Dorchester, MA Church Plant
Our church planting resident for Dorchester, Christian Michael, is currently raising support in order to be able to move with his family from Providence, RI to Dorchester, MA.
Boston's Largest and Most Diverse Neighborhood
It is a place with rich heritage and a lot of civic engagement but also deals with homelessness, crime, and gang violence.
Dorchester is Boston’s largest and most diverse neighborhood: 35% Black, 22% non-Hispanic white, 21% Hispanic, 11% Asian, 11% other.
Out of the 123,000 people who live in Dorchester, 43,000 were born outside the US.
NEU’s Church Planting Process
Explore
Current
NEU begins a church plant by identifying a location. This involves many conversations with local pastors, ministry leaders, civic leaders and looking at data.
Prepare
Current
The preparation phase begins when a church planter has joined our staff, begins raising support, and starts his church planting residency with NEU and a partner church.
Plant
Current
The planting phase is marked by bringing a group of believers to a point of covenanting together as a church. This may involve months of teaching on the nature of a church, church membership, baptism, communion and church discipline.
Sustain
Current
This final phase begins when a church covenants together and it has no end. NEU Church Planting works to sustain the church and its leadership through fundraising, care, and recruiting.
The Story So Far
Our Process
First, we train our planters. Christian is wrapping up year 1 of his Haynes Church Planting Residency in preparation for moving to Dorchester. This past year has helped him be prepared for the cultural, theological, and discipleship aspects of planting a church. Frankie Cruz is joining NEU as a Pastoral Resident with the goal of joining Christian in Dorchester.
Second, we support our planters. We support our church planters as long term domestic missionaries to forgotten neighborhoods in New England’s cities. This means helping them build strong networks of supporters all around the country and world in order to enable them to work on church planting full time.
Individuals, churches, and organizations are key to sustaining church plants. These organizations have partnered with NEU to help with this church plant.
Subheading one
How you can help
Our Church Planting Team
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Our Current Needs
We need your help to fully fund Christian Michael and enable him to move to Dorchester in September, 2026. Please pray for Christian and consider becoming a monthly supporter of Christian, his family, and this church plant in Dorchester, MA.
How you can help