caring about doctrine. I’m talking about dialing down the “picky-meter” for the sake of making an impact.

BARRIERS TO SERVICE

Three of the most common barriers to serving in the city are the overwhelming need outside of the church, narcissism inside the church, and good old-fashioned scheduling.

One reason people don’t jump in and make a difference at their church is because there is an overwhelming need for people to serve outside the church. Socially conscious companies have volunteer programs, boys and girls clubs need mentors, the Red Cross needs workers, and the city sponsors trash cleanup day. Those things are good, and we do all those things, but they are no substitute for loving God’s people.

Another reason people don’t serve in the city is a little embarrassing, but it’s true. Narcissism is rampant in the city. Image matters, and people strive to be seen on social media as serving, but when it gets hard, people leave off from helping. We once had a person stop serving because they were asked to stop taking selfies while they were greeting guests. They were so offended they quit! 

Narcissism used to be called vanity, which is excessive pride in one’s appearance or accomplishments. You’ve never run into anyone like that in the city, have you? The real danger of vanity is that you are so busy looking in the mirror that you can’t see yourself clearly. Jeremiah 4:30 (NIV) talks about the dynamics of narcissism:

“Why dress yourself in scarlet and put on jewels of gold? Why highlight your eyes with makeup? You adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you.”

The way narcissism works is that you spend all your money to look nice on the outside, to cover your insecurities on the inside, and to impress people that don’t even like you.

However, the number one reason people don’t get in the game right away and start making an impact is that they are overscheduled. In the suburbs, this tends to manifest through kids’ sports, but in the city, it shows up in overscheduled social commitments, non-stop recreational activities, or an unhealthy rhythm of work and rest. Maybe you are overscheduling yourself because you don’t know how to be alone with Jesus or with yourself. Maybe you can’t stop working because your achievements are your life; they are how you justify your existence.

The beautiful thing about following Jesus is that He sets you free from all of this. Trusting in His wise leadership of the world lets you place your desperate needs at His feet. Trusting in His love for you can heal the wound that causes vanity to spring forth. Jesus justifies you with His blood so that you don’t have to try to justify yourself with your accomplishments. Jesus once said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:30 NIV) and He meant it. When you follow Him, you can relax and slow down enough to care for and serve the people in your life. You can make a difference because of the difference Jesus has made in you.

Live-in Part-Time Community Cook Opening!

The International Fellowship House is currently accepting applications for a live-in, part-time (20-25 hours/week) male Cook and Kitchen Manager. Combine your passion for serving others with your passion for food!

 

What is the International Fellowship House?

The International Fellowship House (IFH) is a non-profit home to around twenty male international students and researchers. More than just a boarding house, the IFH strives to have as much of the atmosphere, comfort, and fellowship of a home as possible. We believe that sharing meals is essential for creating a home and for true community to develop. Therefore, the position of Cook and Kitchen Manager is of vital importance to the IFH.

The primary responsibility of the Cook and Kitchen Manager is to help facilitate this environment through the service of meals and kitchen management. The Cook and Kitchen Manager prepares dinner meals 5 nights per week Monday-Friday, purchases supplies, maintains kitchen organization and hygiene, and works closely with the Resident Manager. As a fellow resident of the community, the Cook and Kitchen Manager is expected to participate in the life of the community as outlined in our Handbook.

Expectations/Main Duties

  1. Work joyfully, independently and efficiently within approximately 20-25 hours per week.
    1. Create a hospitable, pleasant kitchen environment through attitude and demeanor.
    2. Plan and work within a budget and strive to become more economical without sacrificing quality.
  2. Prepare meals for 20-30 people Monday through Friday and for special events.
    1. Ready dinner meals by 5:50pm Monday-Friday.
    2. Submit menus 2 weeks in advance for the following 2 weeks.
    3. Shop weekly and as needed for food to be prepared for dinners and breakfasts.
    4. Prepare meals for residents with dietary restrictions.
    5. Prepare party/holiday menus and meals approximately 5 times/year for large IFH events.
  3. Manage the organization and maintenance of the main kitchen.
    1. Manage weekly, quarterly and annual dinner and breakfast food inventory.
    2. Organize and manage the kitchen space.
    3. Manage the cleaning of the kitchen twice a year during our semi-annual cleaning days.

 

Compensation/Benefits: housing, monthly stipend, paid holidays and vacation days, transportation allowance, parking, benefits available to all residents (breakfast and dinner M-F, trips, etc.).

Fill out an application and submit your resume here:

http://www.ifhboston.org/kmc-job-application

For more information about the Cook and Kitchen Manager position, contact Anna at: managers@ifhboston.org

Position Available – Part-Time Cook!

The International Fellowship House is currently seeking a part-time (20-25 hours/week) Cook and Kitchen Manager. Combine your passion for serving others with your passion for food!

Do you enjoy making delicious food? Do you love caring for and serving people? Are you interested in learning about other cultures? Do you have an interest in playing a key role in a diverse community?

If you answered yes to these questions, read on!

What is the International Fellowship House?

The International Fellowship House (IFH) is a Christian nonprofit that desires to see international students from all cultures and religions thriving academically, socially, and spiritually. A primary way we do this is by providing a home to around twenty-two male international students and researchers. More than just a boarding house, the IFH strives to have as much of the atmosphere, comfort, and fellowship of a home as possible. We believe that sharing meals is essential for creating a home and for true community to develop. Therefore, the position of Cook and Kitchen Manager is of vital importance to the IFH.

The primary responsibility of the Cook and Kitchen Manager is to help facilitate this environment through the service of meals and kitchen management. In addition to preparing meals and managing the kitchen, the Cook and Kitchen Manager is encouraged and invited to be an active participant in the community through participating in activities, sharing occasional meals and cultivating meaningful relationships.

Expectations/Main Duties

  1. Work joyfully, independently and efficiently within approximately 20-25 hours per week.
    1. Create a hospitable, pleasant kitchen environment through attitude and demeanor.
    2. Plan and work within a budget and strive to become more economical without sacrificing quality.
  2. Prepare meals for 20-30 people Monday through Friday and for special events.
    1. Ready dinner meals by 5:50pm Monday-Friday.
    2. Submit menus 2 weeks in advance for the following 2 weeks.
    3. Shop weekly and as needed for food to be prepared for dinners and breakfasts.
    4. Prepare meals for residents with dietary restrictions.
    5. Prepare party/holiday menus and meals approximately 5 times/year for large IFH events.
  3. Manage the organization and maintenance of the main kitchen.
    1. Manage weekly, quarterly and annual dinner and breakfast food inventory.
    2. Organize and manage the kitchen space.
    3. Manage the cleaning of the kitchen twice a year during our semi-annual cleaning days.

Compensation/Benefits: salaried position of $1700 per month, paid holidays and vacation days, transportation allowance, free dinner on nights cooked.

Fill out an application and submit your resume here:

http://www.ifhboston.org/kmc-job-application

For more information about the Cook and Kitchen Manager position, contact Anna at: managers@ifhboston.org


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