Boston Trip 2025

Major Events in that Week – The theme of the trip was “Expect a Miracle” and what we prayed for was for God to teach us how to watch and pray to truly expect and see a miracle happen as we took the gospel to Boston at the Watertown - “Faire on the Square.” We know that we live in perilous times and Boston is traditionally cold or not very open to the gospel in general. We also know that God is always moving and working in the events of human history and we saw him miraculously use 5 main things that I have listed below to open people’s hearts in a truly specific and miraculous way. These 5 things were very big and pronounced that had a profound impact on the way that people responded to our invitations and the gospel.

1. Assassination / Shooting of Charlie Kirk (Sep 10)
   • Charlie Kirk, conservative activist / founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. PBS+3Wikipedia+3SFGATE+3
   • The shooter was posited to be on a rooftop a distance away; he was later identified (Tyler James Robinson) and arrested. Wikipedia+2PBS+2
   • The event got massive media attention, especially via video recordings, social media, polarizing responses, political blame, and discussion about political violence in America. Wikipedia+3PBS+3Reuters+3
2. Stabbing / Murder of Ukrainian Woman on a Train (Iryna Zarutska) – revealed or re-emphasized during the week
   • Iryna Zarutska, a young Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte (NC) light rail train in what was apparently an unprovoked/random attack. ndtv.com+4Fox News+4ABC News+4
   • Some people drew attention to the fact that the attack was caught on video, and that passengers did not or could not intervene, raising questions about bystander culture, public safety, and moral responsibility. Fox News+1
3. UMass Boston “Shots Fired” Report / Campus Lockdown (Sep 11-12)
   • On September 11, UMass Boston campus had reports of shots fired (or a “public safety threat”) around the residence hall / campus center. A large police response; buildings evacuated. CBS News+3WCVB+3GBH+3
   • Later, after investigation, no evidence of gunfire or active shooter was found, no injuries, and the alert was called “all clear.” WCVB+3WBUR+3GBH+3
   • Even as a “false alarm,” it stirred fear, reminded people of vulnerability, especially in educational settings.
4. Broader Media & Social Amplification of These Events
   • The Kirk assassination video spread rapidly online. People dissected motive, response, security at public/political events. PBS+2Wikipedia+2
   • Debates arose over how much violence, political polarization, and safety concerns are escalating in public life. This touches on cultural, spiritual, and moral anxieties — fertile ground for Gospel urgency.
5. Other Threats / Campus Safety Alerts (False or Real) Across U.S. Universities
   • Besides UMass Boston, there were similar emergencies/alerts at universities (e.g. unverified threats, reports of possible shooters) that turned out to be false but still spread panic. These sort of near-miss or perceived threat events contribute to a sense that “this could be us.” (An example: UMass Lowell had a lockdown earlier in the month after reports of a man carrying a long weapon which turned out to be false / unclear. New York Post)

Why These Became “Wake-Up” Moments –

Some reasons these resonated with and made people more open to existential/spiritual questions:

• Visibility & Proximity: Schools, universities, public transit — places people trust to be safe — were the scene of either real violence or fear of violence. When those places are threatened, people sense insecurity more deeply.
• Innocence & Vulnerability: The victim in the train stabbing was a refugee; in the university alerts, students concerned about being caught in violence. These stories highlight innocent people suffering, not just “collateral” victims.
• Public / Media Amplification: Videos, social media, 24-hr news made these events unavoidable. They weren’t isolated local reports; they became national conversations. It’s easier for spiritual reflection when suffering is seen, heard, empathized with widely.
• Moral Questions: People ask: What responsibility do we have? Why don’t more people help when someone is attacked? What does it mean for a society to tolerate or be complacent about random brutality or political violence? These are doors for Gospel truth: sin, fallenness, redemption, hope, justice, love in action.
• Fear & Uncertainty: When panic or threat seems random, people’s sense of control fails. In that vulnerability, many are more open to hope, cause, purpose, protection.

[2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV] 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

• Brian always says that – Friction causes us to seek after > Godly Wisdom—which causes us to perform in > Obedient Action—which finally causes us to gain > Traction which is produced by Trusting in Christ and Growing in our Faith—We become filled and comforted by him to find Peace, Purpose, Comfort, and Hope > SALVATION!

Only Christ can give or bring about True Salvation—all we are called to do, is to carry his message of Peace and Purpose, Comfort, Hope and Life as his ambassadors of Salvation that rest only in our Lord Jesus Christ! We tried to obediently carry that out in Boston and God truly showed us a miracle in the responses that people gave to our invitation and the gospel—Many, many people took the “Life is a Team Sport Survey” of which we could not believe that nearly half the people said that they would like to receive an invitation to Living Faith Boston and of those we were able to share the gospel one on one with several others, truly a Miracle, PTL!