what church can be
an optimistic vision + some blueprints
Pastor and church planter Matthew Kruse's deeply loved hometown of Boston is a decidedly secular city where the gospel is primarily met with disinterest or disdain. The average Bostonian - wounded by one of the worst scandals in American church history and convinced that they have no need for "religion" - is out on church. And yet, by God's grace, Kruse has not only helped birth a beautiful and viable church that is thriving among the locals there, but he's also helped build a family of contextualized churches who are loving and leading New Englanders to the grace of the gospel.
In What Church Can Be, Kruse fuses theological exposition with personal memoir and a bevy of helpful blueprints into an optimistic and executable vision for leaders who are seeking to build healthy church cultures that foster gospel advance.
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What Church Can Be
An Optimistic Vision
(With Some Blueprints)
Coming soon...
Hey world, I've written a book.
You're gonna love it.
It's about doing church in post-Christian America.
And it's optimistic, because Jesus promised to build His church ... and that promise still holds.
We built this website to get you familiar with the book. If you'd like to be among the first to know when it's available, give us your email below.
Until then, feel free to explore the links above.
Yes, let me know as soon as What Church Can Be is available.
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I am Lead Pastor of Seven Mile Road Church just north of Boston. We planted the church in 2001 and have seen seven churches planted out of the original Seven Mile Road (which I still lead): Malden, Wakefield, and Waltham (Massachusetts); Kennebunk (Maine); Philadelphia (Pennsylvania); Houston, Missouri City (Texas). Another Seven Mile Road church is in the works in Hyannis (Massachusetts).
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We've been a part of the Acts 29 Network since 2004.
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I have spoken plenarily, led breakouts, and/or participated on panels at events sponsored by The Gospel Coalition New England, Acts 29, Gospel Alliance of Maine, Atlanta Church Planting Alliance, Advance Initiative, and SEND Network (Boston).
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Our work in equipping and mobilizing women for gospel advance through the local church was featured on The Gospel Coalition/Acts 29 Churches Planting Churches podcast.
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Grace and I have been married since 1996 and we have four quickly-growing-up sons and daughters who you'd love. I won't be winning any father-of-the-year awards, but I do love these kids and trust God with their lives.
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I have an MBA from Boston University. (Yes, church planting was a beautiful surprise.)
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I am a tentmaking pastor, working part-time in educational finance.
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I’ve written extensively on a personal blog, co-authored three original worship songs, launched a podcast on valuing, loving, and gospeling women in the local church (Kalos Conversations), and developed year-long discipleship intensives for training future pastors (Ox Track, which we’ve run over 30 men through, with many now serving actively in ministry at or beyond Seven Mile Road), women disciple-makers (Kalos Track), and young men (Future Men).
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I grew up just north of Boston and was born again at a church on the Revere Beach Parkway in 1985. If you’ve seen Good Will Hunting, The Town, or Gone Baby Gone, you’ve seen my world.
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I am a wicked bad sinner, ransomed by the love of the Father, the work of the Son, and the power of the Spirit. Down at the bottom of my life - the ground that everything else is anchored to - is the grace of God in Christ. That's it. And that's enough.
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I don't drink coffee, brew craft beer, own skinny jeans, or know what pilates are. Sorry.
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I do love the gospel, my family, the church, and Bostonians.
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I also play a little pickup, here and there.