Chapel of the Cross: Westborough, MA

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Derek Duncan

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From Derek

Julie and I met while working with Campus Crusade for Christ.  We have both felt a calling to ministry as a fundamental part of our lives and marriage.  God used Crusade to not only turn our lives around, but to unite us in a ministry philosophy that would enable us to serve Him in different settings.

We have been married 23 years and have three awesome kids.

Kensie (almost 20 - yikes).  She is a sophomore at Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. She is currently studying elementary education.

Carter (14) He loves everything sports, especially football and basketball.

Caleb (10) Also loves sports.  Has a passion for acting and helping children.

We both love to do anything in the outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking.  We also love to travel and explore new places.  Also, we love anything to do with animals, especially dogs.

My extended family lives in Arkansas, Texas, and Washington State and Julie’s family lives in Texas. Although we live in Indianapolis, my heart is with the Kansas City Chiefs. So I can cheer for the Patriots with full sincerity when they play the Colts.

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Why have you been drawn to Chapel?

While preaching a sermon on Abraham’s faith, God began to work in my heart in an unexpected way. I sometimes would rather teach the concepts of submission and surrender than live them out myself. But God was unwavering in His leading that I needed to leave my “home” and follow Him to a new “land” or place of ministry. All followers of Christ face times when they must step out in faith and respond in obedience to Him. This was one of those times for me. I love East 91st Street Christian Church and its wonderful people. I rejoice and I am humbled by all of the incredible things God has done over seven and a half years. However, we have a responsibility to continue to listen and follow His voice, even if it means leaving a place of comfort and love.  So, my wife and I stepped out in faith and began to pray about where God might be leading us next.  At the time I had no idea what God was doing, but I found peace and courage in the passage of the Bible that says, “without faith it is impossible to please God.” 

 During this time, I have to admit that I was not envisioning a move to New England to serve in a body like Chapel of the Cross.  In fact I had only been to Boston one time 23 years ago on my honeymoon.  But through some very unusual circumstances, God made it clear that He was up to something.   As I got to know Chapel, my spirit and mind were captured by the mission to reach New England with the good news of Christ. And as I prayed and explored other ministry opportunities, it became clear to me that my place of service was with the mission and people of Chapel.

Philosophy of Ministry

I am very committed to the unity of believers as expressed in phrases like these:

  • Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent. 
  • In essentials, unity; in opinions, liberty; and in all things, love. 
  • We are not the only Christians, but we are Christians only. 
  • No creed but Christ.