
Thirteen people returned earlier this month from Hoboken Grace’s annual trip to Mexico, where they visited the staff and children of Casa Hogar Alegre orphanage. The team helped out in almost every aspect of the children’s lives, from painting and cleaning, to playing and helping out with homework.

“We basically love and serve the kids there,” said Amanda, who was visiting Casa Hogar for a third time. Originally reluctant to go on the trip because it fell on a family holiday over Memorial Day weekend, Amanda eventually told herself she would go regardless of the circumstances. The dates have fallen on Memorial Day ever since, but Amanda hasn’t stopped going.

“It is awesome and totally worth it,” she said. “We’re definitely impacting them beyond the week that we’re there. Every year that we go back we see something new, some other way that we can help support the kids there. You’re feeding them the Holy Spirit, and you’re feeding them the skills they need to succeed in the world.”

The orphanage is located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, which shares its southern border with Guatemala. As such, it is a common stop for Central and South Americans traveling north toward the United States. Along the way, families become fractured and children are frequently left behind.

![IMG_0013](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/IMG_0013.jpg)Recognizing the dire needs of these children, Elizabeth Noguera — now affectionately referred to as a “Mama Liz” — felt called to take them in. While caring for her husband and family, Mama Liz did what she could to feed, clothe and educate many of the children who needed help. Finally, in July 1993 she became the official guardian of what is now the Casa Hogar Alegre orphanage.

The children at the orphanage attended classes from roughly 8 a.m. to noon. During that time, the team helped put finishing touches on a new two-story school building. Groups took turns disposing of leftover wood and bricks before finally painting the inside and outside of the building. In the meantime, others helped out in the nursery.

Once the children were done with classes after lunch, they split up into four groups according to age and attended classes taught by the team. Subjects included a Bible class, music, arts and crafts and sports. Language is a common barrier for both parties, but it never became a serious obstacle.

“The kids are so welcoming. They don’t care if you don’t speak Spanish,” said Amanda.

“Really all they wanted was to be loved,” said Kara, who went on the trip for the first time this year.

“They were so incredibly happy,” said Kara. “Just how happy these children were was unbelievable to me. This is their home. This is where they’re loved. And then when we come, they just loved to spend time with us.”

Finally, after dinner the children were free to play with one another. One day, the group watched a movie in the library. On another, the kids were treated to a day at the zoo. Impromptu dance parties via cell phone speakers were a favorite pastime. And on the team’s last night, the kids were treated to a pizza party, complete with a pinata.

“We were never bored,” said Kara.

But even on days when there wasn’t a special trip or party, the kids found ways to have fun. Soccer and basketball were both popular, as was coloring and playing with sidewalk chalk. The children were especially fond of taking pictures and videos of themselves on team meembers’ phones, a novelty of modern technology.

“They’re just like any other kids,” said Amanda.

One of the joys of returning year after year is developing bonds with the children there. Amanda now keeps in close contact with the family that runs the orphanage.

![IMG_7258](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/IMG_7258-652x1024.jpg)“Having that, especially with the older ones — watching them grow and seeing how much faith is instilled in their lives — is really cool,” said Amanda. “It’s awesome to see how far some of these kids have come.”

The group was led by Amy, who has been traveling to Casa Hogar for almost a decade.

“Amy really did a great job as leader of the group,” said Kara. “How she did it is unbelievable.”

Anyone who is interested in serving on the annual trip is welcome to join. Men are in especially high demand to help out with the heavy lifting that often comes with the job. Many of the boys also look up to and admire the guys in the group. One volunteer, Johnny, has been visiting the orphanage for several years and has developed a strong bond with the boys there.

“He makes it a priority to go on this trip,” said Amanda. “It’s cool to see how the boys of the orphanage look up to him.”

Others who wish to help Casa Hogar can donate via their website. The home receives little aid from the government, so donations are welcomed. All contributions directly support children at the orphanage.


&#8216;All They Wanted Was to Be Loved’

_TEAMS is a monthly series that celebrates the talent and impact of those who serve at Hoboken Grace._

It’s a Sunday morning, and the band starts out slow. Lyrics are centered on the screen. The stage is bathed in blue. And if you’re paying close attention, you’ll notice the lights subtly fade to orange-red as the music intensifies.

But you likely didn’t notice, or pause to process it. In fact, the people in the production booth would rather you didn’t, because that means they’re doing their job well. They would prefer that you were too into the worship music, too busy melting into the moment, to pick up on the shift.

“What I enjoy most is running sound when we’re at the peak of our worship set, just looking around and seeing everybody fully into it, their hands in the air, and not thinking about what things look like, what things sound like,” says Jeff, who serves on the production branch of the Worship Team. “They’re not noticing that. They’re just full-on worshiping.”

In addition to using sound and lighting to create an environment that is both intimate and inviting, those serving in the production booth also control what projects on screen, ensuring lyrics, scripture and video appear on time and in the right order. They edit and post podcasts, maintain much of the equipment and troubleshoot on the fly when the unexpected happens. And they work throughout the week, preparing as much as possible for Sunday morning.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSC_7198-e1467217431137-1024x633.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSC%5F7198-e1467217431137.jpg)

That subtle light transition, in fact, was likely planned days in advance, crafted to enhance the ambiance and fit the band’s goals for that set. The Worship Team usually knows which songs are planned at least a week ahead of time, then rehearses on Wednesday nights. It’s there that the people responsible for the lights and computers that Sunday settle on what color, what mood, fits a song best. Then they put together a rough layout of the lights and slide backgrounds.

“If it’s a little bit quiet of a song in the beginning, we’ll make it a little bit dark,” says Mark, who started serving on the Production Team six years ago, before it became part of the Worship Team. “And then we’ll work our way toward something brighter. There are different techniques to fit the mood of the song.”

Choosing the visual look of each song – the lighting, the slide backgrounds – allows the team to flex their creative muscle and introduce new ideas, says Helen, who leads the visual component of the team.

Meanwhile, the person responsible for sound that week is also listening throughout rehearsal, keying in on where an instrument or a worship leader needs to be heard above the rest of the band. Finding those shifts helps them layer the mix, making the song sound as good as possible in a live setting.

“Joining the team has been an eye-opening experience to see how much work and planning goes into each service,” Helen says.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF3515-e1467217874775.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF3515-e1467217874775.jpg)On Sunday mornings, those serving in the production booth meet at 7 a.m. to set up the speakers and other equipment, power things up, roll through sound check, and make sure everyone serving on stage has the right microphone. There’s a team huddle and they pray. Then the countdown starts, the intro video plays and the service begins.

“We’re behind the scenes, but we’re still an integral part of what’s going on, just like we’re all parts of the body in the church,” says Jeff. “The band needs us to do our job, and we need them to do theirs.”

And it’s a job that anyone can learn, the team says.

“People see what we do – they see the lights on the boards, they see all the fancy stuff, all the knobs and all the sliders, and they think, oh man, I could never figure that out. It’s way easier than anyone thinks it is,” says Mark, adding that someone with no experience could get the hang of things in just two weeks.

Mark says that when he started serving, he initially didn’t see it as an important role.

“I saw it as, it helped, it makes it nicer, it gets people more engaged,” he says. “But I always thought, if we weren’t there, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. And then, probably about a year in or so, we started doing stories more regularly and I heard how, in many of the stories, people were saying they weren’t able to make it to church, but they were able to listen to the podcasts, and how many people got saved through that, and really got to know God.”

For Helen, one of the most rewarding things is working alongside other people who enjoy serving. Each week is different, she says. Some weeks involve more creativity, or require the team to think more on their feet. But everyone works together to make sure things go as smoothly as possible.

And amid the glow of sound boards and computer screens, there’s a glimpse of a bigger picture, Helen says.

“Sitting in the back,” she says, “you can see the reactions when people get baptized or are worshiping, and see what an amazing community there is.”

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/unspecified-13-1024x678.jpeg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/unspecified-13.jpeg)

**The Worship Team — Production**

**Mission:** The Worship Team is part of the Arts department. We lead the church in worship each week through song and by creating intimate and exciting environments through production. We provide the model for what worship looks like and use sound, lights and media to allow for the clear and beautiful communication of the message of Christ.

**The commitment:** Serves on Sunday mornings and attends weekly rehearsals.

**How you can join or find out more information:** Email dana@hobokengrace.com, or stop by the production booth any Sunday to meet the team and ask questions.

_Want to learn more about serving on a team at Hoboken Grace? Attend our [Intro to Impact](https://hobokengrace.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/9294) class this Sunday from 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm. You can also join a team [here](http://hobokengrace.com/serve/)._


Striking the Right Tone

It was Sunday morning at Hoboken Grace. The house lights were dimmed, the worship band had just launched into their first song, and as she sat in the dark, Jen couldn’t help but think how safe the brightly lit stage looked. She longed to be back up there, where she knew what she was doing.

“I know standing on stage with a microphone isn’t most people’s safe place,” says Jen. “But I grew up singing in the church, and when I’m on stage singing, I don’t have to come up with things to say. The words you’re supposed to sing are right there on the screen. All I have to do is the same thing I’ve been doing since the Sunday school Christmas pageant.”

The security of being told what to say and knowing exactly what was expected seemed especially appealing to Jen that Sunday morning because she had just agreed to lead a dinner group. In a little over 24 hours, she was going to go sit in a restaurant and hope that a dozen strangers showed up to listen to her and share with each other. For an introvert like Jen, it was the stuff nightmares are made of.

Jen swears that her journey to become a dinner group leader began as just a funny misunderstanding.

“When I went to my first connection event at Hoboken Grace, I was desperate to meet people,” she says. “I was new to Hoboken and didn’t know anyone. I was running around the bar frantically introducing myself and hoping to feel less alone.”

At the time, Jen didn’t realize that Hoboken Grace’s dinner groups director, Nick Lenzi, was watching her meeting people and thinking to himself: “Wow, she’s really comfortable in this sort of a situation. I bet she’d make a great dinner group leader.”

![DSCF2074](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF2074.jpg)

Soon after, Nick stopped Jen after church and asked her to consider leading a group.

“That just seemed like a funny joke to me at the time,” said Jen. “I was still adjusting to living in Hoboken. I was already serving on the Worship Team. And leading a group of strangers in deep, meaningful conversations was about the last thing I felt qualified to do.”

But Jen agreed to think about it and pray about it, and over the next couple of weeks she felt God calling her to step outside of the familiar, the known and the comfortable.

“God kept on coming back to me and telling me that we could get through this together,” says Jen. “He said it would be hard, but that it was time for me to stretch, time for me to grow, time for me to trust Him. And He promised me that I would learn a whole lot about Him and myself in the process.”

Despite Jen’s fears that no one would show up to the group’s first meeting, she did not spend that first Monday night sitting alone in a restaurant doodling on a napkin. Nine women joined her, and Jen says she fumbled her way through some icebreakers and nothing disastrous happened. She then went home and created an elaborate Excel spreadsheet.

“I had everything about dinner group planned out for the next two months,” says Jen. “I thought that if I was going to do this, I was going to manage the heck out of it and then it wouldn’t be so scary. I wanted to feel like I was in control of this crazy thing I’d just taken on.”

![DSCF2105 (1)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF2105-1-1024x683.jpg)

But it only took a few weeks for that carefully constructed plan to fall apart. On a Monday night when Jen had planned fun hangout activities, it quickly became clear that the group needed to have some heartfelt conversations instead, and so Jen let go of her plan and gave the group over to what God wanted to do that night.

“Every week I understand more and more that this isn’t my group,” says Jen. “It’s God’s group. And that’s an enormous source of strength and comfort for me. The more I get myself out of the equation, the more space there is for Him to show up and lead us where we’re supposed to go.”

Six months after launching the group, Jen says she’s able to think less about all the things she isn’t and focus more of her attention on everything that God is. Her doubts about leading, the different personalities and backgrounds of the women in her group, it all seems small when compared to the one thing holding it all together — God.

On Memorial Day weekend, Jen climbed the stairs to the stage for the first time in months. This time, though, she was holding hands instead of a microphone, as she and the women of the dinner group stood by as one of their own got baptized.

“I got to hold the hand of a new sister in Christ,” says Jen. “I was bawling on stage in front of everyone. I was overwhelmed with joy for what was going on in this woman’s life and so, so grateful that I got to stand alongside her.”

When people ask Jen how leading a dinner group is going, she says: “Really well, in spite of me.” It’s still not easy or always comfortable, but Jen says she knows she is exactly where God wants her to be right now.

“The more I can accept that I’m not in control, the easier it is for me to see that God is,” says Jen. “I don’t need to always know what God has planned. I think I’m at my bravest when I’m in the dark, and I have to hold onto His hand.”

![DSCF2016](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF2016-1024x683.jpg)


PORTRAITS: Stepping Off the Stage

Sarah Fishbien first started talking to me about [Rehema Home orphanage](http://www.rehemahome.org/) in Nairobi, Kenya, when I was working with TRUE Mentors. Sarah had been working with them for years and told me all about the beautiful children who lived there and about the way God was using Ruth and Irv Schwandt, the couple who run the orphanage, to love the 63 children they had taken in and called their own. Our first idea wasn’t to go to Kenya, but simply to connect our TRUE Mentors children with the Rehema Home children to create greater awareness for both groups about the other.

TRUE Mentors kids received letters and pictures from the children in Rehema and in turn sent cards and pictures as well. Our hope for building connection grew when the TRUE Mentors children wanted to raise money to help support their friends in Kenya. We created a T-shirt design competition for the children and worked with a local company to produce shirts to sell. One of our leader’s businesses got involved and not only matched our funds for raising the money, but also purchased a shirt for each child at Rehema Home.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/10801499_10152803438247878_8306071755175050888_n-e1466686224371.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/10801499%5F10152803438247878%5F8306071755175050888%5Fn-e1466686224371.jpg)When Hoboken Grace began to expand their love globally through mission trips, it seemed right to propose a trip to Rehema Home to continue building relationships. The church agreed, and we had a small group of amazing people sign on. Having never been to Kenya, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d seen the pictures and heard some of Sarah’s stories about the children coming from the slums of Nairobi, but it was still a big unknown.

During our trip, my heart wasn’t ready for the love the children exude. They are amazing, happy, well-adjusted, well-behaved and clearly very loved. They just wanted to love you, know you and spend time with you. I thought I would be the one to go and give, but my time with them proved I received so much more. I was able to connect with several of the children one-on-one and even after leaving, build a mentorship via email with one of the older boys who is interested in the same line of work that I do.

[We’ve been back a second time,](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/thumb-wars-and-mr-giggles-kenya-mission-trip-memories/) and the relationships continue to build and expand to new team members and new church members. Many from Hoboken Grace have begun to sponsor children at Rehema and connect with them one-on-one. Last year, Unilever made a large donation of products because one of the generous women in my dinner group wanted to get involved but couldn’t make it on the trip. And more companies with connections to Hoboken Grace members are getting involved in supporting the orphanage.

The [third trip](http://hobokengrace.com/mission-trips/) (Sept 30-Oct 15) and our [informational fundraiser](https://www.facebook.com/events/194285170965462/) (July 14, at 7 p.m. at the Pilsener Haus & Biergarten) are coming up. We are very excited to see how the mission for loving these beautiful children in Kenya is going to continue to evolve. During the trip, we will be building a house for the children who are aging out of the orphanage. Some came in as babies and now are starting to turn 17, 18 and 19\. God has helped raise money for a transitional home, and we are going to help with some of the construction of the house, called “The Bridge.”

_To find out more information about Hoboken Grace’s trip to Kenya, email Anthony at anthony@hobokengrace.com._


Building Connections in Kenya

The best books, it seems, come crashing onto us like waves, splashing cold water on old ideas and perceptions. They erode the ways we once viewed ourselves, God and the world around us and shift the sands of our thinking. They soften us like seaglass, then retreat with the tide, leaving us transformed in a way we never quite expected.

Whether you’re headed to the beach, the pier or a road trip, there are some great books worthy of your summer reading list with the potential for such a sea change. They include new releases and old favorites, books about resting, books about working and books just about savoring the moment, wherever you are.

Here are a few suggestions:

**Present over Perfect (Released Aug. 9)**

Just in time for beach season, Shauna Niequist’s [new book](http://www.presentoverperfect.com/) explores what happens when we quit treading life barely above water and find freedom from the isolating currents of our frantic schedules, perfectionism and people-pleasing. In a series of essays, she trades stress for solitude, hustling for honesty, and commitments for true connection – with God and the people around her. Life outside the undertow, she discovers, is worth fighting the tide.

**The Prodigal God**

While most sermons about the parable of The Prodigal Son focus on the story’s disobedient younger son and his father’s joy when he returns home, Tim Keller turns that idea on its head, dedicating just as much time to the morally upright older brother. “The targets of this story are not ‘wayward sinners’ but religious people who do everything the Bible requires,” Keller [writes](https://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-God-Recovering-Heart-Christian/dp/1594484023). “Jesus is pleading not so much with immoral outsiders as with moral insiders. He wants to show them their blindness, narrowness, and self-righteousness, and how these things are destroying both their own souls and the lives of the people around them.”

In a commentary on culture, religion and God’s grace for us all –the “immoral outsiders” and the “moral insiders” – Keller challenges both believers and skeptics. It’s a quick read, and one with something for everyone, regardless of your experience with faith.

[![ACTS_SRT_00213](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/ACTS_SRT_00213-1024x912.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/ACTS%5FSRT%5F00213.jpg)

**The Acts of the Apostles Study Book**

From the makers of the He Reads Truth and She Reads Truth Bible-reading apps comes a [42-day summer devotional](http://shereadstruth.com/2016/04/22/announcing-our-summer-plan-acts/) on the Book of Acts. While the reading plan is already available for free through the He Reads Truth and She Reads Truth apps, there is also a gorgeous, 208-page study guide available, filled with illustrated maps, history guides and even recipes. You can also follow along with the global He/She Reads Truth communities online and on social media. The reading plan officially kicked off on the app on June 6, but you can join any time (and because the plan started already, the study books – [his](http://www.shophereadstruth.com/product/the-legacy-series-acts) and [hers](http://www.shopshereadstruth.com/collections/acts-1) — are now on sale at discounted prices).

**Jesus Is \_\_\_\_**

In “[Jesus Is \_\_\_\_](http://jesusisbook.com/),” Judah Smith asks the reader to fill in the blank. With humor and honesty, he finishes the sentence a different way each chapter, diving into stories where Jesus befriends not the religious leaders, but those whom the Pharisees deemed the worst of sinners. In this study of Jesus’ words and actions, Judah challenges readers to rest in God’s grace instead of trying to earn salvation.

**Garden City**

By Pastor John Mark Comer of Portland’s Bridgetown Church, “[Garden City](https://www.amazon.com/Garden-City-Work-Being-Human/dp/0310337313)” seeks to answer some of faith’s biggest questions about work and rest. _How do I fit into God’s story? Should my calling overlap with my career? Do I need to work for a church or nonprofit to be doing His work? Do we really need to observe the Sabbath?_ 

The book starts in the lush gardens of Eden, with Adam and Eve using God’s raw materials to begin building civilization, and progresses to today’s modern cities, where God’s people are still cultivating the land, advancing culture and striving for a better world. And from the pastor to his MacBook repairman and the coffee barista down the street, John Mark argues, every job and skill set is just as important in God’s eyes.

**Uninvited (Released Aug. 9)**

From the party invitation that never came, to the judging eyes of that person at the gym, the lies that follow rejection can eat away at our purpose, our dreams and our relationship with God if we let them. In her [new book](https://www.amazon.com/Uninvited-Living-Loved-When-Lonely-ebook/dp/B01864DVG6) due out later this summer, Lysa TerKeurst examines how we can embrace God’s truths instead of our own fears and insecurities.


Books for Your Summer Reading List

When parents choose to dedicate their children at Hoboken Grace, they promise to remember that their child is a gift from God and that because God loves their child more, His plans for the child’s life are better than theirs. This can be difficult to commit to, but every year at Hoboken Grace more and more parents choose to make this commitment. Parents pledge to put their relationship with God first, their marriage second and their child third.

Vinny and Soomin have dedicated both of their daughters at Hoboken Grace and stress the importance of having other Christians surrounding their children to echo the truths they are teaching at home. “It takes away so much pressure. I recognize that I don’t own them and that my main focus is just pointing them to God,” said Vinny. They compare the process to growing a plant: “You plant a seed, you water it and God grows it.”

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSC_7076-e1466045880760.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSC%5F7076-e1466045880760.jpg)

Grace Kids also helps them keep their daughters engaged all week long. “We are memorizing Bible verses together and praying together. Without these things, we would feel empty. Doing these activities helps us build a strong foundation for our children,” said Vinny.

Kelvin and Nancy dedicated their baby girl, Kaiteri. “We wanted to commit to loving her and nurturing her in a way that will help her know her creator and the lover of her soul,” they said. “We also want to make sure we continue to put God first in our lives and our marriage second. We know that the best way for her to know God is not through anything we say, but through our actions. We hope that she will see our passion for God and hunger for the same in her life.”

As children mature, they will hold on to those strong truths that have been surrounding them in loving communities. These parents understand that they can’t force their child to follow God, their child has to decide to follow Christ on their own.

It can be a difficult journey, but Hoboken Grace is here to help. Parents are invited to participate in the Baby Dedications offered twice a year. The next one is coming up and will be held on Sunday, October 16th. If you are interested in learning more about what it means to take this step, you can sign up [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/10944). In preparation of the dedication, parents come together to talk about what it looks like to make a commitment to raise their children to know Christ.

There are also resources available through Grace Kids, such as the “parent cues” that Vinny mentioned. And in addition to supporting families on Sundays and throughout the week, Grace Kids provides an opportunity for our church family to support these little ones as they grow. You can sing, help or teach in one of the [Grace Kids ](https://hobokengrace.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/36725)classes on Sundays or help put supplies together during the week. It’s all about helping children grow in loving communities. Sign up [here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/36725) to learn more.

Nancy and Kelvin say there are two truths they want their daughter to know above all else: “I want her to know that she can trust God with everything in her life, no matter how big or small. And I want her to understand and demonstrate His grace.”

[![DSC_7059](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSC_7059.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSC%5F7059.jpg)


It Takes a Village

Sometimes it can seem like life is one long fight. Sometimes it can seem that God is actually fighting against us.

Join us this summer as we take a look at someone who spent their life believing that God was against them only to discover that God was the one fighting hardest for them.

Life may be a fight, but we don’t fight alone.


Coming This Sunday

Whether it’s a special occasion, like a baptism, or just an ordinary weekend spent with friends and family, there’s always something to celebrate on Sunday mornings.

It just got easier to share those moments. Each Sunday morning at 301 Garden, look for Hoboken Grace’s geofilters on Snapchat. Just snap a picture with friends or family, then swipe and send!

[![snapchat](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/snapchat-1024x621.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/snapchat.jpg)


Snapchat Sundays


For the past few weeks, we’ve talked about incorporating rhythms into our lives in order to engage with God throughout the day. The series kicked off with the challenge of living in the awareness that “in Him, we live and move and breathe.” And during the past few Sundays, we’ve discussed different ways to weave rhythms throughout the day so that we are in constant conversation with Him.

But new habits don’t develop overnight. And as Pastor Chris has explained, we often must first acknowledge and embrace the disabilities that keep us from hearing how God is speaking into our lives. Here are five guidelines if you’re struggling to develop rhythms that lead to a meaningful conversation with Him.

**1). Start small**

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are daily habits. Be patient with yourself and aware of what is and isn’t a realistic addition to your routine. If you already find it difficult to pray first thing in the morning ― whether it’s because you have kids or because you’re usually scrambling to get out the door ― trying to make prayer work at that time will likely just lead to disappointment.

Instead, build new habits around old habits. Evaluate the places where God Time can complement your already established routine. Maybe it’s during the hour you have carved out for lunch, or during your kids’ naptime. Or maybe prayer fits into your morning run and also during your commute home. If you’re struggling to make something stick, try starting with something simple, like engaging with God for a few minutes every time you brush your teeth. Then expand the conversation to other parts of your day.

**2). Work on changing the conversation**

In Thessalonians, Paul tells us to be joyful and pray continually. As Pastor Chris said a few weeks ago, Paul is calling on us to change the conversation. Instead of talking to yourself all day, talk to Him ― just as you would talk to a friend. If you find the conversation drifting back to you (and you likely will), try exercising that muscle through journaling. Instead of journaling for yourself, write as if you were talking to God.

**3). Tame your wandering mind**

Create space to talk to Him with limited distractions. Pinpoint where your mind is going instead and try eliminating it. If you find yourself staring at dirty laundry and dishes in the sink, head to a coffee shop or the pier. And if it’s your phone that’s distracting you, leave it at home.

If your mind is still going elsewhere, find something to rein it in. For those who find it particularly difficult to sit still and focus, try meditating on His word with scripture-based adult coloring books (yes, really). Coloring reduces activity in the amygdala ― where our worries and other stress-induced emotions originate ― and is a meditation unto itself. While your mind might still wander, it can’t go far. So try dreaming and creating alongside God while illustrating scripture. As an added bonus, you’ll probably memorize a new verse by the time you’re done.

**4). Set reminders**

If you struggle with forgetfulness (as we all do), try creating reminders for yourself, at least until a new rhythm becomes a full-fledged habit. Set an alarm on your phone to train yourself to engage with God at a certain time, or leave a Post-It note where you’ll see it each day (on a mirror, in your car, at work).

Or, try an app. Several people in our church family use the Abide app, which offers daily prayer guides targeted toward specific areas, such as anxiety, gratitude, growth and rest. You can set up the app to send you a daily reminder notification at a specified time.

Triggers also might prove helpful. Pick something quirky that sticks out in your mind and will remind you to engage with God whenever you see it. Maybe it’s a type of car or a song on the radio. Or perhaps something more in your face ― like a memory verse that’s on your phone’s wallpaper or engraved on a bracelet ― will work.

**5). Own your failure**

You know when you forget to return someone’s call or email, then avoid that person out of guilt when you run into them? Don’t let that be your relationship with God.

Inevitably, your disabilities will get in the way. So when you fail to engage with God, own up to that failure and release any guilt that comes with it. Because when you move closer to God, God will move closer to you.

_Did you miss any part of the Rhythms series? Listen to it [here](http://hobokengrace.com/series/rhythms/)._


Five Tips If You’re Struggling to Develop Rhythms

When I was in high school, my dad rededicated his life to Christ. My mom saw his newfound faith as something good and important for him, but not necessarily something for her. For almost a decade, my parents went to separate churches. And gradually, my mom stopped attending on a regular basis.

“Even though I prayed and thanked Him and talked to Him, I just felt like something was missing,” she said.

When I came to work for Hoboken Grace full time and started pursuing a career in ministry, my mom said she began attending church again, but this time via Livestream. At first, it was just a way for her to connect with me and see what I was up to. But what started out as a way to spend some virtual time with her son turned into long phone calls with me to discuss the message and deep conversations over dinner with my dad.

It was clear that God was beginning to speak into her life, and when my parents came to visit me and my wife in Hoboken, they came to church with us. After years of separate Sunday mornings, Hoboken Grace became the first church where my parents worshipped together again.

A couple of years later, my dad emailed me with the news that he and my mom had found a church for them to attend together. My dad cut ties with his previous church, where he had served for over a decade, in order to be able to worship with his wife every Sunday. Flatiron Community Church in Lafayette, Colorado, became the church they attended as a couple.

My mom says she felt the tug to head back to church because there was something missing in her life, and she didn’t know exactly what it was.

Even with a new church home, my mom still kept connected with Hoboken Grace. She attended service at Flatiron on Saturday nights, just so she could watch Livestream on Sunday mornings. Often, the two messages, delivered on opposite sides of the country, struck similar chords, and my mom would call me up to ask me if we were on some kind of overlapping sermon calendar. I told her no, but that I always think that God knows what people need to hear, and He can use that across any number of miles.

After going to Flatiron for about a year, my mom said that church was great, but she still felt like something wasn’t right.

“I needed something more, and I just didn’t know what it was. I prayed for Him to give me an answer,” she said.

As my mom attended Flatiron and tuned in to join me at Hoboken Grace, the topic of baptism seemed to surface again and again. Both churches believe that baptism is a symbol of a life changed and a sign that someone has placed their faith in Jesus Christ.

[![DSCF1640](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF1640-1-1024x682.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF1640-1.jpg)

“I would hear about baptism and think I had already taken that step because I was baptized as a baby,” said my mom. “I don’t remember it, but my parents said they did it.”

Then on May 14, Flatiron Community Church presented a message dedicated to baptism. That night, after the service, before bed, my mom prayed that God would give her a sign or something to let her know if she was supposed to take the step of baptism.

“The next day we made sure to tune into Hoboken Grace because Anthony said he would be giving the message. He never tells us what he’s going to be talking about, so it’s always a surprise,” said my mom. Imagine her shock when the message was all about baptism as well.

“I thought, ‘There it is. There’s my sign.’ I felt like it’s something I had to do,” said my mom. “I knew that my parents baptized me for a reason, but now as an adult, it was time to show everyone that it’s my choice. No one talked me into it. It was time for me to take the step.”

My mom called me that night, and we talked for a couple of hours about baptism. She asked when Hoboken Grace was next holding baptisms. The timing was providential – my mom and dad had already planned a trip to Hoboken over Memorial Day weekend, and Hoboken Grace had scheduled baptisms for that Sunday.

I did a pretty good job of holding it together until we hung up. Then I just started weeping. My wife was crying, too. It was something we had both been praying about, and it was just amazing to see God at work.

I always get emotional at baptisms, but just thinking about my mom doing it got me completely choked up inside. Pastor Chris asked me throughout the week if I wanted to baptize my mom. I told him I didn’t think I was going to be able to speak.

And when it was her turn to come on stage, I started to weep as soon as we began to make our way up the stairs. I was so thankful, overjoyed and proud. When Chris asked her the two questions and then stepped aside to let me baptize her, I doubt anyone heard the words of baptism I said because I was so choked up.

“I chose to do it at Hoboken Grace because I wanted my family with me,” said my mom. “I wanted my son, my daughter and my husband with me. Then when Pastor Chris told Anthony to baptize me, it just made it all the more special. It was meant to be.”

[![DSCF1642light](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF1642light-1024x682.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/DSCF1642light.jpg)

_To learn more about taking the step of baptism, attend Hoboken Grace’s class_ [_What Is Baptism,_](https://hobokengrace.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/13986) _held after each service on Sunday, June 12._


Meant to Be

_TEAMS is a monthly series that celebrates the talent and impact of those who serve at Hoboken Grace._

Visit the David E. Rue Building any other day of the week and you’ll find a regular gymnasium filled with students from around Hoboken. But come Sunday morning at 9 a.m., the building is transformed into the church we know as Hoboken Grace. It’s all thanks to the persistent efforts of the setup and tear-down teams. Each week, these dedicated individuals strive to bring an empty space to life and make the building ready for worship.

The metamorphosis begins promptly at 7 a.m., when the setup team arrives to start their work.

“It’s a blank gymnasium when we arrive,” said Eric, who has been serving with the team since 2013\. “It’s our job to transform that into Hoboken Grace’s space.”

[![HG_Easter 2016_Averill-5295](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/HG_Easter-2016_Averill-5295-683x1024.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/HG%5FEaster-2016%5FAverill-5295.jpg)Starting with just the bare room, the team lays down carpets before arranging the 400 chairs that get set up each week. Supplies are also brought upstairs for Grace Kids. In the meantime, the audio and visual teams get to work setting up the stage, while the hospitality team brings out bagels and coffee.

By the time the first people arrive, everything is ready to go. The entire process takes about an hour and a half, leaving just enough time for a prayer and a cup of coffee before services begin. According to Rick, who got involved with setup about two years ago, it’s an early start to a Sunday morning, but it’s not as bad as one might think.

“Once you get there you feel the energy to get stuff done,” he said.

And at the end of the day, the process goes in reverse. Every last thing from chairs and carpets to door stops and signs gets put back where it belongs thanks to the tear-down team. Everything the church uses is stored inside the school, meaning things need to be put back properly so that everything fits.

Work has also recently increased for both of the teams: A few months ago, service capacity was increased from 300 to 400, which translates to another 100 folding chairs to take out and pack away every week. And on busy weekends like Easter and Christmas, the room needs to accommodate 500 people.

There are nine setup team members and eight tear-down team members in total, though on average there are three or four team members there each week to help out. John Milius organizes both teams, along with the other First Impressions groups. Doug, who serves with tear-down team, enjoys being able to make everything come together from behind the scenes each week.

“There’s pretty much an unlimited amount of work,” said Doug. “Extra hands are always welcome.”

As a part of the setup team, Eric says the best part is getting to spend time with other people while he serves.

“I met a lot of great people,” he said. “It’s not just about transforming the room. It’s sharing that fellowship with people. It’s like going to the gym — no one’s ever regretted it afterward.”

**The Setup/Tear-down Teams**

**Mission:** Transforming the space at 301 Garden to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for those who join us on Sunday mornings.

**The commitment:** Serves on Sunday mornings.

**How you can join or find out more information:** Email [milius@hobokengrace.com](mailto:milius@hobokengrace.com).

_Want to learn more about serving on a team at Hoboken Grace? Attend our_ [_Intro to Impact_](https://hobokengrace.churchcenteronline.com/registrations/events/9294) _class this Sunday from 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm. You can also join a team [here](http://hobokengrace.com/serve)._ 

[![DSCF1674](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/DSCF1674.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/DSCF1674.jpg)


How a Room for Play Becomes a Place to Pray

Once a year, GO Jersey City brings dozens of people together to serve the city, its residents and some of the organizations that make the community feel like home. This Saturday, June 4, volunteers will disperse across the city with gardening tools, paint brushes and the common goal of making a difference in one day. They’ll head to New City Kids, Liberty State Park, the Harsimus Cemetery, Van Vorst Park, the Liberty Humane Society and several other projects.

“It’s God’s way of using us to reach out to others and serve the community by sharing our love,” says Veroneque, who is helping plan the event with Downtown Community Church.

Volunteers will meet at Van Vorst Park at 10 a.m., then work at various projects throughout the city until about 1 p.m. (when the after-party begins). They’ll hold a food collection for St. Lucy’s Shelter, meet some furry friends at the Liberty Humane Society and remove graffiti near the Grove Street PATH. They’ll also help maintain the grounds at the historic Harsimus Cemetery, prepare Liberty State Park for summer and meet with seniors who are preparing for college at New City Kids.

While the event itself lasts only a few hours, its impact extends far beyond that. For one, the city is left a little cleaner and a little greener after volunteers wrap up a dozen projects across the community. But the event is also about making lasting connections. It’s a way for neighbors to connect as they serve alongside one another. And for Downtown Community Church, the event leads to new partnerships and service opportunities with organizations throughout the city.

“It allows an annual event to suddenly become more than that and open doors to many other opportunities throughout the year,” says Wayne, the pastor at Downtown Community Church. “Through this we’ve done several mini-projects this past year, and now new projects have developed in 2016 because of this. Whether it’s the local parks, the HSDID (Historic Downtown Special Improvement District) or local food banks, we’ve become more connected.”

This year, Wayne says the goal is for GO Jersey City to become even more of a community event.

“We want to create a place for residents of downtown Jersey City to give back, get to know the needs of their community and develop relationships to serve again in the future,” he says. “We want to see not just Downtown Community Church attenders serving, but many from the city joining together, and it’s already happening.”

_You can learn more about GO Jersey City and register for the event [here](http://www.downtownjc.church/gojc/)._

![11023970_713165892121926_5991479205473763847_o (1)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/06/11023970_713165892121926_5991479205473763847_o-1-1024x683.jpg)


THIS Saturday: GO Jersey City

I’m willing to bet that if I asked you if you are going to attend the next [Teams Night](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/what-the-heck-is-teams-night/), your answer would be something along the lines of, “we’ll see” or “if I don’t have anything else going on that night.” There may be some of you who are anxiously awaiting the date of the next one, but I would guess that on the whole most of you are on the fence about whether to attend or not.

Allow me to blow that all up for you with this announcement:

The next Teams Night will be held on [THURSDAY, June 9th](https://www.facebook.com/events/1393197857361983/) at 8 p.m. at 301 Garden Street.

Before you drop your coffee and toss your phone, here’s why we’re moving Teams Night to a Thursday.

**1.) We want to talk to you**

If you’ve never been, [Teams Night](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/teams-night-its-time/) is a night for everyone who is serving in our family to come together all at once. It’s our chance to celebrate what God is doing in and through our teams and be refueled by Christ’s incredible message of grace and love. It’s a special time where Pastor Chris gets to speak directly to those of you who give so much for the mission of helping people find their way back to God. We want that time with all of you specifically and quite frankly, you need it. And here’s why.

[![DSC_5598](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/DSC_5598-e1463965943716-1024x550.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/DSC%5F5598.jpg)

**2.) We don’t want you to do it alone**

It can be easy to walk into a night like this and immediately think that this is a chance for you and God to spend time together alone and that whatever happens is personal and private.

Here’s the thing – our relationship with God is meant to be personal. Personal, but not private.

Our heart is that you actually have a chance to exist with the people that you serve with, week in and week out, for a moment outside of serving. We want you to stop and give God the praise and thanks He deserves for the things He is doing through your team and through our family as a church. SPOILER ALERT: For this particular Teams Night, we really want to give you a chance to share how God is working in your serving and how He has done so through the people you serve alongside. And to do that TOGETHER.

**3.) We want you to go**

Do you ever get to the end of the week and you are just completely spent? Same here. Is it impossible to get a babysitter on Friday? We know. Do you have three other invites for events on Friday? We figured you might. That’s why we want you to have that breath of fresh air at Teams Night before the end of the week hits. Simply put, we want to make it easy for you to say YES to Teams Night, YES to spending time with your people and with the One who deserves it the most.

Bottom Line: If you’re serving at Hoboken Grace, mark your calendar for Thursday, June 9th at 8 p.m. at 301 Garden Street. We’ll see you at Teams Night.


&#8220;THURSDAY?!&#8221; Why We’re Moving Teams Night

Sometimes we forget that our faith doesn’t exist in a vacuum. At the start of Hoboken Grace’s Rhythms series this Sunday, Justin said: “For a lot of us, we discover we separate parts of our lives into components, into little sections, into compartments.” We keep compartments for our friends, our family and our work. And then there’s a compartment for church as well.

For many people, the church and family compartments are one and the same. We are often brought up in our parents’ religion, and the spheres don’t conflict. But for many others, church and family do not go hand in hand. Sometimes it is something we have to find and pursue on our own. And when the newly discovered church compartment collides with the old family compartment, you never know what’s going to happen.

I was reminded of this in the weeks following the publication of my first blog post for Hoboken Grace. As my brother drove me home from the train station, he was the first to broach the subject: “So you’re writing for a church newsletter now?”

My family is not particularly religious, and my unexpected “conversion” merely turned a few heads. But for some, choosing Christ means leaving old faiths behind. And for others, it means breaking family ties.

Sean has been attending Hoboken Grace for four years, but 20 years ago he began his Christian journey in an agnostic household. The oldest of 10 children, he was invited to join a youth group by a friend when he was in eighth grade. His parents, wary of organized religion, made it clear that they did not approve.

After first grounding him for an entire summer after he attended church, Sean’s parents kicked him out of the house entirely when, as a high school student, he went to youth group.

Having nowhere else to go, Sean retreated to a friend’s house for the night. As he lay down to get some sleep, he muttered a quick prayer asking God for a sign. At 3:31 a.m. he woke to see a bright light exploding over him, accompanied by a voice:

“I love you, and I’m going to take care of you. Just believe in me.”

Sean tells this story better than I can write it, so I would encourage you to watch his story video as well. After that night, Sean has stayed the course ever since, even though it took many years for his parents to accept his faith.

For Stephanie, the conflict with her family wasn’t so much about religion itself, but about the tension between the church she was raised in, and the church she felt at home in.

Stephanie was raised in a strict Catholic household, and although she did all the “right” church things, she felt something was missing in her relationship with God.

Then, in 2007, a friend introduced her to Pastor Chris and his wife, Ana. A few months later, Ana asked if she would hand out flyers for Hoboken Grace’s launch night, and Stephanie inadvertently became the church’s first greeter. But she was shocked when it was Chris who walked out on stage to deliver the message.

“I didn’t even know he was the pastor!” she recalled. For Stephanie, it was a new experience.

“I was never exposed to that side of Christianity. I just felt warmth. And I actually understood the message. At Hoboken Grace, I listened, I took notes, I paid attention.”

But her parents did not like the change.

“My dad was furious,” she said. “It made me feel awful. It went on for a couple of years.”

[![Cross 7 Black & White-4207](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/Cross-7-Black-White-4207-1-744x1024.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/Cross-7-Black-White-4207-1.jpg)Stephanie wasn’t allowed to receive communion at home, her mother insisting she couldn’t do it without attending confession first. Hoboken Grace made her feel plugged into a community, but rather than feel happy for her, Steph’s parents put up a fierce fight. Still, she persevered.

“Be strong in your faith,” she advised. “Don’t waver when someone challenges you.”

For many years after, Stephanie simply didn’t bring the subject of church up in front of her parents. She believes Grace Kids eventually played a part in turning the tide. Bringing home stories about her time with the kids at Hoboken Grace slowly softened hearts – eventually, Stephanie’s parents started asking her about church.

“It took a long time for them to warm up,” she said. “Now they’re totally accepting of it.”

For some, joining a church pours positive influence back out into their other “compartments.” Mike’s parents were never actively involved in the church, but his grandmother regularly took him to church and was an early influence in his life.

“She was very selfless in a lot of the things she did. That was God working through her,” Mike said.

For a long time, Mike had trouble finding meaning and purpose in his life. He moved to New Jersey from Maine two years ago with a new job, which gave him renewed energy. However, his old feelings of emptiness eventually returned. After a particularly introspective trip to Vegas, Mike realized that although his life looked great on the outside, he was a total mess on the inside.

Things changed when he decided to attend Hoboken Grace after seeing the church offices in town. There, he heard a message about the story of the farmer scattering seeds. Mike broke down, finally realizing what he was missing in his life.

“I was chasing down something no person or thing could ever fill,” he said.

Since then, Mike’s life has changed for the better. He was baptized that June and met his wife over the summer. His parents, he says, have also seen the positive change in him since then. His dad, he said, has been encouraging, and his mom is happy that he’s found a community. And then there’s his sister, who has started to go to church in Maine.

In the end, all of the people mentioned here share something in common: They found something in church that they had been looking for, something they couldn’t find anywhere else in their lives. And eventually, that became the reason they stayed.

_Matt is a member of Hoboken Grace’s Writing Team._


Faith as a First-Generation Christian

The woman had broken free from the sex trade, but had left behind her husband and 5-year-old daughter. She began her journey to freedom unaware that she was nearly seven months pregnant, traveling 36 hours by bus and trekking through the mountains to seek refuge. Months after finally reaching South Korea, the woman, far from home and a few hours away from a small group of other refugees, celebrated her birthday alone.

A team from Hoboken Grace helped throw her a party, spending the day with her and her 9-month-old daughter. They shared laughs, ate cake, and sang “Happy Birthday” in both English and Korean.

“It was just a way for us to love her and just let her know that she’s not alone,” says Wanda, one of four people on the team.

The birthday party was just one part of a weeklong mission trip to South Korea this month to work with LiNK, an organization that helps settle and support refugees fleeing economic and political oppression in North Korea. The team led a training session with LiNK’s staff, discussing strategies for team building, scheduling and empowerment (for example, starting meetings with celebrations). They also met with a group of university students, toured the studio of a propaganda artist and cooked an American dinner (hot dogs and sauerkraut) for some new friends.

[![South Korea - Mission Team-3](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/South-Korea-Mission-Team-3.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/South-Korea-Mission-Team-3.jpg)

Despite obvious language and cultural gaps and the vast differences in their experiences, those on the trip say it wasn’t difficult to find common ground with the refugees they met. They shared meals, encouragement and plenty of laughs. And while they couldn’t imagine what the refugees had gone through, the team says God used their own stories to open their hearts and connect with them in ways that transcended translation.

“I moved to New York because I was leaving an abusive relationship,” says Micah, one of the mission trip team members. “I didn’t want to move here. I had to move for my own safety. So there were a lot of parallels for me between the people we met and my own circumstances. Obviously it’s different. But I could feel God speaking into my life and pouring into my heart about it.”

In addition to seeing reflections of her own story, Micah says her conversations with the refugees helped her realize the importance of finding joy in who you are. “Some of their circumstances were so intense, and so hard, and they were so joyful in the small things,” she says.

For Wanda, childhood memories helped her connect with the woman whose birthday they celebrated. “I was raised by a single mother, and I know the hardships that she went through just to give us a good life,” she says. “And the fact that this woman was able to do that, and just for the sake of making sure that her child was born in a country where there’s basic freedoms… I really related to her.”

[![3a1f8318c02d1c2117110fa7bf7d16ba](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/3a1f8318c02d1c2117110fa7bf7d16ba-768x1024.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/3a1f8318c02d1c2117110fa7bf7d16ba.jpg)

It was in these small slices of life — the cutting of cake, laughter over a meal — where Wanda says she saw that God’s love is everywhere, and that the people they met were not so different after all. They want basic rights and good health.

“They want the same things you and I want,” she says. “But they had to work very hard and had to go through a lot of hardships to get that basic freedom that we take for granted.”

Story after story detailed those struggles. There was the pain that refugees had endured while in China and North Korea, as well as the cost of freedom — leaving friends and family and living in secrecy and, oftentimes, loneliness.

One of those stories was told by Sun Mu, a former North Korean propaganda artist. Working under a pseudonym to protect the family he left behind, his work in South Korea now parodies the propaganda he used to create. As the team toured his studio, he began asking questions about their faith.

“He knew that we were with a church, and he asked us about it,” says Micah. “He basically said that in North Korea, and even in South Korea, Christianity is more politics than it is anything else, and people use it to gain control. He asked us what we thought about that and what our church was like.”

As the conversation continued, Sun Mu said he couldn’t understand how there could be a God when he had seen so much pain and suffering. It was a question that Micah says she struggled with during her own search for freedom.

“I just felt God whispering into my heart to tell him — and for myself — that His heart breaks for those who are oppressed,” she says. “So I did, so he could clearly hear that. And that was a life-changing moment for me.”


New Beginnings

_Portraits is an occasional series that captures stories across our community, one photo at a time._

It was a bitterly cold day in March, and snow was in the next day’s forecast, but Chloe didn’t care. She happily threw her coat off to pose for pictures in front of red brick buildings and marble statues in Harvard Yard.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen someone happy like that before,” says Dan, who accompanied Chloe on the trip from New York to Boston. “It was just pure, innocent joy. I’m still in awe that I got to help make someone’s dream come true.”

Shivering in Harvard Yard might not be everyone’s dream, but it was Chloe’s. And just a few years ago that dream of visiting an iconic Ivy League school seemed completely out of reach. That’s because Chloe was born in North Korea, a country that labels those who leave as defectors and imposes harsh punishments on any family members who stay behind.

Dan and his wife, Rebecca, met Chloe on a mission trip to South Korea last May. They made the 14-hour flight to work with a group called LINK (Liberty in North Korea), which provides support and services to North Korean refugees as they work to rebuild their lives.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/Sanchez-0519.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/Sanchez-0519.jpg)

“One of the first nights we were there, our job was to make an American dinner for everyone,” recalls Rebecca. “We searched all over for familiar ingredients, but in the end all we could figure out how to make was French fries and quesadillas. So that was our authentic meal.”

When they weren’t getting creative in the kitchen with American cheese and potatoes, Dan and Rebecca spent hours just sitting with refugees, listening to their escape stories and helping them practice English. As the end of the trip approached, Dan and Rebecca learned that LINK was looking for a family in NYC to host someone from North Korea in the fall.

“I knew it was something we could do,” says Dan. “Physically, we had an extra room. And if we moved all of our stuff out of it, someone could even sleep in it. So I prayed and told God that if this is what He wanted, then all I needed was permission from our landlord to have someone else living with us. And our landlord said yes, so we said yes.”

For Rebecca, the process was a little bit different. And there were months of doubt and anxiety after they got back to the states. Family and friends were weighing in on the decision and while some people were encouraging, others told Rebecca that as a newly married couple, they should be focusing on themselves and their relationship. And it didn’t help that after agreeing to host Chloe, Rebecca didn’t get any additional details on when to expect Chloe or how she should prepare.

[![unspecified-3](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/unspecified-3.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/unspecified-3.jpg)

“I’m a planner,” says Rebecca. “And after we made the decision to host Chloe, there was a long period over that summer when we just didn’t know what was going on. LINK was going through some organizational changes, and we just didn’t hear anything. By the end of August, I started to assume that she wasn’t coming after all.”

Then, in mid-September, the phone rang, and Rebecca learned that Chloe would be showing up in a week.

“I was completely overwhelmed by everything that had to get done,“ says Rebecca. “But that was God clearly reminding me that this had never been something that we could do on our own, however much time we had to prepare. God was, and always had been in control and if it was His will for this to work out, then it would.”

In the short time before Chloe arrived, everything started to fall into place. Friends showed up to help clean the apartment and donated furniture and decorations to make the room look welcoming. And a new bed, bought with donations, fit just perfectly into a friend’s borrowed truck for the ride home from the store.

“One of my biggest worries was finances,” admits Rebecca. “We had just finished taking Financial Peace University, and we had this perfect little budget worked out, and that just blew up. “

But God even took care of the accounting.

“We’ve had so many friends support us financially,” says Rebecca. “Including the parents of one of our friends. They don’t even really know us, but they send a check every month. It’s been a huge blessing. Every month, the budget somehow still works out, and we have exactly what we need. And sometimes there’s even extra so we’ve been able to take Chloe to Washington D.C. and, of course, Harvard and show her a little bit more of the country.”

When Dan and Rebecca made the decision to host Chloe, they accepted that their goal to get out of debt would have to be postponed. But God had other plans, and last month they celebrated paying off their last student loan.

“Because we couldn’t do this on our own, we had to give God the opportunity to move – give Him some space to show off,” says Dan. “We didn’t have control over it, we were just along for the ride. It’s not a comfortable position to be in, but nothing increases your faith more. We will always have this experience to look back on and remember how God provides when we choose to love.”

“One of the things we love most about Chloe is her boldness,” adds Rebecca. “She is fearless. And through our time with her and our deepened experience of God’s love and provision over the last 10 months, we feel emboldened to love and serve in ways that would have seemed impossible just one year ago.”

[![unspecified-2](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/unspecified-2.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/05/unspecified-2.jpg)


PORTRAITS: Making Room

This May, Hoboken Grace introduces parents to Breathing Room: a quarterly invitation to slow down, enjoy a (child-free!!) night out and connect with other parents.

We all knew it wouldn’t be easy trying to grow little people into \[well-functioning\] human beings, but did it really have to be this hard? Between sleepless nights and public toddler meltdowns, it can be a real struggle to maintain a semblance of sanity, never mind act like we have it all together. We all crave space to relax and recharge, but that space is hard to find.

That’s why Jen DeMarco came up with the idea for Breathing Room. In her own life, Jen acknowledges that she’s not solely responsible for even the personal victories she’s experienced. “I needed the relationships God built and put in my life,” she says. Applying this principle to parenting, Jen wanted to offer parents a place to be around other parents, to encourage each other and realize we’re not alone.

As she sought ways to develop relationships with other parents and inside her community, she realized it was challenging for many parents to meet on a weekly basis. So she recruited Amy Gress to help her brainstorm about how parents could build support and community.

Together with the staff at Hoboken Grace, they came up with Breathing Room. Designed to be a quarterly opportunity for connection, Breathing Room offers parents a time to press pause and get refreshed. The refreshment is partly literal: appetizers and drinks will be catered by Anthony David’s. Hoboken Grace’s own Anthony Reimer will present stand-up comedy, and Jen will introduce a discussion and Q&A on embracing our imperfection.

Most importantly, there will be time set aside for parents to connect and simply socialize with each other. “That may be the best part,” says Amy. “It’s a night out with other adults — without the kids!”

The first event will be held at Kolo Klub on May 26, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The cost is $30 per person, but if you need assistance please email info@hobokengrace.com. For more information, visit [hobokenparent.com](http://www.hobokenparent.com).


Breathing Room

When you live life at a breakneck pace, one of the first things to be pushed aside is our conversation with God. Without even noticing it we give up the source of love, joy and peace, leaving us to run harder and faster.

What would it look like to develop healthy rhythms in our relationship with God? What if prayer is about more than a time we set aside in our day? What if prayer is a way of life that God intends to weave through our day instead of being compartmentalized to one place and time? Join us this spring as we explore developing rhythms that allow us to thrive in our conversation with Him.


Rhythms

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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.

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‘All They Wanted Was to Be Loved’

Striking the Right Tone

PORTRAITS: Stepping Off the Stage

Building Connections in Kenya

Books for Your Summer Reading List

It Takes a Village

Coming This Sunday

Snapchat Sundays

Five Tips If You’re Struggling to Develop Rhythms

Meant to Be

How a Room for Play Becomes a Place to Pray

THIS Saturday: GO Jersey City

“THURSDAY?!” Why We’re Moving Teams Night

Faith as a First-Generation Christian

New Beginnings

PORTRAITS: Making Room

Breathing Room

Rhythms

Blog

&#8216;All They Wanted Was to Be Loved’

Striking the Right Tone

PORTRAITS: Stepping Off the Stage

Building Connections in Kenya

Books for Your Summer Reading List

It Takes a Village

Coming This Sunday

Snapchat Sundays

Five Tips If You’re Struggling to Develop Rhythms

Meant to Be

How a Room for Play Becomes a Place to Pray

THIS Saturday: GO Jersey City

&#8220;THURSDAY?!&#8221; Why We’re Moving Teams Night

Faith as a First-Generation Christian

New Beginnings

PORTRAITS: Making Room

Breathing Room

Rhythms

‘All They Wanted Was to Be Loved’

“THURSDAY?!” Why We’re Moving Teams Night