“The Little Church Around the Corner”

by Terry Shanahan, Northeast Regional Minister

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

Some time ago I wrote to you about this faithful church in Gardner, Maine, which was entering into a transition period, as their long-time pastor had succumbed to cancer. They began a journey seeking their next settled pastor. That journey was a difficult one which had many starts and stops, many bends in the road. However, through this journey the folks remained faithful and continued trusting in God. Last month I was privileged to be with them as they installed their newly-called pastor. Here is the press release from that special event. Praise God for His faithfulness which endures forever.

Mission Street Congregational Church officially began a new era last Sunday afternoon. The church installed David Bodanza as its new pastor. Although Pastor Bodanza has been ministering at the church since July 21, the official installation ceremony was scheduled for September 15 so area ministers could join in the celebration. The Rev. Dr. Lars Larson of the First Baptist Church of Leominster and Rev. Terry Shanahan of the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference participated in the service. Rev. Dr. R. Gary Heikkila, who himself pastored the church for 35 years until his retirement in 1997, delivered the sermon.

The church was led by the late Pastor Dana Witty until his death in 2011. Rev. Fred Swedberg then served as interim pastor until Rev. Bodanza was unanimously selected to be pastor.

Pastor Bodanza lives in Leominster. He and his wife Brenda have four children. Pastor Bodanza is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and New England School of Law.

Ministers and churchgoers from the Montachusett area attended the installation service. “It was a celebration like none other in the history of our congregation. This has breathed life into our ‘little church around the corner,’” said Marjorie Fischer, chair of the pastoral search committee. Claude Bourgeois, treasurer of the church agreed, “This is fabulous. We have never been through this before. We love our new pastor. This is great for the church and great for the community as well.”

Mission Street Congregational Church began in 1894. It has been at 15 Mission Street in Gardner since 1914. Known as the “little church around the corner,” Pastor Bodanza said that the church should also be known as the “little church with a big heart.” He also added, “The people of this church are a very friendly, down-to-earth group of people who want to serve Jesus Christ together. I am excited about what God will do in us and through us as we grow and seek to be faithful to him.”