This past Sunday, the weather was dark and drizzly outside. But as I shook off an umbrella and headed indoors to the Hoboken Grace Kids costume party, a little girl yelled, “It’s raining cotton candy!!” Weird analogy but okay? I thought. To my surprise, nothing dispersed that feeling of a gloomy day like […]
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Once a year we dedicate one Sunday to a very special celebration. And this past Sunday we had over 1,200 people join us to be a part of 31 children being dedicated! It was such a special day, and we are so grateful for all of the families and their little ones. We believe that what happens at home is more important than what happens in church […]
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As parents, one of the many things we do is worry. It’s natural. We love and care for our children so much and have a huge responsibility to take care of them in so many ways that it can lead to so much worry. We can’t help but wonder… Will they do well in school? Will they make friends? Will they make wise choices? [...]
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One of the most important principles for us to engage as a church family is the principle of "The Third Voice." It's not simply a principle for families to consider. It's a principle for all of us to consider. Every year, twice a year, we make a public commitment to create a safe place for the kids of Hoboken Grace to meet Christ. We commit to show them the authentic love [...]
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Before moving to Hoboken, Ben and Adrienne had spent much of the past few years overseas. Their careers had taken them to Afghanistan, where they’d often go weeks without being able to see each other. When they moved to Hoboken, they were finally in the same place at the same time. They wanted to spend as much time together as possible and were [...]
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I wasn’t one of those people. I didn’t dream of working with kids. I didn’t choose a career that involved kids, and when I was asked to serve in Grace Kids as part of my role at Hoboken Grace, I had to reassure myself that it would only be a temporary thing. However, several months (and now years) into being on [...]
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When I started serving in Grace Kids over a year ago, I saw it as a way to give back to a ministry that had done so much for my family of four. As a “fill-in mom” who served a few times a month, I’d bounce around to different classrooms — wherever I was most needed. For those first few months, I felt excited to be there, to be with the kids [...]
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Walk around 301 Garden this Sunday and you’ll likely see some new faces — Wonder Woman, storm troopers, Moana. They’ll carry clinking lightsabers and twinkling tiaras. And while these little ones have waited weeks for Grace Kids’ Costume Party, their teachers are just as excited. They, too, have spent weeks thinking about their costume. [...]
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When Monica began attending Hoboken Grace, she didn’t join a team right away. She decided to wait on God to direct her to what He had in mind. Months later, she heard Pastor Chris mention there was a growing number of children with special needs in Grace Kids — and a need for a program just for them. “My heart leapt,” said Monica. It was the call [...]
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When Nate and Natalia moved to Hoboken, one of their biggest prayers was that they’d find a church where they felt comfortable going to service while their two young children attended Sunday School on their own. But the idea of leaving their kids with someone they didn't know felt completely nerve-wracking. But they also wanted to put God first, [...]
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“I was looking for a new way to serve at Hoboken Grace and I had a conversation with a friend who mentioned that there’s a huge need for male leaders in Grace Kids,” Josh says. “It kind of threw me off. It wasn’t on my radar. I wasn’t thinking about serving in kids ministry. I’d never really done that before and I really didn’t think I connected [...]
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When Carla’s daughter Nora tried Grace Kids for the first time, it wasn’t the easiest of transitions. Tears streamed down her face and she wailed in protest as Mom attempted to leave. So Carla stayed, hoping Nora would grow more comfortable. The same thing happened week after week. Nora would burst into tears, so Carla stayed instead of [...]
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When I first started serving in Grace Kids, I approached it with a mindset of “what can I teach my class?” I couldn’t imagine how much these kids would teach me and change my life in a year’s time – bringing me back to a childlike faith and speaking God’s word to me in simple, applicable ways.
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Like many people, my parents divorced when I was young, and it was not pretty. I was angry about my childhood for a long time. I needed healthy parents. I needed a safe place to live where I was loved. I needed to be encouraged and sustained. But God didn't waste my childhood hurts. He knew all along that He would use them for good in my life and in the lives of the people around me.
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By 1 p.m. last Sunday, craft time was over in Grace Kids. The Play-Doh, crayons and construction paper had been packed up. But in an apartment just a few blocks away, craft time was just beginning for the Little Steps teachers. They spent hours measuring, tracing, snipping and gluing costumes for the Grace Kids Costume Party. This year, they're going as Goldfish ― as in the snack.
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