Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using stories.

MATTHEW 13:34 (CEV)

The best stories come from the most profound struggles. They contain a journey, unexpected twists and turns, some near misses, and a bazillion details that only make the story that much better. That's how Jesus told about himself and his Father through stories he told.

It's how he works in our story.

The Gathering is such a story as well.

The story of The Gathering really goes back to the vision of a group called Restoration House Ministries, (RHM)  begun in the 1990’s. In 1996, a developing vision for sharing Jesus with the people of New England through the birth of new churches and the revitalization of existing churches came to life in Manchester, NH. After many years of accomplishing these goals, RHM's founder dreamt of reproducing what was in New Hampshire in - of all places - Springfield, Massachusetts! But circumstances changed, and Springfield was forced to wait.

In 2017, a new church plant from RHM launched in Merrimack, NH. Called Movement Christian Church (MVT), this church was launched with a vision that went far beyond their community. In fact, their desire was to help impact all of New England by raising up and supporting new church planters (starters). As such, they made it a top priority to start new church projects through their training of church planters.

In 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Movement Christian Church opened their arms to welcome a couple with the Springfield area on their hearts. Eighteen months earlier and two states away in New York, God placed a desire for the Springfield area on the hearts of a couple who had worked in churches for a long time. Through a series of amazing and also difficult circumstances Jason and Bonnie Ham ended up moving from everything they knew to partner with Restoration House Ministries and Movement Christian Church in a residency, where they could rest, heal, and focus on the goal of

establishing a disciple-making church into the Springfield area.

In 2021, Restoration House unexpectedly closed its doors, but God brought an unlikely partnership out of Portland, OR to New England through Expand Northwest. The heart of this organization, led by Sean Thomé, is to encourage Church leaders, make disciples, and plant churches, and this has deeply resonated with Jason and Bonnie. To that end, what appeared to be a perfect match has turned out exactly that way.

In June, 2022, after having lived in the Springfield area for months, after having numerous conversations with people, and while continuing to learn the heart of the city, the Hams established a small home church.  Since that time, they've met dear new friends who have a similar heart and call for following God. Today, this baby church, known as The Gathering, is part of a larger group in the Pioneer Valley who are convinced the Lord is doing something here with an organic movement of home churches.

With a clearer vision than ever, The Gathering is committed to the beauty and depth that people can find in the home church setting, while also experiencing the joy of the larger corporate celebrations on Sundays in a space.

On Sunday, October 15, this became a reality, and in addition to meeting as a house church,

The Gathering meets weekly on the 12th floor of the LaQuinta Inn & Suites in downtown Springfield.

We are watching in wonder as God unfolds a story of welcoming people to the ways of Jesus... People who are looking to give Jesus the chance he asks for, working past hurts and hang-ups (even from other Christians), as well as people who are discovering a small, intimate community as a way to step closer to God and the hope, joy, and freedom  he offers. Together, we're discovering that Jesus really is the answer, exploring what the first churches of the New Testament did and seeking to do

the same things now.

In turn, we see God blessing these steps as we trust and obey him.

The best part? This story is just beginning.