In 2004 and 2005 there was a growing sense that God was about to move powerfully in the New England region. Covenant for New England was formed to promote the functional unity, spiritual vitality, and corporate mindset that would facilitate God's movement. In 2006, Roberto Miranda, Jeff Marks, and others involved in Covenant met with British prayer leader Brian Mills to discuss how to broaden the Covenant network to include all of New England. In early 2007, the New England Alliance was formed consisting of representatives from all 6 New England states. This group began meeting monthly in various places around the region. Like Covenant, participants in the Alliance had a common desire for and expectation of a new great awakening in New England. Another common value was the conviction that this would not come without prayer and unity among believers. One unique aspect of Alliance leadership gatherings was that they always began with an hour or two of prayer before any other business was brought up for discussion.
During this first year, the steering team sensed a call to host a Solemn Assembly. The Assembly was planned for the fall of 2008. This Assembly was important as a way to bring together the body of Christ around the region, but there was also a sense in advance that we were preparing in advance to intercede for some kind of disaster.
Monthly meetings continued in 2008 and were augmented by a 3 day/6 state prayer journey in June of 2008. The Solemn Assembly was planned for October 4, 2008 coinciding with 10 days of prayer and fasting from Sept 29th -October 9th (Rosh HaShannah to Yom Kippur). By September, the crisis that some were sensing was imminent had arrived. On Sept 29th, the first day of the fall 10days, the stock market fell 777 points. The gathering on October 4th was marked by passionate prayer and worship from a diverse group of about 500 people in the midst of the 2008 financial meltdown.
After the Assembly, monthly worship and prayer meetings began taking place in Boston until March of 2009. The strain of travel around the region began to be felt, and leadership meetings began to happen quarterly rather than monthly. In 2009, the Alliance hosted another Fall Solemn Assembly with 10 days of fasting and prayer. The theme of this assembly was 2 Chronicles 20--triumphing in the face of overwhelming adversity through worship.
In 2010, the Alliance partnered with Vision New England and state pastor’s networks to launch the “60.12” initiative. ‘60’ stands for 60 leaders; ‘12’ is the number of months—a year of monthly meetings in 12 different locations around New England. This series of gatherings started April 27, 2010. There was a sense of confirmation from the Lord when exactly 60 people registered for the first gathering.
In 2010, the Alliance helped host another fall Solemn Assembly/Fall 10 Days of fasting and prayer in partnership with believers and Christian groups across the 6 state region. This gathering in Plymouth, MA had a focus on rediscovering and reclaiming the Godly heritage of our nation. Around 1,500 people made the pilgrimage to Plymouth for the day of fasting and prayer.
The New England Alliance is not really an organization. There is no incorporation, no budget, and all who serve are volunteers. It’s a network of relationships and friendships throughout New England of like-minded believers who desire to see the Church throughout the region strong, generous, united, prayerful, and awakened to the reality of Jesus Christ and his mission in the earth.