Hope fellowship church is a church that really does care about everyone the people are supper friendly and so are the staff and elders

I saw a couple reviews that mentioned the church's Southern Baptist Convention roots and just wanted to speak to that. I understand the resistance, truly I do. The past year that I have been in Boston has involved a lot of researching denominations and trying to understand them and the SBC certainly is a hard one to grapple with for many. But no matter how many times I've ventured elsewhere, I *always* come back to Hope Fellowship. Mostly, that is because I'm convinced that Hope Fellowship is led by godly, prayerful people and that the Spirit is bearing fruit here. Again, trust me, I get the doctrinal disputes and I struggle with the SBC on certain issues. At Hope, the leadership doesn't shy from hard topics but it also doesn't give black-and-white, pre-scripted answers; nor does it give wishy-washy, ungrounded ones. I've only ever seen Hope leadership tackle highly sensitive subjects in a nuanced, thoughtful, and humble way. Even if you don't agree 100%, you know you can share your perspective with leadership and be heard and loved. Furthermore, personally, I've found that this church has a refreshing way of incorporating confession and also rejoicing in God's mercy. During each service we have a call-and-response of a Psalm and then a prayer of confession and then a passage reminding us of how we have been redeemed from that sin. It's so balanced and thoughtful and, to me, really models what we see throughout Acts as people come to faith--a rhythm of repentance and joyfully accepting God's grace. If you are looking for a church that does not shy from tough questions and that will continually extend the love of Christ to you and motivate you to do the same for others, this place does that. read more

Will I go to hell for giving a church a bad review? I grew up Greek Orthodox and went to church every Sunday plus all the holidays, feasts, etc. When I moved to California I started attending a non-denominational church and it took me a long time to get used to the casualness but I really enjoyed the long sermons. To me it was like an extended Bible study. I have been looking for something similar since moving here and decided to try Hope. To be fair, I have only gone one time, but there was enough that I didn't like. -People really weren't that welcoming. No one talked to us. People didn't move to make room for more people coming in when the place got full (ie moving a coat off an empty seat) -A woman from a pregnancy counseling center started off the day by telling us that 1 in 4 babies in Mass are aborted. The pastor followed up by urging us to donate "lots of cash" to this center, because donating time is not enough. -The sermon was about redemption and how Jesus paid a price for our redemption. Once we are redeemed we are to become zealous about good works (Titus 2:11-15). We were again reminded that the best way to do this was to make "large donations" to the church. I believe in tithing, but my salvation is not dependent on how much I give. - The guy next to me was on his Facebook on his iPhone. Slightly distracting. IT just felt really skeevy. Not the place for me. read more

So, I think that it is definitely appropriate to write Yelp reviews for a Church - if Yelp is about actual people sharing their experiences with local businesses and services, the same principle applies. For someone looking to attend a new church, like I was several months ago, hearing others experiences can take away a lot of the worry. We attended Hope Fellowship the first time on a Sunday morning in January after seeing their signs in the T Stop in Porter and wanting to give it a shot. We were super nervous and didn't know what to wear or anything. I will give Hope Fellowship an amazing amount of credit for creating one of the most welcoming, inviting, inclusive, and accepting environments you could hope for. Truly, come as you are with an open mind and heart. Most people are on the younger side with a lot of local students and young professionals. Most people wear jeans, shorts, flip flops, sneakers whatever, so don't worry about wearing a suit or tie or anything. Pastors Curtis and Dane are great leaders and have an uncanny knack for making the Bible super accessible and relevant that almost every week they touch on a big issue that we have been wrestling with in our lives or had a big discussion about the day before - it is crazy and I never expected to have that sort of connection. They post all the sermons on the iTunes podcenter if you wanted to check it out ahead of time, but nothing really compares to being there in person. Additionally, the church has lots of opportunities to get involved in the local community and offers lots of chances to get to know people and meet others in a really comfortable setting. Attending Hope Fellowship has been a really enriching and powerful experience over the past several months and it never would have started if we hadn't just taken a chance and came that first time! read more

Hmm...maybe I'm the first one to rate the church, because it's not really appropriate to rate a place of worship. However, I wanted to let yelpers know what to expect when they visit Hope. It's very close to the Porter Square T. The dress is very casual. The music is more modern (usually drums, bass and guitar). The first time I visited I felt so welcome. Everyone wears name tags, so you don't have to worry if you aren't great with names. The service starts with time for praise and worship then there is a message given by the pastor. Afterwards there are snacks in the back and it's pretty easy to meet new people and mingle. You should visit for sure! Services are at 9 am and 11 am. read more

Hope Fellowship church has been a huge blessing to my wife and I since we moved to the area in July. We actually visited a few times last summer when we were testing the waters of a possible move to the Boston area. Sundays: Curtis' preaching of the Bible is incredibly applicable to our everyday lives. That is, we are simultaneously challenged to live out the Gospel by loving our neighbor/city/family/friends in practical and tangible ways as well as empowered by the Gospel to do that loving. Curtis and the other elders are consistently walking around before the service begins to say hello and check in, which is encouraging. Worship is very encouraging as well - a great mix of hymns and contemporary music that are centered on Jesus. Childcare at the 9am service is well run and safe. Our daughter loves being with the other kids and we are confident she's well taken care of. This also allows us to focus on the sermon, which is a huge blessing! Community Groups - We attend a rather large community group that has also been very edifying as we come together to discuss and apply the sermon text from the week before. We have challenging and encouraging conversations followed by smaller group prayer where we get to know one another better and be in one another's lives. We're grateful! *I realize I used "encouraging" a lot in this review - that's because I am! By that I mean that I see and here - am heartened and enlivened by the love of God in the Gospel of Jesus through every point of contact with this local body of believers in Christ. We are consistently and continually pointed to the Scriptures as God's Word and Jesus as our only hope for knowing him and entering into relationship with him. read more

This church is a Southern Baptist church. It's not listed publicly, but it's part of the SBC's Baptist Convention of New England. This means that despite the free coffee and the casual atmosphere, they believe every word of the Baptist Faith and Message (google it, I can't put links here.) They keep sending me emails even though I only visited once. Leave me alone! read more

I agree with M M. I'm not sure if it IS totally appropriate to review a church... but what the heck! I'd been searching the Cambridge/Somerville area for a church for almost two years and each church I went to I felt too young, to old, to under dressed, to over dresses, not cool enough, not worthy enough, etc, etc, etc... but then I went to Hope. finally! a church that seemed like it was custom designed to suit me! I knew the moment I walked in that this was going to be my church. Pastor Curtis is genuine and very approachable. The dress is causal, I just wear what I wear everyday, jeans and a t-shirt. The music is great. The sermon is never boring. The other attendees are very friendly. There is free coffee, tea, fruit and baked goods in the back of the church. If you're searching for a church, I suggest you pay a visit to Hope. you just might find a church that fits you perfectly too. read more

Warm and welcoming. From the first Sunday my wife and I started attending, people reached out to us and made us feel welcome. The preaching every week is focused on the Gospel and the good news of our Savior. Sunday mornings at Hope are a good time to worship God, learn more about Jesus, and connect with local Christians. Community groups and ministries that happen throughout the week are even better ways to connect with other people, to serve with each other, and love other people in our community. I couldn't recommend Hope highly enough for anyone looking for a good community and to learn more about the truth of Jesus, and for Christians or non-Christians seeking a church in the area. read more

My husband and I found out about Hope Fellowship Church from an old high school friend, the only person we knew when we first moved to Cambridge from Texas last year. Since we started attending last August, the people at Hope have been such a blessing to our lives. The services on Sunday are welcoming, joyful, and encouraging. No matter if you have been attending church your whole life, if this is your first experience in church, or if you find yourself somewhere in between, Hope Fellowship strives to meet people where they are at and help them along in the journey of loving God and serving others. In addition to Sunday morning service, I have found the Community Groups (small groups that meet outside of the church once a week) a wonderful encouragement in my faith. At Community Group, we study the portion of scripture that was taught on the previous Sunday, pray for one another, and fellowship together. Lastly, this church has a big desire to serve others, thus there are many opportunities throughout the week and year to serve inside the church and outside in the community. They do a great job of communicating those opportunities each week in the worship guides given out at every service as well as on the church website. read more

Hope Fellowship church is a very welcoming place. Pastors Curtis and Dane make each service meaningful and each service just the way you want to spend your Sunday church service. Personal and meaningful they are, The Church it self is a comfortable surrounding, and inviting every Sunday. read more

just watching your Mr Stephen Mcalpin and hearing his testimony of his trust in God for protecting his family during the Cambridge, made my soul sing! Praise GOD for a sweet testimony that went out over the air to millions around the world! The bulletholes in their belongings was chilling..but..our LORD'S WORD says.."NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER".Sorry, i cant recall the book or verse because im abit upset. Our little town of WEST, just north of Waco,TX, has been wiped off the map from Fertilizer plant exploded, as im sure you know. We pray for ALL involved in both of these situations. God bless Mr Mcalpin. family. sincerely, Linda L Sanders, Flower Mound, Tx.I attend Gateway CH, Southlake,Tx. Our Pastor, Robert Morris, also needs prayer, as he was in Australia and had to be hospitalized for internal bleeding. We are awaiting info. Thanks for your prayers read more

I cannot recommend Hope Fellowship Church strongly enough! When I moved to the area I didn't know a soul, but within a few months of attending Hope I was surrounded by strong Christian Community. Pastor Curtis preaches straight from the text, we worship the Lord without fanfare and love each other deeply. Hope is my church home and family. I cannot imagine my Cambridge experience without being a part of this precious body. I hope you will consider visiting! read more

I am not a church going person. You might even say I'm something of a heathen. So I was hesitant when I got a flyer on my door telling me about the Hope Fellowship Church giving away free Christmas trees. But I went anyway and they couldn't have been nicer. I don't know what I was expecting, LOL, but they certainly weren't pushy nor did they try to pull me into their church. They were just doing something nice for the neighborhood at Christmas time, volunteering in the freezing cold to give out Christmas trees to the neighborhood folks. They were also holding a raffle and a little event for those who came with their children. They said it was the 5th year in a row they were doing it. Everyone was young (20's I'd say) and very good looking too which I wasn't expecting, LOL. Anyway, while I'm still a heathen, it's nice to see that not all religious people are judgemental . I had a good time chatting them up and if you're the church going type, I highly recommend them. They're right off Mass. Ave. in Cambridge, about a block or two up from Porter Sq. Station. read more

This was a typical Southern Baptist style service, but the congregation was almost entirely college age kids, which was uncomfortable for me as I am in my 50s. Also, at one point in the service, everyone is asked to turn to their neighbors and greet them -- this takes place in most churches, but in this case the greeting was more an extended conversation with the person sitting next to me which I found draining and would not want to have to do every Sunday. Otherwise the preaching was good and people were friendly. But again, all college age kids and most programming directed to that age group. read more

Started attending as a regular this past January after moving up from Alabama, and I honestly couldn't imagine a better church transfer experience thanks to Hope. Everyone was, and is, so welcoming, not just at church services on Sunday, but also at Community Groups during the week and any other ministry or community service opportunities we have attended. Sunday services take place in a comfortable, relaxed setting and if you're unsure of what to expect, they have a great 'visit' page on their website that gives explanations of things like what to wear, what happens when, etc. (www.hopefellowshipchurch.org). Sermons are all scripture-based and involve closely examining a portion of a book of the Bible, verse by verse. A wonderful church and community of believers! read more