Jason and Bonnie Ham, The Gathering Church: Expand’s Church Planters serving in New England
Since its launch in June 2022, The Gathering, a church made up of home churches passionate about serving Springfield, Massachusetts, has been experiencing steady growth. Each week they’re seeing new faces join their gatherings and witness God working in people’s lives as they connect and serve in the community.
Adding to the intimate house church experience, The Gathering started coming together on Sundays in October 2023 at the Quinta Inn & Suites in downtown Springfield. This has allowed them to stay committed to the vision of home church settings while enjoying a larger community on Sundays.
Excitingly, On June 2, 2024, they are set to relaunch their Sunday public worship services at Pioneer Valley Christian Academy where Bonnie Ham teaches. Also new, The Gathering is in the process of establishing their first house church pastor with the hope of launching a new house church this fall.
Committed to Community and Collaboration
On April 13, 2024, dubbed “413 Day” in honor of the local area code, The Gathering brought together around 40 individuals for a purposeful cause. Collaborating with End Hunger New England, a nonprofit committed to eliminating hunger across the six New England states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), they worked tirelessly to pack approximately 10,000 meals! This collaborative effort not only made a significant impact but also fostered a powerful partnership with a local nonprofit to demonstrate the collective strength of community action with the desire to share the heart of King Jesus.
Expand’s Executive Director, Sean Thomè and fellow ministry partner Dean Trune, from Healthy Church Network, were not only able to participate in 413 Day but also to provide pastoral encouragement to Jason. They also taught leaders on discipling one’s heart and the heart of others. This teamwork effort continued as Jason Ham and Sean Thomé finished off the week by encouraging additional ministry leaders in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
