About EGC
Overview • Mission • Principles • History
Our mission, principles, and history will help you better understand the Emmanuel Gospel Center.
The mission of Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC) is to understand and help nurture the vitality of urban churches in the context of their broader urban communities, particularly Boston’s low-income and immigrant communities. We believe that churches are God’s chosen instruments to bring his life and presence into our communities, so all of our work is designed to support what God is doing in and through urban churches.
EGC provides resources to help churches operate effectively at the grassroots level through programs that evolve in response to the needs of churches, their communities and their networks. Through research and training, consulting, and programs, EGC builds the capacity of urban churches to serve urban residents effectively, particularly in the areas of education, youth, economic development, and homelessness. By working with and through churches, EGC seeks to build a community that supports and cares for the spiritual and physical needs of all individuals throughout the city.
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- We seek the Lord's LEADING and TIMING in making ministry decisions.
- We seek to build RELATIONSHIPS with those to whom and with whom we minister.
- We seek to build the KINGDOM of God in Boston, not just an individual, group, church or ministry (including our own).
- We seek LONG-TERM RESULTS.
- We use the RESOURCES that the Lord provides.
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It all started as a neighborhood mission. In the early part of the 20th century, Mr. and Mrs. William Morgan used "The Little Church on Wheels" — a small church built on a truck chassis that served as a prop and a sound stage — to bring the Gospel message to Boston Common. In the 1920s and '30s, thousands gathered to hear preaching on the Common from this Little Church on Wheels.
In 1938, Mrs. Morgan rented space for an indoor ministry at 10 Columbus Square in the South End. Thus Emmanuel Gospel Center began that fall with the dedication services taking place on October 3. Sidney Marsh was the Center's first superintendent. From 1939 to 1944, Mr. & Mrs. Ringer served as superintendents. During the early years, leaders from the nearby Presbyterian Church provided guidance and assistance. Dr. Jack Mark, for example, was president of the board from 1941-1976. In October 1947, Emmanuel Gospel Center moved to larger facilities at 84 West Dedham Street, just a block from our present building at 2 San Juan Street. The Center took over the building which had been used by the John 3:16 Mission. The ministry offered church services every night to the working poor of Boston's South End, along with Sunday school classes for children and youth.
In 1964, a young couple named Doug and Judy Hall came to Boston while Doug was attending Gordon Divinity School, now Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Their goal was to become missionaries to India, but in the meantime, they wanted to serve "in a job no one else wanted." So Doug accepted the position of superintendent of Emmanuel Gospel Center, with responsibilities for everything from preaching to fixing the plumbing.
Initially, Doug and Judy continued the original ministries of the Center. A trailer was built to serve as a stage and base for a screen, electrical generator and sound system, so evangelistic films could be shown outdoors. And pastors from different churches in Boston came to the Center to lead church services and teach Sunday School classes. But several years after the Halls arrived, something very special and unusual happened. Mt. Calvary Baptist Church brought their pastor, their choir and their congregation. They didn't want to have church for the poor, they wanted to have church with the poor.
This event taught Doug and Judy a lot. They realized that an indigenous local church ministering to people in their own community provides a far more effective approach to urban ministry than a neighborhood mission. As Doug and Judy gradually became aware of developing, vibrant churches all over Boston, Emmanuel Gospel Center changed its strategy from primarily direct, one-on-one ministry to strengthening and supporting the work of urban churches.
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