Message from Reverend Mar Imsong:
Listening Transforms: From Stories to Communion
The Allelon Gathering: Listening to Each Other’s Stories is a sacred space where ethnic clergy, faith leaders, and allies gather to practice empathetic listening across cultural, theological, and political divides. Culminating a six-month journey of the Ethnic Clergy Cohorts, this gathering centers storytelling as theological practice, where participants bring symbolic objects representing moments when listening shaped their ministries and callings. Through worship, plenary panels, story circles, and shared meals, we move from isolation toward communion, discovering how God weaves love across our differences.
Held at the DoubleTree in Leominster, MA, from September 18–20, 2025, this gathering is made possible through the generous grant of the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Pastoral Ministry Program, which helps strengthen collegial relationships while breaking down ethnic, cultural, theological, and political silos. Together, we will reflect on stories of when we felt heard or unheard, explore how listening can bridge divisions within the church, and envision ministries rooted in empathy and hope. As we conclude with communion and commitment, we trust that the practice of listening to one another’s stories will send us back into our churches and communities ready to embody justice, mercy, and humble discipleship in a polarized world.
Many Blessings,
Mar Imsong
When: September 18-20, 2025
Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Leominster Hotel 99 Erdman Way,Leominster, MA 01453, USA
To receive the discounted group rate, rooms must be booked by Friday, August 22, 2025
Note: you Need to complete both the steps in order to register for the event.
Steps to Register for the Event:
Step 1: Complete the registration form by clicking the button below.
Step 2: Book your room on Hilton’s website by clicking the button below (Single room per person).
Chaplain for Allelon Gathering
Rev. Michael Harvey
Interim Minister, First Baptist Church
Michael Harvey grew up in what is now the New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia. He graduated from Berea College with a BA in English in 1967 and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1972. He finds it humorous that that degree was a Master of Divinity.
He was a pastor in a small rural church in eastern Kentucky and two urban churches in Chicago before becoming the Executive Director of the Conference of Baptist Ministers in Massachusetts. He retired in June 2020, and was named the Executive Director Emeritus.
The Conference of Baptist Ministers had a book of his translations, poetry and writings published in 2020; the title is ‘Attempts at Light”. In retirement he is concentrating on reading and writing poetry. He also was worked with the First Baptist Church of Nashua as Theologian in Residence. He is now the Interim Minister at First Baptist Church in Woburn, Massachusetts.
Featured Presenters
Rev. Dr. jAMIE washam
Pastor, First Baptist Church in America
The Reverend Jamie P. Washam pastors the First Baptist Church in America, in Providence, Rhode Island. The church remains committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and Roger Williams’ founding vision of soul liberty.
A native Texan, Rev. Washam earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, Harvard Divinity School, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She was ordained an American Baptist minister through the Samuel Stillman Association 2001. She makes her home with her family in Rhode Island. Prior to pastoring in Providence, she served churches in Chicago, Illinois and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She was president of American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin in 2013-2014.
Since January 2020 she has served as the elected president of the American Baptist Home Mission Society. As an agent of God's love in the Universe, she considers it an honor and joy to follow in the way of Jesus in the church gathered by Roger Williams.
Rev. Dr. Richard haley
Treasurer, Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries
The Rev. Dr. Richard Haley is a native of Salem, Mass. After military service in the early to mid 1970’s with an Army intelligence organization, Rev. Haley graduated from Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. with a bachelor’s degree in German Language & Literature and then pursued graduate theological education at Andover Newton Theological School (then in Newton, Mass. now affiliated with Yale Divinity School) where he received a Master of Divinity degree and later a Doctor of Ministry degree.
Ordained in 1982 as an American Baptist minister, he served in pastoral ministry for 14 years and then accepted a call to return to Andover Newton where he served as Vice President for Student Services, Dean of Students and instructor of preaching for almost nine years. During that time he served as a part-time interim pastor for two congregations: Portland Street Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA and Chelmsford Street Baptist Church in Lowell, MA.
Rev. Dr. Mar Imsong
Executive Director, Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries
Rev. Dr. Mar Imsong currently serves as the Executive Director of both Massachusetts Baptist Multicultural Ministries and the ACE Center for New Americans. Rev. Imsong is a trainer, coach, mentor, public speaker, and preacher. Originally from Nagaland in northeast India, he holds a doctoral degree (Th.D.) in Social Ethics from the Boston University School of Theology.
Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri
Director of Intercultural Ministries for American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS)
As director of Intercultural Ministries for American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri is enthusiastic about continuing ABHMS’s historic commitment to relevant ministry within ethnic- and language-specific communities while also raising the attentiveness and ability of all leaders and disciples to engage in transformative work in an increasingly multicultural and multiracial society.
She says, “Transformative work that reflects the fullness of God comes through a life-long journey that includes all of God’s people. This shared journey requires commitment and intentionality by those who are privileged and/or positioned to shape the journey for others to remove all human-made barriers that limit each person’s engagement in the work and contribution to the transformation.”
Panelists
Rev. Jason Rutherford
Director, The Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society
The Reverend Jason Rutherford currently serves as Director of The Massachusetts Baptist Charitable Society, a nonprofit serving Massachusetts clergy and their families during times of need. Prior to this, The Reverend Rutherford served churches in Mississippi, Texas, Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as active participation in community organizing and service.
Ustadh Sohaib Chekima
In recent years, while traveling across several states including New York, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida, he was blessed with the opportunity to deliver Khutbas at various Masjids. With a deep-rooted passion for the practicality of Islam, his sermons consistently focus on connecting the timeless guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to the daily lives of Muslims. Through thoughtful analysis and relatable themes, he strives to highlight the ever-relevant and transformative power of the Islamic faith across all times and circumstances.
Rabbi Susan Abramson
Rabbi at Temple Shalom Emeth
Rabbi Susan Abramson has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Shalom Emeth in Burlington, Massachusetts since 1984, making her the longest-serving female rabbi in the state. With over four decades of service, she is widely respected for her commitment to spiritual leadership, interfaith collaboration, and community outreach.
A graduate of Brandeis University (B.A., 1976), Rabbi Abramson was ordained at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in 1981 and later earned her Doctor of Divinity degree in 2006. In addition to her rabbinic leadership, she is a prolific author, best known for the Rabbi Rocketpower series of Jewish children’s books and Challah: A Chewish Guide to the Torah.
Rabbi Abramson is deeply engaged in interfaith and social justice work. She co-founded Stars of David, a support group for Jewish families with adopted children, and currently chairs the Interfaith Clergy Council of Burlington. She also hosts Spiritually Speaking, a community access TV show focused on religious and ethical dialogue, and regularly organizes interfaith and social justice events across the region.
Her efforts have earned recognition from both civic and religious communities, including honors from the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park for her leadership and outreach. Passionate about building bridges across faiths and generations, Rabbi Abramson continues to be a beacon of hope, inclusion, and compassion in Greater Boston and beyond.
Rev. Abigail Medina-Betancourt
Associate Pastor, La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Sabana Llana in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Rev. Abigail Medina-Betancourt is a dedicated pastor, intercultural leader, and advocate for culturally responsive ministry within the American Baptist Churches USA denomination. She currently serves as Associate Pastor at La Primera Iglesia Bautista de Sabana Llana in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she was installed on December 1, 2024.
In addition to her pastoral role, Rev. Medina-Betancourt is the National Coordinator for Intercultural Engagement at the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) and serves as Associate Director of Creciendo Juntos. Through these roles, she supports leaders and congregations in cultivating cultural sensitivity and ministering effectively in diverse contexts.
Her past leadership includes serving as Puerto Rico Volunteer Coordinator for ABHMS’s “Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing Puerto Rico” initiative (2018–2020) and as Intercultural Ministries Strategist (2021–2022).
An ordained minister with Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico since 2022, Rev. Medina-Betancourt holds a Master of Divinity degree from Seminario Evangélico de Puerto Rico (2018). Her global ministry experience includes short-term missions in Thailand, Haiti, and the Republic of Georgia, and speaking engagements at theological forums in Tanzania and Brazil.
Passionate about raising up emerging leaders, she is a strong advocate for intercultural dialogue and collaboration across borders, believing that such connections enrich and deepen the shared journey of Christian faith.
rev. Robert Paiva
Vice President, MBMM
In 1985 in a small Baptist church in the city of Governador Valadares, Brazil, after hearing the preaching of the message about the parable of the two paths (Matthew 7: 13-14), Robert Paiva answered the call to the altar and accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. However, his conversion was consolidated in a small Portuguese speaking Pentecostal church in Ludlow, MA, in 1989, where he completely surrendered to the Lord after he was convinced of his call to the Ministry.
He Graduated in Accounting Sciences and Business Administration in Brazil and attended the seminar of Marlborough School of Theology for 4 years between 1994-1999, receiving the bachelor’s degree in Theology. He took a master's degree from Vision International University of Florida in 2011, receiving a master's degree in theological studies.
In January 1997, he was ordained a pastor by the Convention of Renewed Baptist Churches in America-CIBRA, founded by the late reverend Antonio Barbosa Lima. From 1997 up to 2001 he served as assistant pastor and eventually replace the senior pastor at Rivers of Living Water International Ministry-Mirav, after she left for Missouri in November 2001, and since that date he continues as the senior pastor. During all these years serving the Lord, he had the opportunity to disciple and train many pastors and leaders, and continues to do so, because this has been his calling.
Rev. Amy Clark Feldman
Board Director, MBMM
Pastor Amy Clark Feldman is an ordained minister and chaplain with the American Baptist Churches of MA, whose ministry is especially focused on building community across generations and cultures, and nurturing the spiritual lives of children, youth, and families. Before entering the ministry, Amy worked primarily in bilingual, multicultural spaces (Spanish-English) in international development, relief, and education. She has a deep love of and commitment to MBMM's work weaving God's love across cultures, and is grateful to serve on the board.
Agha Mehdi Ali
Agha Mehdi Ali has been an integral part of Greater Boston Community since 2014. Four years ago, with the help of others, they founded Nejaf Islamic Center in Milford. Currently, they serve as the Head and Imam of the organization. Ali actively engages in interfaith dialogue and leads all the ritual prayers offered at the mosque, including Sunday School, Ramadhan, and Muharram rituals and worship. These rituals are attended by Shia Muslims from diverse backgrounds across the Tri-state region. Additionally, Ali is fluent in English, Urdu/Hindi, and Persian, speaking six languages in total.
MBMM Team Members
Rev. VERONIQUE LAPAIX
PROJECT DIRECTOR, MBMM & ACE CENTER
Veronique Lapaix originally from Haiti is a former member of the Board of Directors at MBMM and the leader of the Mixed Haitian ECG. She also serves as an instructor and Ethnic Relations Lead at the TABCOM School of Ministry, and currently is the TABCOM Haitian Pastors Liaison.
A graduate from Mass Bay Community College and UMass Boston, she holds an AS in Early Childhood Education, a BA in Spanish, and a Master in Elementary Education. She also holds a MA certification in ESL.
REV. JAMES LEAVITT
TPMP Director
After spending more than 20 years in the business world, Rev. Jim responded to a call to ministry and attended Andover Newton Theological School where he earned his Master of Divinity degree in 2011.
Since that time, he has worked with other pastors since 2012 when he accepted a call to be the Association Resource Coordinator for the Merrimack Valley Baptist Association of the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts.
In his role as Program Director for the Thriving Pastoral Ministry Program, he now works with many more pastors from diverse cultural backgrounds, and working together we seek to develop resources that will help pastors thrive in their ministries.
