Fifteen years ago Frank Houston, the father of well-known Hillsong Church senior pastor Brian Houston, prophesied over Don
The Braswells are pastors of Metro Church in Marlborough, Mass. After seeing little-to-no growth for more than five years, it seems the charismatic congregation has broken through the barriers that have held back many other New England assemblies.
Indeed, Metro Church is now the fastest-growing church in Massachusetts. But blowing the lid off required plenty of prayer and a new strategy.
“Contrary to popular belief, rapid growth in a church is possible in New England,” says Don Braswell, senior pastor of Metro Church. “We made a decision to no longer let trends and tradition define our church. We embraced a growth strategy birthed in prayer, and it was as if God was just waiting for us as a church to step out by faith.”
Based in a region known as a graveyard for Christian ministries, Metro Church has witnessed 53 percent growth in church attendance in the last six months alone. As many as 400 people attend weekly services. The church recently added a second service on Sunday morning to accommodate the rising demand.
Although the growth happened rather suddenly, God started providing signs of an explosion after Easter 2011. At the Resurrection service, the church overflowed with people seeking God—or at least answers to life’s challenges. It wasn’t long until unusual things started to happen.
About six months ago, for example, the church leadership team moved dozens of children into a different room. Staff was expecting to see empty seats in the main sanctuary. Instead, those seats were filled with 50 new people.
“I always knew Metro Church would experience an avalanche,” says Nadine Tanoury, who has been attending the church for more than a decade. “The surprise—more excitement than anything—came in the timing. We have prayed and believed for years and now we are seeing the answer.”
Metro Church also reports more prayer answers—and more miracles. Braswell says people have been healed of cancer and muscular dystrophy, marriages have been saved, families have been restored, and people are finding jobs. What’s more, the Holy Spirit is touching the hearts of the lost. A man covered in tattoos once cried after a service, uttering, “I met Jesus today.”
Outreach is a key part of the mix. The church’s leadership and creative team developed innovative ministry tools to help all members carry out the Great Commission. Those tools include outreach cards and campaigns complete with bracelets and videos.
“Once the amazing, well-intentioned people in our church really grasped that they don’t have to be overly religious or be Bible-thumpers to facilitate an outreach movement,” Braswell explains, “they started to relax and simply tell their story, and God began connecting people to Himself through simple accounts of God’s goodness.”
It has taken more than 25 years for rapid growth to unfold at Metro Church. Braswell says he believes the fulfillment of his vision—and the prophecy—for Metro Church is beginning to happen. He credits the Holy Spirit.
“Deep down inside, the people of Massachusetts are yearning for the reality of the Holy Spirit,” says Braswell. “I see this region of the Northeast being transformed from a graveyard for Christian ministries into a new birthplace and what ultimately will be a launching pad.”
See an error in this article?
To contact us or to submit an article
