Supporting those in our community helps make our community stronger overall. That’s why Hoboken Grace has a group of organizations that we partner with — to expand the impact that our own community is able to make.

This past Sunday, New City Kids shared an opportunity for us to support their students. On April 11th, they’re putting on an extra performance of their Spring Concert! So let’s pack the house! Tickets can be bought [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-city-kids-presents-upside-down-kingdom-art-house-productions-tickets-57223786887). 

In true Hoboken Grace style, we want to be able to connect afterward, so we’ll be hanging out at Jersey Social after the show. If you can only make it to Jersey Social, it’s worth coming out to meet the incredible staff and volunteers who are changing the trajectory of hundreds of kids’ lives.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/03/2018-Spring-Production-Photo-1024x682.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/03/2018-Spring-Production-Photo.jpg)

So, what is New City Kids? We had the chance to interview two current students and two alumni. Their words say it best.

Jahkyiirah and Jeremy are both ninth-graders in their first year of teaching at New City Kids. “I don’t like people, but this opened me up to change, to meet new people,” says Jahkyiirah, who teaches dance to 11 girls in elementary school. She now says she loves kids.

Jeremy had a traumatic move to Jersey City from Puerto Rico two years ago and says that New City Kids “makes me better with people.” For him, being a drum teacher helped him figure out what he wants to do and that he likes teaching others. When it comes to New City Kids as a community, he describes it as being a place where, “if things aren’t good at home, you can always count on New City Kids.” 

“It’s safe,” Jahkyiirah says. “It’s more than just an after-school program.” 

Alumni Nicholas and Jeje provided insight on the long-term impact of all that the students learn through New City Kids. Nicholas, an economics major, couldn’t stop listing how much he had learned from his time with the program. As a bass teacher, he said, he grew in character, improved his speech skills, learned how to make lesson plans and felt the importance of being accountable for your work. 

“It’s real,” he says of the program’s impact. “You hear of stuff like this, but I was involved. I actually care and am still involved.” 

He emphasized that those involved with the program pick up more than skills you can test or measure — it’s life changing, he says.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/03/nck-1024x683.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/03/nck.jpg)

_(Jeremy, current student, and Jeje, alum, during their visit to Hoboken Grace this past Sunday.)_

Jeje, a more recent alum, remembers interviewing for his teaching position and how the whole process was very professional. Not everyone his age was experiencing that kind of exposure to the business world, but he remembers thinking, “I want to make it.” At that young age, he says he wasn’t thinking long term, but he started seeing the importance of everything he was learning. Between budgeting, real-world schedules, applying to college and financial literacy, he felt ready to take his next steps.

Let’s do our part in helping to make an impact in the young lives around us. Come out to their [Spring Concert on April 11th](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-city-kids-presents-upside-down-kingdom-art-house-productions-tickets-57223786887) and hang out afterward at [Jersey Social](https://www.facebook.com/events/350424969017253/).

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/03/Academic-Photo-1024x683.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/03/Academic-Photo.jpg)

**More about New City Kids:**

New City Kids has been changing outcomes for underserved urban youth for nearly 20 years. Founded in 2000, the organization believes that a holistic, educational approach has the power to impact the lives and transform the futures of at-risk youth in marginalized communities. New City Kids’ mission is “loving kids for change to create a community of academic, leadership, musical, and spiritual development.” It uses preventative after-school services with intentional mentoring and leadership development as tools to end cycles of generational poverty. Since 2009, New City Kids has helped 99 percent of seniors graduate high school and continue on to college. In addition, 90 percent of program alumni have earned a degree or are on track to graduate. New City Kids has helped the at-risk youth in Jersey City change their trajectories through employment, enabling them to achieve success in educational attainment, as well as upward economic and social mobility.


Changing Lives in JC

**The King and Queen of Connection Events: Jimmy and Rebecca Kissmer**

Jimmy and Rebecca joined Hoboken Grace in December 2016, just before Christmas. They’d recently moved to the area, leaving behind family and friends on Long Island, and decided, “Ok, now we have to stay here on Sunday and find a home church.”

“We specifically sought out a church that had dinner groups,” said Rebecca. “We had small groups when we were both in college. I went back to church on Long Island, which had the energy and had the modern-ness of the church we were looking for, but it didn’t have that community aspect.”

“We typed in ‘community church’ in Google Maps, we came to Hoboken Grace, and were like, this is it. This is absolutely where we want to be.”

Rebecca and Jimmy spent no time worrying about fitting in. They had their hearts set on connection and being a part of the community. Connection events quickly became a part of their everyday life. 

“We jumped in here,” said Rebecca. “It’s worth the awkwardness of the first few times or two to jump in and meet people that are part of your community, that are part of your family. You’ll start seeing faces you recognize and it won’t be awkward anymore.”

James says he liked that connection events provided an unstructured opportunity to interact with people.

“I like that we have church on Sunday where we see people and there’s time for worship, time for the sermon, time for hanging out with people,” James said.” With dinner groups there will be time for catching up and time for diving into what we’ve heard from the previous week, but connection events are a break from that and a time that we get to — in a very unstructured way — come together and enjoy each other and to build each other up.” 

Rebecca, a self-proclaimed introvert, notes, “I tend to stick with the people I know. If you start talking to a new person and then you see them on Sunday, you can meet a lot of people this way who aren’t just in your small group.”

In fact, it was a connection event that brought Jimmy and Rebecca into the lives of Elizabeth and Esteban. “We met them at the pizza crawl,” Rebecca said. “They’re a really good couple friend now, and Elizabeth is in my dinner group.”

“We’re actually moving to Charlotte in a few months and they’re from Charlotte. And so we were just trading – I know the good stuff up here and you know the good stuff down there. And we have an offer to have dinner with their parents when we get down there.”

As for advice that they might offer to others about getting plugged in, James states emphatically, “Jump in. Just jump in. I think that God has been working on my heart in a way – I’ve heard growing up about having your heart break for people who don’t know who Jesus is, and that was kind of a cliché for many years of my life and only recently has that become more real.”

“I don’t want people to know this because I feel obliged to tell them about it. I want people to know this because of the immense peace and joy that comes with it. I can almost say the same about dinner groups and connection events. I just wish that for anyone who doesn’t know what they’re like, for you to just jump in and see it first-hand.”

Rebecca and Jimmy will be moving soon , but as they put it, “Until we go, we’re here and we’re going to continue to be engaged. At some point we made the decision that we know we’re not going to be here forever, but while we’re here, we’re here. We’re going to be too much energy. We know it.”

Once in Charlotte, they will be looking for a church that has connection events. But, if they can’t find that they say, “we’ll bring that there. 

We need to do life together.”

See upcoming connection events in the app, on FB, or [here](http://hobokengrace.com/events/).


King and Queen of Connection


When someone in her dinner group suggested joining the Production Team, Yuli had no intention of following through. For one thing, she’d been going to Hoboken Grace for only two weeks, and she hadn’t envisioned herself joining any team — let alone one involving lighting and sound boards.

“I just wanted to come to church to observe,” Yuli said. “I didn’t want to be a part of a team.”

To a self-proclaimed introvert with no technical experience, the Production Team looked particularly intimidating. It seemed like everyone had known each other for years, and knew exactly what they were doing. Yuli had barely even touched a Mac. Plus, she was clumsy, she thought. What if she broke the equipment? From nearly every angle, the Production Team seemed like a place where she wouldn’t belong.

But the woman from her dinner group encouraged her to at least meet the team — no pressure, no commitment.

“I just said yes to say yes, and figured I’d get out of it later,” Yuli said, laughing. “My plan was really to say hi and then leave.”

But what happened next was completely unexpected.

“The moment you say ‘Hi,’ they make you a part of the family,” Yuli said. “Everyone’s so willing to teach you, and it doesn’t feel like you don’t know anything or you don’t know anybody. Immediately you feel like you know everybody.”

In fact, Yuli felt so welcome that she’s been a part of the Production Team ever since that day. It’s a behind-the-scenes role, where the impact might not be obvious, she says. But by making sure everything runs smoothly on Sundays — from the lights to the sound to the slides projected onstage — the team is instrumental when it comes to creating an atmosphere where people can feel closer to God, with minimal distractions. Plus, she says, it’s perfect for an introvert who likes to hide in the back.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2017/12/PRODUCTION_TEAM-SCREENSHOTS-7.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2017/12/PRODUCTION%5FTEAM-SCREENSHOTS-7.jpg)

From the production booth, Yuli helps create the visuals seen on stage, choosing moving background images for each song. She also coordinates with whoever is working the lights that day, ensuring that each color and pattern synchronizes with what the Worship Team is doing and the mood of each set. Thanks to others on the team, it’s a skill that was much easier to learn than expected.

Asked how her life has changed since she began serving, Yuli says her relationships with God and the people around her have both improved. While she originally wanted to be more of an observer than a participant at church, she’s come to love serving and seeing how the Production Team helps people find their way back to God. That might mean taking someone new under their wing or creating an atmosphere on Sunday mornings that feels warm and inviting — not unlike the way the team made her feel.

“They’re so welcoming and warm and loving. … It pours out when they’re working,” Yuli said.

She encourages everyone to check out the team, even if you have no intention of joining.

“Even if you’re just coming to say ‘Hi,’ come to say ‘Hi,’” she said. “Because it’ll change you.”

Come say Hi and shadow at a rehearsal!

_[Team Link is this Sunday!](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/202084) 4-5pm at 301 Garden Street. Childcare provided. Your chance to meet multiple teams!_


The Team She Never Thought She’d Join

The Hoboken Grace Easter Egg Hunt is a short six weeks away. This is the perfect time to reflect on last year’s hunt, which was epic. To set the stage, Hoboken received over a foot of snow on the Monday before the hunt. In partnership with the Hoboken Housing Authority, we worked to plow the field to make the hunt possible. Unfortunately, it was a heavy snow and it created big piles that surrounded the field, taking up valuable space. Snow wasn’t going to stop us, though. A few brave volunteers went out and shoveled on Friday to clean up a few areas even more. The attendees were amazed and excited at how far we would go to make sure the event continued as planned!

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/02/EEH3Picture1.png)

The morning of the hunt brought plenty of hustle and bustle. We were expecting over 6,000 people across two separate hunts, and that meant a lot of preparation. Thankfully, over 250 people signed up to volunteer throughout the day and they did an amazing job. They unloaded over 75 cases of water and over 125 bales of straw. Then to top it all off, we had to hide 30,000 Easter eggs.

After the event, words like epic and amazing were used to describe the hunt. Those words still apply, but we also have new words that emerged over the last year.

The first word coming to mind is stories. In the week following the hunt, I regularly heard stories about volunteers who went above and beyond at their stations to make sure everyone felt loved. A greeter high-fived every person who came through the gate. The stroller parking team battled limited space, yet still made sure every stroller was returned to the owner. The hospitality team worked with the Hoboken Housing Authority to run extension cords after we tripped a breaker from the coffee pots. Sure, the event was one big story, but these individual stories are what make it significant.

The second word is community. This word gets thrown about regularly and sometimes loses its meaning. Individuals came together as one community to pull off something this amazing. The participants expanded community by showing appreciation. Through it, connections were made, and friendships were formed. People came to church and came to know Jesus because of the love shown at the Easter Egg Hunt. Community is about togetherness. It’s about meeting your neighbor and building bridges so we can all be there for each other.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/02/EEH2Picture1.png)

Heading into this year’s hunt, I hope to see many of the same themes, except of course the snow. The Bridge Events Team is committed to putting in the hours of planning. We are counting on you to invite your friends out to serve or to participate. Check out the full details on our [website](http://hobokengrace.com/egghunt/).


An Egg Hunt To Remember


Four months after Hurricane Michael roared ashore in Florida, becoming one of the most powerful hurricanes to ever make landfall in the United States, residents and businesses are continuing to rebuild. The Category 4 storm devastated the Florida Panhandle, reducing houses, schools and churches to rubble.

So this spring, be a part of the team from Hoboken Grace that will spend five days assisting in the recovery efforts. Whether it’s helping to rebuild, clean up or provide supplies, the team will bring the manpower that is still desperately needed.

From March 25-30, the team will partner with a church about an hour outside Tallahassee, assisting in debris cleaning, aiding the community and helping to rebuild part of the church.

Like last year’s Puerto Rico trip after Hurricane Maria, team members will be assigned different tasks each day and move from project to project, depending on what’s needed.

“The activity could change each day, and the relief that we’re providing could change,” says Shelby, who went to Puerto Rico last year and is leading the Florida trip.

For Shelby, the trip hits close to home. She is originally from south Florida and attended school near Tallahassee. And after assisting in the recovery efforts in Puerto Rico, she knows how much of an impact the team can make.

In addition, she says, mission trips are a huge growth opportunity.

“It changes your relationship with Christ in a way that I can’t even begin to fathom,” she says. “Every person I’ve talked to that’s gone on a trip has said it’s greatly impacted their relationship and it’s greatly impacted how they see things. … You see things so differently after.”

Those interested in the trip can email questions to [missions@hobokengrace.com](mailto:missions@hobokengrace.com) or check out [Hoboken Grace’s Missions page](http://hobokengrace.com/mission-trips/), where you can register for the trip.


Why We’re Going to Florida This Spring


Once a year we take a night to free ourselves of distraction and spend time with God. What is it and why do we do this?

For some, hearing that music can act as “worship” might be confusing, and for others, it may be a habit that isn’t given much thought. So, why is it that we sing on Sundays? Why is music part of what we do?

For John, who has served as a vocalist on the team for about a year, music plays a pivotal role in his ability to connect with God.

“During a past event like this I was going through a lot of stuff, in a dark place and feeling overwhelmed,” he says. “I wasn’t sure what to think or what to do. And then they started singing ‘Oceans,’ one of my favorites.”

Even though it’s a popular song, it hadn’t been part of Sundays for awhile, so this came as a surprise to John.

“It was the first time I felt God was really answering my prayer,” he says. “I started crying, then laughing and crying. I was reminded God is here with me through all my struggles, and it was that song He used to speak to me. That’s the power of music.”

**But, why devote a whole night to music?**

“We all worship in different ways,” John says. “Maybe you’re not going to be the person lifting your hands, but it can be a time for you to spend in prayer in a conversation with God.”

_Hannah, who serves as a leader on the Worship Team, describes music as “a gift He’s given all of us.”_

“Worship is not just about singing and music,” says Hannah. “Even if you’re not comfortable singing, I’d encourage you to come because God uses these moments to draw our hearts to Him.”

It’s also a time when you can be fully focused on being with Christ, she adds.

“We can do that all the time, but there’s something powerful in being able to do that with our family, our community.”

“Music is simply a tool for responding to all Christ has done for us, it’s like engaging and meditating on His Word,” she says. “He created music and enjoys music. You can see it throughout scripture.”

_Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy. – Psalms 100_

God uses music to speak to us. Over the years, members of the band started writing songs- things they felt God was showing and teaching them in their own lives and in the lives of our community. Dana, the Arts Director, saw this and realized how important it was for the team to come together in the writing process. Together, they completed several original tracks and made an album that was released last year. Some originals, plus your Sunday favorites will be part of Worship Night.

_See you there! [Worship Night](https://www.facebook.com/events/279759342712936/) is February 22nd at 8pm – 301 Garden Street_


Worship Night…Is All Music?


I’m glad you asked!

In short, it’s an hour where you will have access to all our teams and their leaders. Pastor Chris will kick off the event, you’ll mingle between each team’s table as you learn more about what each team does. Then, after about 30 minutes you can pick a team you want to belong to and start making your impact.

The whole story?

Everything Hoboken Grace does revolves around our mission – to help people find their way back to God. And it takes a LOT of people to make that mission possible. People with all sorts of skills, talents, and passions. Every person is a necessary piece in impacting the world around us. Each of us are called to love our neighbor.

Currently, if you want to find a team and find which one is the best fit for you, you won’t have every team in one room.

At Team Link, this is the first time you’ll have access to all the teams, be able to talk to leaders from those teams, and gain a firm understanding of what it means to join in on this mission. Plus, each team has several different roles within, so really the possibilities are somewhat endless.

…But, I want more details!

Perfect.

**First, you’ll [register here](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/202084).**

You’ll let us know if you’re new to serving on a team, or whether you’re already on a team and accompanying someone for moral support. We encourage that too! We understand starting something new can be intimidating, so a buddy is more than welcome. Just be sure you both register, so we can prepare for you. (If you decide to attend at the last minute, we will accept registrations at the door.)

_Childcare will be provided. Just indicate if you plan on taking advantage of that on your registration._

**Mark your calendar.**

February 24th from 4pm to 5pm. One hour. Sunday. It’ll be in the same space we meet on Sundays at 301 Garden Street, but it’ll be completely transformed. Where there’s usually chairs, there will be large, round tables. Each representing one team and filled with people from that team. Giving you a chance to speak to at least one person from each team.

**Read about the teams ahead of time.**

If you’re living in this area, chances are, you’re an over-achiever and want some info beforehand. So, [here’s the rundown of the different teams](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2019/02/Serve-2019-Booklet%5FSmall-3.pdf). There are nine categories, and within each are multiple roles, sometimes multiple sub-teams. There’s no bad team to join. But, sometimes a team might not be the best fit for you, and that’s to be expected. Each of us has different gifts, different time commitments, and different passions. That’s why this event is going to be so crucial in finding your best fit for where you can make the most impact.

**Show up.**

Team Link is going to be buzzing with energy of people who want to make a difference. Pastor Chris will kick off the event and then the leaders will be ready to talk further about the week-to-week of their teams. Each team will have more information ready for you at the event. You can ask them any questions you have. Then, move on to the next team. You’ll have about 30 minutes to bounce around the tables.

**Jump in.**

After that 30 minutes, you should have a pretty good idea of which team you want to join. The leaders will let you know when their next orientation is, and swap contact info. Now, all you have to do is jump in!

**Make an impact.**

The most exciting part of Team Link is connecting people who want to make an impact to all the ways available to do just that. It’s all about loving people and impacting the world.

We can’t wait to see you at [Team Link](https://hobokengrace.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/202084). And can’t wait to see how God will use you to impact His mission.


What Is Team Link?

The first time I set foot into 301 Garden, it was Hoboken Grace’s 10th birthday. I didn’t have a clear idea of who God was at the time, but my roommate served on the Production Team and convinced me this was a great day to go see what Hoboken Grace was all about — and also spilled the beans that there would be confetti cannons. I wasn’t sure how I felt about going to church, but I knew I liked confetti and celebrations.

As I walked through the doors by myself for the first time, unsure if this was even right for me, I remember so many smiling faces greeting me and making me feel like I was a friend from the start. Coming from the South, you have this assumption that “Northerners” don’t show that Southern hospitality you are used to. It caught me off guard when people would introduce themselves and ask me about myself, not for their benefit or curiosity, but because they genuinely wanted to get to know me. Someone pointed me in the direction of the coffee and bagels, and I found a seat in the back of the church, doing my best not to sit too close to anybody else and forcing awkward conversation.

When Pastor Chris came on stage, one of the first things he did was introduce himself, which I found thoughtful because he didn’t assume everyone knew him. He talked about living a life that is significant, a life deeper than earthly pleasures, a life where we walk with Jesus. Going over Matthew 16:13-18, he reiterated the question “Who do you think Jesus is?” Sitting in my seat, I realized I had no clue who He is. I had been told a lot of lies about Jesus, but no one ever bothered to tell me the truth. No one told me about His endless love and grace. I found out about Jesus through everyone I came in contact with at Hoboken Grace; they all reflected something deeper than this superficial life I was living. I wanted to be like them!

I never felt qualified or good enough to receive God’s love and forgiveness. I hadn’t prayed in years, but I remember sitting in that service and saying to myself, “Okay, God. If you really are as powerful as these people believe, then be it your will to change my heart, because there’s no way that I can do it on my own.” I prayed that same prayer for weeks.

A month later, I joined Grace Kids. Through the videos and stories we teach the kids, I started learning the Bible stories along with them. I don’t remember the exact moment when I accepted Jesus, but I remember feeling full where I previously felt empty. My thoughts started to become more selfless and I started to put others before myself. My heart became softened when I previously felt like it was a rock-solid chunk of ice. All the plans I had made for my life were falling apart, and I decided to give it over to the One who knows what’s best for me.

As soon as I made that decision, my life felt like it was just beginning. I got baptized in July and started working with Hoboken Grace in August. When I moved to New Jersey a little over a year ago, I had no idea that it was God’s will for me to be here and to grow in Him the way I had.

I may have walked through those red doors the first day for the confetti cannons, but I stayed for the love I found in my community and our God. I don’t know how I ever lived my life without Him previously, but I know I won’t ever live without Him moving forward.

I’m excited to see what God has in store for us here at Hoboken Grace!

_Join us as we celebrate all God’s done these past 11 years!_  
_301 Garden Street_  
_9:30am | 11:00am | 12:30pm_


From One Birthday to the Next

The end of January is almost here, and you may think it’s too late for those New Year’s resolutions. But regardless of what the calendar says, it’s never too late to work on your goals.

This past weekend, about 20 people gathered for a one-day conference in Montclair to outline a vision plan for 2019\. Hosted by Devin, who has attended Hoboken Grace for the past few years, the retreat also touched on how to follow through on your goals and how to keep them at the forefront of your life. 

The Writing Team recently chatted with Devin about the conference, as well as some tips for goal setting.

**The Power of Intentionality**

Devin started the day with a short introduction and asked attendees a question he’s been asking himself: “What does it look like to grow towards the call God has for my life?”

“A slow and quiet revelation of who I am and what I have been called to has emerged out of the pursuit of this question,” he says.

When starting to make a goal, Devin suggests starting with a broad idea. You take the dream, bring it down to a vision and then get very specific with your goals.

Simply setting a goal — and establishing a plan to see it through — requires intentionality. The retreat gave many the time to step away from their phones and other distractions and think deeper about their goals. In doing so, some found that in order to get to their future goals, they had to take care of some other goals first. Which brings us to…

**Our Life Is Connected**

Devin explains that through coaching he’s received, he realized he was being crushed by pursuing goals in one area of his life and ignored what he was neglecting. If you think of the different sections of your life as part of a wheel that consists of goals in different departments –career, financial, spiritual, physical, intellectual, family and friends — each needs to be attended to with care for the circle to roll. If one outweighs the others, you will be crushed by a wheel (life) that is uneven, he says.

In taking the time to sit and think of the connectedness of our goals and our lives, those areas that needed attention became clearer to some. Devin says that in goal setting, we may need to step away from future goals to take care of other goals first. Diving deeper into God’s word and spending more time in prayer to build a solid foundation is an example of that. “Laying the foundation is so important, as we can see in the story in Matthew 7,” Devin says. “We can’t control the circumstance, but we can control where we build.”

**Accountability**

Finding people you can share your goals with and who can check up on you are important to the process of goal setting. For many at the retreat, finding those people became one of their goals. 

“Find people you can learn from and people you can walk with,” Devin says.

“If I don’t have someone to do something with, I’ll never get anything done,” he adds. 

Having that community is important for many reasons. “If you’re in a rut, you need to hear from other people, that’s ok,” Devin says.

Those people can help remind you of who you are and how God continues to pursue you.

Keep Going. Goal setting takes persistence. It’s a messy business, but if we wait to begin we’ll never get anything done. And as we’ve been walking through Hoboken Grace’s Vision series, we’ve seen that God has a vision for us, too — one that is more focused on who we are becoming.

And if you fail? Devin suggests focusing on what has been working, not what you don’t accomplish.

“Look at how God has been faithful,” he says.

And even though the calendar is inching toward February, you still have plenty of time. 

“Set yourself up for success this year,” Devin says. “Make sure this year’s goals aren’t next year’s goals.” 


3 Tips On Goal Setting

After growing up in the foster care system, Heather was left with the feeling that God had abandoned her. It was one of the most difficult periods of her life, she says, one filled with more bad experiences than good ones.

Years later, when her friend Meghan introduced her to Hoboken Grace, Heather had more than a few reasons to turn down the invitation. In addition to feeling abandoned, she was “anti-church,” she says. Heather was also afraid of feeling judged.

“I struggled my whole life with depression, and I was concerned about people judging me at church for being a single mom,” said Heather, whose daughter Hailey is now 5\. 

When she decided to give Hoboken Grace a try, it was the people she encountered, and the way they made her feel, that kept her coming back.

“I was in a dark place when I started attending church, but being greeted by someone smiling at the door was a feeling that boosted my spirits,” she says.

She even signed up for one of the [church’s dinner groups](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/dinnergroups/), a family group where kids were welcome. The idea of spending time with other families each week was refreshing, she says, and she started attending regularly. 

“It may sound corny, but being a former foster kid, they were so nice and welcoming to me,” she says.

The group’s weekly gatherings became a safe place where Heather could talk about some of her past hurts — and find healing in them. Her faith has become her reason for getting out of bed each morning, she says. And feeling the constant support of her dinner group, as well as others at Hoboken Grace, has put most of her loneliness away. 

Last month, family and friends surrounded Heather as she took the step of getting baptized. Part of her motivation, she says, was the realization that it’s “progress, not perfection,” that’s important in your walk with God. 

“Thank you to all of my friends, and everyone at Hoboken Grace for supporting me, and showing me that I deserve love, and that I am wanted,” she wrote on Facebook afterwards.

Heather says she never thought her life would be filled with so much joy, friendships and people who love her. It’s a feeling she now wants to share with others.

“I want to help people who suffered with a childhood of foster care,” she says. “If I can make an impact in someone else’s life like how Hoboken Grace gave me my life back, then I can make a difference in others’ lives.”

[Check out Hoboken Grace’s dinner groups today](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/dinnergroups/)!


When Love Exceeds Expectations

Resolutions are one of those things people seem to love or hate.

Love is a strong word, but as a frequent journaler, I get pretty into them. I’m not talking about your ordinary “go to the gym” resolutions, though — I’ve never been able to follow through on those.

I have what I call annual “do something” goals. Each year, I aim to do at least one thing I’ve never done before, go somewhere I’ve never gone before and eat something I’ve never eaten before. The best thing about this is you don’t have to try very hard to make that happen. I like to fill out the list throughout the year, adding experiences as they come. They don’t have to be far-flung or exotic — just new. I love looking back at the lists as a reminder of how I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone and expanded my horizons.

Then there are the more structured goals I come up with each January: do this, prioritize that, get better at these five things. Over the years, I’ve learned to refine these goals so they have a better chance of actually happening (“do this X times a week,” as opposed to just “do this”). Every few months, I circle back, evaluating my progress (or lack thereof). It’s a system that helps hold me accountable, and I’ve been able to follow through on a lot of things as a result.

But many of my goals, I’m starting to realize, are pretty _me_ centered. _Work less. Sleep more. Save X amount of money._ Resolutions usually encourage me to look inward – as opposed to outward. As a result, I think, the past few years have been pretty _me_ focused, too.

So this year, as I think about my 2019 goals, I’m trying to think outward as much as inward. _What can I put out into the world this year?_ _How can I better serve God and my community?_

I don’t have all the answers at this point, and that’s OK. Vision alone can steer you forward.

**Here are a few of the questions I’m asking myself. Maybe they’ll help you, too.**

What are some things that have been weighing on your heart lately?

What is a problem you see — globally or locally — that you can’t turn away from?

What are some things you can do something about it?

What are some ways you can serve your neighbors better?

Who are some people you’d like to focus on encouraging and/or praying for this year?

_Brittney serves on the Writing Team at Hoboken Grace._


Looking Outward

2019 Dinner Groups resume the week of January 7th and new groups launch January 21st. You can sign up for a Dinner Group now! Dinner Groups are a great way to find a place to belong, start building community by engaging with God, all while having fun.

Here are 5 reasons we think you should join us for dinner in 2019:

**1\. Dinner is planned**

It is nice to know that you have one less dinner to plan each week. In 2019, we ate over 2,400 meals together. 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\. Consistent encouragement**

Whether it’s spending daily time with God, serving the community, being baptized, or another milestone, Dinner Group members encourage 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.

**3\. No long-term commitment needed**

The majority of our Dinner Groups run all year long. You are welcome to join any group. All of our new groups start on a 10-week trial. Brand new groups created for those engaging dinner group for the first time. These groups are a perfect way 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.

**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. Often we hear Sunday’s conversation and think, “This is just for me!” Then we go to group to find out that we are all dealing with similar struggles. 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 all over 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?

_To find a Dinner Group that is right for you,[ visit here.](http://hobokengrace.com/dinnergroups/#join)_


5 Reasons to Sign Up for a Dinner Group

Our annual list of top blog posts is back, and this year there seems to be a pretty obvious theme. Clearly, any blog post that dives into the relational part of our lives. (A handful of posts that just missed the top 10 were also about relationships.)

There are also stories here about finding financial freedom (a huge theme this year at Hoboken Grace), finding faith and finding purpose. It’s a list not only of the stories that were most read, but also a snippet of a year in the life of our church family.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/05/Man-Couple-Woman-Holding-Hands-Bracelet-People-2557498-e1543096028351.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/05/Man-Couple-Woman-Holding-Hands-Bracelet-People-2557498-e1543096028351.jpg)

## 1). [The Secret to Dating at Church](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/relationships-begin-end-church/)

In celebration of Hoboken Grace’s 10-year anniversary, we featured the stories [of eight couples who met through the church](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/you-had-me-at-hoboken-grace/) and are now married. But for every beaming wedding photo and heartfelt “I do,” we realize there are undoubtedly dozens of deleted pictures and plenty of “I don’ts.” We thought we’d use [the Love Project series](http://hobokengrace.com/series/love-project/) as an opportunity to sit down with Pastor Chris to talk about the benefits of dating someone at church, the risks, and everything in between.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/02/4-Alter-22-1-1024x783.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/02/4-Alter-22-1.jpg)

## 2). [You Had Me at Hoboken Grace](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/you-had-me-at-hoboken-grace/)

When you look back at the last 10 years, one of the biggest stories is one that’s perhaps not as obvious or often talked about: the number of Hoboken Grace weddings. The Writing Team sat down to talk with some of those couples, who got to know each other at connection events, on a mission trip, at a choir info meeting and even while working in the church office.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/HGFPUShoot-2018-MSM_9536-1024x683.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/09/HGFPUShoot-2018-MSM%5F9536.jpg)

## 3). [The Best Thing We Ever Did](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/best-thing-ever/)

Nate and Alyssa were unsure what they’d take away from Financial Peace University — if anything. A civil engineer by trade, Nate is a numbers guy who for years meticulously updated a financial spreadsheet. Alyssa, meanwhile, had studied financial planning and previously worked in wealth management.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/01/DSCF2220-1024x682.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/01/DSCF2220.jpg)

## 4). [Six Ways to Invite Someone to Dinner Group](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/6-ways-invite-someone-dinner-group/)

More than half of the guys in John’s dinner group didn’t join by signing up online, as some people do. They’re guys he simply met and invited. (In some cases, it took a few tries.)

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/10/kate-krivanec-212734-unsplash-1024x540.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/10/kate-krivanec-212734-unsplash.jpg)

## 5). [Oh, Baby!](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/oh-baby/)

Have you noticed the baby boom going on in our church family lately? At least seven babies were born over a span of just two and a half weeks! (A few of them were even born on the same day.)

As one person joked, what are they putting in the coffee these days?

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/01/DSCF1002-1024x682.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/01/DSCF1002.jpg)

## 6). [Portraits: Finding Faith, Losing Fear](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/portraits-finding-faith-losing-fear/)

Amy came to Riverview-Fisk Park at her wits’ end. She’d had a huge fight with her boyfriend and needed to leave her apartment a few blocks away. Weighed down and worn out by the emotions of the past four years of an abusive relationship, she sat on a bench and thought she was done with her life in this city.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/06/33505442_10106528657644799_4720440190999461888_n.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/06/33505442%5F10106528657644799%5F4720440190999461888%5Fn.jpg)

## 7). [A Bigger Plan Than I Ever Expected](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/bigger-plan-ever-expected/)

From the time I was a little girl, I loved taking care of babies and kids. My dream job was to be a neonatal doctor for premature babies or a clinical child psychologist, but being a missionary in Africa was never on that list. But as I grew in my faith and trust in following God, I realized He had much greater plans for my life than the ones I could have made for myself.

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/JeffSteph8.12.18_007-1024x682.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/08/JeffSteph8.12.18%5F007.jpg)

## 8). [She Said Yes!](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/she-said-yes/)

One 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. And then Stephanie was called to the stage, for something “a little bit different.”

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/05/Guat-cover-1024x754.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/05/Guat-cover.jpg)

## 9). [Letting Go](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/letting-go/)

“We should send Angie.”

I held my breath and looked around the room. Anthony just recommended I take his place as team leader on the spring mission trip to Guatemala since he couldn’t go. The thought had obviously occurred to me. I speak Spanish, I’ve been a dinner group leader for two years and I’ve led other teams. I’ve traveled and previously lived outside the U.S. But hearing someone make that suggestion left me with a knot in my stomach I couldn’t untie.

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

## 10). [Why I Took FPU Four Times (When I Wasn’t Even in Debt!)](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/took-fpu-four-times-wasnt-even-debt/)

When I first heard about FPU, I was immediately intrigued – a Biblical way to manage my money? Sign me up. I wasn’t in debt and I’d always considered myself responsible with money, I just never really had a plan. My budget was whatever felt convenient at the time and I was haphazardly saving for this elusive thing called retirement — a far away place and time that everyone told me I needed to prepare for, without telling me how. So when I took FPU, I was ecstatic to find out that it was a proven, step-by-step plan for budgeting and wealth building.

**Read our top 10 posts from previous years**

[The Top 10 Posts of 2017](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/top-10-blog-posts-2017/)

[The Top 10 Posts of 2016](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/top-10-blog-posts-2016/)

[The Top 10 Posts of 2015](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/our-top-10-blog-posts-of-2015/)


The Top Blog Posts of 2018


This past Sunday marked yet another sold out show filled with crying, adoring fans. The crowd of over 1,300 people just couldn’t get enough of these musical prodigies.

The band members are humble and practiced for weeks. But, when it came time to go on stage, some were hit with creative inspiration, some coudn’t contain their excitement, and others…couldn’t believe they were on tv.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-2018-MSM_3489.jpg)

“A STAR IS BORN!! Not just one, dozens! Simply astonishing.” _– Hoboken New Times_

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/IMG_0817.jpg)

“Some have accused me of not loving Christmas, but I think my heart grew three sizes that day.” _– The Grinch_

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/12092018_Christmas-concert_249-1.jpg)

“I cannot tell if the students were aware of their self-awareness, but in their amazement of themselves on screen…I found myself asking the deeper questions. Who is it I see, who do others see, am I happy with what I see? These children didn’t know it, but their confidence revolutionized my life.” _– 2Deep4You Rambling Publications_

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-2018-MSM_3439.jpg)

“Kendrick Lamar has nothing on the beats these kids were laying down.” _– Parumpapumpum Press_

_**Disclaimer**: There is no actual data that can prove whether this was in fact, one of the largest concert in Hoboken. However, if you ask the fan club in attendance on Sunday if what they saw, was the biggest Hoboken Concert, there is no doubt. (And all other writing is purely fictional.)_


The Band Behind One of Hoboken’s Largest Concerts


Over 1,900 individuals were impacted this past Saturday as the result of over 600 donors, and 276 volunteers. Read that again.

Including all the partners, 3,400 people participated – in a city of 55,000 people! All of this is only possible because of you.

After your amazing outpouring of love to your neighbors, we were able to collect some thank you notes from those who received gifts from this year’s Hoboken Christmas Exchange.

Now, we’ll let their words paint the picture of how truly special the community of Hoboken is.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/12082018-Christmas-exchange_Pickup_s153-1.jpg)

Thank you ALL for the warmth, the smiles and the love. The gifts were absolutely appreciated and much needed. But, let me tell you..walking from the back of the line all the way around I could feel the love of Christ all around me. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thats what it’s all about for me. God bless you all for your time and your generosity! And for that sister that recognized that I needed to hug someone..wow! Amazing that you picked up on that!  
– Maria

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/12082018-Christmas-exchange_Pickup_s134.jpg)

I love my white towels and the game stop gift card for my son. Thank you so much to you and Hoboken Grace for being so kind. I really appreciate my gifts, thank you so humbly.  
– Shelma

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-ChristmasExchange-24.jpg)

Thank you very much for the gift for the kids. They are going to be very happy with the toys and everything they are going to get.  
– Hadil

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-ChristmasExchange-35.jpg)

I would like to thank the family as well as the volunteers for the gifts that were brought for me and my children…we are waiting to open them on christmas but we greatly appreciate it and are very thankful for the gifts that we all received from you…Thank you much  
– Shawna

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-ChristmasExchange-71.jpg)

I want to thank everyone who donated the gifts for my family and all the families that were at tonight’s Hoboken Christmas Exchange 2018\. It just makes me feel blessed that there are so many amazing and caring people who are there to give from their hearts so that a family who is struggling during the holidays are able to make a child feel loved. May God Bless you all, also thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the wonderful volunteers who gave of their time and hearts to help.  
– Merry Christmas and Love to all from Tina and Family.

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-ChristmasExchange-11.jpg)

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your blessings. My family is very appreciative. I hope you have a Merry Christmas from my Family to yours. Happy Holidays!  
– Mareline

![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/12/HG-ChristmasExchange-1.jpg)

Thank you again for your participation in the Hoboken Christmas Exchange. Let’s do it again next year!

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and hope you get the chance to join us for a [Christmas celebration](http://hobokengrace.com/christmas-hoboken-grace/)!


Thank You Notes — &#8220;Hoboken Christmas Exchange&#8221;

Remember RadioShack? Yeah, I know. It’s hard to believe they used to be one of the premier retailers of the ’90s. They had a slogan that went, “You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.” It was wildly successful. So much so, that I’m still quoting it from 1991.

So, here’s a question for you: Have you ever questioned … your faith? 

It’s okay. I promise it’s okay. You know what? I have, too. There are some pretty tough and deep questions out there. 

Here’s another question for you: Have you ever thought that church was a safe place to ask those questions?

 If your answer is no, I want to be the first to apologize for that. The church SHOULD be the place you go when you have questions about faith — when you have doubts, when you are just struggling with something and need answers. 

As you may or may not know, faith is not a destination, it’s a journey. Some of you might be far along in the journey. You’ve been on this walk with God for years, maybe even decades. But others of you are right at the beginning. You may not be convinced about God, Jesus or the Bible just yet and sometimes, unfortunately, the church has become the last place you would go with your questions.

So, where do you go? If you have doubts and questions, we have a place where you might feel more comfortable speaking up. It’s called [Starting Point](http://hobokengrace.com/startingpoint/), and it’s an eight-week gathering where questions about God turn into conversations about faith. It’s a safe place where you can explore your doubts and tackle some of the trickiest topics of faith, free from judgment and pressure. It’s a conversation, and it’s a conversation we must have. If our mission is to help people find their way back to God, Starting Point is going to help our church family do that even better. 

Our goal is simple: To create a space where people just like you feel comfortable having conversations about faith. Our first group experienced Starting Point this past summer and provided some incredible feedback. 

“The biggest thing I took away from Starting Point is that God doesn’t expect me to be perfect,” one participant said. “I also learned so much about myself. I’ve grown so much since Starting Point.” 

Another person said, “I stepped into Starting Point unsure of my faith. I walked out knowing exactly who God made me to be.”

So, if you’re ready to have a conversation — if you’re ready to ask questions and dig deeper — join me for Starting Point this January. Whether you’re brand new to faith or want to discuss your questions and concerns, Starting Point is a great step. It’s just eight weeks where you can explore faith and experience community. Spots are limited, [so sign up today](http://hobokengrace.com/startingpoint/). 


Have You Ever Questioned Your Faith?

You’ve taken FPU, applied the steps and celebrated the wins. But now it’s all over. Those days of gazelle intensity seem so long ago and you’re wondering where to go from here. Here are six ways you can continue on your Baby Step journey:

**1). Make the Baby Steps a habit**

At Hoboken Grace, we often talk about Rhythms and the importance of building spiritual habits. Interacting finances in a spiritually healthy way is no different! So put those recurring meetings into your calendar to do your budget and intentionally set aside time to talk to your spouse or accountability partner!

**2). Seek out accountability**

One of the main reasons people are successful during FPU is the power a small group provides — whether that be encouragement, a pair of ears, advice or simply being there. If you’ve already been part of a dinner group for a while, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Now that FPU is over, talk about finances with people who have gone through FPU and encourage one another. Celebrate together. And get into a Dinner Group right away when they restart in January!

**3). Write down and visualize your goals**

There is power in writing down your goals and being able to visualize them! See this one as an example:

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/11/baby-step-2-chart-300x300.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/11/baby-step-2-chart.jpg)

**4). Take advantage of other FPU resources**

There are a multitude of ways to stay plugged in with social media:

1. 1. Join and engage in the Hoboken Grace FPU community [here](https://www.facebook.com/groups/879552792106540/)  
   2. Log into FinancialPeace.com and watch or listen to the lessons again  
   3. Subscribe to the Dave Ramsey podcast or follow his YouTube videos

**5). Do it again!**

We will restart FPU again in January. If you’ve already taken and paid for FPU, you can take it again at no additional cost!

**6). Join the Stewardship team!**

If God has stirred your heart and pursued you through finances and you want to help people do the same, [contact us](mailto:vinny@hobokengrace.com) to find out about serving opportunities!


Six Ways to Keep Up Momentum After FPU

Missions trips are something that are hard to put into words. It’s difficult to articulate just how impactful and emotional a trip can be. I’ll give it my best shot! 

I joined Hoboken Grace early last year and was in awe of how much love existed in one place. The second time I attended it just happened to be Missions Sunday — when Pastor Chris and Anthony talk about how to get involved with an upcoming trip. 

I was reading through the missions pamphlet and came across Puerto Rico, a disaster relief trip to aid in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Something in my heart dropped. I grew up in South Florida, so the hurricane destruction was all too real to me. When Maria was developing, she was heading straight to my hometown, where my parents and my sister still live. The storm was massive and showed no indication of changing course. About 12 hours before the storm was to make landfall, the storm took a hard turn and missed my family completely. 

You know how God does that thing where He nudges you? He’ll put something on your heart and it won’t go away? That’s what he was doing with me, with this trip. I left service that day thinking about Puerto Rico, but had no intention of going there. I didn’t think I could raise enough funds in time, I didn’t know anyone else going on the trip, and I was still new to the church and the Hoboken area, so it didn’t seem like a good fit. I went to bed that night and woke up still thinking about the trip. I prayed about it for two days, and God was practically yelling at me to go. So I signed up, still nervous about going, but knowing it was something I needed to do.

I didn’t know how I was going to afford the trip, but I trusted God and knew that if He wanted me to go, He was going to do whatever it took to get me there. I ended up posting about my trip on a few social media platforms and hoped that maybe I could raise $500 or so, which would significantly help my total goal of $1,200\. A week before the trip, I had somehow raised the entire cost! I was in tears looking at my Managed Missions page and seeing “100% to Goal.” 

The first day of the trip was the first time we were all together as a team. We piled into a van and headed to the airport. Before departure, we were told that we didn’t have a structured plan of what we were doing each day — we’d get job assignments each day and go from there. 

We arrived in Puerto Rico and met up with another church that was joining us. The next five days could be summed up as exhausting. We woke up early each morning, with some team members making breakfast, another team taking care of lunches and the rest packing the vans with the equipment we’d need for the day. Most projects were pure manual labor, which gave a whole new meaning to “back-breaking work.” Our projects for the day were either removing debris, reconstructing houses or food distribution. At the end of the day, we’d return to the church that was hosting us physically and emotionally drained and have dinner, spending the next few hours talking about the day, expressing our gratitude, and praising God with every breath. 

There was one day that I was pushed to limit, something I’ll never forget. Lauren and I had to fill in a trench, and while that sounds easy, recent rain had caused all of the dirt to cake together. We had to use a pick axe to make the dirt malleable enough to fill the massive plumbing trench. The dirt had the consistency of clay, and we spent hours hammering through it. At some point during that day it ended up raining again and we were instructed to move 200 cement blocks. Two hundred, just us two girls, moving 200 cement blocks. We didn’t even blink, we just started moving them. For each block I touched I said a little prayer for my family, Hoboken Grace or Puerto Rico. 

[![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/03/20180306115320-19a12566-me.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2018/03/20180306115320-19a12566-me.jpg)

There was so much positivity and love on this trip. I have never been with a group that was so in love with serving and had hearts for the Lord. Every person had the same mentality — “what can I do to help,” “what can I do,” “what else is there.” There was never any mention of, “oh I’m too tired,” “oh this is to hard.” It was always, “Alright, let’s do this!” 

This trip I firmly believed, saved me. It transformed my heart from just being a Christian, to being head over heels in love with Christ. He was in every second of every day on the trip. I saw Him in the smiles of my teammates after a long day, I felt Him in the hugs of the community after we distributed meals. I saw Him in the work of the National Guard. I heard Him in my heart, saying, “This is why I wanted you here, to bring you closer to me.” 

There is no doubt in my mind that we impacted the community in Puerto Rico. We distributed 40,000 pounds of food, rebuilt three homes, moved 200 cement blocks, and loved on a community that was so broken. But to me, what really made this trip was the presence of God in every little thing. 

Looking back at this trip now, He has transformed my life in so many ways. Our relationship is different than what it was, I see Him in different ways, and I realized that He truly provides. He provided the funds for my trip, He provided emotional strength throughout the trip, provided physical strength to push my body to complete these projects, and provided me a team that I am now honored to call family. 

Taking a mission trip is the best decision I have ever made. I highly encourage everyone and anyone to be a part of it. God works in such incredible ways, and there is no better way to serve the Lord than getting your hands dirty! 

_Shelby is a member of the Missions Team at Hoboken Grace. Interested in going on your own missions trip? Visit hobokengrace.com/mission-trips._


This Is Why I Wanted You Here

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