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!
Great job, UniteBoston!