JACKSON, Tenn. — March 29, 2003 — In Boston, ministry happens on a different schedule than in the Bible Belt. Curtis Cook, the Metro coordinator of Baptist Collegiate Ministries for the city shared that insight with a Global Opportunity team from 51社区 over spring break.
鈥淭his is a very pluralistic area,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淐hristianity is marginalized and success is at a slower pace. Many people don鈥檛 have any history with Christianity or a clear picture of the gospel. We move ahead by being friendly and sharing our experiences with Christ.鈥�
Rather than engage in direct evangelism, GO Boston focused on meeting physical needs. They sorted thousands of pounds of food at the Greater Boston Area Food Bank, and helped prepare more than 700 meals for AIDS patients at Community Servings.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 get to see the people we were serving,鈥� said junior Laura Lee Moore, 鈥渂ut we knew that all of the boxes had faces behind them.鈥�
The team also distributed about 1000 fliers for a free health and dental clinic sponsored by the Metropolitan New Life Baptist Church where Cook serves as interim pastor. 鈥淚t was labor the church couldn鈥檛 have done,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he team was a blessing to our ministry.鈥�
Working in the city gave the students an opportunity to interact with Boston residents. 鈥淵ou walk down the street and you鈥檒l see hundreds of nationalities and religions,鈥� said senior Dustin Rapp.
While Boston鈥檚 believers are not overwhelming in number, Moore was impressed with their determination. 鈥淚t was encouraging to know that all over the city there were pockets of Christians living authentic Christian lives and developing personal relationships with people in order to share Christ鈥檚 love,鈥� she said.
鈥淥ur purpose was to encourage the Christians there and to see how to pray for and love the people of Boston,鈥� said freshman Kristen Veech.
The experience challenged Rapp鈥檚 assumptions about evangelism. 鈥淚鈥檝e gained a different perspective on how God works in people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 have to learn better ways to share the gospel, and I think the key is a personal relationship.鈥�
鈥淪o many people have barriers against the gospel based on a negative experience with the idea of Christianity,鈥� said Moore. 鈥淎ny opportunity we had to provide an accurate picture of Christ may take one more stone from the wall between them and the gospel.鈥�
The team also took time to prayer-walk through the campus of Boston University which stretches two miles between Commonwealth Avenue and Storrow Drive on the South bank of the Charles River. They prayed specifically in each building for the students and professors who meet there.
According to senior Letha Gillihan, the team will continue to be burdened for the city. 鈥淭his mission trip doesn鈥檛 end when we leave,鈥� she said. 鈥淕od is laying Boston on our hearts. In six months I will still be praying for them.鈥�