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Nurturing Relational Connections Across Boston's Christian Community

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Jun 11 2025

Are you ready for a weekend of service, learning and justice engagement?

Boston Faith & Justice Network unites Christians to live simply and give generously in pursuit of a just world. Our work is grounded in three core principles: pursuing justice, practicing economic discipleship, and engaging in community.

Our Micah 6:8 Program connects participants with social justice leaders in a process of sustained transformation. Rooted in compassion and Christ’s call for justice, the program offers a rich, hands-on experience which includes:

Contextual Serving: Volunteer with partner organizations serving those affected by homelessness.

Transformational Learning: Explore biblical principles of justice and generosity while gaining practical insight into local justice efforts.

Spiritual Equipping: Reflect through worship, prayer, and community to support lasting change and commitment.

Ongoing Engagement: After the program, receive curated follow-up resources—stories, devotionals, activities, and more—to continue the journey of justice.

This weekend experience is for adults (18+) and focuses specifically on housing justice and homelessness. Participants will work with local organizations like Rosie’s Place, Miracle Mile, and shelters, while also engaging deeply with the broader context of justice work.

Cost: $120 (includes meals, t-shirt, supplies, and staff support). Please contact elizabeth@bostonfaithjustice.org if cost is a concern.

Full attendance is required.

📅 Dates: August 22, 2025, 6:30 PM – August 24, 2025, 7:00 PM
📍 Location: 146 E Main St, Hopkinton, MA 01748
🔗 Register here.

Written by Andrew Walker · Tagged: biblical justice, boston christians, boston faith gatherings, christian civic engagement, christian community, christian justice, christian social justice, homeless ministry, homelessness, neighborhood outreach

Feb 19 2025

“When We Walk By” Book Club

Join us in reading “When We Walk By” by Kevin F. Adler and Donald Burnes and receive a free copy of the book!

Beginning on February 25th until April 1st, we will gather together on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30pm via Zoom to engage in thought-provoking discussion around Kevin F. Adler and Donald Burnes’ text “When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America”.

 
This opportunity will inspire us as a community to look further into the issue of homelessness, with the hope of moving us to meaningful action to better care for our neighbors – both near and far.
Interested in joining us? Complete the registration information below.
 
Free copies of the book will be prioritized to those who will be able to attend each Zoom discussion session.
Click here to register

Written by uniteboston · Tagged: community, home, homelessness, hope, unity

Feb 03 2023

WinterWalk with BFJN

We are so excited to be participating in WinterWalk on February 12th. This amazing event (and the organization behind it) are doing incredible things in Boston and beyond to raise awareness and funds to help end homelessness. Will you join our team?
“The Winter Walk is our chance to link arms with those who experience homelessness and to listen humbly to their stories. It is our chance to show them that this city cares about their lives and to affirm our commitment to do all it takes to ease their struggles.” Click the link to register with BFJN’s team!

Written by Andrew Walker · Tagged: @justiceboston, homelessness

Sep 19 2019

Design By Faith Lecture Series: Heidi Lee

The Well at Massart, Massart’s Intervarsity Chapter, is pleased to welcome Heidi Lee as the first speaker of their Fall ’19 Faith in Design Lecture Series.

Heidi Lee — Heidi Lee, Unbound Visual Arts (UVA) Vice-President, resides in Jamaica Plain. She worked as the Artist in Residence for the Common Art program for seven years, where she guided and instructed unhoused community members. She coordinated many exhibits for the program throughout the Boston area, including Common Art’s involvement in City Heart, a citywide art exhibit and sale for homeless and low-income artists. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting from Gordon College and a Master of Education with a concentration in Visual Arts from Lesley University. She founded the art program at an inner city middle and high school in Hyde Park, taught there for nine years, and has since been teaching students of all ages independently. She works in mixed media, acrylic, and oils at her studio in Newton.

Written by Andrew Walker · Tagged: christian, Fenway, homelessness, mission hill

Jun 17 2014

Harvard Square: There’s No Place Like Home

For the past five months, the UniteBoston Reps have been engaging in various activities to listen and learn from their communities. These next four weeks, each rep will be writing a brief blog to share their findings with the Greater Boston Christian community.

We dream of having every community in Boston connected with a UB Rep! UB Rep Cohorts begin in October and extend to May. If you’re interested in being a UB Rep in your community, email Kelly Steinhaus, kelly@uniteboston.com

——-

Harvard Square: There’s No Place Like Home

by Kelly Steinhaus

Cambridge has been my home community for almost six years now, and I’m coming to understand that in many ways, the Cambridge community is like a brick. 29% of Cambridge is enrolled in college (1), whose campuses are characterized by red brick buildings. In Cambridge, a person’s tends to be defined by the letters after their name, and, like a brick I’ve found many people in Cambridge to have a hard outer shell. Yet, I’ve also found that, once people trust you, people in Cambridge will open up and become some of the most loyal friends you could ever hope to have.

For many, a brick is also symbolic of “home,” which many people in Cambridge do not have. On one night in 2013, it was determined that 537 persons in Cambridge were homeless (2). Anyone who walks around Harvard Square will notice friends young and old who are living on the street. In fact, Tom Magliozzi said that “Harvard Square is the bum capital of the world.” (3)

Over the past few months as a UB Rep, I’ve become stirred by this issue and am seeking the answer to one question – What would it look like for the churches to come together to serve people who are experiencing homelessness?

As I began researching, I realized that what we don’t need is another soup kitchen. Lunch is served every day in three locations in Cambridge, with 12 dinner meals throughout the week – and this is only the beginning of the abundance of resources available. So what should be done?

I interviewed three people with this question, and found one common thread: What people experiencing homelessness need most is a friend. Tim & Alice Colegrove serve as friends and advocates of homeless youth in Harvard Square, emphasized that “We need a shift in our attitude from charity to mutuality. The church doesn’t need to provide services, they need to build relationships.” Similarly, Alex Grant from Hope Fellowship Church said that while we can’t eliminate homelessness, we can have a change of heart where we look at those we pass during the week and desire to help them.

I also had the opportunity to interview Stephanie Akert, Cambridge’s Director of the Multi-Service Center for the Homeless. From her perspective, one of the biggest needs is to help people transition to permanent housing. We brainstormed ideas as to how churches could alleviate the loneliness that plagues many formerly homeless people who become housed. Churches could be matched with individuals and families who become housed to provide welcome baskets and walk alongside them as friends in their new community. However, the logistics of this effort would be quite difficult due to restrictions in confidentiality and the dispersal of home placements far from Cambridge.

A few friends and I did an interesting experiment a few months ago – we stood in the middle of Harvard Square with signs that read, “Free Hugs.” While many were skeptical and walked by, a few brave souls came to give us a hug. They left grinning and laughing, bringing smiles to others passing by. This momentary embrace of perfect strangers celebrated our common desire for community. (Click on the image below to watch)

The UB Reps program has helped me to see Cambridge holistically. I’m coming to understand that more than a physical home, people need a spiritual place they can call home; a community where they are loved and appreciated for who they are, not just what they do. My church (Journey Church) is officially launching to the city in September with a campaign called “Helping Others Find Their Way Home.”

You see, a brick is only significant because of what it is a part of – a larger wall, placed in alignment with many other bricks. Truly, in Cambridge, there’s no place like home.

Written by jasonjclement · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: cambridge, christian unity, christian witness, community, harvard square, home, homelessness, jesus, university


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