What does church mean to you? When you hear the world “church” what do you think of? Does it evoke good memories or painful ones? People or places?

Join in the conversation!

One of the things we’re hoping to do is to create a church where people don’t associate church with a building, but about people and a relationship.  Where discipleship is about a wholistic approach to faith and life rather than adherence to an intellectual set of beliefs or going to the event on Sunday morning.  Where we aim to bring the kingdom of God by making life better for every single person, regardless of whether or not people engage with us spiritually.  Where we want to love the city the way God does.

I hope now that school is officially over and community life has more or less settled in, we can start really focusing on getting involved in the city – getting to know what resources are available for people on the margins and making relationships, getting involved in activities that spark each of our interests, and getting a better handle on the pulse of the city.  I imagine that each of us will connect in very different areas – and how neat it will be to bring these different parts of Haverhill into relationship with one another!

The most exciting part for me is forming relationships with people out in the community.  Once I kick this cold I’ve been fighting for the past few weeks or so, I want to get out there and really experience the city!  I can’t wait to see what things God is already doing in the city.  I can’t wait to pray through neighborhoods, see what there is to be seen, and get a better picture of what life in the city is like for most people.  I can’t wait to relate the Gospel to their lives – to tell people that the way of Jesus Christ is full of hope and transformation and new life.

I think there are many unique ways that we can interface with the city – or (using more traditional language) be in ministry to the city.  A few things we have planning are a welcoming ministry – new residents to Haverhill often have a difficult time getting involved and connecting with the city.  Secondly, we’re thinking about an artists ministry; there is no meaningful artist community in the city – lots of things happening everywhere, but no real catalyst jumpstarting things.  There are a few places: like Wingate Street Art District or some of the live music happening throughout the city on Bradford Common or on Wingate.   Thirdly – something that I’ve been thinking about lately – is maybe connecting with the green movement in Haverhill.  Greening the city is something that has a lot of potential in Haverhill, and there are a lot of people who are interested in partnering to make it happen – from green homes to single stream recycling to a revamped farmers market to community gardens throughout the city.  How awesome would it be to have a church interested in helping these efforts?

Anyhow, these are a few of my thoughts about our future as a church in Haverhill.  Things are looking up!