UNITY is stirring in Cambridge!

Kelly Steinhaus
 "One Kingdom Warrior"
Desires to inspire unity
among Christians
throughout greater Boston

On New Year's Day at the historic First Baptist Church in Central Square, the Cambridge Unity Sunday Morning Service marked the first time in the city's history that fifteen different congregations representing various Christian denominations assembled for a single Sunday morning worship service. (See participating ministries at end of article.)

The presence of God that filled the room was one of the closest things to revival that I have experienced. Before 11:00am, people of all denominations and cultures streamed in the doors to worship Jesus, until the church was overflowing.

Bishop Brian C. Greene
Senior Pastor, Pentecostal Tabernacle
Cambridge MA

Bishop Brian Greene of Pentecostal Tabernacle played an instrumental role in organizing this gathering. He believes that “Revival cannot come, unless the church is one.” I echo his belief, and the presence of God that filled the room was one of the closest things to revival that I have experienced. At 11:00am, people of all denominations and cultures kept streaming in to worship Jesus, until there was no more seats, and then barely any standing room. I was ushering at the service, but we all agreed that this was a good problem to have. We even had to bring in TV monitors so people could watch the service in the lobby.Pentecostal Tabernacle’s choir led us in worship as they sang chords which rang with heaven’s sounds.

Denominations, cultures, church identity fell to the wayside as we worshipped our one true God, Jesus Christ, together with one voice. It made me think of Revelation 7:9, where it describes heaven as “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” Words honestly cannot describe this gathering, so I recorded video so everyone could see and experience it.

My friend Megan explained that, in ethnic congregations, there is a particular emphasis on the pastor’s first sermon in the new year. Congregation members wait in anticipation to hear what will be 'The Word of the Lord' for that coming year. Personally I was inspired by Pastor Larry Ward's message [senior pastor, Abundant Life Church]. He spoke on seeking the peace of our city – with prayer, equipping, assisting the poor, caring for the sick, and educating the next generation. Even more than that, I sensed how powerful it was for the churches in our region to have a collective vision to bring us into the new year.

Yes, God says that He commands a special blessing in unity (Psalm 133) – and every single person I talked to after the service said something to the effect of, 'That was really cool.' My friend and fellow ministry worker Ralph Kee said, 'I could hardly contain my emotions,' explaining that 'the many components of today’s service fulfilled my forty years of hopes for Cambridge (and all of Greater Boston)' Rev. Kee believes this service was a sign that 2012 will be the most productive year in our lifetimes for the gospel in our city.

Above all else, I came away with the sense that, 'This is the way it’s supposed to be.'

As the Church, each part of the body has a unique function, but we also must have opportunities to come together and remember that we are part of something larger. I see this type of regional worship gatherings becoming more and more common in the coming seasons and years. Jesus’ dying prayer is that the church would be one, 'in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.' (John 17:23, AMP) Gatherings like this – shared experiences that we have together as the body – break down the denominational and cultural walls and allow us to be the Church that God designed us to be."

By Kelly Steinhaus, Unite Boston

Read more from Kelly on her blog:  http://onekingdomwarrior.com/2012/01/10/unity-is-stirring/

Participating Congregations:
A Place to Heal Ministries
Abundant Life Church
Bethel Assemblies of God
Calvary Praise & Worship Center
Cambridge Community Fellowship Church
Cambridge Church of the Nazarene
Cambridgeport Baptist Church
Christian Mission Holiness Church
First Baptist Church
First Holiness Church
Pentecostal Tabernacle
Journey Church
RUSH AME Zion Church
Spirit of Power Living Word Ministries International
Union Baptist Church