Gospel Partnership

Have you ever thought about planting a church? About ten years ago, God spoke to me in a pastors’ meeting where I heard that the best way to see new people come to Christ was through church planting efforts. I didn’t know when, I didn’t know where, but at that point my wife and I opened ourselves up to the possibility that we might one day plant a church. Over the years I saw friends of mine begin their own church planting endeavors, and I discovered that there were certain commonalities among successful church plants: 1) It was important to have the support of a denomination who assessed the church planter, and 2) it was crucial to have churches that were behind this effort to not only financially resource the plant, but also spiritually care for the planter, his wife, and the team doing the work. Without these two keys, the work was incredibly difficult and often didn’t succeed.

I continued to pray about when and if God would call Mary and me to plant a church, but I knew that I wanted to see those key components fall into place in order for me to agree to it and feel confident that we were prepared to do the hard work God was calling us to.

In 2020 I received a call from three New England churches that felt led to plant a church to extend their missional work beyond their local churches and into the broader New England area, specifically Boston. As I considered this possibility, I was asked many times, “Why Boston?”

There are two answers to this question.

As we talked through the call process it became clear that Mary and I, as well as the sending churches, didn’t want them to feel like they were sending a mercenary. Could they instead commission a friend into this mission field? So that this could happen, we came to New England early to build a bond with these churches. We shared our joint vision, preached the Word, and encouraged members of those churches to partner with us by supporting through prayer, through finances, and even by physically moving to Boston with us to join this mission.

We initially moved to Connecticut to build these bonds. It was incredible to see how the relationships that were formed helped to solidify our call to go and plant this new mission post in Boston. We sat down with Patricia and heard how she found Praise Christian Fellowship at a critical point in her life, and how she desires to see others come to Jesus. We talked to Earl and Judy from Faith about their long-term commitment to the gospel and seeing its work going beyond Cranston. We built relationships with two young men from East Hartland and watched them gain a passion for Boston and pray through joining this mission in person. These relationships continued to spur on this movement of a church being planted in Boston.

These three sending churches have committed to prayerful and financial support for us, but they also make up Grace Hill’s leadership until we can build our own. We have the three current pastors of these churches, one former pastor, and two other lay leaders who make up our Initial Leadership Team. This team not only gives oversight to Grace Hill, but also offers wisdom and spiritual care, which are integral to our success.

Mary and I arrived in East Boston, Massachusetts in August 2022. The day we arrived, we met three of our neighbors: Yesica, who moved to the neighborhood a year before and is living with her partner, just making it day by day; Donald, who has lived across the street for 30 years, who works as a cab driver and usher at TD Garden; and Norma, who goes by Suelly, who is half Brazilian, half Italian, and has grown up in this neighborhood.

It is important to note something: The United States is currently the fourth largest mission field in the world. There are more Lutherans in Ethiopia than there are in the US. It has been estimated that only 3% of the people in Boston have heard an authentic representation of the gospel. George Barna’s Christian research group has pinpointed Boston as the largest, most unreached city in the US. We are missionaries here. None of our neighbors know the gospel, and most we meet have never heard it. This may be surprising to hear if you have grown up in the Church, but our culture has shifted. Boston is the sixth most diverse city in the US; if we want to fulfill the Great Commission and reach the nations—they are right here.

I’ve recently begun a discipleship relationship with a man named Felipe. Born in El Salvador, he’s lived in Queens, New York for the last 20 years, working mainly for Apple. He recently relocated to Boston to be closer to his fiancée Amy, whom he will marry next year. I text him Bible verses to read. I ask him questions about how God fits into his life. We have begun to pray together. Mary has been meeting with Pavlina, who is from Bulgaria, has lived in Boston for many years, and owns her own business. She loves fitness and is interested in spirituality and meditation. These are the people we are meeting. Pray for us as we connect with those in our missional circles where we work, we live, and we play.

I am so thankful for gospel partnership in the midst of this unknown work. These verses have been a prayer focus for me as we begin this work, and I pray they encourage all of us in the same work. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” Let this reign over us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Rev. Kristian Anderson and his wife Mary have been called to plant Grace Hill Community Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

Kristian and Mary Anderson have been called by Cultivate New England to plant Grace Hill Community Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Cultivate New England is the partnership of three CLB congregations: Praise Christian Fellowship, Barkhamsted, CT; Bethany LBC, East Hartland, CT; and Faith Chapel, Cranston, RI.

East Boston was historically created by adding landfill between islands. Grace Hill Community Church now takes its place amongst Shay’s Hill, Smith Hill, Camp Hill, and Eagle Hill, with a desire to impact East Boston with the grace of God and the good news of Jesus Christ. Please pray for Kristian and Mary as they serve the CLB in this effort.