Our Story
About the Poor Peoples Church
Imagine a church where the very act of showing up is a demonstration of humility. That’s the kind of church we’re trying to be.
The Poor Peoples Church is not a place. It’s an experience.
It’s a way of rethinking what church is and rediscovering what it was meant to be. It’s a return to something much older and much simpler. Not a stage or a program, but people showing up in humility, trying to follow Jesus and live out his compassion in real life.
Jesus didn’t stay in one spot. He moved from place to place, meeting people where they were. That’s what we try to do. The Poor Peoples Church doesn’t have a permanent location. We gather when and where we can. We believe church happens wherever people show up with open hearts.
Where It Started
The Poor Peoples Church began in the early 1990s as a storefront church called Main Street Mission in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire. For over twenty years, it served people on the margins with food, friendship, recovery support, and a simple message of God’s love.
When the pandemic forced Main Street Mission to close, the heart behind it kept going. The Poor Peoples Church continued that same mission with a broader vision of inclusion and outreach. The name is inspired by the Poor People’s Campaign and the message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who reminded us that all of us are poor in some way and all of us need each other.
What We’re About
We try to live like Jesus. That means welcoming people as they are, without judgment, without labels, and without the need to pretend.
We believe in honesty, kindness, and compassion. We believe questions and doubt are part of faith. We believe in starting over and starting again. And we believe no one is too far gone.
Join us as we celebrate the truth of your beauty, dignity, and purpose.
Want to Learn More About the Poor Peoples Church?
We don’t care where you’ve been, what you believe, or how you show up. The Poor Peoples Church is a judgment-free zone where questions are welcome, labels are left behind, and everyone is accepted “as is.” You don’t have to be fixed to belong.