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neXus Boston
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Please Note:

neXus is currently on hold as a ministry.  Our major funder recently went out of business, and both neXus staff members have resigned.  A leadership team is meeting to prayerfully consider next steps for supporting Christian youth workers in Boston.  Members of this team include:

  • Jeff Bass (jbass at egc.org)
  • Dean Borgman (dborgman at gcts.edu)
  • Matthew Gibson (mattgibson24 at gmail.com)
  • Chase Grogan (cgrogan at gordonconwell.edu)
  • Myra Kinds (mkinds at bmaboston.org)
  • Virginia Ward (pastorvw at alccambridge.org)

Please pray with us, and if you would like more information, have ideas, or want to get involved, please feel free to contact any one of the above. 

We do plan to continue publishing the neXus newsletter on a monthly basis.  If you have an item you would like to see included, please forward that to Chase Grogan at the email above.

Connecting, equipping, and empowering urban youth ministry

The need

Christian youth workers face unique challenges as they serve the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of urban youth. Those on the front lines often feel isolated and ill-prepared to help youth face the overwhelming challenges of violence, poverty, family conflict, disabilities, and lack of educational and career opportunities that thousands of youth face today. Many youth workers sense wide gaps in their understanding of what works effectively, and admit they are in need of additional training and support in all aspects of youth work. Too often, undertrained youth workers are under-supported, overworked, and burnt out.

The response

Formed by a collaboration of seasoned Christian organizations with a long-term commitment to urban youth, neXus Boston provides networking, support, training, and research. Our aim is to support Christian youth workers, as they serve the youth of Boston, by:

  • empowering youth workers to better understand their own purpose in ministry and learn best practices in urban youth work
  • providing a centralized environment in which Christian youth workers access professional training and peer mentoring in a culture of learning, aspiration, and interdependence
  • providing materials and a constantly growing knowledge base of articles, books, seminar materials, and manuals on issues essential to youth work
  • building a community where youth workers connect to and support each other in their call to bring transformation to the lives of urban youth, their families, and their communities

What’s happening now

  • we’re increasing collaborations between youth workers by developing more regional “cluster communities,” and hosting six Living Room meetings (a bi-monthly gathering for youth workers that provides support and networking)
  • offering trainings to increase youth workers’ competence and professionalism, including two seminary classes, monthly trainings for emerging leaders, and trainings on topics such as a systemic view of youth violence, and basics on self-care and trauma care for youth and youth workers
  • providing support through peer mentoring for Living Room and cluster participants; offering 8-week self-care and resilience training for 10 youth workers; and hosting a 3-day retreat to help youth workers deepen their relationships, learn new skills, and consider together how to strengthen youth ministry in Boston
  • training youth workers in coping skills that relieve work pressures and help them lead more balanced lives

How you can help

Pray! We believe in the power of prayer! Pray for us, the youth workers we serve, the youth in our city, and the effectiveness of our ministry as we seek to partner with God to impact Boston.

Join in! neXus welcomes volunteers to assist with office work, outreach, and events.

Give! neXus relies on grants and your donations. To donate, go to www.egc.org/giving.

 To read more about neXus, check out these articles: