God is Working in New Bedford!
written by Megan Frank, CBC Member (May 19, 2024)
As the church bus pulled out of the parking lot to take us to the airport, I sat quietly wondering what this next week was going to look like. Was I going to connect with my team like I did last year? Was I going to still feel overwhelmed by the desperate need of the gospel while walking the streets of New Bedford? Was I going to stand in awe once again during times of worship with people I had just met? I was anxious yet excited for the opportunity to return to New Bedford, Massachusetts for the second year in a row to serve alongside this team from Coats Baptist Church.
This year Coats Baptist sent a team of 12 (along with Jesse, Carrie and Bryson Danner) to serve at Grace Harbor Church for the Neighborhood Churches weekender event. Six members of the team were returners and six were new. The team consisted of Abigail Holfelder, Anita Grimes, Cheri Sauer, Melissa Daily, Haley King, Wynne and Tracey Smith, Bob and Keely Hedrick, Bradley and Amanda Cole, and myself (Megan Frank).
The weekender event is an opportunity for church leaders from across the United States to come together and experience life in New England so that they can better understand the vision and purpose of “Neighborhood Churches – For Forgotten Places”. Planting and revitalizing neighborhood churches within the city’s forgotten places is the primary objective, much like Grace Harbor which is the first church plant of the ministry. Having a team from Coats Baptist Church to serve and support Grace Harbor allows their leaders time to have meaningful conversations and simply be present with visiting church leaders/potential partners. It also relieves a huge burden of not having to worry about most of the grunt work that needed to take place behind the scenes. I would like to take a brief pause to brag on this team I was with; you all are the true definition of teamwork and made this feel effortless (the kitchen team may disagree with the effortless part). I did connect with my team and I will forever be grateful for the relationships that were formed and strengthened in both 2023 and 2024.
We started Thursday morning bright and early with the Grace Harbor team for prayer, training, and reviewing logistics for the days ahead. After that we began our work full steam ahead. Thursday was jam packed with preparatory work in the kitchen, cleaning every nook and cranny of the church, organizing merchandise, transport of visiting church leaders from the airport, and setting up for the women’s pre-conference scheduled to take place later that evening. The men from our team enjoyed dinner together while the women from our team attended the women’s pre-conference. This sweet time allowed us to indulge in delicious treats, play a game with a new friend we had just met, listen to testimonies of women who had experienced God’s grace through brokenness, and lift our voices in praise together. This day also ended with an answered prayer to finding a new home in New Bedford for the Danner family.
Our primary goal on Friday was to make sure the church was immaculate, and that food preparation and table set up was complete for the weekender dinner. During the weekender dinner the vision and purpose of “Neighborhood Churches – For Forgotten Places” was presented in addition to explaining how meaningful relationships with churches from around the country can help spread the gospel in these unreached areas. The food and the fellowship were remarkable, but the need for the gospel in these forgotten places was compelling. After cleaning and making sure everything was ready for the main conference the following day, I laid my head to rest with a thankful heart that was breaking for the unbelievers.
Saturday is the big day, and it started before the rooster even crowed back in Coats, NC. The excitement is evident as everyone is hustling around to accomplish their specific tasks. The church begins to fill up with the visiting church leaders, members of Grace Harbor, and other conference attendees who are mingling amongst old and new friends. Our team from Coats Baptist appear to be a well oiled machine as we operated registration/check-in, the merchandise table, the coffee bar, food/refreshments, and for the first time KIDS CLUB. As the conference went on we were entrusted with KIDS CLUB where we had the privilege of teaching and playing with 11 kids who are the product of faithful men and women of Grace Harbor Church. These kids welcomed us but were not afraid to let us know if we weren’t doing things in the proper order and seemed to be baffled that we knew what family they belonged to. This was a long and tiring day, but my spirit was revitalized.
We continued working behind the scenes on Sunday making sure bathrooms stayed clean, the coffee was plentiful, and food was ready for the next meal. We were also able to be present for the Lord’s Day Gathering with the body of Grace Harbor Church that morning. We received the word, sang with praise, and took communion together followed by another large meal together. That evening we were invited to eat dinner in the homes of Grace Harbor members with the various community groups. This allowed us to be able to get to know one another better and see how they do life together.
This was my second year serving the Neighborhood Churches weekender event and I would like to share with you how I witnessed the fruits of their labor.
- - The mission and purpose of Neighborhood Churches and Grace Harbor Church have not wavered; they are just as passionate about reaching the lost in forgotten places and preaching the gospel unapologetically.
- - Church membership has grown and are serious about serving the church and sharing their testimonies with the purpose of glorifying God and expanding HIS kingdom.
- - Growth and maturity displayed in members I met last year. Watching Missy share her testimony and interact with others, I noticed that she had grown and felt like she belonged. Stephen, who was baptized just before I met him last year, is now married to Ruby who was also baptized this past year and they are raising their daughter August in a loving Christian home and will do the same for their future children.
- - The local community was well aware of Grace Harbor Church. When we were out for lunch one day, the waitress asked why we weren’t wearing the yellow shirts (other mission teams will wear these) and also asked “isn’t that the church that picks up trash?”.
The need is still there, just as much as it was 1 year ago. They need monetary support, they need people willing to answer God’s call to spread the gospel and make disciples, and they need our prayers.
The highlight or most memorable moment of the trip for me was standing in the balcony looking down on the congregation present for the Lord’s day gathering at Grace Harbor Church during a period of praise and worship led by 3 individuals on stage. Here I am looking over a group of people from different backgrounds, different life experiences, and different struggles singing together in this moment to worship God. Some with a simple sway, some with arms extended in front of them with palms facing up, and some with arms lifted high – all in that moment with the same purpose of worshipping God yet vulnerable with acknowledgement that we all need God. From this bird’s eye view I was not only overwhelmed with emotion from the visual of a group of people worshipping God, but also overcome with God’s presence. Tears filled my eyes, chills covered my body, and for a period of time I was unable to continue singing; so I watched the group before me and I thanked God for allowing me to be a part of His work in New Bedford.
Thank you for all your prayers and support Coats Baptist! We pray these words help you better understand the mission of why serving Grace Harbor Church in this way is so profitable. We are thankful for our continued partnership with Grace Harbor and Neighborhood Churches and look forward to serving with them again. Visit their church website to get to know them more or to support one of their ministry workers!