The vision and story of the 521 Collaborative
Transforming the spiritual landscape of New England by accelerating churches and networks in renewal and multiplication.
Movement Makers
Pastors and church leaders who are active or beginning to embrace their calling to be a sending and multiplying church.
Network Leaders
Leaders of associations, denominations, and movements who are invested in reaching New England for Christ.
Renewal Resourcers
Leaders who are investing in helping struggling churches return to health or find a way to be replanted, so we do not lose any Gospel outposts in New England.
Local Church Pastors
Faithful shepherds from the city block to the backroad town who are seeking God and pursuing renewal and health.
521 acts as a catalyst and connector for Kingdom collaboration across New England—like a Chamber of Commerce, but for Gospel impact.
Relationships
We are super connectors and bridge builders.
Awareness
We have the pulse of the region, including emerging trends and opportunities.
Frameworks
We build initiatives to be customized and contextualized.
Tools
We curate and create resources and partnerships.
Stories
We show and tell what God is doing in New England.
We are working to accelerate effectiveness in four domains.
Catalytic Churches
Churches that are resisting the trend of church consolidation and becoming centers of sending.
Micro-Networks
Collectives of 3-10 churches focused on multiplication.
Networks/Denominations
Established networks sharing ideas, resources, and even church plants as we seek first the Kingdom.
Church Renewal
Finding health, rediscovering mission, or replanting.
“521” (five-two-one) is based on the parable of the three servants in Matthew 25. Jesus’ message tells us that fruitfulness isn’t measured by how much we are given, but by how we invest in what is entrusted to us.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:23
In 2017, Grace Church in Avon, MA, started the 521 Conference. In the following years a rising burden to see networks and churches collaborate beyond denominational and tribal lines developed. Pastor Sean Sears and Executive Pastor Brian Beauford began envisioning a new collective of movement makers in the region, united to see the 1522 municipalities in the six New England states saturated with the Gospel. The need for renewal, multiplication, and development was abundant. The dream is to connect to 60 churches or micro-networks that will plant a church in New England every four years, resulting in over 1,000 new churches in the next 20 years.
This burden has developed into the 521 Collaborative. With a vision to build a region-wide movement, Andy Needham was brought on as Executive Director in 2025.
Andy Needham is a connector and catalyst for churches and ministry leaders. He serves as Executive Director of the 521 Collaborative, a movement of networks and churches in New England focused on revitalization and multiplication. A New England native, he has spent the past two decades as a champion for the local church. He and his wife, Bethany, love to serve together and co-host the “Slightly Off Script Marriage Show.” They have two young adult children and a sweet old Golden doodle named Fenway.
Email: andy@521Collaborative.com
D.L. Moody