When Dan and Rebecca started talking about paying off their debt, they expected it would take at least five years. Instead, they paid off everything — nearly $110,000 — in three years.

“It was totally God, in different ways,” said Rebecca.

Those “different ways” start with the fact that Dan and Rebecca were looking at houses when they enrolled in Financial Peace University. They were a few years into their marriage, and buying a house seemed like the next natural step — “The American dream,” said Dan.

But as they committed to following the FPU program for nine weeks, they started rethinking that decision.

“One thing — the big thing — that Dave Ramsey preaches is that you shouldn’t be in any kind of debt,” said Rebecca. “And when we were at that point, we had student loans, we had some credit cards … we just had debt, and it was not good. And if we had gone down that road, we would have been in debt the rest of our lives.”

The class forced the couple to ask themselves whether buying a house was more of a need or a want. They started thinking about long-term goals, says Rebecca, and talking about what they actually wanted.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/HGFPUShoot-2018-MSM_9636.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/HGFPUShoot-2018-MSM%5F9636.jpg)“That’s where we set that goal for ourselves \[of getting out of debt\],” she said.

So they made a budget and committed to going all in, pinching every penny to make it happen.

But in the midst of that, God placed it on their hearts to open their home to Chloe, a student they’d met on a mission trip to North Korea who needed a host family in the NYC area. Having someone live with them for 10 months — and providing a bed, meals and everything else she’d need — was definitely not in their budget.

“I was really freaking out,” said Rebecca. “And this is where Dan was like, we need to give God a chance to show up.”

Throughout those 10 months, friends and family stepped up time and again. People donated furniture for Chloe’s room, and money for a new bed. The parents of a friend started sending checks to help with other expenses. Month after month, Dan, Rebecca and Chloe had everything they needed. And somehow, the budget always worked out.

“It was insane,” Rebecca said. “Down to the penny.”

“There was a literal penny,” Dan added. “We were paying at our laundromat in change. That week, we had all our other expenses paid off and we forgot we had to pick up our laundry. It was the final expense to keep our budget in line, and literally, we had a penny in our pocket to finish paying everything.”

When they’d made the decision to host Chloe, Dan and Rebecca accepted that their goal of getting out of debt would likely be postponed. But around the same time Chloe’s stay ended, they realized they could be debt-free if they put all of their savings toward what was left. And with that, they paid off their last student loan — the last of the nearly $110,000 they’d spent three years paying off.

“We had nothing, but we were free and we were so happy,” Rebecca said. “We were so happy.”

A few years later, that feeling of freedom hasn’t worn off. Earlier this year, Dan and Rebecca each started side businesses involving two of their passions — music and photography. Being debt-free has allowed them to invest money into both businesses, to get them off the ground. And several weeks ago, Dan took a job at a startup, an exciting opportunity that might have seemed too risky a few years ago.

What’s more, they’re rebuilding their savings and have a long-term vision for giving. They say they’re building a foundation that will eventually allow them to “give like crazy.”

“I would say the biggest thing right now is … having doors that are open to us that we can talk about what it looks like to give, in different ways, that weren’t open to us before,” said Dan.

For those just starting their FPU journey, the couple recommends committing fully to the program for the full nine weeks — following a budget, identifying weak spending habits, paying in cash. Another thing that proved crucial, they say, is learning to discern a need from a want — even if that means realizing your two-bedroom apartment is perfectly fine in the midst of a house hunt.

“We can’t recommend the program enough,” said Dan. “It’s going to stretch you in ways you haven’t been stretched before.”

_FPU launches at the end of March – start your joinery to Financial Freedom!_ [Register today.](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/groups)

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/HGFPUShoot-2018-MSM_9692.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/HGFPUShoot-2018-MSM%5F9692.jpg)


Finding Financial Freedom

At Hoboken Grace, we kicked off the summer with a series to do just that. “[Celebrating Summer](http://hobokengrace.com/series/celebrating-summer/)” asked what it would look like if this summer could be your best summer yet. What if you could come to the end and look back at something to celebrate? We explored different ways to do that, from various growth tools to embracing rest, music and community.

With Labor Day marking summer’s (unofficial) end earlier this week, we thought it was time we looked back at the summer we had at Hoboken Grace and reflect on all that there is to celebrate.

Here are a few of the many highlights.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/IMG_9605.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/IMG%5F9605.jpg)

## **Grace Kids expanded!**

As Grace Kids continues to grow, we expanded to the entire fourth floor at 301 Garden. That change nearly _doubles_ our capacity for kids rooms. (If you’ve been away all summer, don’t worry — there are elevators to get your family there!)

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-06-at-4.56.50-PM.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-06-at-4.56.50-PM.jpg)

## **New staff members**

Our staff expanded this summer! While James settled into his new role as Outreach Director, Melanie was brought on as Communications Director and Kasey was hired to oversee production and facilities. In addition, Whitney came on as an office administrative assistant who mainly focuses on Grace Kids.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/40615883_2089688997721815_6725883764372668416_o.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/40615883%5F2089688997721815%5F6725883764372668416%5Fo.jpg)

## **30 events**

From Fitness & Fro-Yo to Mambo Monday, we held over 30 events between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That included plenty of events at the pier and elsewhere.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/P1870519.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/P1870519.jpg)

## **More than 10,000 items donated**

Our Summer Collection was a huge success, thanks to you! We donated 10,591 items to help stock the shelves of three of our local partners: In Jesus Name Charities, Lunchtime Ministries and the Hoboken Shelter. That included enough cutlery for 2,850 meals, 413 rolls of toilet paper, 65 lbs of coffee, 85 lbs of sugar, 85 cartons of Enfamil and 620 juice boxes.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/DSC_7054.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/DSC%5F7054.jpg)

## **14 baptisms!**

We watched 14 people take the step of baptism this summer, making a public declaration of their faith in front of friends, family and our church family.

So here’s to fall! From Financial Peace University to 1Day and a handful of other events, there’s so much to look forward to!


A Summer to Celebrate

In the next two weeks we have 88 dinner groups starting throughout our community. We know it can be a little scary to join a group for the first time, and we know how easy it is to find an excuse to miss out on this, but there’s too much to gain! Check out 5 reasons why you don’t want the excuses or the fear to win out on this one.

#### **1\. Dinner is planned**

With summer coming to an end and a new season beginning, it is nice to know that you have one less dinner to plan each week. Dinner Groups meet weekly, share a meal together and open conversations that lead to spiritual growth. Each group does dinner in their own way. Some groups order in, some take turns cooking, others do potlucks or go out. When you sign up, the leader will let you know how they organize dinner.

#### **2\. No long-term commitment needed**

The majority of our Dinner Groups run all year long. This fall is a perfect time to try out a new group because it’s only **_7 weeks long_**! This is a great opportunity to form new relationships with others who are also trying this out for the first time. Be assured, you are not the only one who is new.

#### **3\. Consistent encouragement**

Whether it’s spending daily time with God, serving the community, being baptized, or another milestone, Dinner Group members support each other to take that next step. We are all at different points in our journey. Taking a step of faith can be intimidating, but you don’t have to take that step alone. You will have people rooting for you as you move forward and people who have your back when you fear you might fail. Dinner Group gives you a front-row seat to watch the faith of others in action. Your faith will grow as you see Him at work in the group.

#### **4\. It is a chance to be real for once**

We are always going through life trying to fit in. A lot of the time that means we have to “fake it ’til we make it.” Dinner Groups are a place where you can let your guard down and be authentic. And in this upcoming series, we are walking through the questions that are at the heart of every one of us — what is my purpose? Was I made for more? Do I matter? These are questions that we all ask ourselves, and being a part of a dinner group shows us that we are all dealing with similar struggles and similar questions. It helps to know that others are facing the same difficulties, or have already walked through them.

#### **5\. Find family in Hoboken**

The strongest families are forged by sharing a meal around a table. People have traveled from near and far to call Hoboken home. As a result, Hoboken Grace is made up of people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. It’s around these tables that you will establish and deepen relationships with people God has uniquely made and placed in your life. Your Dinner Group will grow together — enduring trials and making memories, just like a family.

We saved you a seat. Will you join us this fall?

_To learn more about starting or joining a group,_ _[ visit here](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/#join)._


5 Reasons Why A Dinner Group Is Worth Joining


_There are two sides to every story. Here Nick and Erika share what taking Financial Peace University as a married couple meant to them._

**Erika’s story**

I graduated from college with a communications degree, shaky job prospects, and some vague knowledge of the principles of Financial Peace University. My church wasn’t running FPU at the time, but I did seek out a wise, financially responsible young couple to help coach me in the right direction. I learned enough to start a high yield savings account, opened a credit card only for emergencies, and never carried a balance. As I entered adulthood, I had a decent foundation of financial principles, but there was definitely room for improvement in my financial life. I wasn’t totally irresponsible, but I wasn’t “winning” with my money, either.

In our pursuit of financial freedom, as newlyweds in our mid-twenties, my husband Nick and I made some [big sacrifices in our living situation](https://www.marriedinmilesquarecity.com/newlywed-finances-choose-your-nest/) and worked together to aggressively pay down school debt and became debt free within a year! Over the next five years, we saved up an emergency fund, but through multiple life challenges, including paying many unexpected healthcare costs and taxes, we always seemed to have to dip into that hard-earned E-fund and then work to rebuild it again. Sometimes it felt like we were treading water, unable to move forward.

This past winter, Nick came home one day not long after our son was born and said, “I think we should take FPU next semester.” Nick wanted to be prepared for the fall when all the Dinner Groups walked through the Be Rich series together. I had heard so many other FPU success stories and I knew the material was going to be great, but I was worried about diving into a complete remodel of our finances in the midst of an already ongoing remodel of our lives as new parents! Being squarely in the “fourth trimester” and still experiencing the overwhelm of having a newborn just a few months old, at first, I thought he was crazy. Could we really leave the house every week for nine weeks in a row when we were sleep deprived and living with the ever-shifting demands of a tiny baby?

However, I knew the reality of lack of focused financial momentum over the last few years, and I was halfway through my maternity leave and getting ready to head back to work full time. We were about to experience yet another shift in our new dynamic and season of life, so I knew starting from the beginning of it with a secure financial future was definitely the wisest choice. We got babysitters lined up and actually left the house together without the baby at least once a week, which ended up being a nice change of pace!

In FPU, Dave Ramsey talks about the fact that in every relationship, there tends to be a “nerd” and a “free spirit.” I consider myself maybe a rarer hybrid: the nerdy free spirit. I tend to see rules more as guidelines, but I don’t want to necessarily go so far out of the boundaries that I’ll face imminent danger. Though neither one of us was individually out of control with our spending, the best thing about taking the FPU course together was that it gave us common materials, language, and a community to lean on. We were able to clarify together what “Baby Step” we were truly on in the pursuit of total financial freedom, and make better informed decisions about what we should focus on next.

Hearing the stories of the other people in the group was just as valuable as the formal course material itself. It was inspiring to hear the goals they were setting and changes others were starting to make in their lives. In our group, we had young and more mature singles, newlyweds, couples who had been married for a while, and new parents like us. Each person brought a new challenge or perspective to the discussion and we were able to support and cheer each other on as we began to chase after our new goals with “gazelle intensity.”

While I never would have planned it this way, deciding to take FPU soon after we expanded our family was a great decision for us. Had we had the foresight, we would encourage any kid who is working through high school, any college student, or any newlyweds to take the official course sooner than later. It’s not enough to know the principles in theory, you have to create a plan and take actionable steps towards achieving those goals. Investing those nine weeks now, in what is hopefully still the first third of our lives, will have positive exponential impact on the financial futures of not only ourselves, but our children, our faith community, and the world around us.

**_Financial Peace University groups start September 9th. Sign up at [BeRichHoboken.com](http://berichhoboken.com)_**

_Read Nick’s side of the story [here](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/28325/)._

_Erika is a Dinner Groups Coach and writer of all things, including her blog,[ Married in Mile Square City.](http://www.marriedinmilesquarecity.com/)_


Becoming A Family With Financial Peace — Erika’s Story


_There are two sides to every story. Here Nick and Erika share what taking Financial Peace University as a married couple meant to them._

**Nick’s story**

With a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, the last thing I thought I needed was to take another finance course. I had spent more than enough time in college sitting in class calculating bonds and compounding interest that I felt excused from ever having to take a personal finance class. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

At work I do a lot of budgets, spreadsheets, reviewing the past to help make better decisions as we move forward, so the last thing I wanted to do was come home and do more of the same. I underestimated how much it meant to my wife Erika. While I was comfortable with my “good enough” budget that existed in my head, in reality, that was of no help to Erika.

The “good enough” budget led to a lot of repeated phrases such as: “Eh, we’ll be alright. We’re gonna be fine. We deserve a nice vacation. We’ll just pay it off next month.” Perhaps you’ve found yourself saying the same kinds of things. What I was too stubborn to see was that this attitude was actually weakening our partnership in marriage. Doing budgets and spreadsheets came so naturally to me that I underestimated how easy it was to make her feel loved and cared for by something that came so naturally to me.

Built on biblical principles, Financial Peace Univerity not just human theory. Learning these principles has affected other areas of my life, too. There’s something surprising that happens when you allow these principles to affect your wallet. It also starts to affect your heart. It’s no wonder that Jesus says in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I learned that budgets don’t just have to be about money. Because of the principals, I put to work in FPU, I’ve also learned how to budget my time better. Just like money, time has it’s limits. You’d better have a plan for every minute of it. FPU teaches you to have a plan for every dollar. If you can learn how much money you can spend on eating out, you can easily transfer that to how much time you can afford to watch television on a daily or weekly basis.

If you don’t have a plan, you’ll easily be sucked into binge-watching the next merely average show on Netflix instead of investing your time in your children or improving your community. Having a budget really makes you take a step back and evaluate how important something really is in your life. If I only get 7 hours a week to turn on the television do I really want to spend 3 of it watching a midseason hockey game with 45 minutes worth of commercials? Or is there a wiser way to spend that time? Is that trashy reality show even worth 20 minutes? It forces you to consider everything you’ve been given.

Budgets aren’t restricting. They are freeing. We need to dispel the myth that a budget is restricting. I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to my wife and I knowing what we can and can’t buy during the month because we budgeted ahead of time for it. It was exhausting to constantly check in on purchases, asking each other for permission or “can we afford it?”

I’m so glad FPU has had a major impact on my marriage, but I wish I would have taken it sooner in life, well before I ever got married or even went to college. In the months that have followed since taking it, I’ve been so impressed by how it’s influenced my life and drawn me closer to God in the process.

The FPU course is nine weeks. That’s a good bit of time, but it’s time you’ll be spending making sure you’re doing better than “good enough.” Jump in a group, learn, and encourage others in this exciting process. If we can talk about finances within our faith community, there are no limits on where we can go next. Don’t be like me, wishing you’d learned this stuff sooner. Jump in today!

Read Erika’s side of the story [here](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/becoming-family-financial-peace/).

**_Financial Peace University groups start September 9th. Sign up at [BeRichHoboken.com](http://berichhoboken.com)_**

_Nick serves as the Dinner Groups Director at Hoboken Grace._


When &#8220;Good Enough&#8221; Wasn’t Good Enough

A couple months ago I was in a season of pure, unrelenting hustle. We were a few weeks out from Easter and we were in the middle of a massive undertaking – a brand-new set for the stage. After a few set-backs (pun intended), we were finally moving along, working to reach our goal of unveiling it by the Good Friday services. Every night during the weeks leading up to Easter, I’d head to 301 Garden to work on it with a small group of committed team members. Some nights we were gluing bricks, some nights painting, drilling, assembling massive structural pieces, staining wood – there was no shortage of random tasks we were chipping away at.

It wasn’t until one of my teammates stepped back on one of those late nights and said something that made me realize how very weird this must seem to most people. It was about midnight and almost everyone else was about to leave. I, however, wanted to stay to work on tweaking a projector that wasn’t behaving (something I would end up spending more hours doing than I’d care to admit). This teammate turned to me and said, “You are pushing HARD.” Without much hesitation I looked at him and said, “Yup.”

In that moment, there were two things wrapped up in his statement:

**Was this worth it?** It’s an understandable question when you see someone working so hard – is it worth less sleep just to get a projector working right? Are you sure it matters that much? Isn’t this a little crazy?

The thing was, it WAS a little crazy. But for good reason.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/IMG_0469.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/IMG%5F0469.jpg)

As a church, everything we do reflects how we feel and think about God. With the set, we wanted to go big with what we put on the stage, showing people how important God is to us. Furthermore, we wanted to get the details right. We wanted the exposed brick to remind people of being at home in Hoboken – it’s something that’s so representative of our homes here. We wanted there to be a warm, wood element that was inviting. And the screens – we wanted to draw people into a space where they could be free of distraction and open to what God would say to them throughout a service. Getting all those details and more right was the kind of attention to detail God deserves us to give to His mission.

The other piece was this:

**I was straight-up hustling.** I was giving everything I had to see this through. Following God doesn’t always make sense and it certainly can bring you to places you would have never come up with on your own (like building a picture frame the size of my apartment). But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s this: At the end of the day I might be physically exhausted, and the next steps might still be running through my head, but I’ll know that I gave everything I had that day for Christ and for people to know Him. What could be more fulfilling than that?

In order for all those things to happen with the set, we had to push hard to get it done. But in the back of my mind, even though I was pointing a remote at a projector trying to get it to do what I wanted at 1 in the morning, I was also thinking about the person who’s coming to church for the first time in a long time, or maybe ever. By paying this much attention to detail, we’re helping communicate how great our God is and just how much He loves people.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/IMG_0485.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/IMG%5F0485.jpg)

Now all of this is just foolishness if we’re not actually following God in it. In our part of the world, hustle is often just expected of you, or even idolized — in your job, in your family, in how you approach life. We are a high-achieving, fast-paced people, and it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle for the sake of the hustle. There are three things I believe God calls us to remember in this:

**1). Do it in COMMUNITY.** There’s no way I would have actually been able to keep a healthy tab on my hustle if I didn’t have people reminding me to rest up, eat healthy and spend time with God. I had a community of friends, teammates and mentors who each spoke loving truth to me in so many ways during that season. I wasn’t always successful at doing that on my own, but them pulling me back lovingly was a huge factor in my ability to continue to hustle.

**2). Remember the WHY.** Part of that truth my community was speaking to me was reminding me _why_ we were doing this. Remembering the truth of what God has done for us by going to the cross, which allows us to come to Him and worship Him in so many ways. The WHY of my hustle was never far away, and it was important to keep that in my own face, so to speak.

**3). Pay attention to the WHEN.** Before we began the more rigorous part of our set building schedule, there was a lot of hurry up and wait. Waiting on details to be worked out, waiting for test builds to see if things worked, waiting for all sorts of things. In a lot of ways, that time was more difficult than the actual building. We wanted to get going, but knew it wasn’t time. There was even a hot second where we honestly asked God if we should wait another year to make this happen. But we prayed through it, and when the time came we jumped in with Him, ready to sweat and get ‘er done.

Hustle doesn’t have to be a bad thing and it doesn’t have to be an over-glorified thing either. How is God calling you to approach it in your life? Maybe he’s calling you to shift where your hustle is, maybe he’s calling you to get off your bum! Whatever it is for you, remember to do it WITH Him.

_Dana is the Arts Director at Hoboken Grace._

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/Sunday_08-05-2018-10.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/Sunday%5F08-05-2018-10.jpg)


The Art of Hustle

_Last Sunday, before services began, the dozens of people serving that morning gathered for a 9 a.m. Team Huddle. The gathering started out as it usually does, with teams sharing celebrations from the past week. A_ _nd then Anthony called Stephanie to the stage, announcing he was going to do something “a little bit different.” That set in motion a proposal from Stephanie’s boyfriend, Jeff, who shares below why it was so fitting that they got engaged at Hoboken Grace._

I wanted to propose to Stephanie at Hoboken Grace because it has had such a tremendous impact on both of our lives. Stephanie has been a regular attender and has served in Grace Kids since the beginning of the church over a decade ago. I started attending shortly after moving into the area seven years ago, and quickly connected with a dinner group and began serving on the Production Team. It wasn’t long before our paths crossed through mutual friends and during events at Hoboken Grace.

We were friends for several years before we started to date. When we started dating the first time, our hearts weren’t in the same place and the timing just wasn’t right, so things fizzled out. We both moved on and began casually dating other people but remained friends. God continued working in both our lives to get us to a more mature and compatible place.

Our romance was rekindled about a year ago at a friend’s wedding (someone we know through Hoboken Grace!), and we started dating again shortly thereafter. When mutual friends found out, they were as excited as we were — this was very reaffirming for us. The depth of our love has continued to grow through the biblical values and teachings that we’ve learned at Hoboken Grace and applied in our relationship. We owe everything to the Hoboken Grace community and the invaluable work God has done here!

> [](https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKnorr/videos/10102927316057195/)
> 
> She said, "Yes!" #Jeffanie #LuckyMan with Stephanie Ann and Anthony Reimer
> 
> Posted by [Jeff Knorr](https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKnorr) on Sunday, August 12, 2018


She Said Yes!

I remember when I was working full time in the performing arts, I got the name and cell phone number of a pretty famous person. I thought it was awesome just to have it in my phone. We were working on a project together, we became friends and, as friends do, we exchanged numbers. After the project finished, we stayed in touch briefly and about a year later we ran into one another on the street. We exchanged pleasantries and said we should grab dinner sometime. We pulled out our phones and realized we both already had each other’s number. My famous friend said, “Why don’t you use it?!” He was half-joking, of course, but it got me thinking. Prayer is like having God’s personal cell phone number. It’s a direct line to THE most famous person who ever lived, Jesus. And just like my friend who elbowed me into using his number, God is doing the same thing to us. He WANTS us to communicate with Him.

**“But I don’t like talking on the phone.”**

That’s okay. You can text God, too. I love writing out my prayers to Him. I keep a journal on my desk at the office and one on my nightstand. Sometimes I’d rather write out my thoughts and prayers to Him than speak them outloud anyway. It gives me a history of my messages to Him. I can go back and see how God used a situation or see how He answered a previous prayer.

**“I don’t know what to say.”**

When we look into the scriptures, we can see examples of how others prayed. Peter, who was a fisherman when He first met Jesus, tells us, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” See what Peter did there? He spoke the way he would know how to talk. He was a fisherman, so he says to “cast” all your anxiety on God. Peter is encouraging us to talk to God the way we talk to our friends and family, and to use language we already know. Love baseball like me? “Pitch” all your worries to God. Are you into lifting weights? “Heave” all your cares onto Him. Good at playing darts? “Throw” all your fears in God’s direction. You don’t need to worry about how you say it, the important thing is that you say it.

**“Does God hear me, though?”**

Absolutely. We’re taught in the Psalms that when we call to God (see, there’s that calling thing again), He hears your voice (Psalm 55:16-17). “Know that He is listening.” He has promised that we will never get a busy signal and that our prayers never go straight to voicemail. He hears them the moment we dial him. He doesn’t swipe to ignore. He doesn’t pick up His phone, see who it is and then pretend He didn’t. God always picks up.

**“How can I start?”**

Right now. There’s no better way than to take a few moments at your desk, on the train, in your car and talk to the Creator of the Universe. You don’t need to be in a particular building to do so. You don’t even need to be in a particular body position. You simply have to start talking, or, if you don’t want to say it outloud, start thinking! God hears your thoughts, too. The Apostle Paul encourages us that even when we don’t know the words to say, God knows what we need (Romans 8:26). So just bring it to Him.

**“What if I’d like someone to be praying for me?”**

You can email the prayer team at [prayer@hobokengrace.com](mailto:prayer@hobokengrace.com) or, each Sunday, we ask people to fill out their Connection Card, so we can be praying for our church family. The reason we ask you to fill one out is because it’s impossible to know and to remember everyone who comes in our doors on a Sunday morning. It’s impossible to know who’s watching on Livestream from afar. However, we recognize that all of us are in this together, and one of the things we are called to do is pray for one another.


Prayer ― Your Direct Line to God

This fall, 1,000 people will be taking the journey through [Financial Peace University](http://hobokengrace.com/berich/) at Hoboken Grace. The nine-week course has already helped countless people take charge of their finances and live a life of financial freedom. So what are some of the most important lessons from FPU? We asked five people that very question.

### Becky

I think there’s this myth that you have to be a numbers person, or you have to be an accountant, or you have to be someone who works on Wall Street to really take ownership of your budget. … The takeaway from day one was that anyone can take control of their budget. You don’t have to be an expert.

### Andy

FPU was great for me because it laid out a formula to accomplish financial freedom. It wasn’t an abstract set of ideals. Instead, it provided a comprehensive list of steps toward peace of mind.

The debt snowball, a simple yet empowering method of paying off debt, was my favorite and most influential aspect of the course. I highly recommend FPU for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of financial responsibility, as well as a plan to achieve the peace and independence that comes with properly handling your hard earned money.

### Jim & Lyla

You have to talk about the issues of where you want to spend your money. So as a couple, it forced us to really talk about, well, I do enjoy this. And you have to take all the judgment off the table. So, he might like cars, and, I might like clothes. And he might think that my spending money on clothes isn’t important, but because he loves me and wants me to be happy, and vice versa, I want him to be happy, we were able to talk about those things very openly and very frankly. So that was really helpful.

### Jeff

FPU really helped me to invest the time and effort into reining in my personal finances. By applying the biblical principles outlined in the class, I’ve become a better steward, and I have been able to live more generously and with less stress. I’m a strong believer in the program and have joined the Hoboken Grace Financial Impact Team to help others gain control over their finances too.

### Enrico

The most important thing I learned in FPU is that I’m not alone — there is hope, and everyone needs to face their own battles as they search for their financial peace. Secondly, everything doesn’t happen overnight. Patience, accountability, and full determination are key ingredients in this journey. Third, always use the 80/20 rule, which says that breaking a bad habit is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge. Lastly, use the power of automation and use technology to your advantage. You will know what I’m talking about when you join Financial Peace University.

[ Register for FPU today!](http://hobokengrace.com/berich/) 


Five Things We Learned From FPU

For most of my life, I’ve been afraid of commitment — afraid of falling short and disappointing other people. After walking into Hoboken Grace for the first time in 2012, that included my relationship with God. Not committing to a relationship with Him seemed like a better option than letting Him down.

What drew me to Hoboken Grace in the first place was a granola bar. Someone handed it to me, along with a card about the church, shortly after I moved here. Looking to meet new people — and curious why Christians were so friendly — I decided to give it a try. Little did I know I would end up crying during the worship songs. The lyrics spoke to my heart and overwhelmed me with comfort and warmth. They made me feel loved and less alone.

That feeling only grew as I joined a dinner group and started serving. While I still wasn’t looking for a long-term commitment, I offered to serve in Grace Kids one Sunday when someone in my dinner group needed help. It’d only be one time anyway, I thought. I enjoyed it so much that I’ve been serving in Baby Steps ever since. Over the years, God changed my heart from being a proud volunteer to a joyful servant.

For the most part, though, I’ve insisted on taking my own baby steps toward God, without any commitment. I was especially hesitant about taking the step of baptism, because I didn’t think I would ever be able to live up to God’s standard. Without declaring my faith as a Christian by taking that step, I thought, I wouldn’t need to worry about disappointing Him.

The truth is, I will never be able to live up to God’s standard. My salvation comes from Jesus’ love and what He did on the cross for me. I’ve already been living in His grace. There’s nothing more I want now than to declare that I’m His and that this is for His glory, not mine.

When I leaned back into the water last Sunday, I completely surrendered myself in God’s grace, knowing His love for me will never change. I’m forgiven, and with His love, I don’t need to be afraid of failing.

_Alicia wants to thank the Hoboken Grace community, especially her dinner group, for their support as she took the step of baptism. Without you, she says, I wouldn’t have found my faith and my way back to God._


A Commitment Worth Declaring

In memorizing God’s word, we allow the Spirit to bring truth into our lives at any moment as He calls us back to a passage at just the right time in just the right situation.

This month our memory verse is:

**“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”**

**John 15:5**

One of the most difficult and yet beautiful steps in our maturity as disciples of Christ is the embracing of our disabilities. The scriptures are incredibly clear that it’s in our weakness that His strength is displayed and yet we continue to act as if this journey is about our strength instead of His.

He calls us to embrace our weakness. He calls us to live in light of our disabilities.

The following book is designed to help us address two of the most destructive of our disabilities; our forgetfulness and our blindness.

Our forgetfulness robs us of living in light of His grace, His provision, His love, and His presence. We have the capacity to walk out of an incredible experience with Him and in a moment to believe the lie that He is distant. We need to develop rhythms in our lives and day that call us to remember the reality that we live and move and breathe in Him.

Rhythms also help us address our blindness because they draw us into a conversation with Him that does not cease. Rather than simply speaking to him once a day or once a week, we intentionally schedule times throughout our day to reignite our conversation with Him if by chance it has ceased. We seek to live our lives listening. We seek to live our lives attune to the voice that awakens us to the truth of God. We seek to pray without ceasing as we engage Him throughout our day rather than wasting our conversation by talking to ourselves.

Throughout history those who have known God well, those who have walked with Him, have lived lives with [rhythms](http://hobokengrace.com/rhythms/) that called them back frequently to the one they loved most. We seek to do the same. We hope you’ll join us.

[ More On Rhythms ](http://hobokengrace.com/rhythms/) 


August Rhythms


Over the past few years, I’ve [interviewed](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/category/fpu/) countless people about their success with Financial Peace University. Couples told me it made their marriage stronger. Individuals reported paying off thousands of dollars in debt. Other people said they gained confidence and clarity in their finances that they’d never had. No matter where they were, everyone seemed to walk away with huge takeaways and more money in their bank account.

And yet, when I heard these stories, I didn’t think [FPU](http://hobokengrace.com/berich) was for me. I had no debt, wasn’t married and already considered myself pretty financially savvy. So really, I thought, what could this class possibly teach me?

In some ways, I felt like I’d been a student of personal finance my entire life. Raised by a stay-at-home dad who dabbled in investing between diaper changes, I remember watching more CNBC than Barney in the early ’90s, learning the ebb and flow of the stock market before the alphabet. Growing up, my dad coached me to buy things when they were on sale, taught me which stores doubled coupons and instilled in me a weird fondness for grocery store circulars that exists to this day.

That frugalness followed me to college, where I worked three jobs before graduating a year and a half early so I’d have minimal debt. I paid off the rest six years early, tackling the loans with the highest interest first, just as my dad had taught me. I started contributing to a 401(K) as soon as I got a job, eventually paid off my car, and seemed to be doing just fine on the meager journalism salary my college friends and I once joked would keep us eating ramen noodles forever.

But something changed around the time I moved to the Hoboken area. I started dipping into my savings to pay off my credit card at the end of each month. I racked up brunch and bar tabs and booked expensive vacations, swiping my credit card left and right like it was nothing. I was living in a city where most people don’t seem to worry about money, in an era of Treating Yo’self and Instagrammable vacations and avocado toast. With my student loans and car paid off, I stopped worrying about money, too, treating myself to plenty of metaphorical and literal avocado toast. (Sidebar: That stuff is even more ridiculously expensive when you have a gluten allergy.)

After months of this Groundhog Day cycle where I’d pull up my bank account, panic over the balance and vow to do better next month, taking control of my finances became one of my goals for 2018\. I wanted to save more and give more — and have some basic idea of where my money was going.

When I signed up for FPU in January, I was still hesitant. Despite my bank account screaming otherwise, I thought I at least knew how to be smart with money. I had the basics of budgeting down. I didn’t need someone to warn me of the horrors of not saving for retirement — Suze Orman had already done that most of my life. And besides, once you know a ROTH IRA from a 401(k), you’re basically an expert, right?

As it turned out, those nine weeks made a huge impact on how I’ll look at money for the rest of my life. I learned about what types of insurance you actually need — what to add to your plan and what you shouldn’t bother paying for. I learned that changing your budget month to month works better than sticking to the same one throughout the year. And lastly, I learned that gaining control of your finances has much more to do with weighing priorities than giving up the things you love.

It was exactly what I needed to get my finances on track. And I know FPU made just as big an impact on the other people in the class. A survey at the end of the semester found participants saw an average turnaround of $7,723 — which might mean debt paid off or money saved. On average, families and individuals see a $4,000 turnaround in their finances during the nine weeks.

In the end, FPU was for me — because, really, FPU is for everyone, no matter how much you think you know.

[ Register for FPU today!](http://hobokengrace.com/berich/)

_Brittney serves on the Writing Team and she apologizes for reinforcing countless millennial stereotypes with the mere mention of avocado toast._


Why I Didn’t Think FPU Was For Me

Last fall, during Hoboken Grace’s 1Day event, two teams cleared out a pair of abandoned plots of land, weeding, picking up garbage and digging out stumps. Nearly a year later, the plots on Willow Avenue and Park Street are still being cared for by Hoboken Grace. 

For James, the church’s Director of Community Impact and Outreach, tending to these small gardens seemed like an ideal project. After joining Hoboken Grace’s staff earlier this year, he approached the Hoboken Shade Tree Commission and offered to take care of the plots, which were quickly becoming overrun with weeds again. 

“Hoboken Grace doesn’t have a building of our own — we meet in the HOPES building at 301 Garden Street,” he explained. “We want the spirit of Hoboken Grace to move throughout Hoboken and try to touch all four corners of our community.”

Ever since, James has been working to beautify the two areas, which countless people walk by each day. In addition to keeping them free of weeds, he is working to add more plants to each one.

As one of the gardeners of a different Hoboken community garden, in the center meridian of 11th Street, I also feel the value of gardens in our city. My garden was overrun with tall, robust, orange daylilies that were taking over part of the plot. So I offered the full-grown plants to James to help the new plots get a good start. 

Several days of digging out and replanting them with James’ help led to the first floral contribution to the new Hoboken garden on Willow Avenue. It was also a casual way for James and I to have a pleasant conversation about our lives and what brought each of us to Hoboken Grace. Now that the daylilies are in place, James is talking about adding two silver birch trees to the design.

Most of the plants and flowers that grace the 11th Street gardens are purchased with funds from the city. It was satisfying to think that some of the plants I’d taken care of for years were outgrowing the space, and being donated on to another public city space.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/07/Day-Lilies-2.jpg)

While I was taking the photos for this blog post, showing the full bloom orange daylilies that remain in my plot, my previous neighbor drove by. He slowed down to chat and admire the flowers. He had been the original gardener of this plot, and he told me the history of the lilies. “These flowers were originally from my mother’s house and I transplanted them here,” he said. “The house has been sold, but it’s nice to see that these flowers from the yard are still here.” 

I told him that they were so healthy and had spread so far that some of them were being moved to another plot to beautify another area of Hoboken. He smiled, and I snapped a photo of the beautiful blossoms.

It takes a community to maintain these Hoboken gardens that bring the beauty and grace of God’s creation to passersby. If you are interested in working with James to maintain these gardens, contact him at James@hobokengrace.com.

_Barbara is a member of the Writing Team._


The Daylilies on Willow Avenue

One of our favorite nights of the year as a Dinner Group is when we get to have an encouragement night. Encouragement night is an evening when we can take time to stop, reflect, and share on how we value and appreciate one another.

Encouragement is something we’re already doing in groups by just [showing up](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/show-join-real/) and being willing to listen and support one another in their own spiritual growth, but by vocalizing that encourage we are able to love those around us at the next level.

> “So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.” [1 Thessalonians 5:11 MSG](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/1TH.5.11)

Here are three questions you can ask to lead your group on an encouragement night:

#### What do you value and appreciate about others in this group?

Over the year we’ve learned this is valuable because it’s rare that we take time to let others know how we appreciate them. Your and your group members love group. The biggest reason you like group is because of the people in the group. By stopping to reflect on others in the group allows us the space to think about why we value others. Most of the feedback in life can be how we don’t measure up or that we could be doing more. This is where we get the opportunity to flip that. Spoke encouragement from others stirs up one another to love well.

> “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” [Hebrews 10:24-25](https://my.bible.com/bible/116/HEB.10.24-25)

#### What are the strengths you see in others?

We’ve learned that as individuals we can struggle to know what are strengths are because we live with an assumption that because it comes easy to us it must . When our group members recognize this strength as a gift from God that makes them unique it empowers them to use it in service of others.

#### How have you witnessed others in this group grow?

Because we are in it every day it can be a challenge for us to witness our own growth. If you’re group member is consistent in group it’s rare that they are not growing. Helping them to see how they’ve mature can really motivate them to keep going and to overcome the next hurdle they face in life.

A few tips that we’ve learned along the way:

* We recommend hosting an encouragement night quarterly, but we’ve also found it’s super helpful at ending well. So if you group is coming up on a break or about to wrap up because you’re about to launch a new group hosting an encouragement the last time you meet really puts a bow on it.
* As a group leader you need to make sure everyone has been encouraged. You may need to think a head of time what you might say about everyone in the group in case someone is overlooked. I have found this rare but it’s helpful just in case.
* Just because we want to make sure everyone is encourage it’s important to make sure what you are saying is true. Don’t lie. Lies are not encouraging. If your stuck think, “what does this person bring to our group? What is unique about them?”

Have you done and encouragement night in your group? Share with us how it went! Email [dinnergroups@hobokengrace.com](mailto:dinnergroups@hobokengrace.com)

For more group leader resources, click here to return to [dinnergroupleader.com](http://dinnergroupleader.com)


Encouragement Night

Last Sunday, Anthony talked about how each person has a part [when on one mission together](http://hobokengrace.com/podcast/crazy-book-engage/). Just like the early church, we’re called to the same mission of helping people find their way back to God. But in order to fulfill that mission, everyone is called to engage in it.

At Hoboken Grace, several dozen teams do their own small part. While some roles are more visible, like serving in the band, others are much more behind the scenes — [greeting people](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/first-impressions-lasting-connections/), [washing dishes](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/service-with-a-smile/), [taking photos](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/love-camera-lens/). Each role is just as essential, and each team depends on each other — like different parts of the body working together.

Joining a team is a great way to meet people with similar interests. And it’s an easy way to pick up new skills.

In the meantime, here are five questions you might have.

**What’s the time commitment?**

With several dozen teams at Hoboken Grace, there’s bound to be one that fits your schedule. While most teams serve on Sunday mornings, there are also many opportunities to serve during the week. Some teams are more flexible than others — for example, while the Writing Team meets throughout the month, team members can write on their own time. (As long as they meet deadline, of course!)

**How will I know which team is the right fit?**

In choosing a team, it’s often helpful to think about your gifts. Also, what do you love doing? What makes you feel alive?

Are you a people person who thrives on making connections? Or maybe your friends rave about your hosting abilities. The [Assimilation Team](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/gift-ill-never-forget/) or [First Impressions](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/first-impression-stuck/) could be a great fit. While First Impressions creates a welcoming environment on Sunday mornings (through the setup and tear-down teams, hospitality and greeting), the Assimilation Team includes the people who stand at Connection Points, as well as other teams that help people take and celebrate their next steps.

Love [photography](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/love-camera-lens/), [writing](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/why-we-write/) or [video production](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/capturing-the-story/)? Or do you have [social media](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/never-thought-share-facebook/) or marketing skills? Our Communications Team works to tell the story of what God is doing in our community.

Do you love helping others? The [Community Impact/Outreach](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/yes-can-reach-people/) teams work to impact those in our city, demonstrating God’s love in tangible ways (random acts of kindness, supporting local shelters, etc.).

Or maybe you love working with kids. Serving with [Grace Kids](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/teams-make-no-mistake/) can make a huge impact on our city’s children — and their parents.

If you thrive on creativity, the Arts Team might be a good fit. The team is made up of musicians, designers and contractors working to communicate His value [through the Arts](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/3-myths-worship-team/).

**What if I’m still figuring out this whole faith thing?** 

That’s fine! Teams are a place to grow, no matter where you are. 

**Do I need to have experience for any of these teams?**

Absolutely not! One of the great things about joining a team is the opportunity to learn new skills. For example, while the Production Booth might look intimidating, most members got started without any knowledge of how the controls work. You don’t need to be a photo whiz to join the Photo Team, or a creative genius to join the Arts Team. (That said, it’s often helpful to have some experience before joining the band.)

**What if I join a team and then decide I don’t like it?**

Most teams start with a tryout period — no, not like an audition. You’ll get the chance to “shadow” someone on the team, learning what they do and getting a preview of what it’s like to serve. If you decide that a team isn’t a great fit, you’re welcome to give something else a try.

_Ready to serve? Sign up for Team Link happening this Sunday._

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/02/pic.jpg)](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/202084)


Five Common Questions About Joining a Team

Over the past several years, more than 200 people in our church family have taken Financial Peace University, forever changing the way they interact with money. In story after story, we’ve seen individuals take control of their finances, pay off thousands of dollars in debt and be able to give more freely to those around them.

This course has already been transformational for countless people. So this fall, we’re taking it to the next level. We’re opening up Financial Peace University to everyone in our city, with the goal of 1,000 people taking FPU together.

**Why talk about money?**

Most of us want to impact the world around us — we want to be able to help our friend when they’re in need, or to give more freely to certain causes. But very few of us are positioned for impact. We have the greatest of intentions, but because of the way we interact with money, because of the way we look at money, we’re not positioned to do this well.

As we walk into the fall, we’ll be looking at all that God teaches us about finances. God doesn’t just talk about finances in terms of giving — He talks to us about planning, providing for those around us, even debt. When it comes to talking about the financial aspects of your life, He does this not because He wants something from you, but because He wants something for you. He wants you to know what it is to live a rich life.

The name for this series, “Be Rich,” comes from 1 Timothy 6:17:

_“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so unreliable, but their trust should be in God, who richly gives us everything we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should **be rich** in good works and generous to those in need.”_

\[vc\_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkyKggnuZsE”\]

**Who is FPU best suited for?**

No matter where you are in your finances, this is for you. Over the next couple weeks, you’ll hear stories about people in different places with their finances. For some of them it’s about getting out of debt. For others, it’s about planning for the future, or managing the tension between saving and giving. Another common theme is couples who, for the first time, are finally on the same page about their finances. It has created an open door for couples to openly discuss and plan their finances rather than arguing about them.

God wants money to be something that frees you, not something that causes stress. As a community, we’re going to walk through this together.

**What does it cost?**

Typically at Hoboken Grace, we provide all the resources. But we want you to invest in this. We’ve learned that when you invest in it, you stick with it. We’re asking you to invest in this. The cost of $88 (for a couple or an individual) covers the materials you’ll need — a book, videos you can watch from anywhere and other resources. But we also don’t want the cost to keep anyone from taking the class. Contribute whatever you can and we’ll cover the rest. This is going to be completely transformational, and we don’t want anyone to miss out.

**A few last words**

What God wants for you — what we want for one another — is for us to be able to live rich lives, for us to be able to see money as a tool, not something that consumes us and is constantly causing stress in our relationships and inside our lives. Our finances can be a tool for us to be able to love better, impact the world around us and, more than anything else, to follow Him better.

[Ready? Sign up now](http://hobokengrace.com/berich/) 

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/07/IMG-3706-1-1-1024x604.jpg)


Everything Changes This Fall

It’s probably no surprise that some of us Writing Team members have a long summer reading list. And of course, we’re always on the lookout for other recommendations. So this week, we asked some of Hoboken Grace’s staff what they’d suggest — the books that changed their perspective, the ones they’re still thinking about, and the ones that simply make a great summer read. Here’s what they suggested and why.

### Anthony, Care Director

How People Change by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp

Sometimes I think we struggle believing that the Gospel applies to present, everyday living. This book helped me to understand that it all starts with the heart. If I truly want to change and grow, that need begins at the heart.

The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller

Not a reader, but want to be? This short book helped me understand what it takes to truly enjoy my life. It’s packed with truths about identity, work and what we put in our lives that takes the place of important things. Plus, it’s less than 100 pages!

No More Dragons by Jim Burgen

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and didn’t like what you saw looking back at you, this book has the power to move you. The author is real, honest and shares powerful story after powerful story to illustrate how people really can change. It’s a fascinating and wonderful read.

### Rachel, Kids Director

The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero

This book was a great reminder of how important it is for me as a leader to maintain a healthy relationship with God by spending time with Him daily. My ability to lead well when things are busy or stressful can only come from a deep connection with Him. I found this book to be encouraging and helpful!

### Sarah, First Impressions Director

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson and Jerry B. Jenkins

This is a great read on how to engage people through empathy and how to love them through words in difficult conversations. It’s a great encouragement on how to listen better. I recommend this read to help anyone improve their communication skills.

Be Our Guest: Perfecting the Art of Customer Service by the Disney Institute with Theodore Kinni

A fun and inspiring look behind the scenes of the cast and customer service at Disney! Whether you’re hosting a party, planning a meeting or getting ideas for First Impressions, this read will spike your curiosity and inspire you to up the ante in serving others.

Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World That Loves to be Noticed by Sara Hagerty

A lovely friend gifted this book to me — I had no idea how it would encourage my soul in this season of life. For all the ladies who need a sweet reminder of whose you are — beloved by our Father — dive in and enjoy!

### 

### Nick Lenzi, Community & Finance Director

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Okay, I didn’t “read it,” but I listened to the audiobook and I feel that was the best choice because Trevor is a wonderful performer and impressionist. _Born a Crime_ is a true story about a mischievous young boy (Trevor Noah) who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. This book does such a wonderful job with race, history, anthropology, economics, faith and so much more.

### James Sproule, Outreach Director

The Captain Class by Sam Walker

A great read on sports dynasty and leadership dynamics.

### Melanie Leonard, Communications Director

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Amy Wallace and Edwin Catmull

Nothing energizes me more than talking about ideas and the possibilities of the future. This book was a great inspiration in how to create, manage and maintain an environment where that can happen. Everyone can be creative in some form and I love finding ways to draw that out of people.

### Pastor Chris

Artisan Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus

I love how Erwin moves people to dream. I love how he helps us all connect with the artistic aspect of who God made us to be.


Staff Picks for Your Summer Reading List

Try as we might to grow closer to God, our daily whirlwind of responsibilities and distractions often pulls us in other directions. But what if you set aside several days to simply experience His presence?

Next month, you’ll have the opportunity to do just that.

Join us for [Axiom: Pilgrimage](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/128598) from August 6-10\. This wilderness retreat will take you deep into the wilds of Montana, in a valley framed by the Bob Marshall Wilderness & Mission Mountain Wilderness.

Axiom, an international program, is designed to help participants gain intimacy in their conversations with God. For some, that might mean wrestling through specific questions. For others, the retreat may involve focusing on where God is leading them — and exploring that through journaling, scripture and prayer.

To find out more about Axiom, hear about Anthony’s experience below.

\[vc\_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeV8pTiDJVE”\]

**Don’t wait! Sign up for the retreat by _Tuesday, July 17!_**

[Sign up here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/128598?utm%5Fsource=Hoboken+Grace+Mailing+List&utm%5Fcampaign=bb2a25f13e-EMAIL%5FCAMPAIGN%5F2018%5F04%5F24%5FCOPY%5F01&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fterm=0%5F5abf2eddf8-bb2a25f13e-35367025) 


Looking Up

Blog

A Diverse, Growing, Contemporary, Community Church in Hoboken

Everything we do revolves around our mission of helping people find their way back to God. Our goal is to demonstrate who God really is and to let others know that God wants a relationship with each and every one of us.

https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/b_rgb:ffffff,c_lpad,h_720,w_1280/v1709609543/Web-Icon-01-favicon_da4fdo.png