Exploring Church Spaces: Pros and Cons of Renting Versus Owning

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Exploring Church Spaces: Pros and Cons of Renting Versus Owning

How do I know when to rent or buy space for my church?

by Hanno van der Bijl, Managing Editor, Applied Research

A pastor finds a man outside the church building crying out to God. The pastor knows the building rises as a beacon of hope for this man struggling with substance use. But the church’s leadership struggles with the six-figure cost of maintaining that beacon.

It’s a fraught question many pastors and church leaders face as they discern the physical footprint of the church gathered: do they rent or do they buy?   

Boston’s congregations are almost evenly split between property owners and renters, according to EGC’s survey of property records. Just like individuals and families discern whether to pay a landlord or a mortgage, churches have to weigh the risks of renting or buying when looking for space. 

But how do you know when it is time to do one or the other? While the decision often simply comes down to financial feasibility and long-term goals, there are other factors to consider. We interviewed over a dozen church leaders with experience and expertise in the Boston area to help churches navigate the real estate scene.      

Renting

Many church leaders we surveyed are big fans of the flexibility renting has to offer. 

Renters can pay for a worship space only for the hours they need them. They can also buy or rent smaller spaces for other times as necessary. 

Renters have the benefit of lower initial costs and less financial burden. They don’t need a major initial capital investment, and they’re not responsible for major repairs and maintenance thereby avoiding costly risks associated with owning property. 

When it comes to renting from schools or other churches, the space is often already configured as auditorium and classrooms, so there’s no need to remodel. The landlord may also allow the renter to use items such as sound equipment or kitchen supplies without the expense of purchasing them.

A pastor near the city center said renting is a clear advantage if a church can secure a long-term lease. But that’s a big ‘if’ as schools and other institutions might only offer annual lease agreements.

Then there’s the flexibility to relocate. Churches who rent are nimble enough to meet elsewhere if circumstances dictate a move. If they outgrow their space, they can easily move to another larger location. In our 2025 Church Landscape Review of new church plants over a 10-year period, we found that only three of 21 congregations still rented space in the same building. While some congregations chose to move, some were forced out for various reasons, including COVID impacts.      

Renting also allows some churches to meet in prime urban areas where buying is not an option. They can rent different spaces for special events or activities without the need to make a long-term commitment. And with less time and resources spent on property administration and management, they are freed up to focus on other aspects of ministry, service and outreach.

But for every advantage, there is a flip side. 

“My idea of keeping the rental is to tell the church that we have to constantly assess ourselves. And also people will constantly assess you, whether you are a benefit to the community. That keeps us humble. Otherwise, we have a job that is not evaluated.”

What renters gain in flexibility, they give up in stability. They could be at the mercy of the personality of their landlords.

They have limited control over the use of the property: they can’t make significant changes to the space and can’t just schedule any activity wherever or whenever they like. 

For those who are not renting exclusive space, they have to move equipment around as well as set up and break down furniture for gatherings. It can get old lugging around that heavy loudspeaker every week. 

It is harder for those with a long-term lease to move to a new location if necessary. If their space becomes too small for them, they run the risk of losing families with young children who need space to run around.

And then there’s the disruption when the rent goes up, or worse, the lease is not renewed. Or even worse, when they are served an eviction notice. Rising rents in the city center have forced some churches to head for the suburbs. 

While they can easily relocate, churches that rent space don’t build equity in property or have a permanent presence in their communities. This instability can make it hard to plan for the long-term. 

Congregations who rent could be perceived by the community as not invested in the neighborhood for the long-term. But some church leaders take this as a good challenge. It motivates them to press into serving the community, earning their respect and support by showing them they add value to the neighborhood beyond extra traffic and business for local restaurants. 

“My idea of keeping the rental is to tell the church that we have to constantly assess ourselves,” said a pastor serving near the city center. “And also people will constantly assess you, whether you are a benefit to the community. That keeps us humble. Otherwise, we have a job that is not evaluated.” 

Buying

Churches with property enjoy the stability and control that comes with owning real estate. While other churches may be forced out of a neighborhood due to ever increasing rent prices, they can stay.   

These congregations have the flexibility to schedule events and activities at their convenience as they have full control over how the property is used. They have the freedom to modify their space to meet the specific needs of the congregation and community. And they likely have the space for young families to grow and thrive.

The property itself can be a visible presence in the community. People can come and go for services, counsel, and other ministries in a way that is not possible with a church renting space from institutions such as schools or commercial spaces such as hotels.

A congregation’s long-term investment in real estate builds equity, and they may have opportunities to generate revenue by renting out space to other churches or members of the community.

Their permanent presence and investment in an area also has the potential to develop leverage with the community and city. They are stakeholders with a voice. 

When the pandemic hit, congregations with property were able to rent space to others who couldn’t meet in their original locations due to distancing restrictions. And churches, who had paid off their mortgages, were better able to weather a decrease in tithes and offerings. In many ways, COVID affected renters more severely than owners, but congregations with mortgages were at risk of default, foreclosure and bankruptcy. And if they had any deferred maintenance projects that became active problems, they faced greater financial risks.  

So, just like with renting, there are drawbacks to owning property.

“If you own a building and you have parking, or if you have some access to land in a really expensive area, you could do things that would benefit the community—that the community would love, that your church would love, that God would love, everybody would love it. It would gain some real momentum for everyone.”

The benefits of owning dramatically decrease when it comes to the high cost of maintenance and repairs, especially with older buildings. Broken boilers, slate roofs with missing tiles, church steeples with rotting wood are all expensive things to repair. 

The initial cost of buying church property can be high for a congregation. They also have to factor in ongoing financial obligations such as insurance and utilities. Some experts recommend keeping as much as six months of operating expenses in reserve. There are also higher liability and insurance costs when it comes to owning as opposed to renting. The specter of property taxes looms as a possibility for some churches. 

No investment comes without risk. Changes in the market can negatively impact property values and the financial stability of churches. 

But depending on their location, there is potential for churches to think creatively and do innovative things with their properties. Many churches are located on prime real estate that community members, city officials, and developers want to capture and activate for other uses. If churches are putting their properties to good use in partnership with local entities, they have a voice in prominent areas of the city. But if congregations only use their buildings two or three times a week, they run the risk of creating dead space on a city block. Church buildings that generate low activity similar to self-storage units or parking lots can be detrimental to the vibrancy of a street or neighborhood. 

That is why some pastors are encouraging their peers to think outside the church box and imagine other uses for the land their buildings sit on. They could engage a partner to redevelop the property for a mixed-use project. That would likely entail tearing the building down and replacing it with something the neighborhood wants or needs, such as a non-exploitive housing development. The church would own a worship space on the ground floor and share ownership and profits with the developer in perpetuity. 

“If you own a building and you have parking, or if you have some access to land in a really expensive area, you could do things that would benefit the community—that the community would love, that your church would love, that God would love, everybody would love it,” one pastor in Greater Boston said. “It would gain some real momentum for everyone.”   

There is potential for your church building to shine as a beacon of hope on a metaphorical hill in your community. The stewardship of church space is a ministry in and of itself. And like any ministry, it presents unique challenges and opportunities to seek first the kingdom of God at this particular time in your particular neighborhood. What could the Holy Spirit be saying to your congregation about the use of the real estate entrusted to you? 

Resources

Renting and buying both come with short- and long-term risks. Here are some resources to help you develop the right questions to ask before making a decision. 

To Build, Buy, Lease or Rent…that IS the question 

by Tim Cool, Smart Church Solutions (March 22, 2019) 

https://www.smartchurchsolutions.com/resources/blog/to-build-buy-lease-or-rent-that-is-the-question/  

Renting Versus Buying Your Church’s Facility 

by Evangelical Christian Credit Union, XPastor (December 5, 2012) 

https://www.xpastor.org/finance/banking/renting-versus-buying-your-churchs-facility/

How to Buy a Church Building: The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Church for Sale

by Griffin Church Loans (April 28, 2023)

https://www.church-loan.com/blog/how-to-buy-church

Sacred Space for the Missional Church: Engaging Culture through the Built Environment 

by William McAlpine (Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015)

https://wipfandstock.com/9781608994687/sacred-space-for-the-missional-church/

Top 10 Things to Know When Buying a Church Property 

by John Muzyka, Church Realty (May 15, 2020) 

https://www.churchrealty.com/top-10-things-when-buying-a-church-property/  

How to Rent Well: Helping Congregations Navigate their Economic Future

by Rooted Good (February 22, 2024)

https://www.rootedgood.org/post/how-to-rent-well-helping-congregations-navigate-their-economic-future

Calzados con el Evangelio de la Paz

(En el sentido de las agujas del reloj desde la parte superior izquierda: Welcomia, Denis Tangney Jr, captain_galaxy, YT, todos vía Getty Images)

Calzados con el Evangelio de la Paz

Una caminata de oración, un sueño profético y un llamado a solidarizarse con nuestros hermanos y hermanas migrantes

por Sarah Blumenshine, Directora de Ministerios Interculturales

Una de las bellezas de mi trabajo es conectar profundamente con comunidades migrantes en Boston y sus alrededores. Este verano, he estado participando en llamadas regulares de oración matutina dirigidas por el equipo de Agencia ALPHA a través de Zoom. En una de esas llamadas, el Pastor Sergio Pérez de Harvest Ministries en Weymouth nos invitó a una próxima caminata de oración en la ciudad de Lynn. El sábado siguiente, unas doce personas nos reunimos. Pastores se unieron con familias y personas mayores. Todos estábamos allí con un solo propósito: orar por protección y bendición sobre la ciudad.

Antes de dividirnos en grupos y comenzar a caminar, el Pastor Sergio compartió un sueño que había tenido hace más de 15 años. El sueño se desarrollaba en una esquina específica de Lynn. Exactamente lo que está sucediendo ahora en todo el país estaba ocurriendo en su sueño. Agentes estaban deteniendo a migrantes y subiéndolos a un autobús. Las familias estaban aterrorizadas, tratando de escapar. En el sueño, el Pastor Sergio se acercaba a los agentes y les decía que tuvieran cuidado. Les afirmaba que los migrantes tienen dignidad y humanidad, y merecen ser tratados con decencia. Los agentes parecían hacer una pausa y mostraban cierta conmoción, y entonces el Pastor Sergio despertó. El sueño se sintió tan real que se le quedó grabado.

Cuando nos emparejamos y elegimos una ruta para caminar, el Pastor Sergio se dirigió hacia la esquina que había visto en su sueño. Yo caminé junto a Patricia Sobalvarro, Directora Ejecutiva de Agencia ALPHA, y la Pastora Ramonita Mulero de la Iglesia Hispana de la Comunidad. Juntas comenzamos a caminar hacia el supermercado Market Basket cercano, donde muchos migrantes encuentran empleo. Oramos en base a lo que dice Efesios 6:10-18, de ponernos la armadura de Dios, pidiendo verdad, fe y protección que no proviene de nuestro propio esfuerzo, sino de la asombrosa bondad de Dios.

Algo me impactó y no lo había visto antes. Siempre había asociado este pasaje con la defensa espiritual. Pero esta vez, la instrucción de estar firmes “con los pies calzados con la disposición de proclamar el evangelio de la paz” me llegó de una manera fresca. ¡Incluso en la batalla contra la oscuridad espiritual, se nos dice que usemos un calzado que nos lleve rápidamente a compartir las buenas nuevas de la paz! Tal esperanza, incluso certeza.

Mientras caminábamos, pasamos por tiendas de inmigrantes, casas y apartamentos. Recordamos el pasaje en Éxodo donde Dios les dice a los israelitas que pinten con la sangre de un cordero los marcos de sus puertas como señal para que el ángel de la muerte pasara de largo, perdonando así a sus primogénitos. Cubrimos hogares, negocios, aceras e iglesias con ruegos por protección física, orando para que la violencia pasara de largo.

Patricia compartió una reflexión sobre la historia de los israelitas finalmente expulsados de Egipto, solo para que el faraón cambiara de opinión. Envió carros y soldados para perseguirlos y esclavizarlos de nuevo. Mientras tanto, los israelitas se acercaban al Mar Rojo sin ningún lugar a dónde ir. Patricia comentó que a menudo se ha preguntado cómo se habría sentido en ese momento. Cada paso hacia ese cuerpo de agua infranqueable habría parecido una sentencia de muerte. Y entonces, Dios abrió un camino completamente impensable a través del mar. Oramos por ese tipo de milagros, reconociendo que no veíamos salida, pero sabiendo que Dios ciertamente sí.

“Pónganse toda la armadura de Dios, para que cuando llegue el día malo, puedan resistir hasta el fin con firmeza. Manténganse firmes, ceñidos con el cinturón de la verdad, protegidos por la coraza de justicia, y calzados con la disposición de proclamar el evangelio de la paz.”

— Efesios 6:13-15

Al regresar al estacionamiento de la iglesia, cada grupo compartió algunas palabras sobre su experiencia. Otro pastor presente comenzó a compartir, primero con todo el grupo, y luego se dirigió específicamente a mí. Como todavía estoy aprendiendo español, solo entendí una fracción de su testimonio, pero sé que nuestros corazones se entendieron. Habló con tanta pasión que comenzó a llorar.

Cuando el pastor terminó de hablar, el Pastor Sergio me preguntó cuánto había entendido. Al ver mi incertidumbre, amablemente tradujo sus palabras. Explicó que mi presencia—y lo que represento como ciudadana nacida en Estados Unidos—tenía un peso particular. Contó cómo muchos migrantes se sienten aislados e invisibles para los demás. Se sienten invisibles para sus hermanos y hermanas cristianos en este país. El hecho de que alguien de ese contexto viera su sufrimiento y caminara junto a ellos fue abrumador para el pastor que compartió. El Pastor Sergio lo comparó con la historia del político británico William Wilberforce, quien, a pesar de sus privilegios y comodidades, se identificó con la lucha de las personas esclavizadas y se convirtió en un defensor en contra de la esclavitud.

Me quedé atónita. No había hecho nada extraordinario; simplemente me había presentado para orar, lado a lado con mis hermanos y hermanas. La verdad es que se sintió como lo mínimo que mis hermanos espirituales deberían esperar. Jesús nos dijo que nos amáramos los unos a los otros como a nosotros mismos. La geografía, las fronteras internacionales, las leyes humanas—todas son importantes. Pero ninguna de ellas nos impide ser parte de la misma familia, del mismo cuerpo.

“Los miembros del cuerpo no deben dividirse,” escribe Pablo en 1 Corintios 12:25-26. “Todos deben preocuparse los unos por los otros. Si un miembro sufre, todos los demás comparten su sufrimiento. Si un miembro es honrado, todos los demás comparten su alegría.”

Últimamente, tengo en mi mente la imagen de la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos como un cuerpo humano que sufre de neuropatía. Nuestro sistema nervioso, la red que transmite sensaciones, información y genera retroalimentación, está dañado. Nuestra capacidad para percibirnos unos a otros está desordenada. Me imagino a alguien de pie junto a una estufa caliente, con la mano sobre el quemador, completamente inconsciente de que su piel y tejido se están quemando hasta que huele a carne quemada—pero para entonces, el daño ya está hecho.

Amigos, hay partes del cuerpo de Cristo que están en llamas. No exagero. Yo soy un nervio que transmite impulso y efecto. Soy testigo de esa agonía. Somos pobres en relaciones que cruzan líneas culturales. Nuestra distancia relacional nos permite deshumanizar al “otro.” Olvidamos que somos una familia. Fallamos en ver que nuestro bienestar está entrelazado.

“Este cuerpo de Cristo necesita desesperadamente sanidad. Está en guerra consigo mismo. La sanidad comienza dentro de cada uno de nosotros. ¿Qué tipo de fruto estoy cultivando en la sustancia de mi alma? En las comunidades de las que formo parte, ¿estamos juntos buscando el florecimiento de todas las personas?”

El nivel actual de caos en el gobierno federal es una cortina de humo que oscurece aún más nuestra visión. Algunos de nosotros hemos creído la mentira de que la ley y el castigo son justos, pero la compasión es solo para quienes la merecen. Esta falsedad es contraria a la vida y el ministerio de Jesús.

Las leyes tienen su propósito en una sociedad que funciona bien, sin duda. Si estamos impulsados por el amor y la alegría, llenos del fruto del Espíritu, trabajaremos con otros para corregir leyes inmorales y aplicarlas con justicia.

En contraste, hoy el fruto de nuestras políticas y poder se exhibe de manera grotesca. Cada ser humano que sufre en un centro de detención sin recursos legales, cada persona deportada a un país que no es el suyo, cada arresto imprudente, cada niño que llora por sus padres ausentes—no podemos simplemente descartarlos como daños colaterales. Son el fruto del miedo, el resentimiento, la autosuficiencia moral y el deseo de dominar. Esto es lo que sucede cuando las leyes se utilizan como herramientas de opresión.

Este cuerpo de Cristo necesita desesperadamente sanidad. Está en guerra consigo mismo. La sanidad comienza dentro de cada uno de nosotros. ¿Qué tipo de fruto estoy cultivando en la sustancia de mi alma? En las comunidades de las que formo parte, ¿estamos juntos buscando el florecimiento de todas las personas?

Recordamos a nuestros hermanos escuchándonos los unos a otros. Dedicamos el tiempo y la atención necesarios para comprendernos. Elegimos dar pasos simples pero significativos, como unir nuestros corazones en oración. Estos hábitos son transformadores y generan nuevos puntos de conexión que poco a poco nos ayudan a reparar lo que se ha roto.

Al comprometernos con este estilo de vida, cada uno haciendo su parte, honrando el dolor del otro y celebrando las alegrías de los demás, comenzamos a experimentar el cuerpo como Dios lo diseñó. El plan de Dios es que la Iglesia sea un agente de esperanza, sanidad y reconciliación, tanto interna como externamente. Que así sea.

Church Landscape Review: Pressed But Not Crushed

Church Landscape Review: Pressed But Not Crushed

Survival, Resilience & Church Plants of Boston Area New Churches, 2014-2024

Churches share similarities with families, schools, and businesses. Pastors take on roles that often mirror those of parents, teachers, and managers. But at the end of the day, the Church is an entirely different entity. It is a creation of God, entrusted with a ministry of life empowered by his Spirit. That’s why—even amid pressure, hardship, or loss—resilience is possible.  

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed,” Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. “Perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  

And as jars of clay holding the treasure of the gospel, we demonstrate that this “all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

A large group of newer church communities in Boston is evidence of what happens when churches ground themselves in this spiritual reality. 

The churches that survived those ten years demonstrated several key dynamics:

• Their pastors had clear personal callings and support from mentors and peer groups.

• They overcame challenges by following the concrete solutions that arose when they sought the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

• They started with various outside sources of funding and ensured their pastors didn’t need to work a full-time job outside the church.

• They didn’t wait until they thought they were big enough to plant another church. They made an early and ongoing commitment to multiplication.

These are just a few findings of the Applied Research team at the Emmanuel Gospel Center in Pressed But Not Crushed: Survival, Resilience & Church Plants of Boston Area New Churches, 2014-2024. 

This report is part of the 2025 Church Landscape Review project, which revisits the churches the team had originally interviewed as church plants in a 2014 research study. That project involved in-depth interviews with a diverse group of new churches from different denominations, ethnic groups, and networks. 

Ten years later, EGC revisited the 2014 snapshot and re-interviewed almost two dozen of the original churches to explore how the Boston-area church landscape has evolved over the past decade.

Like other reports in the project, Pressed But Not Crushed includes data, commentary, reflection questions, as well as next steps for ministry leaders. 

Visit the Church Landscape Review project page for more information about the methods, participants, and terminology used in the study. There you will also find a series of reports we’re releasing periodically throughout 2025:

• Executive Summary Report 

• Changing Faces of Faith

• Pastoring Under Pressure

• Open Doors in Boston

• Evolving Vision

Church Landscape Review: Open Doors in Boston

Open Doors in Boston

Local stories to stir your faith, reflections to expand your vision.

Boston is often described as a secular city on par with the metropolises of Europe that have seen a significant decline in Christianity. But research shows a different narrative emerging.

The Applied Research team at the Emmanuel Gospel Center conducted the Church Landscape Review project in 2024. In this survey of new and growing churches across Greater Boston, we found that God is at work in our city and region. 

As part of the research, the team asked the pastors of these churches for stories of God working through the church to bring people to faith and serve people in the broader community.

The stories that emerged are varied and beautiful—stories of healing, community partnerships, long journeys to faith, and moments of encounter with God. They reflect what is possible when churches open their doors and hearts to their neighborhoods, step into the needs around them, and follow God’s lead with creativity and courage. 

Each story includes a reflection question to help you engage more deeply. Whether you’re a church leader, an aspiring church planter, or simply someone curious about the spiritual landscape of this city, we hope these questions invite you to pray, reflect, and imagine what God might do in your context.

As you read, please note that names and identifying details of people, churches, and organizations have been changed or omitted to protect privacy.

What's Next: My 5 Dreams For Church Planting in Boston

What’s Next: My 5 Dreams for Church Planting in Boston

by Rev. Ralph Kee, Animator, Greater Boston Church Planting Collaborative

Where are we headed as the Church in Boston? What might be some goals, dreams, and potential growth points for the Body of Christ in Boston over the next several decades?

As I’ve engaged with the Boston 2030 initiative, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what it means for Christians in the next several decades. Here are my dreams about Boston’s church planting future:

Dream #1: Holistic Churches Multiplying Churches

I see Boston filled with Gospel-permeated, holistic churches.

By holistic churches, I mean those that serve the city with the whole Gospel by ministering to the whole person. I think that’s what God dreams and wants for Boston, because that’s what he wants for all his created people. Paul writes, “God has made known to us the mystery of his will,” and his will is “to bring all things together in Christ, both things in the heavens and things on the earth.” (Eph. 1:9,10)

Learn More: Where to Plant a Church in Boston: Areas of Growth

Boston is staged to grow. I moved to a Boston of 641,000 in 1971. By Boston’s 400th birthday in 2030, the population is expected to jump to 724,000 or more. In light of this growth, we at the Greater Boston Church Planting Collaborative have been asking two key questions:  

1. Where will these new Bostonians live? Whole new neighborhoods are underway to house several thousand people each, all within Boston’s city limits.

2. Where will these new Bostonians go to church? Will the Church be ready? Who will lead the way in envisioning new expressions of the Church for new Bostonians? The apostolic task of the Church, a leading task from Ephesians 4:11, is to multiply communities of faith—churches multiplying churches. Let’s do it!

Learn More: Multiplying Churches in Boston Now

Dream #2. Both Gentrifiers and Born-Bostonians Playing a Part

I see Gospel-entrenched gentrifiers and neighborhood-based Christian activists together salting the city.

Boston is becoming more and more gentrified. Researchers spot gentrification where census tracts show increases in both home values and in the percentage of adults with bachelor’s degrees. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that in the neighborhood where I’ve lived for 46 years, I, too, am a gentrifier.

Today, gentrifiers include young Christian professionals moving into older neighborhoods all over the city to be salt and light, to love their neighbors, to do Jesus-style thinking and living in their neighborhoods. These folks can be “entrenched gentrifiers,” incoming residents who, in their own minds and hearts, want to appreciate and have purposeful “attachment to the local meanings, heritage, history, and people” they are now living near.

For example, intentional Christian communities—where several families or singles live together in shared commitment to each other and to their neighbors—are flourishing.

Boston’s “Gospel-entrenched gentrifiers”, as I call them, are not pioneers, but reinforcements. They join embedded Kingdom builders—second-, third-, and many-generation Bostonians—Christ-followers who are dreaming big dreams for their neighborhoods.

“Boston’s Gospel-entrenched gentrifiers, as I call them, are not pioneers, but reinforcements.”

One such Kingdom builder is Caleb McCoy, a fourth-generation Dorchester resident and EGC’s Development Manager. Caleb has a homegrown knowledge of and love for the city. He says, “I believe my role in the church is to help make the Gospel relevant and personal to people that may not feel that God’s plan applies to them.”

Caleb’s vision is to use his musical and communications gifts to inspire “a revival of young and middle-aged adults, joined together, exemplifying the Gospel through preaching and the arts.”

I am excited about Caleb’s vision. I have a dream that such neighborhood-based Christian activism will be the engine to drive effective ministry today and tomorrow.

Dream #3. Relevant, Hands-On Ministry of Reconciliation

I see today’s Boston’s Kingdom citizens reconnecting what has been severed by sin.

I am dreaming that Boston’s visionary, prophetic Christians will, with God-inspired imagination, help build new communities of faith. These newly imagined churches will demonstrate the Kingdom of God in today’s urban context.

The prophetic task, as I see it, is to cast a vision for a redeemed creation. Empowered by the Spirit of God, today’s prophets can work to reconnect what was disconnected by sin.

When sin entered the world, it entered the whole world—not just the human heart, but the very heart of the created order. Original sin instantly caused four original schisms (Learn More: The Prophetic Task):

• humanity separated from God

• humanity separated from the created order

• man separated from woman

• people separated from people

What is to be done about these painful schisms? Thankfully, they are all resolved in Christ, as we the Church fulfill the prophetic task! We proclaim the Kingdom of God, and partner with God in his work of connecting, redeeming, healing, and bringing Kingdom-of-God life and peace to every facet of Boston.

Consider the refugees coming to Boston today. What will they find? Will they experience more schism in their torn lives? Or will some neighborhood church in Boston welcome them, embrace them as valued people loved by God, and begin to effectively reverse the curse of schisms in their lives by loving them well? (Learn more: Greater Boston Refugee Ministry).

And if some Boston residents were to observe Christians living in their neighborhood, reversing the curses of the four schisms, would these observers not be more ready to listen to the spoken Gospel message?

Dream #4: The Good News Proclaimed in Boston’s Heart Languages

I believe God is calling evangelists to speak the Gospel in the languages of Boston.

I want to see Boston gifted with many evangelists, men and women who can speak and live out the Gospel in the languages of Boston’s old-timers, of second- and third-generation Southies, or Townies, or Dorchesterites. Who will speak the Gospel to:

• the retired men of South Boston who hang at the coffee shop every day?

• the women who gather at Ramirez Grocery or Rossi Market?

• the generations of men and boys who gather at the corner barbershop?

• the freshmen or grad students at BU or BC or MIT?

• those who speak the 100+ languages of newcomers arriving from the four corners of the earth?

We know the Gospel is two handed: word and deed. We need to do both: preach the Word and do the Gospel.

Today particularly, we need to be careful not to focus only on meeting basic needs and neglect preaching. One follows the other. After neighborhoods see the Gospel in action, I think they will be more ready to have someone fully explain it to them and invite them to believe in Jesus themselves. Show and tell.

Who of those already living in Boston are called to evangelistic preaching in Boston specifically? Who yearns to spend their lives preaching the Gospel in Boston? Do you?

In Romans, Paul asked, “And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Rom. 10:14,15)

Dream #5. Church Planters Collaborating Closely

I want to see church planters in Boston thinking of themselves as players on a Boston-wide team.

The Greater Boston Church Planting Collaborative started gathering in 2000, and we chose the word “collaborative” intentionally. In the Book of Acts, the story of early church planting, we see nothing but collaborative ministry efforts. One church, one basic team, one overarching goal everyone shared and worked toward—that’s the Acts of the Apostles.

Collaboration is basic to church planting—and so it should be in Boston. I want to see Boston’s church planters meeting face-to-face, setting shared goals, being mutually accountable, and being passionately focused.

I imagine church planters setting Boston-wide church-growth and church-planting goals collaboratively. I envision shared strategies to cover ground and to plan over time—setting 6-month, 12-month, 2-year, and 15-year goals.

“How long will it take you to build the wall, Nehemiah?” King Artaxerxes asked (Neh 2:6). Nehemiah, a slave in a foreign land under a tyrant, was the last person in a position to guarantee any purpose-driven time goals. But he did set a time goal for Artaxerxes because he had to. And they met it—the collaboration of faithful residents working side by side in Jerusalem finished the wall in fifty-two days!

Let’s collaborate, set some prayerful goals, and see the work get done!

To see the full-length article, click here: I’m Dreaming About Boston’s Future—Are You?

TAKE ACTION

So those are my five big church planting dreams for Boston. What do you think? Are you dreaming with me? Dream big! When we get some more ideas, we’ll share them in a future post. Send me an email—I would love to hear from you.

Are you a church planter? I invite you to join us at the Greater Boston Church Planting Collaborative!

Ralph Kee came to Boston in 1971 to help plant a church emerging out of the Emmanuel Gospel Center’s neighborhood outreach. Starting churches became his clear, lifelong calling. He was involved in launching or revitalizing dozens of churches in and around Boston. In 2000, Ralph started the Greater Boston Church Planting Collaborative, a peer mentoring fellowship to encourage and equip church planters. He mentored church planters, mostly one-on-one, usually over coffee for many years. He passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 90.