urban_history

our history

“Taste and see that the Lord is good

How blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

-David, Psalm 34:8

The house was purchased by Ming & Mako Nagasawa in January of 2000.

June 2000 – August 2001

3^rd floor: Tischa Brown, Melissa Rivera, Mao-Mei Liu, Leslie Moore

2^nd floor: Liza Adriana Cagua, Becky Mulligan, Mary Pavan, Kenita Spencer

1^st floor: Ming and Mako Nagasawa (child: John Nagasawa), Davina Ling

Basement: Jonathan Liu, Chris Tsang

Folks moved in; many took jobs in the Dorchester area. We started kids' Bible club in the neighborhood, which lasted for 2 years. In May of 2001, Ming and Mako felt God giving them an opportunity to become caregivers for two of our neighbor's kids, a brother and sister ages 6 and 13, respectively.

In the summer of 2001, Tischa, a licensed Montessori school teacher, had a summer program on the 3rd floor of our house called Harvest Montessori Summer Program. Twelve children ages 3-7 attended in '01. See the pictures!

Becky married Patrick Ray in May of 2001. In August of 2001, Chris moved into Fields’ Corner to start a church plant focusing on the Vietnamese community. Jonathan moved to Cambridge to pursue other ministry opportunities and explore moving overseas to Muslim areas. Mary moved to Irvine, CA to pursue a Ph.D. in chemistry at UCI.

September 2001 – August 2002

“Currently we are a multi-ethnic household, attending various local churches in the Boston area, and spanning 3 generations.”

3^rd floor: Lavall Brown (child: Dominique Isaiah Brown), Tischa Brown, Mao-Mei Liu, Leslie Moore

2^nd floor: Davina Ling, Kenita Spencer, Liza Adriana Cagua

1^st floor: Ming & Mako Nagasawa (children: Stacy Ann and Christopher Johnson, John Nagasawa)

Basement: Khary & Jennifer Bridgewater

Kids' Bible club continued, despite some transitions in the neighborhood. We drew up the three parts of the house vision statement. Tischa continued Harvest in the summer, drawing 17 kids into the program.

In August of 2002, Mao-Mei moved back to the Bay Area in California to be closer to her family.

September 2002 – August 2003

This year we spanned 3 generations.

3^rd floor: Lavall Brown (child: Dominique Isaiah Brown), Tischa Brown, Leslie Moore, Liza Adriana Cagua

2^nd floor: Davina Ling, Kenita Spencer, Eddy & Laura Dueck (also Obenewa Amponsah for 3 months when her apartment burned)

1^st floor: Ming & Mako Nagasawa (children: Christopher Johnson, John Nagasawa)

Basement: Khary & Jennifer Bridgewater, Marisha Youngblood

Stacy moved back in with her mom in Feb. '02. In the summer of 2003, we tried some community organizing in our immediate neighborhood. We converted part of our basement into a teen outreach center. We also set up a basketball hoop in our backyard.

In August of 2003, Davina moved to Los Angeles, CA to become a professor of economics at Cal State Fullerton. Eddy & Laura moved back to Germany to be a part of their church and family there. Khary, Jennifer, Marisha, and Obenewa moved to 27 Bushnell Street to start the InterVarsity Black Campus Ministries House.

September 2003 – August 2004

This year we spanned 4 generations!

3^rd floor: Lavall Brown (child: Dominique Isaiah Brown), Tischa Brown, Grandma Mitchell (for May – Nov ’04)

2^nd floor: Leslie Moore, Kenita Spencer, Liza Adriana Cagua, Lanika Clark (sponsored resident)

1^st floor: Ming & Mako Nagasawa (children: John, Zoe)

Basement: Chadrick Nick Palmer (sponsored resident)

CJ moved back in with his mom in October '03. Nick asked to move in at that time, and Lanika did a few months later. To set clear expectations, we wrote up the house rules. We got to know some teens through our basement; and four teenage boys went with Leslie to worship at CCFC for several months.

In the spring of 2004, we got a swing set and sand box for our backyard, which drew lots of neighborhood children. We also started house games night so that Nick and Lanika could have some fun alternatives. Our house focus turned a lot towards mentoring these two teens. In the summer, we welcomed our Boston's Hope neighbors and started a Girls' Club and a Boys' Club. After taking down the dining room-living room wall, Ming and Mako began to host the Gathering Christian Fellowship on the 1st floor.

In August of 2004, Tischa moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to teach kindergarten and reconnect with old friends.

September 2004 – August 2005

This year we spanned 4 generations!

3^rd floor: Lavall Brown (child: Dominique Isaiah Brown), Grandma Mitchell

2^nd floor: Leslie Moore, Helen Moon, Kenita Spencer, Liza Adriana Cagua, Lanika Clark (sponsored resident)

1^st floor: Ming & Mako Nagasawa (children: John, Zoe)

Basement: Chadrick Nick Palmer (sponsored resident until Nov.04)

We drew up the seven house values. During the summer of 2005, we helped convert the vacant lot next door into a community garden, now called the Generations of Hope Community Garden. See the pictures here.

September 2005 – August 2006

This year we spanned 4 generations!

3^rd floor: Lavall Brown (child: Dominique Isaiah Brown), Grandma Mitchell, Leslie Moore, Natasha Sam

2^nd floor: Kenita Spencer, Liza Adriana Cagua, Marjory Neret

1^st floor: Ming & Mako Nagasawa (children: John, Zoe)

Basement: Phil Hou

September 2006 – August 2007