Our Plans vs. God’s Plans
This past June, our Grace Hill team began planning for public worship services. In East Boston, buildings with enough public space to host a service are few and far between.
One prospect was the school where Mary teaches and I volunteer. We’ve established good, deep relationships there. I asked the administration if this was a possibility and was given the green light. We started working through Boston Public Schools’ red tape to prepare for preview services this fall. We hosted an August park evangelism day and canvassed our neighborhood, distributing over 400 flyers with a link to information saying our first service would be at the school in September. Nine days before the service, our final approval was denied, with no reason given. Puzzled and confused, we sought out answers. Maybe it was a simple problem like a one-time scheduling conflict, an issue with our requested timeframe, or custodial complications. Whatever the problem, we wanted to solve it. Soon enough, we got our answer: they just didn’t want a church meeting there. Rejection hurts. Especially from those with whom you’ve established real relationships.
We were just a little over a week out, and I felt completely dejected. What were we going to do? How would I explain this to everyone? Where were we going to meet? In that moment, God reminded me of something. The reason why we were rejected is the very reason we are here in the first place. We came to Boston to make disciples despite knowing how hard the soil is. This is par for the course. This was Friday.
Monday morning I started pounding the pavement, scouring our neighborhood for whatever might work. My initial criteria had been thrown out the window; I was willing to try anything. A friend told me there was a local yacht club with a banquet hall they used to rent for their staff Christmas parties, but it became too expensive. Well, I reached out to them anyway. Two days later, I got a phone call back from a woman named Mia. I shared with her that we’re a church looking for a place to hold our services, initially for some preview services, but on a weekly basis after that. I asked if they’d be open to renting to us for that continual timeframe. Her response: “I love this idea. I really want this to work. I have to talk to my board, but I think this could be a really positive thing.” Two thoughts rushed into my mind: One, Praise God! Two, I don’t even know what the space looks like, or what it costs.
I asked Mia if I could come and take a look at the space. She said she was currently there and asked if I was local. I said, “Yes, I live in Orient Heights.” She said, “I do, too.” I said, “I live on Leyden Street.” She said, “I do, too!” I said, “I live at 30 Leyden.” She said, “I live at 108.” Unbelievable. I told her I’d be over in a few minutes to see the space.
I got off the phone and updated Mary, and it suddenly dawned on us why 108 sounded familiar. On our park evangelism day, we sent out teams to canvas blocks around our neighborhood. The Leyden street group met a woman named Cynthia at 108. They shared about Grace Hill and she said she was looking for a church!
The yacht club where Grace Hill will meet for worship.
When I got to the yacht club, I shook Mia’s hand and said, “I have a weird question for you. Is your mom’s name Cynthia?” She said, “Yes!” I told her that we’d already invited her mom to our worship services! She couldn’t believe it. Her father also serves on the yacht club board and would be in on final decisions. As I toured the space, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. This could work for us in so many ways. I still had two lingering questions: Could we rent weekly, and what would it cost? Mia told me she’d talk to the board. She called me within the week with the news that they’re comfortable renting to us for our preview services and are willing to sign a 3-month contract when we want to start weekly. They’re also charging us about half of their normal fee!
It’s our nature to always want to know why things happen, though it can be hard to discern. Here, it’s clear that God had planned something even better for us.
We’re praising God for our very first public preview service, which was held on October 19. One of the neighbors of a Grace Hill member, who had not been in a worship service for decades, commented: “It was beautful. I learned some things I had never heard before about Jesus. I’m going to try and move my schedule around so I can be at the next one. I have a co-worker who I think would appreciate this. I’m going to invite him.”
That is why we are here!
Our second preview service is on November 9.
I had a chance to share the gospel with Mia as we signed paperwork and ate a burger in the yacht club restaurant. She and her mom are planning to attend our next service, too. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Kristian & Mary Anderson are planting Grace Hill Community Church in Boston, MA.