Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City
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!
This week, our featured blogger is Matt Owens, Pastor of Christ the Redeemer Quincy. In October, UniteBoston was blessed to partner with his church to host a fall festival with live music, a free ice cream truck, hot apple cider, pumpkin painting and other activities for children! Read below to hear about how UB helped to enhance and further his church’s fall outreach initiative.
Watch this video to meet Pastor Devlin, who recently stepped into the role as the UB communications administrator, the role that Pastor Percy Ballah has faithfully served for the past few months.
In the video, Pastor Devlin shares his experience growing up in inner-city Chicago, planting NewCity Church in Newton, and his hopes for serving in this role with UB. Join us in praising God for Pastor Devlin joining the UB team!
More: Click here to meet the entire UB staff, volunteers, and board of directors
Today, we’re excited to feature Shanell Alyssa’s new music video “Race to Dawn.” Shanell has been part of UniteBoston’s collaborative worship initiatives for the past three years, and has served this summer to coordinate our Renew backyard summer concert series. She was also a featured artist in our “Love Boston” concert last August with her song “Love’s Crying.”
Shanell describes that her new single “Race to Dawn” was inspired by finding the will to press through life’s challenges: “The past few years have been riddled with personal challenges, among which was the loss of all of my grandparents and a close family member, all of whom played an integral part in raising me.”
She chose to name this song ‘Race to Dawn’ because often people try to outrun life’s stresses, which she likens to trying to outrun the night. Yet, “while we might try to outrace our problems, we’re often faced with the reality of simply enduring them.
‘Race to Dawn’ is an ode to enduring life’s challenges while choosing to take rest in God’s presence and run into the arms of our loved ones here on earth to help us get through.”
Shanell is also a member of The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, CT. After watching the video, she hopes that people will come away with a renewed sense of hope to endure the many challenges we’ll face on our journeys – Click below to watch it!
You can follow and support Shanell Alyssa’s music ministry here.