UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

UniteBoston Launches United Gospel Experience Tour!

UniteBoston is thrilled to announce the launch of the United Gospel Experience Tour, a groundbreaking project that builds on the success of our previous partnerships with Dr. Craig Ramsey and the God’s Chosen Gospel Choir from Gordon College. The United Gospel Experience Tour represents a bold step forward in UniteBoston’s mission to convene the Church to foster unity, spiritual growth, and collaborative mission. This tour takes it a step farther by integrating young adults in gospel choirs across New England.

A Vision for Unity and Worship

From fall 2024 to spring 2025, the United Gospel Experience Tour will bring together college students from various campuses for a transformative experience that blends worship, education, discipleship, and spiritual formation. A new united gospel choir has been created with students from four campuses that will travel to four key locations—Boston, North of Boston, Hartford, and Providence—offering an opportunity for students to worship together and share the Gospel through music.

Dr. Craig Ramsey, founder and advisor for God’s Chosen Gospel Choir, is spearheading this initiative. In 2022, God’s Chosen Gospel Choir was invited to support in UniteBoston’s  “Together Again” concert, backing up local artists. Craig saw this as an opportunity to expose students to what Christian faith in the city looks like. The following year, they were invited back again with the “Again I Say Rejoice” concert, not only to support but also to lead in worship.

After last year’s concert, Dr. Ramsey spoke with Rev. Kelly about a vision he had to unite the various gospel choirs in the region for a tour, including Gordon College, UMass Lowell, Trinity College, University of Hartford, and University of Providence. UniteBoston’s leadership felt led to get behind Dr. Ramsey’s vision and applied for a grant through the Boston Baptist Social Union for the equipment, transportation, supplies and hospitality funds to make this tour possible. Rev. Kelly shares, “UniteBoston has hosted a number of public worship concerts over the years, and we look forward to taking this to a new level by partnering with Dr. Craig Ramsey to offer four concerts which will empower and engage the next generation in their devotion to Jesus Christ.” 

The Power of Gospel Music

Gospel music has a rich history and a unique power to bring people together. It is more than just a genre of music; it is a form of worship that has been a source of strength, hope, and liberation for countless individuals throughout history. For Dr. Ramsey, it’s not just about singing music; being part of this initiative is an opportunity to educate students on the cultural and spiritual significance of gospel music. 

Graduating with his Doctorate in Education in Leadership and Administration from Liberty University in 2023, by day, Dr. Craig is an educator. He is now serving in the Boston Public School as an elementary music teacher where he educates pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. During rehearsals and performances, students will have the opportunity to learn about the historical roots of gospel music and its role in the African American church and beyond. 

Dr. Ramsey will also facilitate discussions on the importance of gospel music in today’s worship settings, challenging the notion that gospel is simply “the other form of worship.” Instead, students will come to understand gospel music as a vital and liberating expression of faith that continues to resonate in a world in need of the healing and redemption accomplished through Jesus Christ.

Building Cross-Cultural Friendships, Discipleship, and Leadership Skills

Another one of the unique aspects of the united gospel experience tour is its emphasis on cross-cultural engagement. The choir will encompass students from a variety of ethnic and denominational backgrounds, offering them a chance to build friendships across cultural divides. This diversity will not only enhance the choir’s performances but also provide students with invaluable experiences in navigating and celebrating cultural differences.

Attendees at the “Together Again” Concert

The tour focus will be grounded in the theme “Be The One: All In,” where Jesus tells his followers to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mt 22:34-40). For Dr. Ramsey, this tour will be centered on the understanding that we “need to give Jesus ‘all’ as we understand the nature of His ‘all.’ The question we will all examine is, ‘Are you affiliated, or are you committed?’”

Through their participation in the tour, students will also develop leadership skills that will prepare them for life beyond college. Dr. Ramsey and other choir advisors will mentor students in leading worship, facilitating prayer and devotion, and engaging in meaningful discipleship. These skills are not just important for those involved in ministry; they are essential for anyone seeking to make a positive impact in a diverse and interconnected world.

A Movement That Transcends College

While this gospel experience tour is a new initiative, it is our hope that it will spark a movement of college students and alumni uniting around the worship of Jesus Christ and the sharing of the Gospel through music.  While the size of the individual campus gospel choirs may be small, there is something about being part of a large choir that is incredibly attractive and invigorating. Dyna Louis from New Purpose Gospel Choir at UMass Lowell shares that, “It’s awesome to be able to say your choir is going on tour! It’s exciting to get to meet new people and know you’re a part of something bigger. The tour increases our campus visibility and is a great way to get students to join the campus choir and non members to attend our concert.” 

The choir will not only strengthen the individual campus gospel choirs that participate, but it will also create a sense of belonging and community that transcends the college experience through incorporating others in the community in a community choir. 

Alumni of participating choirs will be invited to return in future years, with the understanding that “there’s always a place for you here.” This ongoing connection will help ease the sometimes challenging transition from college to adulthood, providing a space where former students can continue to grow in their faith and relationships. The United Gospel Experience tour will create a platform where students can grow in their faith, build lasting relationships, and develop leadership skills that will serve them well beyond their college years.

Dr. Ramsey with some of the students in the “God’s Chosen” choir

Join Us on This Journey

As we prepare for the launch of the United Gospel Experience Tour this fall, we invite you and your church to join us in supporting this exciting new venture. Whether you are a student interested in participating, a church or community member eager to attend one of our concerts, or a supporter who wants to contribute to our mission, there are many ways to get involved.

UGET represents more than just a series of concerts; it is an opportunity to experience the unity and diversity within the body of Christ in a profound and life-changing way. We believe that through this initiative, students will not only encounter the transformative power of worship but will also be equipped to carry the message of the Gospel into their communities and the world. Anthony Williams from Trinity College Gospel Choir describes, “The Bible states that, ‘Where two or three are gathered together in Jesus name, I am there in the midst of them. I am excited to see what miracles God will do when not only two but 300+ people are together, with like minds and hearts ready to worship Jesus Christ.”

Stay tuned for more updates on the United Gospel Experience Tour through UniteBoston’s weekly e-newsletter and social media, and join us as we embark on this journey of faith, music, and unity. Together, let’s make this a year of powerful worship and lasting impact, to the glory of God and the good of the city!

Examining What Lies Beneath

In the blog below, UniteBoston’s Executive Director Rev. Kelly Fassett shares a transparent reflection on her heart posture in recent events, including the near assassination of former President Trump, and what this revealed within her.

In our polarized climate, violence in thought and action can show up in surprising places – It is vital that we pastor the instincts in our own hearts in order to follow Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Rev. Kelly calls followers of Jesus to do the hard work of uncovering what lies beneath to discover where we might be holding enmity and offers a spiritual practice to do just this. 

What was your first reaction to hearing about the near assassination of former President Trump?

I have to admit, my initial reaction isn’t one that I am proud of. 

I was on a brunch date with my husband and we were talking about this situation, and out of my mouth came the statement, “I almost wish that the bullet hadn’t missed.”

Friends, even writing this today, I feel a little vulnerable about being so public about my sins. I am registered an Independent voter and find myself in the middle of many social issues. Plus, I had a lot of reasons for justifying my beliefs: I am a person that highly values integrity in leadership and for me, how President Trump seems to see himself as being above the law rubs me the wrong way. I also have been disturbed by how he treats other people, such as the language that he uses to disparage minority groups, and how he seems to exercise power in an authoritarian manner that demands unquestioning obedience.

When I said that I almost wished the bullet hadn’t missed, it surprised me. There are a lot of Republicans in my life that I have a lot of respect for and love dearly, yet I realized that this came from an underlying belief that at some level that if President Trump wasn’t around, life in America might be a bit better for everyone. My husband responded, “I think you have a little soul searching to do.” And he was right.

I can believe all of these things, yet willing the destruction of another person is never OK, especially for those who are following Jesus. Here’s why.

We must distinguish whether our innermost posture is an opponent to disagree with or an enemy to be destroyed. If our instantaneous reaction is anger, rage, or destruction, we must examine where that is coming from. I’ve found that anger is often protecting something that is dear to us, driven by a sense of justice to fight for what is right and good and true. Jesus himself was angry at times (Mt 21:12-13), but wanting the worst for another person is not of God. Even if I disagree with former President Trump on many aspects of his leadership and treatment of others, he is still a child of God, made in God’s image, and beloved. This has to be the beginning and end of how I treat him, in posture and action

Our cohorts are currently unpacking the biggest barriers hindering Christian unity, and one of them we have identified is “righteous hubris.” Righteous hubris is identity by hostility – we know who we are because we know who we are against. Often we know that we are holding righteous hubris when we have a sense of vengeful glee inside ourselves at the sight of an “enemy” failing or being defeated, or we make plans to destroy the “other side” and undermine their credibility. While I myself would not be the one to inflict violence on former President Trump, I was OK with someone else doing it. 

And yet, Jesus calls us to a higher place: we are not just called to love those most like us, but to love our enemies (Mt 5:44). Jesus describes, “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Mt 5:46-47). Jesus is calling his followers to embody an unlikely love: a love for those on the “other side.” This is a supernatural love, as social science points to the reality that being with people who are different than you is cognitively taxing. Yet at a time when so many are carrying enmity and pointing fingers rather than looking at our darkness within, I believe that Christians who are carrying Christ’s humble, authentic, enemy-embracing love can shine brightly. 

Here is a working diagram on the spectrum of disunity that Devlin and I have been drafting this week as we’ve been thinking about this. It moves from:

  • Diversity, which is to be understood, honored, celebrated, and valued
  • To Disagreement, which are areas we grieve where followers of Jesus who are earnestly seeking to follow Jesus land in different places
  • To Division, which is an inward posture of hostility, contempt, and vengeance against those on the other side
  • To Destruction, which are violent actions taken to undermine someone’s credibility, such as slander, or hate crimes. 

As you do this inward examination, are you above the line, with a soft heart that sees and honors the inherent imago dei, or are you below the line, holding inward postures of enmity, hate or even destruction? We know we have crossed the line from living in the way of Jesus when we sense the visceral reactions “below the line” within us. 

There are a lot of people who are acting in the name of Jesus, and this doesn’t make everything right and good and true. I’ve found it important to distinguish ideologies from the people who hold those ideologies. Our “struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). We can call out the evil in systems and structures that value some over others; and simultaneously love people, seeking the best for everyone we meet, “clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12-13).

I shared this story in our Christian unity working group, and it opened up an incredible time of confession where others shared moments where they also had held ill will or sought destruction of others in various ways. And if we are honest, this is true about all of us at some times. For you, maybe it’s not former President Trump you feel such ill will towards – maybe Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, or some other political figure. Or a neighbor, colleague, or even family member you have a strained relationship with over politics.

I want to invite you: When a situation occurs and you have a visceral emotional reaction, pause and consider:

  • Get curious about yourself: Where is this feeling coming from? Why am I feeling threatened? What does it bring up for me? 
  • Get curious about the other person: Put yourself in the other person’s world and understand where they might be coming from. What is God’s truth for this person and situation? How might I need to shift my perspective and heart posture to see this person as beloved and made in God’s image? 
  • What changes might I need to make in my own life to ensure I can see the world and all of God’s children rightly? Where might repair be needed, within me or within the broken system that this situation reveals?
Photo Credit: Daiga Ellaby

We must do the hard work of pastoring the underlying postures of righteous hubris, of enmity and hostility that show up in our hearts, so that it doesn’t evolve into destruction or violence, the fourth component of this diagram. I grieve the situation that occured a few weeks ago where five LGBTQ+ affirming churches in the area were desecrated. Unfortunately, those that committed these acts left signs that they were Christians doing this in the name of Jesus Christ.

The UniteBoston Board and staff released a statement standing with the Massachusetts Council of Churches condemning this desecration: “While there is much diversity on the perspectives of marriage and sexuality, how we hold our beliefs and treat one another matters. Our savior Jesus Christ calls us to be one and violence is never the answer to resolving our differences. We are called to love our neighbor as ourself (Mk 12:31) and Jesus implores us to hold a love even for one’s enemy (Mt 5:44). We pray that Christians in our area would be known for upholding love and respecting the imago dei of all of our neighbors across typical lines of division, as a public witness to the reconciling love of Jesus.”

So, dear friends, when we see the darkness in our hearts, join me in doing the hard work of uncovering what lies beneath. In a world that is characterized by so much dissension, enmity, and finger-pointing, may we do the inner work so we can be a different kind of people: following the Prince of Peace to transform our “acts of the flesh,” including hatred, discord, rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, and factions, to the “fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:19-21). This type of transformation needed so we can humbly and authentically witness to the way of Jesus, for the glory of God and the good of the city. 

– Rev. Kelly

P.S. The views mentioned are Rev. Kelly’s personal thoughts and opinions, not the views of UniteBoston. UniteBoston’s community encompasses Christians of many different backgrounds, convictions, and opinions and we encourage individuals to have honest, courageous conversations of listening, learning and story-sharing with those they may disagree with to grow in our embodiment of Christian unity. Feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts that this article brought up for you – I’d love to hear from you!

P.P.S. The UniteBoston board and staff believe this is a kairos moment for the Church. In the coming UniteBoston newsletters, we will be featuring resources on how Christians can engage well civically in this political climate, including a featured series with various articles, curriculums and spiritual practices. UniteBoston will also be hosting an event this fall for Christian pastors and leaders to experience a space of deep listening and connection about living and leading throughout this election year and to be a public witness to our churches and our city that the way of Jesus is to reconcile divides and to love our neighbor through intentional, curious, respectful conversation. If this is something you’d like to be part of please reach out to us. 

Further Resources:

  • REFLECT: On how we are to imitate the role of Jesus as a peacemaker with these resources from Common Ground USA.
  • REFLECT: Dr. Alison Cook has a powerful model for pastoring our instincts with her tool “Taking A You-Turn.”
  • READ: How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace by Melissa Florer-Bixler. This is a fabulous book describing what the Bible says about enemies, sharing “a theology that allows us to name our enemies as a form of truth-telling about ourselves, our communities, and the histories in which our lives are embedded.” 
  • LEARN: ​The After Party – This is a “free six-part video course designed to provide churches, small groups, and individuals with an on-the-ground, biblically based approach to navigating today’s challenging political environment.” The study can be used for individuals or as a small group curriculum, offering participants opportunities to examine their own political identities, consider the “how vs. the “what” of politics, and explore what the Bible has to say about it all.
  • LISTEN: Kingdom of Jesus by The Porter’s Gate, Jon Guerra, and Sandra McCracken. I’ve been listening nonstop to this song; it reminds me of the humble, upside-down ways of Jesus, our Prince of Peace: “His Kingdom is not one of slander or rage but one that is ruled by the Lamb who was slain, And is worthy of wisdom and honor and glory and strength…Oh say can’t you see, we have one allegiance. It’s to the Kingdom of Jesus.”

UB’s Third Annual BIPOC Spectacle Island Retreat

During the July 4 weekend, 28 of us gathered for our third UB Island BIPOC Retreat Day, an unforgettable experience filled with joy, reflection, and community. Thank you to everyone who joined us on Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor. It was a blessing to spend the day with friends new and old as each of us left feeling rejuvenated and inspired in the presence of God and one another.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

From the moment we set sail on the boat, the energy was palpable. Rev. Devlin kicked off the day with a heartfelt devotional focused on laying our burdens down. This time of reflection set a peaceful tone, reminding us of the importance of rest and renewal amidst our busy lives.

Gifts for the Retreat Attendees
Joyce, Carolina, Remi and Yovanny
Journals by Ani Design House

One of the highlights was our collaboration with Ani Inoyo, local Christian entreprenuer and founder of Ani Design House. Ani Inoyo provided the beautiful gifts that added a touch of elegance to our gathering. Be sure to check out Ani Design House and explore her incredible range of products. Share your purchases and tag them on social media: @AniDesignHouse

Our day was also filled with fun and relaxation. Stiggity Stackz once again brought their freestyle dance battles, infusing the retreat with vibrant energy and creative expression. We enjoyed beach games, massages, and a delicious catered lunch that allowed us to connect and savor the company of friends old and new.

The retreat was not just about relaxation but also about coming together as a circle of restoration. The work of reconciliation can be exhausting, and this intentional space was created for BIPOC leaders involved with UniteBoston to focus on self-care and foster deeper connections. Participants shared how enriched and refreshed they felt after this day-long retreat.

What did the attendees think of the retreat?

This retreat was wonderful and it’s exactly what I needed. My time of rest incorporated spending time at the beach and then watching and listened to the dancers. It was wonderful to connect with other creatives since my community of artist has gotten much smaller. – Joyce Fombah

“I am moved by the love that goes into planning a day of respite for dozens of relative strangers, and I am grateful to have attended this year’s retreat. The generosity of those who gave up their Saturday to serve and care for relative strangers blessed my soul. I enjoyed meeting so many amazing folks and seeing whole families come out for a day of recreation. The gift from Ani Design House was a pleasant surprise. Thank you, Ani! And thank you, UniteBoston and your wonderful team of volunteers!” –  Pastor Valerie Copeland, Pastor of Neighborhood Church – Dorchester.

The Journey towards ONE: UniteBoston’s Ministry Priorities

“For [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (Eph 2:14-16).

This is one of the many Scriptural texts that make it clear that Christians are to be “united” and “one.” Yet, what does this unity and oneness look like, and how do we get there? Read below to hear about UniteBoston’s five ministry priorities this year on our “journey towards one:” Cohorts, Commitment, Challenge, Convene, and Clarify, and how you can take part in this journey with us.

By: Rev. Kelly Fassett, Rev. Devlin Scott, and Rayza Carrasco

This past fall, UniteBoston’s staff and board sat down seeking to CLARIFY our ministry vision, strategy, and theory of change. Over the course of thirteen years, UniteBoston had gone from a small e-newsletter sent to a couple of dozen people to a full-fledged non-profit ministry with multiple staff. We had pursued the unity and oneness of Christians through hosting large united worship nights, coordinating a weekly events newsletter and website hub, convening missional collaboration conferences, launching neighborhood dinners, hosting learning groups, and more. 

We knew that at the center of the Christian faith is the confession that Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection has reconciled us to God and to one another, thus forming an inseverable and eternal peace (Eph. 2:14). This central message of reconciliation is a prominent theme throughout the New Testament, and the early Christians were convinced of the centrality of unity among followers of Christ. (2 Cor 5:16-21, 1 Cor 1:10, Rom 12:4-5, Jn 11:52, Eph 4:3).

Yet, this “unity” and “oneness” is easier to live in theological constructs than in practice. Christian unity isn’t just a surface-level kumbaya togetherness, “hues in the pews,” as that often erases voices that are traditionally on the margins. True Biblical unity must not only encompass diversity but also erase hierarchy, inequity, injustice, and false structures of power. Biblical unity is a “deep unity,” one that leans into the places of division to discover the roots and possibilities of reconciliation and repair.  In the course of our ministry, we had seen that the barriers hindering Christian unity, equity, justice, and flourishing for all needed to be tackled head on. To this end, our staff and board brainstormed together and came up with three big barriers to Christian unity: imbalanced theology, righteous hubris, and historical injustices.

Christian unity is not just a belief or an event but is actually a question of discipleship: the way we understand and practice our love of God and neighbor on a daily basis. As our team sought to unpack these three barriers to Christian unity and CLARIFY the learning experiences and cohort models that could be designed to disciple people as ambassadors of reconciliation and repair (2 Cor 5:18-20), we immediately realized that we could not do this work on our own; this big-picture work will be much sharper and stronger when it is done with a collective community of leaders offering their insights and perspectives. This past year, we launched a Christian unity COHORT with twelve diverse leaders who met monthly to share their own personal stories of unity and disunity in the church and explored how people are living out God’s call towards unity, justice and reconciliation. 

Here are a few key ideas about Christian unity that Kelly and Devlin are taking away from the cohort journey:

Genuine, vulnerable story-sharing allows us to truly see one another, deepening our understanding of our unity in reconciled diversity. This transformative process reshapes our sense of connection and mutual worth, inspiring us to live out our shared brotherhood and sisterhood in Christ. When we really see one another, it changes how we feel connected to one another and how we feel they deserve what I deserve.

The journey towards Christian unity involves remembering and rediscovering who we are in Christ, cultivating authentic diverse friendships, carefully tending to wounds and places of rupture, and showing up for one another in sacrificial solidarity. This group has protected, celebrated, defended, and made room for one another, which has been challenging and immensely healing.

Here are a few reflections from members of the cohort: 

“The individuals in our cohort are all so different; culturally, liturgically, and theologically. But as I’ve listened to the stories of God’s movement in the lives of each of these new friends, I’ve been awed by just how much we have in common: a love for Jesus, a devotion to his church, wounds in need of healing, a deep longing for the Kingdom, along with a lot of courage and faith. This journey and these people have reinforced my commitment to move from curiosity, my belief that we have so much to learn from each other, and my hope that the chasms that divide us can be bridged.”

-Josh Wilson, Pastor at Reality Boston

“If the seed of Christian unity is our faith in Jesus, and the sunlight/water are our opportunities for joint ministry and mission, then the soil is most certainly our relationship and engagement with each other. The soil is aerated by our whole-hearted leaning into difference and disagreement with love.” 

– Edwin Johnson, Director of Organizing at Episcopal City Mission 

“In the Christian unity cohort, I found that our differences didn’t divide us; rather they made us connect more intentionally as we built friendships with one another. We don’t have to agree on all the things, but we can accept, love, and serve one another just like Jesus loved and served us.”

-Carolina de Jesus, Chief Executive Officer at the Boston Higher Education Resource Center

“As a Roman Catholic, I am reminded that the Catholic Church made a fundamental shift in its vision of Christian Unity from Vatican I to Vatican II, moving from an ecumenism of “return” to an ecumenism of “recognition” – the recognition of an esteem for the many gifts of God’s Spirit that reflect a genuine communion of faith and life with other Christian churches. As a result of the journey that we have shared in our Christian Unity cohort, I am convinced that the personal and relational always come before the structural and institutional. Journeying out of our isolations; meeting, sharing meals, sharing our stories, getting to know and trust one another; establishing friendships— these cohort experiences of relationship form the climate in which both individual Christians and separated communities become open to, recognize and receive gifts of the Holy Spirit from one another. It is this kind of climate that I have witnessed with our Unity Cohort from which a passion for unity is cultivated and sustained. Symbolic gestures are important among church leaders, but relationships of trust and mutual affection have to grow among members of different churches as well if receptive ecumenism is to flourish.”

-Michael James, Resident Minister and Faculty Member at Boston College

We’re now launching two new year-long working group COHORTS to help us shape the next season of UniteBoston. First, a “Sankofa journey” working group to reconstruct a common memory on the racial history of Boston and CHALLENGE people to be truth-tellers about the hidden history in our backyard. Second, a working group to explore the theology, practice, and heart posture of “Christian unity.” The working groups will help us unpack the three barriers to Christian unity we have identified and discern what content, experiences, and practical COMMITMENTS people can make towards becoming ambassadors of reconciliation and repair. We believe that UniteBoston’s role is to create opportunities for “beloved community” to emerge, one that leans into our diversities, nurtures belonging for all of God’s children, models redemptive power dynamics, and works together to nurture shalom across historic divides. As we nurture kinship relations among diverse siblings in Christ, we believe our self-giving love for each other will be a collective witness to the reconciling power of the gospel. 

Much of our team’s time and attention will be behind the scenes so we can do this work well. But don’t worry, we will continue our newsletter and website, and we are still planning to CONVENE Christians in Boston for a fall concert featuring a united gospel choir, as well as Boston Flourish on November 7. 

We’re grateful to have so many leaders and friends with us on the journey – You make this work possible, and you make it a lot of fun too! 

Join us on the Journey Towards One: 

  • Pray for wisdom and discernment for our team and collaborating partners as we seek to understand how Christians in Boston might embody the oneness that Jesus prays for and refine UniteBoston’s missional priorities and theory of change.
  • Stay engaged by reading the UniteBoston newsletter and following us on our social media Facebook Instagram
  • We’d love to hear from you if you have any ideas, resources, or stories you’d like to share with us that might help us on this journey!

– Rev. Kelly, Rev. Devlin, and Rayza

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. 
Where there is hatred, let us sow love; 
where there is injury, pardon; 
where there is discord, union; 
where there is doubt, faith; 
where there is despair, hope; 
where there is darkness, light; 
where there is sadness, joy. 
Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; 
to be understood as to understand; 
to be loved as to love. 
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
– A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Prayer Event – America Belongs to Jesus

We invite you to join America Belongs to Jesus tour with us  at Leominster, MA in this spiritual battle for the soul of America.

Twenty-one significant locations for prayer and spiritual warfare across America.

America Belongs to Jesus Prayer Tour was birthed in July 2023 in Dallas, TX, when Bro. Mohan C Lazarus, Founder of Jesus Redeems Ministries, received a vision after being awakened by the Lord at 2am with an urgency to pray with an intense cry. In the vision, the Lord shared the burden of His heart saying, “America belongs to me. I founded this nation, but Satan has captured many aspects of the nation and is swiftly fulfilling his plans.” As Bro. Mohan continued to pray, the Lord spoke further and reaffirmed that only two nations were created specifically to fulfill God’s purpose – one being Israel, where Jesus was born, crucified, buried, resurrected, and where the revival began with the birth of a worldwide church; and the second, America, created exclusively for God’s purposes, and for spreading the end time revival fire all around the world.

Despite being only 247 years old, America has become a superpower, influencing global economics; leading in missionary work, education, research, and humanitarian aid; and attracting people worldwide through the blessing of the Lord. Since the USA gave the Lord Jesus Christ the first place in everything, the Lord honored and lifted the nation. However, dark forces of the enemy have led the nation astray into sins of homosexuality, satanic worship, abortion, drugs, and idolatry resulting in curses that hinder the spiritual growth and destiny of the nation. 

“America Belongs to Jesus!” is the proclamation and mandate for a fasting and prayer tour given to Bro. Mohan, through an encounter with the Lord, to realign America with its divine purpose in God’s end time revival through prayer. In obedience to the call of God, Bro. Mohan scheduled a 21-day, 21-city Prayer Tour in April 2024.


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