CLJ: A Brief Look at its History
Origins of Congregation Lion of Judah
Originally known as Central Baptist Church, Congregation Lion of Judah was founded in 1982 in the city of Cambridge, with the purpose of addressing the spiritual needs of Hispanics in the Boston area. Since its inception, it has attracted members of the Latino community from all over the Greater Boston area.
At present, our congregation includes people from practically all of Latin America. In addition, through our English Ministry we attract members from many other parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, the English-speaking Caribbean and North America. Our members live and work in many of the neighborhoods and areas adjacent to Boston.
Our Latino membership reflects the great diversity of people that make up the Hispanic community in the Boston area. It includes immigrants from South and Central America, as well as Caribbean people who have lived in the United States all or a large part of their lives. We have teachers, social workers, members of the middle and lower class, people with doctorates and others with little education.
In 1994 we bought our first building in Boston. We moved from our original location in the city of Cambridge in order to be in a better position to serve the Hispanic community of the metropolitan area through evangelism and social service. After moving to Boston, we soon realized that God had called us not just to serve Latinos, but also the English speaking community in our city.
Our social ministries impact various aspects of the life of our community, including youth education, ministries to the homeless and drug addicted, and immigrant services. We also do a lot of social and missionary work in Central America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and support missionary work in Africa.
In 2007, we inaugurated a second building that currently serves as our Social Transformation Center, as well as providing spaces for meetings and spiritual education. In December 2013 we moved to our newly built sanctuary, a beautiful auditorium with social and educational spaces connected to our two other buildings.
We freely acknowledge that "if the Lord does not build the house, those who build it work in vain" (Ps.127.1). Our efforts will always be based on the power of Jesus Christ, and our only purpose in undertaking these projects will always be to raise him before the eyes of humanity, "so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life" (John 3:14 and 15).
Our purpose is to declare Jesus Christ as Lord of the City, as the only hope to solve the serious problems that affect our urban communities. Everything we do and acquire is for the exclusive glory of God, and for the building up of his Kingdom.
We believe passionately in the unity of the Body of Christ beyond denominations or geography. Our physical plant and ministerial resources exist to serve as a platform for the revival and strengthening of the whole Church in New England and the world.
Our Senior Pastor, Dr. Roberto Miranda, has been connected to our church since it was founded by Pastor Juan Vergara in 1982. He has been our pastor since 1985. His secular studies include a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from Princeton, and a Master and Doctorate in Hispanic American Literature from Harvard. He was officially ordained by the Conservative Baptist Churches of America in 1986. Since that year, he left his secular career to devote himself to the pastorate, and since then has served as our senior pastor. Doctor Miranda has received various academic and ministerial honors, including an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.