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Examples of Collaboration in the Greater Boston Church Community
There has been a rich history of ministry collaboration in the Greater Boston Christian community. This document gives a brief description of some of the significant ministry initiatives in urban Boston that involved a broad coalition of ministry partners, and/or involved significant partnering across sectors. Much more could be said about each of the ones listed, and many more initiatives, projects and ministries could be added to this list.
Compiled by the Emmanuel Gospel Center for Greater Things for Greater Boston Retreat October 8 – 10, 2017
There has been a rich history of ministry collaboration in the Greater Boston Christian community. This document gives a brief description of some of the significant ministry initiatives in urban Boston that involved a broad coalition of ministry partners, and/or involved significant partnering across sectors. Much more could be said about each of the ones listed, and many more initiatives, projects and ministries could be added to this list. Please send additions or other feedback to Jeff Bass (jbass@egc.org).
The 1857-1858 Prayer Revival spread to Boston when the Boston "Businessmen's Noon Prayer Meeting" started on March 8, 1858, at Old South Church (downtown). There was considerable doubt about whether it would succeed, but so many turned out that a great number could not get in. The daily prayer meetings were expanded to a number of other churches in Boston and other area cities. Wherever a prayer meeting was opened, the church would be full, even if it was as large as Park Street Church. While the revival was noted for drawing together businessmen, it also involved large numbers of women. For example, the prayer meetings of women at Park Street Church were full to overflowing with women standing everywhere they could to hear.
When Dwight L. Moody came to Boston in 1877, he led a cooperative evangelism effort among many churches. This three-month effort drew up to 7,000 people at a time to the South End auditorium for three services a day, five days a week. Moody encouraged a well-organized, interdenominational effort by 90 churches to do house-to-house religious visitation, especially among people who were poor. Two thousand people were spending a large part of their time in visitation, covering 65,000 of Boston’s 70,000 families. The home visitations served the practical needs of mothers and children as well as their spiritual needs. The Moody outreach also related to workers in their workplaces. Meetings were established for men in the dry-goods business, for men in the furniture trade, for men in the market, for men in the fish trade, for newspaper men, for all classes in the city.[1]
[1] These first two are from History of Revivalism in Boston by Rudy Mitchell; 50 pages of fascinating and inspiring reading. Use hyperlink or search at egc.org/blog.
One of the most important organizations in Boston for the healthy growth of the church has been Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary’s Boston Campus, commonly known as CUME (the Center for Urban Ministerial Education). A short version of its interesting history is that it came about because of the joint hard work of leaders in the city (particularly Eldin Villafañe and Doug Hall) and leaders at the Seminary (particularly Trustee Michael Haynes, pastor of Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury). CUME officially opened with 30 students in September 1976 at Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury. CUME currently serves more than 500 students representing 39 denominations, 21 distinct nationalities, and 170 churches in Greater Boston. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, French Creole and Portuguese, with occasional classes in American Sign Language. (from GCTS website).
The Boston TenPoint Coalition was formed in 1992 when a diverse group of urban pastors was galvanized into action by violence erupting at a funeral for a murdered teen at Morning Star Baptist Church. Reaching beyond their differences, these clergy talked with youth, listened to them and learned about the social, economic, moral and ethical dilemmas trapping them and thousands of other high-risk youth in a cycle of violence and self-destructive behavior. In the process of listening and learning, the Ten-Point Plan was developed and the Boston TenPoint Coalition was born.
The “Boston Miracle” was a period in the late 1990s when Boston saw an unprecedented decline in youth violence, including a period of more than two years where there were zero teenage homicide victims in the city. Much has been written about The Boston Miracle (and a movie starring Matt Damon is in the works), but there are competing narratives about what caused the violence to decline. Certainly the work of Boston police, the Boston TenPoint Coalition, Operation Ceasefire, and supporting prayer all played major roles.
In response to the first Bush administration’s faith-based initiative in the early 1990s, a group of funders (led by the Barr and Hyams foundations) brought together leaders from the Black Ministerial Alliance (BMA), Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC), Boston TenPoint Coalition, and the United Way to respond to a Federal request for proposals. Out of this conversation, the Boston Capacity Tank was formed, and we were able to successfully secure a Federal grant ($2 million per year for three years, then funding from federal, state, local, private sources afterwards). The Tank was led with input from the founding partners, and built the capacity of more than 350 youth serving organizations over 10 years.
Victory Generation Out-of-School Time Program (VG) was created by the Black Ministerial Alliance in 1992 in response to the educational disparities documented between youth of color and their suburban counterparts. The BMA partnered with 10 churches to provide academic enrichment to students in the Boston Public Schools in order to improve their grades and test scores. Ninety-four percent (94%) of students consistently participating in VG were found to increase one full letter grade in achievement and, for those not at grade level, achieve grade level. Most remarkable is that although this is a church-centered program, upwards of 80% of the students attending VG are not members of any church.
In the 1990s, Vision New England hosted three-day prayer summits for male pastors that was attended by as many as 90 leaders. The goal was to focus purely on seeking God through prayer, worship and reading Scriptures with no speakers, only facilitators keeping things on track. They were not only well attended but powerful times that were blessed by the Holy Spirit. In 2000, leaders in Boston met to discuss holding a similar prayer summit that also would include female leaders in the Boston area. Thus began the Greater Boston Prayer Summit, which ran two-day prayer retreats for up to 75 pastors and ministry leaders in the spring, with a smaller one-day prayer gathering in the fall. The Summits were effective in connecting leaders around Greater Boston, and promoting unity in the church across various church streams. Energy for the Summit faded in recent years, and the planning team disbanded in 2016.
In the mid-1990s, there was a group of pastors and business leaders who met several times to talk about issues in the city and potential partnering. The business leaders challenged the city leaders to agree on an issue to address. “If the city leaders agree, resources will flow!” Partly in response to this challenge, EGC worked with a broad coalition of churches and youth leaders to start the Youth Ministry Development Project (YMDP). The goal, set by the coalition, was to see the Boston churches grow from only one full-time church-based youth worker to twenty over ten years, and to provide much better support for church-based youth work. Funding was provided primarily by secular foundations, and the YMDP project was well-funded and met its 10-year goals.
Boston Capacity Tank’s Oversight Committee (including funders and faith leaders) challenged itself to look at the systemic issues of youth violence in Boston. The Committee asked EGC to take the lead in forming the Youth Violence Systems Project (YVSP) that partnered with Barr, youth leaders in several key Boston neighborhoods, local organizations such as the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI), the Boston TenPoint Coalition (to interview gang members), and a nationally known Systems Dynamics expert (Steve Peterson). The work influenced many leaders to take a more systemic view of their activities, and the project approach was published in a peer review journal.
In 1997, United Way of Massachusetts Bay (UWMB) collaborated with local faith leaders to initiate the Faith and Action (FAA) Initiative. UWMB had traditionally only worked with secular organizations. The Faith and Action Initiative was envisioned as funding faith-based programs for youth precisely because of their spiritual impact on participants. Churches—especially Black churches—in some hard-to-reach Boston neighborhoods were serving youth in a way that more traditional agencies were not. FAA would direct small grants to these religious organizations on a trial basis. No grant recipient would be allowed to proselytize. But each would be required to include spiritual transformation in its program as a condition of winning a grant (from Duke case study on FAA).
The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization (GBIO) is an organization of 50 religious congregations and other local institutions that joined together in 1998 in order to more powerfully pursue justice in Massachusetts. Since its founding, GBIO has played a critical role in securing Massachusetts health care reform; helping to roll over $300 million into the construction of affordable housing in the state; and supporting local leadership in efforts to attain worker protections, school renovations, adequate access to school textbooks, as well as other major victories (from GBIO.org).
The Institute for Pastoral Excellence (IEP) was planned and implemented in 2002 as an initiative of the Fellowship of Hispanic Pastors of New England (COPAHNI). COPAHNI is a regional fellowship of Hispanic churches and ministries. The purpose of IEP was to help Hispanic pastors and lay leaders in New England build their foundation for effective and resilient ministry. IEP was funded with two multi-year grants from the Lilly Endowment ($660,000 and $330,000, respectively). IEP maintained strong partnerships with Emmanuel Gospel Center (fiscal agent, consulting, and administrative support) and the Center for Urban Ministerial Education and Vision New England (consulting, speakers, and materials).
In 2004, a group of suburban leaders met with urban leaders to see if we could provide resources so connecting would be easier. “The answer can’t be that you have to talk with Ray Hammond to get connected.” Out of those conversations, CityServe was born. The goal was to create online resources for connecting, coupled with staff support for the process. Harry Howell, president of Leadership Foundations, offered to donate a couple days a week to get this off the ground, and EGC raised some funds and hired a staff person to get things started. Harry, however, had a heart attack and was not able to follow through on his commitment, the project never found its footing in the community or with donors, and the experiment ended in 2007.
In 2004 and 2005 there was a growing sense among many believers that God was about to move powerfully in the New England region. Covenant for New England was formed to promote the functional unity, spiritual vitality, and corporate mindset that would prepare the way for a fresh movement of God’s Spirit. In 2006, Roberto Miranda, Jeff Marks, and others involved inCovenant for New England met with British prayer leader Brian Mills to discuss how to broaden the Covenant network to include all of New England. In February of 2007, the New England Alliance was formed consisting of representatives from all 6 New England states. This group began meeting monthly in various places around the region. One unique aspect of Alliance gatherings was they always began with an hour or two of prayer before any other business was brought up for discussion.
From 2008 to 2010, a multi-ethnic group of urban and suburban church leaders worked together to plan and prepare for the national Ethnic America Network Summit, “A City Without Walls.” The conference was jointly hosted in April 2010 by Jubilee Christian Church International and Morning Star Baptist Church. The Summit featured local speakers (including Dr. Alvin Padilla of CUME and Pastor Jeanette Yep of Grace Chapel) and national speakers with deep Boston roots (including Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah). The Summit brought together many diverse partners and established relationships that last today.
In 2010, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson created a community liaison position to foster more school partnerships with faith-based and community-based organizations. The opportunity for church/school partnerships led to some significant urban/suburban church partnerships, such as Peoples Baptist/North River, and Global Ministries/Grace Chapel. EGC’s Boston Education Collaborative currently supports about 40 church/school partnerships in Boston.
Greater Things for Greater Boston grew out of the initial desire of several key urban and suburban pastors to see broader connections between pastors and churches in Greater Boston. Central to developing the vision were biennial “Conversations on the Work of God in New England” which highlighted local and national pastors and networks joining with God to do innovative work to reach their city. The first conversation was held in May 2010. Topics have included “Why Cities Matter?”, church/school partnerships, community trauma, and much more. The identity and mission of GTGB is: “We are a diverse network of missional leaders stubbornly committed to one another and to accelerating Christ’s work in Greater Boston.”
There were at least two precursors to Greater Things for Greater Boston. The Boston Vision Group formed in 2001 “to see in the next 5 – 10 years, Boston will be a place where there is infectious Christian Community wherever you turn.” The Greater Boston Social Justice Network, formed in 2004, was “committed to eradicating social injustices that impede the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth.” Both groups included a variety of urban and suburban leaders, and both were active over several years.
In January 2017, EGC and the BMA worked with Jamie Bush and Drake Richey to convene a group of mostly professional under-40s, in the financial district, to consider what God has been doing in Boston over the last 30 years. This led to another meeting of the same group in March to hear from Pastors Ray Hammond and Bryan Wilkerson about what the Bible says about engaging your talents and the needs of society, with small-group discussion, pizza and wine. In May, the group met again at the Dorchester Brewing Company for a discussion of seeking God's purpose for your life and prayer. Again with food (and, of course, beer). Next steps, including hopefully meeting for prayer, are being considered.
Hope for Lenox Street: Pastors' Breakfast with the Melnea Cass Network
New in Lower Roxbury--Pastors and leaders serving the Lenox Street area met to consider a wider collaboration with the Melnea Cass Network, a group dedicated to "eliminating youth violence and poverty, one neighborhood at a time."
Hope for Lenox Street: Pastors' Breakfast with the Melnea Cass Network
by Megan Lietz and Jess Mason, Research Associates
The Lenox Street neighborhood in Lower Roxbury is home to many creative and resilient people, but also has a reputation for drug activity and violence. On November 8th, 2016, leaders serving youth in this community met for a simple breakfast with a not-so-simple purpose — to share insights about how they could together help change Lenox Street’s reputation.
Pastors and community leaders serving in the Lenox Street area consider the appeal of the Melnea Cass Network.
Pastor Rolland Cooper warmly welcomes the MCN to his congregation, Shawmut Community Church.
Nika Elugardo, Director of Applied Research and Consulting at Emmanuel Gospel Center, introduces the work of the Melnea Cass Network to area pastors and community pillars.
Brent Henry of Vibrant Boston shares his passion for youth and tells moving stories about the need and hope in the Lenox Street community.
Sarah Gautier shares her journey of connecting with the Lower Roxbury community through her ministry to youth at Congregation Lion of Judah.
Lauren Thompson of Crosstown Church describes the hopes of a developing church plant to impact the neighborhood youth for Jesus.
Not uncommon in the world of urban ministry and action, this was a gathering during a short window of opportunity in a space that was available. The cozy basement of the Shawmut Community Church, with its well-worn furniture and faithful kitchen, provided a warm environment for this multiracial gathering of 25 leaders ranging in age from their 20’s to their 80’s. Each of these neighborhood youth workers, Christian youth pastors, community leaders and academics had answered an invitation from the Melnea Cass Network (MCN) — a developing network “committed to ending poverty and violence one neighborhood at a time”.
MCN cast the net wide. Whether leaders simply wanted to hear about opportunities to connect or were ready to co-lead the initiative, all would have a place at the table — for egg casseroles and coffee cake that morning, and for shared learning and action in the coming months.
This was a room full of people who, compelled by the need and opportunity of Lenox Street, wanted to respond. Leaders listened as representatives of CrossTown Church, Congregation Lion of Judah, Vibrant Boston, and host Shawmut Community Church shared their journeys of challenge and hope in reaching out to area youth. The tone of the gathering was casual, but sincere.
Brent Henry, who works with over 150 youth per year in Lower Roxbury, told the story of “Licita”. A straight-A student, her mother worked so many jobs that Licita had to take primary responsibility for raising her brothers and sisters. Henry shared how MCN has connected him to church leaders to support his work.
Lauren Thompson of the CrossTown Church plant recalled her faith family's experience with area youth. She shared their sense of calling as a church to further engage young people in the Lenox community.
In response, bold voices spoke up first to suggest the need to bring the youth into the churches. These leaders implied that if youth could enter a relationship with Jesus and participate in Christian activities, their lives could be transformed. Other voices seemed to prefer going into the community and showing God’s love by serving the tangible needs of youth and families on their own turf. Others, struck by the weight and complexity of the need, asked for an immediate pause. They led the whole room in prayer for “Licita” and youth like her in that moment.
As insights built upon insights throughout the morning, a shared desire emerged. Leaders agreed they wanted to build a resilient social network that can support young people in the Lenox Street community. The question of what such support would look like remained unresolved.
Some leaders left the breakfast enthusiastic and ready to connect further. Others wanted to learn more before committing. Most agreed on the wisdom of further intentional dialogue and collaborative visioning.
MCN has now connected Brent Henry to leaders from 6 of 12 area churches, so that pastors and churches can offer practical support and advocacy for Licita and families like hers.
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![What Women Leaders "Shouldn't" Want [Infographics]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ff1c7ae58c62d6f84ba841/1482182315765-UMIZ38Z5JK74HBSVE773/WOV2016_DSC_1839.jpg)
What Women Leaders "Shouldn't" Want [Infographics]
What do Christian women leaders report hearing or believing that they "shouldn't" want or need if they were a good leader? What kinds of life-giving connections to Christian women leaders want more of?
What Christian Women Leaders "Shouldn't" Want [Infographics]
by Jess Mason
Boston area Christian women leaders report that access to supportive networks — spaces for life-giving connection — is vital for healthy life balance. Our data reveal that there is a support gap for many of these leaders.
But more troubling is the discovery of a cultural validation gap, where women leaders know what support they need, but their culture is telling them that strong leaders “shouldn’t” need that kind of support.
The infographics below capture these support and cultural validation gaps.
The first infographic captures the negative lens, answering: What kinds of support are these women perceiving their culture saying healthy leaders “shouldn’t” need?
What Leaders “Shouldn't” Need
The second graphic captures the positive lens — this is the ask from Christian women leaders: What kind of support would help women leaders toward healthy life balance? Notice the substantial overlap between the disregarded/forbidden kinds of support in the first graphic and the desired kinds of life-giving connection in the second.
What Christian Women Leaders Want More of
The final graph tallies these same requests for life-giving connections by category, which may suggest a relative weight of urgency or felt need.
By far the most requested kinds of support fell into the category of “grace spaces” — opportunities to be transparent, accepted and not judged. Christian women leaders would value more opportunities to be open about their weaknesses, their doubts, and their failures without concern for undermining their effectiveness as a leader.
The second most requested kind of support included encouragement and strategies related to gender-based challenges.
Perhaps in connection to both of the top two concerns, women also craved the opportunity to share stories with other Christian women leaders — including stories of failure and redemption.
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Self-Care Resources for Anti-Trafficking Leaders
Self CareResources for Leaders Fighting against Human Trafficking
A. LOCATIONS FOR RETREAT:
List from Harvard Div School: https://hds.harvard.edu/life-at-hds/religious-and-spiritual-life/retreats-and-quiet-places
St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer MA,
Agape Community, Ware MA
The Emery Guest House at SSJE, near Newburryport, MA
B. BOOKS ON BURNOUT PREVENTION AND SABBATH:
Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation, by Richard Rohr
The Rest of God:Restoring your soul by restoring Sabbath, by Mark Buchanan
Sabbath: finding rest, renewal and delight in our busy lives, by Wayne Muller
Sabbath as resistance: saying no to a culture of now, by Walter Brueggemann
Community and Growth: Jean Vanier
Leading on Empty : Wayne Cordiero
Trauma Stewardship: Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky
![Voices of Human Trafficking [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ff1c7ae58c62d6f84ba841/1549999751750-FPJ37PZW2U4UHY6OVXSH/Screenshot+2019-02-12+14.28.40.png)
Resources For Churches about Anti-Human Trafficking
Resources about Human Trafficking for Churches.
International Justice Mission: ijm.org/churches
Let my People Go Network: www.lmpgnetwork.org
Greater Boston Prayer and Action Network: gbpan.wordpress.com
Safe Church training: diomass.org/inside/learning/safe_church
Safe Families Resources: http://www.safefamilies.org/
Domestic Violence survivor support: Hagar’s Sisters: hagarssisters.org
Domestic Violence Response Training: Safe Havens : interfaithpartners.org
Response to Child Abuse in a Christian Context: www.netgrace.org
Support for healing from sexual brokenness: Living Waters Ministry, Boston
Sexual addiction, Men’s accountability groups: nathanproject.net
Domestic Violence Abuser education, EMERGE: www.emergedv.com
Confronting the Exploiters - by One Life Matters: onelifematters.org
Fair Trade Products for Churches: Equal Exchange: shop.equalexchange.coop/organization-orders
Mentoring Toolkit - Elevate: taking your life to the next level By Rebecca Bender and Kathy Bryan
Hands that Heal training - faastinternational.org/hands-that-heal
OTHER BOOKS/RESOURCES FOR LEADERS WE RECOMMEND:
When Helping Hurts - Steve Corbett
Helping without Hurting - Steve Corbett
Generous Justice - by Tim Keller
Trauma and Recovery - Judith Hermon
The Wounded Heart - Dan Allender
Real Sex - Lauren Winner
Resources to Learn More About Human Trafficking
Books, Websites, Documentaries, and other Educational Resources on Human Trafficking.
A. RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Remember to order through Amazon Smile and support an organization fighting human trafficking.
The Just Church - Jim Martin
The Diary of Jasmine Grace - Jasmine Grace Marino
Girls Like Us - Rachel Lloyd
The Slave Next Door - Kevin Bales
Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecoside and the secret to saving the earth - Kevin Bales
Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery - Siddharth Kara
Not For Sale - David Batstone
A Crime So Monstrous - Ben Skinner
The Locust Effect - Gary Haugen
The Good News about Injustice - Gary Haugen
Half the Sky- Nicholas Kristof
Justice Awakening: How you and your church can help end human trafficking - Eddie Byun
The White Umbrella: walking with survivors of sex trafficking - Mary Frances Bowley
Roadmap to Redemption, 10 week Workbook for survivors - Rebecca Bender
Collaborating against human trafficking - Kirsten Foot
The Essential Abolitionist: What you need to know about human trafficking and modern slavery - John Vanek
Undaunted: Daring to do what God calls you to do - Christine Caine
Unstoppable: Running the race you were born to win - Christine Caine
Unashamed: Drop the baggage, pick up your freedom, fulfill your destiny- Christine Caine
B. RECOMMENDED DOCUMENTARIES:
A path appears (Episode 1 features Boston, and MLMC)
Voices of human trafficking 2017 (short video produced by EGC Films)
C. INFORMATIONAL WEBSITES:
polarisproject.org (USA)
Enditmovement.org (USA)
mceht.org (MA state coalition)
slaveryfootprint.org (labor trafficking)
betterworldshopper.org (fair trade resources)
D. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS:
Love 146 Not a Number Prevention Curriculum
CAASE Chicago toolkits: The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) provides comprehensive toolkits for teachers, writers, churches, students, doctors, etc who want to spread the word about human trafficking in their spheres.
Learn2Impact social justice curriculum: Learn2Impact offers a free high school curriculum focused on social justice. The curriculum is planned out according to a semester long class schedule and includes units on human trafficking and fair labor.
IJM Social Justice Curriculum for High School Students. International Justice Mission has created a complete curriculum for high school students dealing with social justice--particularly modern day slavery. Includes lesson plans, handouts, and homework assignments.
Human Trafficking 101 for School Administrators and Staff Human Trafficking 101 Factsheets from the Blue Campaign with useful resources for trafficking awareness for schools.
Human Trafficking Toolkit for High School Students and Educators A collection of downloadable resources about human trafficking to be used in a high school setting.
IV. Resources For Churches:
International Justice Mission: ijm.org/churches
Let my People Go Network: www.lmpgnetwork.org
Greater Boston Prayer and Action Network: gbpan.wordpress.com
Safe Church training: diomass.org/inside/learning/safe_church
Safe Families Resources: http://www.safefamilies.org/
Domestic Violence survivor support: Hagar’s Sisters: hagarssisters.org
Domestic Violence Response Training: Safe Havens : interfaithpartners.org
Response to Child Abuse in a Christian Context: www.netgrace.org
Support for healing from sexual brokenness: Living Waters Ministry, Boston
Sexual addiction, Men’s accountability groups: nathanproject.net
Domestic Violence Abuser education, EMERGE: www.emergedv.com
Confronting the Exploiters - by One Life Matters: onelifematters.org
Fair Trade Products for Churches: Equal Exchange: shop.equalexchange.coop/organization-orders
Mentoring Toolkit - Elevate: taking your life to the next level By Rebecca Bender and Kathy Bryan
Hands that Heal training - faastinternational.org/hands-that-heal
OTHER BOOKS/RESOURCES FOR LEADERS WE RECOMMEND:
When Helping Hurts - Steve Corbett
Helping without Hurting - Steve Corbett
Generous Justice - by Tim Keller
Trauma and Recovery - Judith Hermon
The Wounded Heart - Dan Allender
Real Sex - Lauren Winner
Organizations Working Against Human Trafficking in the Boston Area
Resources to help leaders join the fight against Human Trafficking. (Includes: 1. Who is involved in the Abolitionist Network 2. Who else is fighting Human Trafficking locally 3. Learning about Human Trafficking (recommended books, movies, websites) 4. Resources for Churches and 5. Self Care Resources for Leaders.
I. Who is involved in the Abolitionist Network?
A. Churches in the Abolitionist Network:
City Church, Brighton MA (Has an Abnet cohort)
Church of the Cross, Brighton, MA (Seeking the welfare of the city)
Christian Fellowship of Boston, Brazilian Church in Somerville MA (live2Love movement)
Defenders Church, Dorchester Boston MA (rose of Sharon ministry)
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Norfolk, MA (Sanctity of Life ministry)
Reunion Church, Boston and Somerville, MA
United Church of Christ Norwell, Norwell, MA (South Shore coalition)
B. Churches involved in the movement against Trafficking:
CCFC, The Harbor, and The River (Unbound.org)
Bethel AME (Bethel Institute for Social Justice: Shatter the Silence network) Boston MA
C. Christian Ministries in the greater Boston area addressing human trafficking:
All Hands In - We are committed to making a difference in our community by providing educational awareness and events on the issue of human trafficking in addition to seeking opportunities to assist survivors of Human Trafficking.
Amelia’s Light - Prevention education, community awareness and vocational support for our sisters in Uganda
Amirah - Amirah (\a-meer-ah\) is a non-profit organization located in the Boston area dedicated to providing effective, whole person aftercare for survivors of commercial exploitation.
Art Speak (Highrock North shore)
Bags of Hope Ministries /Jasmine Grace, at EGC
Bethany Christian Services of Southern New England
BLOOM by Teen Challenge New England - short term residential housing for girls 12-18 in South-Eastern MA
Gathering For Hope, Lexington and North Shore (Grace Chapel)
Live2Love Worship ministry (Christian Fellowship of Boston Church)
Rose of Sharon Ministry (Defenders Church)
Route One Ministry, at EGC - The vision of Route One is to minister to women exploited by the sex industry
SOBO project (see the one be the one) in Quincy MA
Shatter the Silence and the Shatter Project
The Bakhita House - a safehouse for women over 18 coming out of sex trafficking or labor trafficking
The Nathan Project : support for men recovering from sex and porn addiction
The Well Coffee House, In South Station, Boston MA (The Well Church)
II. Who else is fighting Human Trafficking locally? (Abnet partners)
A. Coalitions/ Networks:
Connecting and Equipping MA to Prevent, Identify and End Human Trafficking!
DEMAND Abolition This site focuses on the demand side of human trafficking and how to stop this cycle. The site includes important and helpful information on why this approach could be the answer to this major problem
CEASE Network Boston A network working to lessen the harm inherent to the illegal sex industry by reducing the demand for paid sex. Through initiatives targeting sex buyers the CEASE Network will cut the illegal sex trade by 20%, in every city it operates in, within two years.
Not on Our Watch: Lower Roxbury Coalition, Dumas.LaFontant@wshc.org
MA Department of Public Health task force, led by Linda Brown. Quarterly gatherings, focusing especially on labor trafficking and public health
The High Risk Youth Network Monthly meetings and “speakers series” to connect agencies, NGOs and community leaders working with “high risk youth” in Boston.
B. Labor Trafficking / Immigration activists:
MA Interfaith Worker Justice We are a network of people of faith that calls upon our religious values in order to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community in the United States on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits and conditions for workers, and give voice to workers, especially low-wage workers.
MataHari: Eye of the Day This site will connect you with many different social issues that are faced on a daily basis such as “internalized and institutional racism, heterosexism, classism, xenophobia, partner and sexual violence and exploitation as it occurs within our communities of color, immigrant communities and within our social justice organizations”. They are seeking justice for the many people who are abused in our community today.
MIRA: The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. MIRA’s work encompasses policy and advocacy analysis, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, and communications.
Boston Faith and Justice Network We believe you need to “Live gratefully, change our community, and Advocate” for the cause. Resources available such as the “Lazarus at the Gate” curriculum, looking at financial Stewardship, justice and generosity.
C. Academia / Research:
Carr Center for Human Rights: programing on Human Trafficking through out the year
Intercollegiate convention against modern slavery : network of Boston area schools coming together to end modern slavery
Melissa Farley - Northeastern University
Donna Hughes - University of RI
D. Aftercare for Youth:
My Life My Choice - We empower youth to find their voice and create a positive life path: through Survivor mentoring, groups, advocacy, and community trainings.
The SEEN Coalition - wrap around model for case management for CSEC girls
BLOOM, by teen Challenge - short term residential housing for girls 12-18
E. System involved youth:
Roxbury Youthworks - BUILD program, for boys and trans youth survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Germaine Lawrence- Group home for high risk girls in Foster Care
F. Homeless youth:
Y2Y shelter in Harvard Square
G. Aftercare for Adults:
Housing and case management for survivors of human trafficking:
RIA house Case management and survivor support groups for women over 18 who are coming out of commercial sexual exploitation
The Eva Center Case management and housing for women over 18 who are coming out of commercial sexual exploitation. House has some capacity for women with children.
Amirah whole-person, wrap around care and housing for women over 18, domestic, coming out of sex trafficking/ commercial sexual exploitation
Procopio Consulting and Counseling : male survivors of commercial sexual exploitation
Bethany Christian Services of Southern New England - case management for labor and sex trafficking
MataHari:eye of the Day - case management for labor trafficking especially
H. Addiction recovery for adults:
I. Domestic Violence/ Rape crisis support:
J. Healthcare Resources:
Boston Medical Center Clinic for DV and human trafficking
HEAL trafficking- National network of resources and trainings for healthcare providers on human trafficking
Education For Health Care Services:
Human Trafficking: Guidebook on Identification, Assessment, and Response in the Health Care Setting
Article : responding to the needs of a human trafficking survivor
K. Law enforcement and Legal services:
Federal law enforcement task force including the FBI and DHS
Peter DiMarzio hosts Quarterly victims assistance network meetings for New England
Attorney General’s Office, Human Trafficking Prosecutors team
Family Justice Center - A location housing several non-profits and police units, under the same roof to foster collaboration
III. Learn more about human trafficking:
A. Recommended Books
Remember to order through Amazon Smile and support an organization fighting human trafficking.
The Just Church - Jim Martin
The Diary of Jasmine Grace - Jasmine Grace Marino
Girls Like Us - Rachel Lloyd
The Slave Next Door - Kevin Bales
Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecoside and the secret to saving the earth - Kevin Bales
Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery - Siddharth Kara
Not For Sale - David Batstone
A Crime So Monstrous - Ben Skinner
The Locust Effect - Gary Haugen
The Good News about Injustice - Gary Haugen
Half the Sky- Nicholas Kristof
Justice Awakening: How you and your church can help end human trafficking - Eddie Byun
The White Umbrella: walking with survivors of sex trafficking - Mary Frances Bowley
Roadmap to Redemption, 10 week Workbook for survivors - Rebecca Bender
Collaborating against human trafficking - Kirsten Foot
The Essential Abolitionist: What you need to know about human trafficking and modern slavery - John Vanek
Undaunted: Daring to do what God calls you to do - Christine Caine
Unstoppable: Running the race you were born to win - Christine Caine
Unashamed: Drop the baggage, pick up your freedom, fulfill your destiny- Christine Caine
B. Recommended Documentaries:
A path appears (Episode 1 features Boston, and MLMC)
Voices of human trafficking 2017 (short video produced by EGC Films)
C. Informational Websites:
polarisproject.org (USA)
Enditmovement.org (USA)
mceht.org (MA state coalition)
slaveryfootprint.org (labor trafficking)
betterworldshopper.org (fair trade resources)
D. Educational Resources For Schools:
Love 146 Not a Number Prevention Curriculum
CAASE Chicago toolkits: The Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE) provides comprehensive toolkits for teachers, writers, churches, students, doctors, etc who want to spread the word about human trafficking in their spheres.
Learn2Impact social justice curriculum: Learn2Impact offers a free high school curriculum focused on social justice. The curriculum is planned out according to a semester long class schedule and includes units on human trafficking and fair labor.
IJM Social Justice Curriculum for High School Students. International Justice Mission has created a complete curriculum for high school students dealing with social justice--particularly modern day slavery. Includes lesson plans, handouts, and homework assignments.
Human Trafficking 101 for School Administrators and Staff Human Trafficking 101 Factsheets from the Blue Campaign with useful resources for trafficking awareness for schools.
Human Trafficking Toolkit for High School Students and Educators A collection of downloadable resources about human trafficking to be used in a high school setting.
IV. Resources For Churches:
International Justice Mission: ijm.org/churches
Let my People Go Network: www.lmpgnetwork.org
Greater Boston Prayer and Action Network: gbpan.wordpress.com
Safe Church training: diomass.org/inside/learning/safe_church
Safe Families Resources: http://www.safefamilies.org/
Domestic Violence survivor support: Hagar’s Sisters: hagarssisters.org
Domestic Violence Response Training: Safe Havens : interfaithpartners.org
Response to Child Abuse in a Christian Context: www.netgrace.org
Support for healing from sexual brokenness: Living Waters Ministry, Boston
Sexual addiction, Men’s accountability groups: nathanproject.net
Domestic Violence Abuser education, EMERGE: www.emergedv.com
Confronting the Exploiters - by One Life Matters: onelifematters.org
Fair Trade Products for Churches: Equal Exchange: shop.equalexchange.coop/organization-orders
Mentoring Toolkit - Elevate: taking your life to the next level By Rebecca Bender and Kathy Bryan
Hands that Heal training - faastinternational.org/hands-that-heal
Other books/resources for leaders we recommend:
When Helping Hurts - Steve Corbett
Helping without Hurting - Steve Corbett
Generous Justice - by Tim Keller
Trauma and Recovery - Judith Hermon
The Wounded Heart - Dan Allender
Real Sex - Lauren Winner
V. Self Care Resources for Leaders:
A. Locations for retreat:
List from Harvard Div School: https://hds.harvard.edu/life-at-hds/religious-and-spiritual-life/retreats-and-quiet-places
St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer MA,
Agape Community, Ware MA
The Emery Guest House at SSJE, near Newburryport, MA
B. Books on burnout prevention and sabbath:
Silent Compassion: Finding God in Contemplation, by Richard Rohr
The Rest of God:Restoring your soul by restoring Sabbath, by Mark Buchanan
Sabbath: finding rest, renewal and delight in our busy lives, by Wayne Muller
Sabbath as resistance: saying no to a culture of now, by Walter Brueggemann
Community and Growth: Jean Vanier
Leading on Empty : Wayne Cordiero
Trauma Stewardship: Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky
EGC Financial Statements & Annual Reports
EGC takes very seriously our responsibility to be excellent stewards of the resources the Lord provides.The Emmanuel Gospel Center is audited annually by an independent accounting firm. Financial statements and annual reports for the last ten years are listed below.
EGC Financial Statements & Annual Reports
by Jeff Bass, Executive Director
The Emmanuel Gospel Center is audited annually by an independent accounting firm. Financial statements and annual reports for the last seventeen years are listed below. Our most recent financial statement is available here. Our most recent annual report is here.
We are grateful to the many individuals, couples, families, churches, foundations, and organizations that support the Center every year. On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, thank you for your partnership with us in ministry through your financial support and your prayers.
2023 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2022 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2021 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2020 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2019 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2018 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2017 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2016 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2015 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2014 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2013 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2012 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2011 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2010 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2009 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2008 Financial Statement & Annual Report
2007 Financial Statement & Annual Report
Who Is Involved in the Abolitionist Network?
I. Human Trafficking Resource List [Churches, Leaders, & Ministries involved in the Abolitionist Network]
I. Who is involved in the Abolitionist Network?
A. CHURCHES IN THE ABOLITIONIST NETWORK:
City Church, Brighton MA (Has an Abnet cohort)
Church of the Cross, Brighton, MA (Seeking the welfare of the city)
Christian Fellowship of Boston, Brazilian Church in Somerville MA (live2Love movement)
Defenders Church, Dorchester Boston MA (rose of Sharon ministry)
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Norfolk, MA (Sanctity of Life ministry)
Reunion Church, Boston and Somerville, MA
United Church of Christ Norwell, Norwell, MA (South Shore coalition)
B. CHURCHES INVOLVED IN THE MOVEMENT AGAINST TRAFFICKING:
CCFC, The Harbor, and The River (Unbound.org)
Bethel AME (Bethel Institute for Social Justice: Shatter the Silence network) Boston MA
C. CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES IN THE GREATER BOSTON AREA ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING:
All Hands In - We are committed to making a difference in our community by providing educational awareness and events on the issue of human trafficking in addition to seeking opportunities to assist survivors of Human Trafficking.
Amelia’s Light - Prevention education, community awareness and vocational support for our sisters in Uganda
Amirah - Amirah (\a-meer-ah\) is a non-profit organization located in the Boston area dedicated to providing effective, whole person aftercare for survivors of commercial exploitation.
Art Speak (Highrock North shore)
Bags of Hope Ministries /Jasmine Grace, at EGC
Bethany Christian Services of Southern New England
BLOOM by Teen Challenge New England - short term residential housing for girls 12-18 in South-Eastern MA
Gathering For Hope, Lexington and North Shore (Grace Chapel)
Live2Love Worship ministry (Christian Fellowship of Boston Church)
Rose of Sharon Ministry (Defenders Church)
Route One Ministry, at EGC - The vision of Route One is to minister to women exploited by the sex industry
SOBO project (see the one be the one) in Quincy MA
Shatter the Silence and the Shatter Project
The Bakhita House - a safehouse for women over 18 coming out of sex trafficking or labor trafficking
The Nathan Project : support for men recovering from sex and porn addiction
The Well Coffee House, In South Station, Boston MA (The Well Church)
Who else is fighting Human Trafficking locally?
State and Local Organizations, Ministries, and other Programs working with the Abolitionist Network in the fight against Human Trafficking.
Who else is fighting Human Trafficking locally? (Abnet partners)
A. COALITIONS/ NETWORKS:
Connecting and Equipping MA to Prevent, Identify and End Human Trafficking!
DEMAND Abolition This site focuses on the demand side of human trafficking and how to stop this cycle. The site includes important and helpful information on why this approach could be the answer to this major problem
CEASE Network Boston A network working to lessen the harm inherent to the illegal sex industry by reducing the demand for paid sex. Through initiatives targeting sex buyers the CEASE Network will cut the illegal sex trade by 20%, in every city it operates in, within two years.
Not on Our Watch: Lower Roxbury Coalition, Dumas.LaFontant@wshc.org
MA Department of Public Health task force, led by Linda Brown. Quarterly gatherings, focusing especially on labor trafficking and public health
The High Risk Youth Network Monthly meetings and “speakers series” to connect agencies, NGOs and community leaders working with “high risk youth” in Boston.
B. LABOR TRAFFICKING / IMMIGRATION ACTIVISTS:
MA Interfaith Worker Justice We are a network of people of faith that calls upon our religious values in order to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community in the United States on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits and conditions for workers, and give voice to workers, especially low-wage workers.
MataHari: Eye of the Day This site will connect you with many different social issues that are faced on a daily basis such as “internalized and institutional racism, heterosexism, classism, xenophobia, partner and sexual violence and exploitation as it occurs within our communities of color, immigrant communities and within our social justice organizations”. They are seeking justice for the many people who are abused in our community today.
MIRA: The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition. MIRA’s work encompasses policy and advocacy analysis, institutional organizing, training and leadership development, and communications.
Boston Faith and Justice Network We believe you need to “Live gratefully, change our community, and Advocate” for the cause. Resources available such as the “Lazarus at the Gate” curriculum, looking at financial Stewardship, justice and generosity.
C. ACADEMIA / RESEARCH:
Carr Center for Human Rights: programing on Human Trafficking through out the year
Intercollegiate convention against modern slavery : network of Boston area schools coming together to end modern slavery
Melissa Farley - Northeastern University
Donna Hughes - University of RI
D. AFTERCARE FOR YOUTH:
My Life My Choice - We empower youth to find their voice and create a positive life path: through Survivor mentoring, groups, advocacy, and community trainings.
The SEEN Coalition - wrap around model for case management for CSEC girls
BLOOM, by teen Challenge - short term residential housing for girls 12-18
E. SYSTEM INVOLVED YOUTH:
Roxbury Youthworks - BUILD program, for boys and trans youth survivors of Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Germaine Lawrence- Group home for high risk girls in Foster Care
F. HOMELESS YOUTH:
Y2Y shelter in Harvard Square
G. AFTERCARE FOR ADULTS:
Housing and case management for survivors of human trafficking:
RIA house Case management and survivor support groups for women over 18 who are coming out of commercial sexual exploitation
The Eva Center Case management and housing for women over 18 who are coming out of commercial sexual exploitation. House has some capacity for women with children.
Amirah whole-person, wrap around care and housing for women over 18, domestic, coming out of sex trafficking/ commercial sexual exploitation
Procopio Consulting and Counseling : male survivors of commercial sexual exploitation
Bethany Christian Services of Southern New England - case management for labor and sex trafficking
MataHari:eye of the Day - case management for labor trafficking especially
H. ADDICTION RECOVERY FOR ADULTS:
I. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/ RAPE CRISIS SUPPORT:
J. HEALTHCARE RESOURCES:
Boston Medical Center Clinic for DV and human trafficking
HEAL trafficking- National network of resources and trainings for healthcare providers on human trafficking
Education For Health Care Services:
Human Trafficking: Guidebook on Identification, Assessment, and Response in the Health Care Setting
Article : responding to the needs of a human trafficking survivor
K. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL SERVICES:
Federal law enforcement task force including the FBI and DHS
Peter DiMarzio hosts Quarterly victims assistance network meetings for New England
Attorney General’s Office, Human Trafficking Prosecutors team
Family Justice Center - A location housing several non-profits and police units, under the same roof to foster collaboration
The Chinese Church in Greater Boston
From just two Chinese churches in greater Boston 50 years ago, the number has grown to more than 25 congregations serving an expanding Chinese population. The growth of the Chinese church in and around the Boston area is something to celebrate. Its strength and integrity, and the quality of its network—unified for prayer, for youth and college ministry, and for international missions—stand as a model for other immigrant and indigenous church systems.
The Chinese Church in Greater Boston
by Dan Johnson, Ph.D., and Kaye Cook, Ph.D., with Rev. T. K. Chuang, Ph.D.
From just two Chinese churches in greater Boston 50 years ago, the number has grown to more than 25 congregations serving an expanding Chinese population. The growth of the Chinese church in and around the Boston area is something to celebrate. Its strength and integrity, and the quality of its network—unified for prayer, for youth and college ministry, and for international missions, among others—stand as a model for other immigrant churches and indeed for other indigenous churches as well.
Click to open interactive map
What does the Chinese church in Boston look like? What are the strengths and weaknesses as well as the clear opportunities and threats that face these churches at the start of the 21st century?
Students and immigration
In 2016, as many as 350,000 students and visiting scholars from China were actively working in the U.S., a population that dwarfed the number who came from Taiwan and Hong Kong. Over 30% of all international students studying in the U.S. are from China, according to the Institute of International Education (www.iie.org). Not surprisingly, thousands of these are regularly drawn toward Boston-area colleges and universities, as well as to the opportunities available to them in the region’s “knowledge economy.” The 2010 U.S. Census found that the Chinese population of the greater Boston area numbered nearly 123,000, some two and one-half times as many as were present just 20 years before.
Of these, it is estimated somewhere between 5% and 8% identify as Christian. Many of the Chinese newcomers to the area each year are already Christian when they arrive, in which case the Chinese church provides them a primary community to ease the transition to life in a new place. The others are generally quite open to the Christian message. Indeed, to this day Chinese students are routinely found to be the most receptive group to Christian outreach efforts on local campuses. As a consequence, this influx of new immigrants and students from China has brought significant numeric growth to the Chinese church over the last 25 years. Most notably, most of the established Mandarin-speaking congregations experienced 20-80% growth over the decade of the 1990s. Such growth has generally plateaued since then, but new church plants have continued apace.
Church planting
Chinese Church of Greater Boston
Since 1990, more than fifteen new Chinese churches have been planted, mostly Mandarin-speaking, and mostly serving small, geographically distinct communities and congregations. From a mere two Chinese churches in the entire region 50 years ago, today the Chinese church in the greater Boston area includes more than 25 separate congregations. The steady stream of newcomers from mainland China has also reshaped the character of the Chinese church in the region. The most obvious change is the shift from predominantly Cantonese-speaking congregations to predominantly Mandarin-speaking ones.
As noted, most Chinese church plants over the last 25 years have been established to serve newly settled Mandarin-speaking communities. In a few other instances, older churches that originally served Cantonese-speakers have seen their ministries to the Mandarin-speaking community expand dramatically while their Cantonese populations have dwindled or disappeared altogether. This transformation is more than just linguistic in nature. The Mandarin-speaking newcomers from mainland China are mostly first-generation Christians and new converts. Their formative experiences were generally in a more materialist, atheistic culture, and they often identify primarily with the values and orientations of the academic and professional cultures in which they are immersed. This general lack of church experience has made basic biblical education and discipleship a more pressing need in the congregations that serve them. The fact that very few are ready to step into leadership and ministry roles in the church also creates a gulf between the new generation of Chinese Christians and the established church leadership. By virtue of their formal theological training, deep spiritual commitments, and long habituation in the relatively more developed Christian communities of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States, church leaders in Boston’s Chinese communities often find it harder to connect with the felt needs and mentality of their newest congregants. The challenge is made even more difficult by the fact that many of Boston’s second-generation Chinese Christians, who might otherwise be there to welcome these newcomers into the Chinese church, have chosen instead to become members of American or Asian-American churches.
These social dynamics provide the backdrop for the analysis that follows of the current state of the Chinese Christian church in the greater Boston area. Beyond its identifiable strengths and weaknesses, and the clear opportunities and threats that it faces, is the simple realization that this is a seventy-year-old church undergoing a significant growth-induced transformation.
STRENGTHS
Interchurch collaboration
One of the greatest strengths of the Chinese church in the Boston area is that the various churches that comprise it mostly get along and have forged important collaborative relationships. The largely non-denominational character of the churches has minimized theological frictions between them, and the numerous personal ties between individuals across congregations—often forged in common spaces, such as the Boston Chinese Bible Study Group at MIT—help to smooth inter-congregational relationships more generally. The collaborative efforts that have resulted include regular prayer gatherings, shared missions programs, joint sponsorship of career missionaries, evangelistic meetings, and a gospel camp. Such programs are often initiated and organized by individual churches and then opened up to other area churches, as the Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston (Lexington) did for many years with its annual gospel camp. The fact that even the largest churches in the community (including the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church and CBCGB) have been willing to sponsor and participate in such joint efforts has gone a long way toward ensuring their success.
Cultural centers
The Chinese church also serves as a primary reference group for many newcomers to the area, as they have become some of the most active and well-organized social institutions within the Chinese community. Many new immigrants naturally turn to the church for help. The familiar language, cultural references, and social structures they encounter in the church are key factors in securing their sense of identity when all else around them is unsettled. The larger churches’ programs for children and youth also attract immigrant families.
An ethic of evangelism
Another strength of the Chinese church in the area is the ethic of active evangelism that has long been cultivated in its constituent congregations. For many years, this ethic has animated large-scale, seeker sensitive programs that have encouraged and enabled church members to put it into practice, aggressively evangelizing their kinspeople. Many of these programs—such as the CBCGB’s annual gospel camp—have since disappeared, and it remains an open question whether the evangelistic focus of the church can be sustained in their absence. Nonetheless, the inspiring heritage of evangelistic activity is itself a strength of the Chinese church in and around Boston.
A place for Mandarin-speaking immigrants
Lastly, the very fact that so many Chinese churches in the area were either founded to serve Mandarin speakers or have since developed vibrant ministries for the Mandarin community is a significant strength. Not every Chinese community around the world is so prepared to welcome and minister to the steady stream of Chinese immigrants from the mainland that inundates them today. The Boston area’s dense network of Mandarin-speaking churches marked by an intellectual richness and a strong professional class leaves it well positioned to meet the needs of the future church in Boston.
WEAKNESSES
Cultural Isolation
Historically, a lack of interaction with people who are not Chinese has probably been the most significant weakness in the Chinese church in and around Boston. The founding members of the most established churches have minimal contact, if any, with the non-Chinese community. Moreover, Chinese churches have rarely tried to hold joint events with other groups, with CBCGB being the one noteworthy exception. Such isolation from the surrounding society has been an obvious problem for the further development of the Chinese churches. This problem has abated somewhat, however, with the infusion of a larger professional class into the church over the last 25 years. This population generally has stronger ties to the secular professional networks in which they are immersed than to the ethnically-rooted churches they happen to attend.
Yet with this more worldly orientation comes the other problem of a widespread shallowness in the understanding of and commitment to the historic Christian faith. The church is in dire need of addressing this problem through basic Christian education and discipleship.
The generational divide
Another weakness besetting the established Chinese church is the deepening of the generational divides that separate older from younger Christians, first-generation immigrants from second-generation, and so on. While such divides have always been present, in recent years they have grown in ways that lead to the exodus from the Chinese church of those who were brought up in it. As noted, many of those who leave find their way to American churches that seem to address their needs more effectively. Many others, however, end up leaving the church altogether.
Small churches
Lastly, the problem of small congregational sizes hampered by resource constraints remains as prevalent today as ever. While the explosive growth of the last 25 years clearly benefited a handful of churches, the emergence of smaller congregations with an emphasis on ministry to their particular local communities has left many vulnerable. More than half of the Chinese congregations have less than 100 attendees, and these struggle financially with limited personnel. Many of them face such problems as a lack of volunteer workers, limited or no youth and children’s programs, and the difficulty of reaching a minimum threshold size to sustain growth. For some, it is challenging enough to remain viable. In this respect, a revival of the spirit of collaboration among the Chinese churches, with conscientious participation by the larger churches in the area, may be a key to the continued survival of these vital congregations.
OPPORTUNITY
Immigration continues
The steady and deepening stream of Chinese immigration from the mainland shows no signs of slowing in the coming years. The educational environment and the high-tech job market in the area will continue to attract many, providing an ongoing inflow of immigrants. Some of these newcomers are eager to attend a church, but many are not. Given the numbers, the proliferation of Chinese churches over the last few decades may continue, but careful observation and strategic planning will be needed to identify emerging pockets of Chinese newcomers who could be well served by a local Chinese church.
Changing cultures and thought systems
The arrival of more recent groups of graduate school students, scholars, and other professionals pose new challenges based on their distinctive generational experience and worldview. The factors that led many Chinese radicals of an earlier generation to explore and embrace Christianity—namely, the simple impulse to distance oneself from Maoism and communism, or the desire to secure an identity and existential anchor by identifying with “Western” institutions and thought systems, or even the hope of getting ahead in the modern world by adopting ways of thinking that are more prevalent outside China—have all been undermined in various ways.
The Chinese immigrants of today have grown up in a consumerist society that understands itself to have arrived, fully modern and ready to conquer the world. To the extent that such a mindset generates less of a felt need to turn to God, we might expect the boom in Chinese conversions to Christianity in the years following the Cultural Revolution and the massacre in Tienanmen Square will slow. Yet the Chinese church should seize it as an opportunity to develop new ways of sharing the Gospel so that it will be heard by those who have new ears.
Collaborative missions and outreach
Finally, the opportunity still remains for the Chinese church in greater Boston to develop a more aggressive, coordinated missions strategy that reaches beyond New England. These churches have a history of joining together for small-scale, collaborative missions programs, both short-term and long-term. Their initiatives include the now 20-year-old “Boston to Beijing” program for sending teams to teach English in mainland China, short-term missions/outreach groups working in England, and the joint sponsorship of career missionaries by multiple congregations. While all of this represents a good start, more can be done. Especially in light of the common passion of new converts to share their faith with others, a more deliberate mobilization of the Chinese churches to engage missions efforts in China and among the Chinese diaspora could help to draw those new converts more deeply into the activities of the church. Of course, when it comes to engaging in missions work or establishing relationships with churches in communist China, the larger the effort the more carefully its participants must tread. Even so, the opportunities for mutual support, growth, and understanding are too significant to pass up.
THREATS
Curiously, the most significant threats facing the Chinese church in the Boston area may be those imported from mainland China. The general lack of theological training within the Chinese house church movement and the prevalence of Buddhist, Taoist and folk religious traditions in most areas served by the house church make it a potential breeding ground for syncretistic beliefs and practices that can lead their followers away from the historic Christian faith. Insofar as many immigrant Christians from house churches on the Chinese mainland are incorporated into local congregations, the potential exists for such problematic religious understandings to gain a foothold here. While the generally high level of education in the Boston Chinese church of today perhaps mitigates this possibility, it is nonetheless a matter that warrants vigilance.
CONCLUSION
The growth of the Chinese church in and around the Boston area is something to celebrate. Its strength and integrity, and the quality of its network—unified for prayer, for youth and college ministry, and for international missions, among others—stand as a model for other immigrant churches and indeed for other indigenous churches as well. Although the Chinese church is relatively isolated from those around it, its impact is significant. Its unique history in a world educational hub and key center of the early evangelical missions movement has meant mature leadership in a world-wide Chinese church that is relatively young and whose leadership is often relatively untrained. Its extensive growth out of local campus Bible study groups gives it access to a more professional population that poses unique challenges but also unique opportunities. Add in the fact that it has unparalleled opportunities to reach with the necessary care and discretion into mainland China—one of the largest and most receptive populations for evangelical outreach today—and it is clear that the Chinese church in the greater Boston area is poised to play an outsized role in shaping the future of the church world-wide.
_________
by Dan Johnson, Ph.D., and Kaye Cook, Ph.D., both of Gordon College, with T. K. Chuang, Ph.D., former senior pastor, Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston. This chapter was originally written by T. K. Chuang and published as part of Emmanuel Gospel Center’s New England’s Book of Acts (2007). Extensively updated in 2016 by Dan Johnson and Kaye Cook in conversation with Rev. Dr. Chuang.
_________
More resources:
Map. For an interactive map of Chinese churches in Greater Boston, click here.
Church listing. For a listing of Chinese churches in Greater Boston, click here.
![Ethiopian Churches in Greater Boston [map]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ff1c7ae58c62d6f84ba841/1506113852983-TSLLC1FENTJJGZYIO7MM/orthodox+cross+church.jpeg)
Greater Boston Chinese Church Listing
A listing of Chinese churches in Greater Boston, derived from many online sources and from the ongoing research of EGC. This serves as a resource page to a 2016 article on the current status of Chinese churches in this region. There is also a link to a corresponding map.
About. This listing shows churches in Greater Boston that hold services in Mandarin or Cantonese, or otherwise strongly identify with the region's Chinese population. Last update: March 2017.
Map. For an interactive map of Chinese churches in Greater Boston, click here.
Study. Read a 2016 analysis of the current status of the Chinese church community in Greater Boston, posted here.
Church Directory. You may also be interested in our online Boston Church Directory, with listings for Christian churches in Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Updates. Help us keep these data current by letting us know about corrections and updates. Write Rudy Mitchell by clicking the Contact EGC button on this page, or call (617) 262-4567 during regular business hours.
| Church/Address | Pastor/Phone | Website/Languages Year Founded |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Chinese Church of Saving Grace 115 Broadway Boston, MA 02116-5415 |
Pastor Kai P. Chan (617) 451-1981 |
http://www.bccsg.org Mandarin, Cantonese, English 1985 |
| Boston Chinese Evangelical Church – Boston Campus 249 Harrison Ave. Boston, MA 02111-1852 |
Rev. Steven Chin (617) 426-5711 |
http://www.bcec.net/ Cantonese, English, Mandarin 1961 |
| Boston Chinese Evangelical Church – Newton Campus 218 Walnut Street Newtonville, MA 02460 |
(617) 243-0100 | Cantonese, Mandarin, English 2003 |
| Boston MetroWest Bible Church 511 Newtown Road Littleton, MA 01460 |
Acting Pastor Elder Mingche Li (978) 486-4598 |
http://www.bmwbc.org Mandarin, English 2010 |
| Boston Taiwanese Christian Church 210 Herrick Road Newton Centre, MA 02459 |
Rev. Michael Johnson (781) 710-8039 |
https://sites.google.com/site/bostontcc Taiwanese, English 1969 |
| Chinese Alliance Church of Boston 74 Pleasant Street Arlington, MA 02476 |
Dr. Peter K. Ho (781) 646-4071 |
Cantonese 1982 |
| Chinese Baptist Church of Greater Boston 38 Weston Avenue Quincy, MA 02170 |
Rev. XiangDong Deng (617) 479-3531 |
http://www.cbcogb.org/ Mandarin, Cantonese, English 1982 |
| Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston – Lexington Campus 149 Old Spring St. Lexington, MA 02421 |
Pastor Caleb K.D. Chang (781) 863-1755 |
https://www.cbcgb.org/ Mandarin, English 1969 |
| Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston – City Outreach Ministry 874 Beacon Street Boston, MA 02215 |
Rev. Dr. JuTa Pan (617) 299-1266 |
https://www.cbcgb.org/com Mandarin 2010 |
| Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston – Cross Bridge Congregation 149 Old Spring St. Lexington, MA 02421 |
Pastor David Eng (781) 863-1755 |
http://www.crossbridge.life/ English 2016 |
| Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston – Metro South 2 South Main Street Sharon, MA 02067 |
Rev. Dr. Wei Jiang (781) 519-9672 |
http://ccbms.org/ Mandarin, English 2011 |
| Chinese Bible Church of Greater Lowell 197 Littleton Rd #B Chelmsford, MA 01824 |
Pastor Peter Wu (978) 256-3889 |
http://cbcgl.org/ Mandarin, Cantonese, English 1989 |
| Chinese Christian Church of Grace 50 Eastern Ave. Malden, MA 02148 |
Rev. He Rongyao (781) 322-9977 |
http://maldenchurch.org Mandarin, Cantonese 1993 |
| Chinese Christian Church of New England 1835 Beacon St. Brookline, MA 02445-4206 |
(617) 232-8652 | http://www.cccne.org/ Mandarin, English 1946 |
| Chinese Gospel Church of Massachusetts 60 Turnpike Road Southborough, MA 01772 |
Pastor Sze Ho Lui (508) 229-2299 |
http://www.cgcm.org/ Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Taiwanese 1982 |
| Christian Gospel Church in Worcester 43 Belmont Street Worcester, MA 01605 |
Rev. Daniel Shih (508) 890-8880 |
http://www.worcestercgc.org Mandarin, English 1999 |
| City Life Church – Chinese Congregation 200 Stuart St. Boston, MA 02116 |
(617) 482-1800 | http://www.citylifecn.org/ Mandarin 2002 |
| Emeth Chapel 29 Montvale Ave. Woburn, MA 01801 |
Rev. Dr. Tsu-Kung Chuang (978) 256-0887 |
https://emethchapel.org Mandarin, English 2002 |
| Emmanuel Anglican Church (Chinese) 561 Main St. Melrose, MA 02176 |
(718) 606-0688 | http://www.emmanuelanglican.org/ Cantonese 2014 |
| Episcopal Chinese Boston Ministry 138 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02111-1318 |
Rev. Canon Connie Ng Lam (617) 482-5800 ext. 202 |
http://www.stpaulboston.org/ Mandarin 1981 |
| Good Neighbor Chinese Lutheran Church 308 West Squantum St. Quincy, MA 02171 |
Rev. Ryan Lun (617) 653-3693 |
https://gnclc.org Cantonese, Mandarin 2013 |
| Greater Boston Chinese Alliance Church 239 N. Beacon Street Brighton, MA 02135 |
Rev. Frank Chan (617) 254-4039 |
https://gbcac.net/ Cantonese, English 1986 |
| Greater Boston Christian Mandarin Church 65 Newbury Ave. North Quincy, MA 02171 |
Rev. Paul Lin (720) 840-0138 |
http://www.gbcmc.net/ Mandarin, English 2012 |
| Lincoln Park Baptist Church 1450 Washington Street West Newton, MA 02465 |
Rev. Jie Jiao (857) 231-6904 |
http://www.lpb-church.org/ 2007 (1865, English congregation) |
| Quincy Chinese Church of the Nazarene 37 East Elm Ave Quincy, MA 02170 |
Rev. Sze Ho (Christopher) Lui (617) 471-5899 |
2003 |
| River of Life Christian Church in Boston 45 Nagog Park Acton, MA 01720 |
Rev. Jeff Shu (978) 263-6377 |
http://www.rolccib.org 2006 |
| Saint James the Greater 125 Harrison Ave. Boston, MA 02111 |
Rev. Peter H. Shen (617) 542-8498 |
Cantonese, English, Mandarin 1967 |
| Taiwan Presbyterian Church of Greater Boston 14 Collins Road Waban, MA 02468 |
Rev. David Chin Fang Chen (617) 445-2116 |
http://www.tpcgb.org Taiwanese 1991 |
| Wollaston Lutheran Church - Chinese Congregation 550 Hancock Street Quincy, MA 02170 |
Rev. Richard Man Chan Law (617) 773-5482 |
http://www.wlchurch.org/cm/ Cantonese, English, Mandarin (translation) 1989 |
New England's Book of Acts
New England’s Book of Acts is a 2007 publication of the Emmanuel Gospel Center that captures the stories of how God has been growing his Church among many people groups and ethnic groups in New England.
WHAT IS IT?
New England’s Book of Acts is a publication of the Emmanuel Gospel Center (EGC) that captures the stories of how God has been growing his Church among many people groups and ethnic groups in New England.
WHERE IS IT?
An online version of the book is available here.
HOW AND WHY WAS IT WRITTEN?
Intercultural Leadership Consultation 2007
Between 2000 and 2007, EGC collaborated with various church groups and leaders to compile stories, articles, and resources that help tell the story of what God is doing in New England. Then on October 20, 2007, EGC convened the Intercultural Leadership Consultation, a one-day conference to share the stories captured in New England’s Book of Acts. Four hundred leaders from over 45 ethnic and people groups around New England gathered to learn and celebrate. These included Christian leaders who were Puerto Rican, Colombian, Haitian, Brazilian, Czech, Egyptian, Malawian, Ugandan, Ghanaian, Liberian, Indian, Bengali, Indonesian, Filipino, Cambodian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mashpee Wampanoag, and Massachusett Natick Indian. Each participant was given a copy of the book.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Updates. In the ten years since publication, there has been some limited updating and editing to the material, and yet, as time goes by, these organic church systems continue to grow and change, so there are many more stories to be told. As these stories are updated, they will be made available here.
We are currently working on these updates, which will be posted soon. When they are posted, we will add the links:
WHAT’S IN THE ORIGINAL BOOK?
Section One
Section One provides an overview of some of the ways God has worked among people who came to Boston and New England and offers a framework to guide our thinking. Research on past revivals and the current Quiet Revival help us gain perspective and look forward to what God will continue to do here. Hopefully, these articles will expand our vision of the Kingdom of God here in New England.
Some of the topics covered in Section One are:
Seeing the Church with Kingdom Eyes
What is the Quiet Revival?
History of Revivalism in New England
Five Stages of Sustained Revival
Additional helpful resources along this line are:
The Quiet Revival: New Immigrants and the Transformation of Christianity in Greater Boston (2014). Basing much of her research on New England’s Book of Acts, Marilynn Johnson, professor of history at Boston College, has written a 28-page paper on the Quiet Revival which was published in Religion and American Culture, Summer 2014, Vol. 24, No. 2. To read it online, click here.
Section Two
Section Two gives examples of how God is at work among the churches of New England. Many of these 24 reports were written by leaders from within the various groups. Others were produced by the Applied Research staff at EGC. This section also includes reports on multicultural churches, international student ministry, and more. Of course not every church or ministry group has been mentioned in this publication. However, there is enough information for users to connect with many various streams, and inspiration to develop stories on those that are not mentioned here. We would love to hear from you if you pursue research on another group among New England’s church streams.
Section Three
Section Three offers a rich selection of articles on topics like leadership development, evangelism, church planting, youth and second generation ministry, diaspora ministry, and social ministries. Some of these selections describe models of ministry in these areas, while others give nuggets of wisdom from experienced leaders. We hope those who also face similar challenges in developing leadership, reaching youth, and meeting other needs, can use these ideas and models.
TAKE ACTION
Questions? If you have questions about New England’s Book of Acts, don’t hesitate to be in touch. Or if you would like to help us continue telling the story of God’s work through the various people streams in New England, we would love to hear from you.
![Christian Leadership Web Sites [Resource List]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ff1c7ae58c62d6f84ba841/1505489399837-OVLHG7QQ7TJ6K8RIJBG7/pexels-photo-209151-website.jpeg)
Christian Leadership Web Sites [Resource List]
Web Resources For Christian Leadership
Christian Leadership Web Sites [Resource List]
by Rudy Mitchell
Offers new resources for pastors and church leaders, and contains the 145 issue archive of Christianity Today's Leadership Journal.
Seeks to foster innovation movements that activate THE CHURCH to greater impact for the Glory of God’s name. What began in 1984 with 20 leaders now serves over 200,000 leaders all over the world.
Many resource guides and book reviews on Christian leadership, especially relating to the church.
The Christian Leadership website of Claybury International offers articles on Christian leadership. In addition, their free Christian Leadership Academy online courses examine what it means to be a Christian Leader modeled on the character and teaching of Jesus. This international ministry is based in England.
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Banks, Robert J., Bernice M. Ledbetter, and David C. Greenhalgh. Reviewing Leadership: A Christian Evaluation of Current Approaches. 2nd edition. Engaging Culture Series. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books Academic, 2016.
Branson, Mark Lau, and Juan F. Martinez. Churches, Cultures and Leadership: A Practical Theology of Congregations and Ethnicities. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2011.
Carson, Donald A. The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 1993. (paperback edition 2004).
Howell, Don N., Jr. Servants of the Servant: A Biblical Theology of Leadership. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2003.
Stott, John. Basic Christian Leadership: Biblical Models of Church, Gospel and Ministry. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 2002.
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What is the Quiet Revival? Fifty years ago, a church planting movement quietly took root in Boston. Since then, the number of churches within the city limits of Boston has nearly doubled. How did this happen? Is it really a revival? Why is it called "quiet?" EGC's senior writer, Steve Daman, gives us an overview of the Quiet Revival, suggests a definition, and points to areas for further study.