Seeking Grace, Students Flock to New Church

Two years ago, Russell J. Schlecht felt a sudden urge to move to Boston and start a church.

“One day I was in one of my buddy’s offices, talking about Boston. I had never been past Texas,” he says. “I just felt it in my heart; I’m supposed to go to Boston.”

The result is Grace Street Church, next door to The Inn at Harvard, which every Sunday evening at 7:15 p.m. is bursting with new-age worship music and students raising their arms in praise of God.

Started by Schlecht and a group of evangelical Christians from California and Washington, Grace Street has been providing a small but growing number of Harvard students a place to worship for the past two years.

In the past, evangelical Christians, who often prefer a more emotional and freewheeling worship style than more traditional churches offer, haven’t had many options for worship at Harvard. Many rode the “T” into Boston every Sunday morning to attend Park Street Church, and others went to a small church near Boston University. But now, Harvard’s evangelical students—a loosely defined group with a total membership of about a few hundred—are finding a new home within easy walking distance from their dorms.

“One nice thing about thing about Grace Street is that it’s really convenient,” said Hannah E. Kenser ’04.

Grace Street is part of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, a denomination concentrated primarily on the west coast.

The church’s numbers are sizable considering that almost none of its congregants are of the denomination by upbringing—a fact which highlights Foursquare’s goal.

According to James C. Scott, the local District Supervisor for Foursquare at the time Grace Street was founded, Foursquare’s mission is to create a place where people from all backgrounds feel comfortable.

“We are an inter-denominational ministry,” he says. “We intentionally want to bridge.”

After making the decision to move to Boston, Schlecht divulged his plan to friends within the Foursquare church, and some decided to go with him.

None had any ties to Boston.

Upon his arrival in New England, Schlecht said he and his crew searched for a location for their church.

“We just prayed and shopped around,” Schlecht said.

After telling people about his vision and spreading word via e-mail lists and word of mouth, checks started to trickle in by mail from across the country.

After a few months, Russ and company settled into the old Cambridge Baptist Church.

Call Him Russ

Schlecht often begins his sermons with a personal story to draw the congregation in, not afraid to use himself as an example to deliver a message.

“Watching the response of the students is unreal,” says Schlecht.

“He shares a lot about his own struggles and faith journey,” says Daniel R. Bryan ’02, who started attending Grace Street services as a student at the College.

Students also say his youthful language—he uses “totally” and “man” frequently—make them feel at ease around Schlecht.

“He’s not old and boring,” says Simeon M. Zahl ’04.

Schlecht said that at first, the idea of ministering to college students intimidated him.

“The last place I wanted to be was next to Harvard,” he said.

But, as it turns out, Grace Street has never had to contend with low numbers—Harvard has given it a healthy endorsement.

“We haven’t advertised at all—just word of mouth,” Schlect said, and yet even for the first meeting a large crowd turned out.

“It’s a place everyone wants to go on Sunday night,” said Matt M. Mulder ’05.

Schlecht is also a chaplain for the United Ministry at Harvard.

The Faithful

Though they come from different backgrounds, Grace Street’s congregants offer similar reasons for attending the church.

Over and over, they cite the church’s friendly, welcoming atmosphere and commitment to acts as well as worship.

For many, there is also a history of dissatisfaction with previous churches.

Jennifer M. Chen ’04 recalled her search for a regular church two years ago.

“Freshman year I was shopping around for a church. I couldn’t find a place I was satisfied with,” she said. “I like the atmosphere at Grace Street.”

The original founders have gone a long way towards making the church of friendly place for newcomers.

An unfamiliar face can’t walk into the church without being greeted by almost everyone.

“I come here because it’s small and has a real sense of community,” says Zahl.

“People I’ve talked to who have come to the church tell me it is very friendly and welcoming,” said Mulder.

The Preaching Hour

The numbers at Grace Street vary from week to week.

More than 50 will attend the more crowded services—most of them Harvard students.

A service at Grace Street consists of songs, a 10-minute break to socialize, communion, and a sermon by Schlecht— sermons which get rave reviews.

“He tries to make the sermon applicable to student’s lives,” said Chen. “He knows a lot of students spend time there.”

“He’s funny, he’s real,” said Zahl. “He’s not just lecturing—he’s engaged with his congregation.”

About once a month Grace Street has a “compassion service,” where congregants make gifts for the local homeless and elderly, in place of the regular sermon.

“The shining moment for the pastor is the sermon, and he’s willing to put that aside,” said Mulder.

The compassion service is part of the church’s larger goal of encouraging its congregants to minister and not just worship.

“We encourage them to think beyond themselves,” said Terry A. Richarde, one of the founding members of the church.

The focus on service is appreciated by its Harvard congregants.

“Truth is important but it doesn’t matter unless you live it out,” said Benjamin T. Littauer ’03.

The Future

Running a startup church on the donations of college students is no easy business, but Schlecht manages to get by.

“It’s month by month,” Shlecht said of the church’s finances.

He recalled one month when the church was short of next month’s rent, due the next Monday.

Shlecht prayed with his friends and that Sunday, enough came in to keep the church afloat.

Shlecht is not sure what his future will hold, but he is sure of one thing—that it will include Harvard.

“We’re supposed to be here for Harvard,” he said. “I’m here for good.”

—Staff writer Andrew C. Campbell can be reached at acampbel@fas.harvard.edu.