- Church planting & multiplication
Have you noticed God always shows up for those who desire more of him?
Two thousand years ago, as recorded in Acts 16, the Lord acted for the Macedonians who wanted help by sending Paul to them. Now God’s doing it again, this time in western Massachusetts, where some people drive an hour to reach a gospel-proclaiming church.
More than 120,000 people from dozens of towns in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut come to Great Barrington for life’s necessities and vibrant entertainment and recreation.
But not enough opportunities exist to know Christ in the town of 7000.
“We just desperately want to see revival again,” pastor Dan Gudim said.
More than 40 believers near Great Barrington are growing and fellowshiping alongside the Gudims, and a new church scheduled a public launch in September. But God was moving late last year, so their hearts were hungry for more of him.
The group found a place to meet, which was an answer to prayer. Then, they started regularly gathering for fellowship and spiritual growth.
“We’re studying the Bible,” Gudim said. “We’re encouraging each other.”
They started serving community needs at the end of 2024 and have continued this year. They volunteer at a food pantry, cover laundry costs at a local laundromat and put together care packages for first responders.
Related: Another church in Converge has embraced first responders.
“We love our community,” he said. “We want to be a positive impact.”
Their team that is helping to lead the launch of the new church also includes Converge chief operating officer Tim Ponzani, Converge Northeast staff members, Great Barrington resident Janet Prindle, Adam DePasquale, pastor of Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, Connecticut, and Rob O’Neal, pastor of Valley Community Baptist Church in Avon, Connecticut.
In the future, this team of local and regional disciples and leaders hope to start more than one church in Great Barrington. More churches throughout this region of the Northeast would increase the Lord’s glory and knowledge of him.
For now, God keeps moving among this group, drawing in several more people who want to come alongside Gudim and help reach the area.
“God has answered some big-time prayers” in Massachusetts, Gudim said, so that more people can know him.
Which is just like what God did in Macedonia centuries ago.
Converge Northeast seeks to serve the church planters, churches and pastors in the Northeast by offering sources of connection and collaboration as well as resources that help people meet, know and follow Jesus.
