Boston Partnership Newsletter

March 2008

In Today's Issue

:: Unexpected Move

:: February Baptisms

:: Pray It Up

Dear Friends,

Hello from Boston.  It's the first of March, which means spring is on the way.  We are ready for some warm weather, but knowing New England, we are trying not to get our hopes up. 

There have been some exciting things happening here in the city over the past month.  Everything from last minute changes to our Sunday meeting space to people joining Community Groups.  We had 15 people audition for the worship bands, and more artists have prepared art for our art gallery (which is in the lobby of the hotel each Sunday morning).  This week our collegiate ministry partner, Sojourn, is leading a trip to Phoenix, LA, to help with hurricane relief projects (17 students and sponsors are committed to the trip).  Four people made the decision to be baptized - God is so good! (Please read through parts of their testimonies below). And over the past month we have continued to break our highest attendance mark.

We are pumped about where we are as a church.  God has blessed us with great people who have stepped up in various levels of leadership.  God has also blessed us with great people who continue to encourage us and cheer for us through our journey at REUNION.  God is truly doing something great here, and we are so thankful you have helped us get to where we are today. 

Thanks so much for your continued prayer and financial support.

God Bless,

Hank, Mike, Karen, Phil and John

Unexpected Move

This Sunday we are changing locations for one Sunday only.  The Hilton contacted us on Thursday, February 28, to say that on Sunday, March 9, we would not be able to use the hotel because of major renovations that will be happening that Sunday.  They said that jackhammers in the lobby would probably be disruptive to our gathering.  We agreed that jackhammers would be a little disruptive, and immediately went into trying to find a plan B. By Friday afternoon we talked with the Westin Hotel and decided to use it as our backup plan.  

So last Sunday morning we announced REUNION would be moving to the Westin for one week only.  We announced it three or four times in each gathering in hopes that people would remember the change.  We were feeling good about our communication only to remember in our staff meeting this past Tuesday that we forgot to announce that this Sunday is also Daylight Savings.  

We tell you this just to give you a little insight into what our past two weeks have been like.  It has definitely added a little excitement to our job.  No wonder they say that flexiblility has to be a quality of a church planter.

February Baptisms

Molly

As I have become an adult, in my mind and heart, I have challenged everything I have ever been taught about God and Christianity. But my challenges have been met with God's truth -that there is a God, and he has a plan, and that plan is for good. I have seen it demonstrated in my life time and time again, times when I had little or no faith, there was a plan at work.  Times when I suffered without understanding, only to see that God had a better plan in store.

I choose to be baptized as an adult to make a willful commitment to live the rest of my life in the love that is God.

Andrew

Now that I'm in college and have to start making the choices that determine where I want to go in life and how I want to get there, I feel there is no better time for me to start this new beginning with Christ.  Maybe God has caused me to delay baptism for so long because of this choice I don't know, but I believe that this is a new chapter in my life and I want to start it renewed and dedicated to Christ. 

Jon

I am getting baptized today because God has led me here. He has spoken to me through the lives of others. In the people I meet and in their commitment and faith, I find God. He has shown me that I am not the only one uncertain and afraid.

I am here because God has shown me each of your faiths, because He has answered my prayers for courage, and because He has taken away my fear and I am no longer afraid.

Danielle

I look forward to this being a symbolic act signifying my commitment to God. I want to live the rest of my life trying to exemplify loving the way that Jesus taught us to love. I want to be a vehicle of social rights, revolutionary compassion, and of justice and I know that those things are completely impossible without God. Like us all, I was created by Him to die to my selfish ways each day and bring heaven to earth. I joyfully accept this challenge with a humble heart and the knowledge that Jesus is my savior.

• Pray for those who were recently baptized that God would lead them to further next steps in following Christ.
• Pray for REUNION this Sunday, March 9, as we strive to make this one week change to the Westin.
• Pray for an openness to the Gospel in the city of Boston.

Contact Info:

617.859.0595                               
reunionboston.com