Walking and talking in Charlestown
The Boston group spent the first sunny day of the week walking around some key neighborhoods of the city where Southern Baptists plan to plant churches in coming months. Their assignment: Pray, take notes on the area, and share the Gospel as they talk to residents about what they need from the church.
The Media Team – Jason Hall, Justin White and Courtney Navey – were following part of the group through Charlestown, shooting video, taking pictures and the like, when they happened upon Ma. The self-proclaimed “informal mayor of Bunker Hill” is a middle-aged African-American lady with black hair that is tipped flame red. She is outspoken, friendly – and nosy, she says.
“What happened?” she screams as she comes up to videographer Justin. That’s now the conversation starts, because Ma thinks Justin is with the local TV news station and some kind of mischief has brought him to her neighborhood. When told of the team’s mission, she is relieved, but not at a loss for words. Team members talked to Ma for the better part of the next 30 minutes, hearing all about her neighborhood and her life. Courtney and his wife Laura talk to Ma most of that time, building a relationship and planting seeds that will hopefully grow as church planters move into town and engage local residents.
Jason and Justin also spent time with Sean, a longtime local resident who’s enjoying the beautiful weather with his almost-three-year-old son, Aidan. Sean grew up in an evangelical church but now attends a local Episcopal congregation that he says is “lifeless.”
“You are doing good work here,” Sean says when hearing about the group, their purpose, and the chance of a new evangelical church coming to town. “There is a huge need in this area.” Sean may be interested in hearing about the church when it gets organized – pray that his interest would continue, and pray for church planting efforts among the people of Charlestown and elsewhere in greater Boston.
Tomorrow the team will be spending the day with Southeastern grad Jan Vezikov, pastor of Grace Church of Boston. Please pray for their work and their return home on Saturday.
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