Our principal partner is Expand Northwest (XNW). Located in Portland, OR, XNW was founded in 1956 as the Northwest Christian Evangelistic Association (NWCEA). In 2020, however, the organization went through a change that resulted in a new name, direction, and vision, which led them to look beyond encouraging leaders, making disciples, and planting churches in just the Pacific Northwest. Today, in addition to their work in the northwestern US, XNW oversees a church planting effort in Uganda, and through The Gathering, in New England as well. Sean Thomé, the Executive Director of XNW, currently serves as the Project Lead for The Gathering.

Movement Christian Church (MVT) serves as our sending church. Located in Merrimack, NH, MVT is known for a radically loving culture that sticks out in the spiritual landscape of New England. From September, 2020 through November, 2021, MVT served as the home base for the Ham family before their move to Springfield.  As the primary place where Jason and Bonnie were able to heal and recalibrate to a kingdom-driven church approach (over a brand-driven approach), MVT was behind the vision to see the Ham family get to Springfield from day one.

Passion for Planting is the outgrowth of a vision held by New Life Christian Church in Chantilly, VA. In 2002, P4P set out with the hope of planting one church a year, but has since had a hand in helping plant more than 250. Patrick Bradley, P4P's Director of Operations, served as the Project Manager for The Gathering through the beginning of 2023. Although P4P has no active participation in The Gathering at this time, their role in getting this project of the ground has been invaluable.

Since 1995, Dean Trune has served as a speaker and coach for churches throughout America, actively working to move those churches towards greater intimacy with Jesus. Prior to this, for many years, Dean worked in ministry on college campuses, as well as having served as an engineer. Healthy Churches Network is the outgrowth of years of experience in leading on college campuses, teaching seminars, and working with churches across the United States and beyond. Dean serves on the Partnership Team as the Spiritual Coach for The Gathering.

With a passion for proclaiming Jesus in Wilsonville and the southern Portland (OR) metropolitan area, Bob and Stephanie Johnson launched The Bridge Church NW in 2019. As a community with a high amount of commuters, their unique challenge and mission is to find ways to bridge the stories of broken, busy, and disconnected people to find the intentional life Jesus offers. Both Bob and Stephanie serve on the Partnership Team of The Gathering.

Situated just off I-93 in Salem, NH, just a few minutes from the Massachusetts border, Rockingham Christian Church is uniquely positioned to welcome the highly mobile population around it. Located in a population that primarily commutes closer to Boston, RCC faces the unique challenge of making the gospel relevant in an incredibly preoccupied people. Connected through Lead Elder Phil Yakey, who worked at RHM while the Hams were there, the relationship with The Gathering has become a critical connection back in their former home state of New Hampshire.

Located in Orrville, Ohio, OCC has been serving the people of northeast Ohio since 1902. Through the mutual connections of Sean Thomé and Dean Trune, the OCC team joined in to support The Gathering in the summer of 2023. With a long history of supporting church plants throughout the nation, OCC's partnership with The Gathering has been one of the biggest wins of this year.

A longtime supporter of Restoration House Ministries, NMCC decided to keep their financial support of church plants in New England with the close of RHM. Located on the Ohio River between Louisville, KY, and Cincinnati, OH, NMCC's support of The Gathering also began in 2023. With a deep history in the Restoration Movement, NMCC is committed to seeing such churches planted in New England for many years to come.

The Gathering is supported by numerous private donors who have chosen to support this project here in Springfield, Massachusetts. If you are willing, ask God how he might have you support this project financially (or perhaps with your presence) here in Springfield.

For information on how to give, click HERE.