UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

UniteBoston’s Top Ten Highlights of 2023

From hosting a united worship concert and the Boston Flourish conference, to launching a “Christian unity in the city” cohort, to hiring a third team member for UniteBoston, this was an incredible year for UniteBoston! Check out our year in review for 2023 – Glory to God!

#10 – Here is a snapshot into a prayer gathering we hosted in January during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year’s theme was “Do Good; Seek Justice” (Isaiah 1:17) which integrated 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.

#9 – In May, we launched The ATTIC, a Facebook Group to help connect resources with needs and create a space for collaboration for Christians in Boston. This year in the ATTIC, people have found last-minute worship leaders, free equipment to borrow for a summer movie night, new prayer partners, advice on Christian counselors, and more! There are already 220+ members – definitely check it out and join!

#8 – From May to September, our team came alongside The SEND to galvanize local participation and collaboration for their Boston-area arena gathering which gathered young adults to be sent into God’s mission fields locally and globally.

#7 – In June, we launched the “Christian Unity in the City” cohort, where eleven next-generation leaders have been meeting monthly for lunchtime conversations and story-sharing to explore the divisions within the current church and understand how people are living out God’s call towards unity, justice and reconciliation. The insights from community have played a pivotal role in where we are going as an organization to address disunity and division and activate people on God’s mission as ambassadors of reconciliation.

#6 – In July, we hosted a “Circle of Restoration” Island Retreat for BIPOC leaders to get away for self-care and connection in community. Individuals enjoyed a boat ride out to the island, beach games, music, massages, and a catered lunch.

#5 – Here is a snapshot into our August Christian unity cohort gathering, where we participated in a tour on the legacy of slavery at Harvard University, hosted by Rev. Rita Powell and Rev. Dan Smith.

#4 – Our team expanded yet again this year as we were able to hire Calvin Lee as our communications administrator this August. Calvin’s skillsets in communication and graphic design have been a huge asset, and we have enjoyed dreaming with Calvin about the future of UniteBoston as he calls the Church to greater action and partnership.

# 3 – In August, we hosted a board / staff retreat where we brainstormed about the biggest barriers hindering Christian unity in the city. Our team is currently developing a framework about how we can address these three barriers: imbalanced theology, righteous hubris, and historical injustices.

#2 – In September, we hosted the “Again I Say Rejoice” concert on the waterfront, which created a platform for six local Christian artists and the “God’s Chosen Gospel Choir” to lead the city in public Christian worship. 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! Check out our photoblog with stories, videos, and more here.

#1 – In November, we partnered with other local organizations to host the second annual Boston Flourish Conference, where we celebrated the many ways that God has been and is presently at work in the city and furthered this work by connecting together to strategically address issues facing Boston residents. This year, we galvanized people around migrant care, human trafficking, and youth trauma/mental health.

It’s been a great year! Thanks for joining with us – your prayers, participation, and finances have made this ministry happen! We look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2024!

Who Am I? Christian Conference

Who Am I? Christian Conference

Join us for an exciting and inspiring Christian conference at Tabernacle Baptist Congregation in Boston, MA, USA! This in-person event will gather believers from all walks of life to explore the question, “Who am I in Christ?”

Discover your identity and purpose as a follower of Jesus through powerful worship, dynamic speakers, and engaging workshops. Dive deep into the Word of God and gain practical insights to live a victorious Christian life.

At the Who Am I? Christian Conference, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow believers, build lasting friendships, and be encouraged in your faith journey. Experience a transformative weekend that will leave you inspired and equipped to impact your world for Christ.

Don’t miss out on this incredible event! Mark your calendars and get ready for a life-changing encounter with God. We can’t wait to see you there!

Reserve your seat today!

Who Am I? Christian Conference

Who Am I? Christian Conference

Join us for an exciting and inspiring Christian conference at Tabernacle Baptist Congregation in Boston, MA, USA! This in-person event will gather believers from all walks of life to explore the question, “Who am I in Christ?”

Discover your identity and purpose as a follower of Jesus through powerful worship, dynamic speakers, and engaging workshops. Dive deep into the Word of God and gain practical insights to live a victorious Christian life.

At the Who Am I? Christian Conference, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with fellow believers, build lasting friendships, and be encouraged in your faith journey. Experience a transformative weekend that will leave you inspired and equipped to impact your world for Christ.

Don’t miss out on this incredible event! Mark your calendars and get ready for a life-changing encounter with God. We can’t wait to see you there!

Reserve your seat today!

Meet Calvin Lee, UniteBoston’s New Communications Administrator

Hello Friends of UniteBoston!

My name is Calvin Lee, and I am excited to serve alongside Kelly and Devlin as the new UniteBoston Communications Administrator!

This is the kind of fast day I’m after:

to break the chains of injustice,

get rid of exploitation in the workplace,

free the oppressed,

cancel debts…

Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,

your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.

I will always show you where to go.

I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—

firm muscles, strong bones.

You’ll be like a well-watered garden,

a gurgling spring that never runs dry.

You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,

rebuild the foundations from out of your past.

You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,

restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,

make the community livable again.

-Isaiah 58:6-9, 9-12 (MSG)

Isaiah 58 has really come alive to me over the last few years, as I have been on an identity journey, centered around faith, race and justice.

I am a Jesus person.

I am a 2nd generation Korean-American cis male.

And I am journeying to better understand what both of those mean.

I am also an organizer and builder; and in 2020, I co-founded [GOSPEL], an initiative curating creative spaces to catalyze more for the American Christian Church.

Here I am with my co-founder, Marisa Prince, during a film shoot!

I’m thrilled for the opportunity to continue building towards Christian unity and activation with UniteBoston! I believe that we, the Church, have everything we need today to play our part in God’s move to “break the chains of injustice” (Isa.58:6). And I believe that our participation in God’s liberation of ALL people is vital for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer in John 17.

We live in a city with a painful history – much of which the Church has been complicit in and silent on. But in grace, we can freely lament that truth, and together reimagine the identity and purpose of the Church in our world today.

I’m grateful for UniteBoston’s commitment to the hard but necessary work of breaking down the divisions that keep the Body apart, and am eager to serve alongside Kelly and Devlin to “make the community livable again” (Isa.58:12)!

I live in Fields Corner with my wife, Sunny, and dog, Boaz. We love walking “Bo” along the beach, playing pickleball, and watching movies together. A few of my favorite films include Minari, The Birth of a Nation (2016), and Malcolm X by Spike Lee!

Thank you for your warm welcome, and God bless!

“UB is in a season where we are examining the places that have divided the Church so we can better understand what God’s call towards unity looks like. Calvin brings a passion for the Church to address areas of inequity and injustice, and cultivating a “radical togetherness,” both of which are aligned closely with our missional priorities this year. I am excited to dream and strategize with Calvin on the team!”

– Rev. Kelly Fassett, UniteBoston Executive Director

“UniteBoston is growing, and we are growing in all the right ways. Adding Calvin to the team does more than allow us to do what we have always done better, but it fortifies us to pursue a future that is bigger and brighter. Calvin is another great partner in this work of discovering the Christian Unity that Jesus prayed for and over us. I am so excited about UB’s future!”

– Rev. Devlin Scott, UniteBoston Managing Director 

P.S. – Hiring Calvin as the communications administrator came alongside us promoting Rev. Devlin Scott as the Managing Director of UB! Read more about this here!

JOIN UNITEBOSTON IN A DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING

Join us for a transformative experience rooted in the rich biblical practice of fasting. UniteBoston invites you to participate in a 24-hour period of fasting and prayer, dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and unity. Inspired by passages from the Bible, fasting involves a purposeful abstention from food and indulgences, allowing us to shift our focus towards connecting with God on a profound level. Together, we will embark on this journey of devotion, seeking guidance, expressing humility, and building stronger bonds of community. Let’s draw inspiration from moments like Jesus’ 40-day fast and the Israelites’ collective fasting during times of national significance. By setting aside physical nourishment, we aim to nurture our spirits and deepen our faith, while also praying for the mission, impart and collaborative opportunities of UniteBoston.

Join hands with us as we come together in a day of spiritual connection, reflection, and solidarity.

Ways to FAST with us:

You can fast one meal a day, one whole day of meals, or a particular food/drink. (sweets, coffee, soda, carbs, alcohol, etc.). Some may choose to do water/juice only for a day. Be sure to consult your doctor before you do. 

Turn off all social media and news. Can you make it a full day? The idea is as little time online as you can. Get creative! Plan to go to the park, play board games, read books, build something, bake something, have dance parties, invite friends and family over and pray. 

This fast means no movies/TV (NetflixTM, YouTubeTM, etc.) or shopping. Again, set yourself up for success. Don’t just create an empty space, fill that space with something good, productive, helpful, or meaningful! Fill it with prayer.

Ways to PRAY with us:

  • Pray for wisdom for our team as we seek clarity on what is at the heart of our mission and decide on strategic priorities for our program year.
  • Pray for mobilization of the body of Christ and for a renewed sense of God’s presence at our upcoming worship concert on September 30.
  • Pray for the members of our Christian unity cohort as we seek to understand what is at the heart of our divisions and how we can live out Christian unity as a way of life.
  • Pray for Calvin Lee, our new Communications Administrator as he jumps into this new role.
  • Pray for our collaboration with The Send as we support this event in serving the city of Boston in a way that would leave the greatest positive impact.
  • Prayer for the many churches coming together for the time for a citywide Alpha campaign that would off a safe place for hundreds of people to explore the Christian faith.
  • Pray for this year’s Boston Flourish Conference and the initiatives who hope to support so that there might be flourishing for all in Boston.
  • Pray for the thousands of next generation Christians who will be attending, that they would be activated on God’s mission fields locally and globally.
  • Pray that the state’s foster care system would come on board to ease the process of people committing to foster care and adoption.
  • Pray for a tangible sense of God’s presence and that people would walk away transformed.


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