“I can’t wait to see what God does,” my mom said a few weeks before my 10-day trip to Uganda.

Dinner group members and other friends were just as excited, predicting that I’d see him work in new ways on my first mission trip.

“This could be a life-changing experience,” one friend said.

I was ready for change, or, at the very least, clarity and direction in a few areas of my life. But 10 days later, replaying a highlight reel of sunrises, safaris and stargazing during a layover to Newark, it didn’t feel as if my life had jolted in a different direction. While I’d barely had time to process the past week and a half, the ground never shook and the sky never opened with answers about my future or my relationship with God.

And while I couldn’t see immediate shifts in my own life, another question kept surfacing during the trip: Was God using us to change other people’s lives?

[![uganda13](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/09/uganda131-300x300.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/09/uganda131.jpg)

Once I stopped looking so hard, God was everywhere: in the strokes of orange, yellow, lavender and fuchsia in Uganda’s sunrises, in the elephant’s slow strut, in the milk-white splotches of stars that dazzled the sky each night.

God’s work was evident at Restore Leadership Academy, where hundreds of children whose lives were shaped by a 20-year civil war are studying to become lawyers, doctors, pastors, teachers and entrepreneurs. You could see his work in the dozen campus buildings that have sprung up in the past two years 一 including a massive Main Hall that opened last week 一 after dreams, passions and talents aligned. Those buildings are in addition to a new farm and soccer field 一 one of the largest in northern Uganda 一 where the school’s teams trained to compete on the national level this year.

You could see God’s hand at the 300-bed Gulu prison, where some of the more than 1,000 prisoners housed there, amid a sluggish criminal justice system, have formed a soccer team that plays “for the glory of God.” Last week they faced the kids from Restore, whose teachers are now leading night classes for the prisoners. You could see it at St. Monica’s, where Sister Rosemary oversees the well-being of women who were raped by rebels, and their children. And it’s evident at the various NGOs we toured that support each other while individually supporting Uganda.

And perhaps God’s work was most obvious in the way our four-person team from Hoboken Grace was able to make the trip. The dates changed twice, with only a few weeks’ notice, challenging tight work schedules and calendars filled with other commitments. But in that short time frame, God moved several pieces into place, providing the inspiration and resources for us to spend nearly two weeks across the world.

[![uganda9](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/09/uganda91-300x300.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/09/uganda91.jpg)

One of our team members, Anna, was hesitant about the trip’s cost. She was reading “Love Does,” Bob Goff’s book about starting Restore Leadership Academy and his efforts to bring education and criminal justice reform to Uganda. She left off one night on a passage about God’s desires to take us on the adventure of a lifetime. God’s trips don’t require prerequisites, the book says, He just wants you to say yes. The next day, she started listening to a podcast on her phone that she didn’t remember downloading. It was about taking adventures with God, and quoted the same passage from “Love Does.” Knowing she had to take this adventure, she got her passport expedited in a number of days and began fundraising less than two weeks before the trip. Contributions and encouragement flowed in from people who she knew were under tight budgets, and other unexpected sources. It was almost unbelievable, Anna says. She reached her $3,500 goal in a week after a friend, who had been working on tithing, paid the balance. “It was amazing to see God working in her, too,” Anna says.

But like me, Anna also wondered if this trip changed her life in any way, and what kind of impact, if any, we had on the people we met. After God had taken us halfway around the world, it was only natural to search for deeper meaning, and to buy into the hype of all that a mission trip can accomplish.

We might not have changed the world in 10 days, and we might not have seen tectonic shifts in our own lives. But we went to Uganda to see what God’s love can do. And we found out between each sunrise and sunset, hearing story after story about how the tides are shifting in Uganda. Land once used for warfare is being used to restore lives; children who grew up wanting to become soldiers are studying to become lawyers; and all over, people are working together to accomplish these things. We might not see immediate change in ourselves, or the people we met, but the change we did see, and God’s hand in it, was more than enough.

[![ugandda2](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/09/ugandda2-1024x768.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/09/ugandda2.jpg)


Watching God at Work in Uganda

This month, it’s time to visit the We Care Pet Shop where we care for your pets and your kiddos! Our team has had so much fun planning this month. It’s full of dogs and frogs and birds and mice! Oh my! Your kids are sure to have fun, but more importantly, they are sure to learn about caring and that God cares about them.

That’s what we want our kids to walk away with this month, the knowledge that “God will take care of me.” What a powerful thing for our littlest friends to know. No matter what, God will take care of them.

God will take care of them when they are in a new place just like He took care of Esther when she went to a new city to become queen. God will give them people to protect them just like He used Rahab to protect the spies and the spies to protect Rahab. God will put people in their lives to help them just like He introduced Elijah to the widow and her son, and God helped them never run out of oil and flour. Finally, God will provide for them just as He showed a well to Hagar when she and her son were so very thirsty.

Basic Truth: God Loves Me

Key Question: Who will take care of me?

Bottom Line: God will take care of me.

Memory Verse: My God will meet all your needs. Philippians 4:19 NIV

Please be praying with us this Fall as our preschoolers get a “first look” at the God who loves them, made them, and wants to be their friend forever.

The reThink Group


God Will Take Care Of Me!

When you walk into a room and you look around, do you notice what you need to notice? Have you ever wondered why there are some people who can see things that other people just don’t see? It seems like some people just have this knack for looking around a room and noticing things that others don’t. Maybe they notice that there are three crooked pictures on the wall or three people are wearing orange shirts. Sometimes they might even notice that there’s a job to be done—like cleaning up a spilled glass of soda or emptying an overflowing trashcan. Now, what if this ability to notice things has more to do with being trained to open your eyes instead of a simple natural ability? Because when it comes down to it, seeing what needs to be done is not just about training yourself to see what’s around you; rather, it should be more about doing something about what you’ve seen.

But let’s be honest for a second, sometimes what you end up seeing are jobs that are pretty dirty, huh? Not many people like taking out the trash, cleaning up the yard after the dog has been out there, or those bathrooms that just never seem to clean themselves. But somebody’s gotta do those jobs. If they don’t, life will get pretty messy, pretty fast.

But dirty jobs aren’t just about cleaning the house. Sometimes, we see a relationship that needs to get fixed or someone that needs some encouragement. Are we really aware of what’s happening around us to take notice and take action?

The same goes for our kids. Shouldn’t we train our children to open their eyes, to be aware of their surroundings and get involved? What would happen if we started teaching our kids how to really look at the world around them and actually do something about what they see? What would it be like if our children could begin to notice things that need to be done and do them without being asked? What could happen if they look at the people in their life that need help and take the initiative to help them?

Or what about when it comes to their own life? What if they saw things that needed to be changed and changed them? These don’t have to be huge. It could be something simple like brushing their teeth or taking a bath or keeping their room clean. That’s why we’re taking this whole month to discover more about initiative.

Initiative is seeing what needs to be done and doing it. Initiative isn’t just some practical principle; it’s really a spiritual principle that starts with God. Initiative is part of God’s character. God took initiative on our behalf. When God saw our broken relationship with Him, He sent Jesus to make it right. When we show initiative, we are reflecting God’s image that is hardwired in us.

Help your kids see life in a different way. Start asking the question, “What do you see?” When you walk into a room, when you walk by someone and when you’re trying to teach children to see themselves from a different perspective, train your kids to notice things they would not ordinarily notice and encourage them to do something about what they see.

In fact, we all might pay attention a little more when we realize that we aren’t just working for our parents or our bosses but we are actually working for God. That’s why we chose Colossians 3:23a (NIrV) as our memory verse for the month. “Work at everything you do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord.”

To dive deeper into initiative, we’re heading back to the Old Testament to talk more about one of the greatest examples of someone taking initiative—a man by the name of Nehemiah. This month, we’ll break down the story of Nehemiah into four segments that will give kids insight into this idea of initiative.

Our bottom line this month is you can trust God to help you do what needs to be done. Often when we take initiative on something big, we can’t do it on our own. We need God’s help. We want kids to know that if they do what they can do to help, God will do the rest.

The reThink Group


Clubhouse Update!

There are so many ways to get connected at Hoboken Grace – dinner groups, teams, classes and connection events. Often, the best way to find out about these opportunities is through our blog, newsletter and social media accounts.

**1). The blog and newsletter:** Guess what? We launched a blog earlier this year to help us tell the story of our church family as we grow and build relationships. On the blog you’ll find [conversations about missions trips](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/thumb-wars-and-mr-giggles-kenya-mission-trip-memories/), [first-person accounts about journeying with God](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/choosing-joy/), [details about events like 1Day](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/1day-is-in-2-days/) and much more. Those blog posts are collected each week into a newsletter that you can subscribe to at the bottom of [hobokengrace.com](http://hobokengrace.com). (Gmail users, make sure you remove us from your Promotions tab to ensure you receive the email each week.)

**2). Facebook:** We’re constantly updating our [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/hobokengrace), keeping you up-to-date on all events and celebrating all that God is doing in our community. We even feature a volunteer of the week! Did you know you can also subscribe to our events page? [Sign up](https://www.facebook.com/hobokengrace/events), and you’ll be the first to hear about everything we have going on.

**3). Twitter:** Looking for a way to supplement Sunday’s message with Bible passages and other relevant reading material? Follow us at [@hobokengrace](https://twitter.com/hobokengrace), where each day you’ll find quotes, interesting blogs and information about upcoming events.

**4). Instagram:** Did you know Hoboken Grace has an Instagram account, where we highlight the work of our incredibly talented photo team? Follow us at [@hobokengrace](https://instagram.com/hobokengrace/).

**5). YouTube:** Watch our [Weekly Update](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA35UzWJbgHAzeVWRf8zRrQ-WeHPrpnX5), [past messages](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA35UzWJbgHD-Ne7eP9FKLbv%5FZlTWgFil) and the [stories](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA35UzWJbgHARJv3dbdrJTa7TWTmF7gXV) of how other people have found their way back to God. You can find all of that [here](https://www.youtube.com/user/hobokengrace).


Five Ways To Get More Plugged In

This Fall we are launching 10 week dinner groups. These groups are specifically designed for people who are interested in experiencing a dinner group for the first time. If that sounds like you, and you’re interested in deepening your relationships at Hoboken Grace — give short-term dinner groups a try. The new groups will be available to sign up for beginning this Sunday, September 13th! We will have four new couples groups, three new women’s groups and two new men’s groups.

The new dinner groups will then start meeting on Sept 20th. You can sign up this Sunday at a Connection Point!


Short Term Dinner Group Launch

As a teacher in Grace Kids, I’m always mentally juggling all the big and small things I want kids to learn. We have our monthly themes, our monthly bible verses and our bottom lines. But the Sunday school lessons are just part of what the kids are learning. We are also working to teach them the life lessons that God has shown us.

Two years ago, our staff went on a retreat to Algonquin Park, Canada. I’m not really sure that “retreat” accurately depicts the trip. While there was some relaxation, group discussion, laughter and contemplation, we spent most of our time in canoes, paddling hard, digging deep for strength and trying to reach our next campsite without tipping over, killing each other or quitting.

It was an extremely challenging trip for me. I was in the middle of a massive lake that covered as far as I could see with no way out for six days. I was pushed to my mental, spiritual and physical limits. If you know me, you know I’m competitive and quitting is not an option. So, when I was asked to carry a 50 lb canoe on my shoulders, along with my 40 lb backpack, across a mile of uneven ground, after rowing for four hours and still having three more hours to go, I did it. When I was at my lowest point, mentally and physically drained, and I was out voted by the team to keep going and not rest, I did it. When it was my day to lead and I knew that any mistake could add hours to the day, I did it. I never quit.

Even though I refused to give up, I realized that my attitude was holding me back, not my ability to complete a task. I was angry, sad and entitled. My attitude said, “I hate you for making me do this, but I’m going to show you and do it, so there!”

I didn’t think I had a choice about how I felt. I just followed my emotions. However, what I learned on that trip to the middle of nowhere Canada, was that I have the power to choose joy in every situation. It felt completely and utterly impossible to choose joy in the midst of tears, frustration, loneliness, anger and pain. But once I started to practice choosing joy, it got a little easier each time. Once I chose joy, my emotions would soon follow and that was then reflected in my attitude. I believe that this is how God wants me to respond to life. Not only to choose him daily but to choose joy in the midst of the unknown and in the middle of struggle. It just makes life better!

To me, this lesson is priceless. I use it every day and it makes life better. I wish I had started practicing this earlier in life, but my hope now is that I can share this bit of wisdom in Grace Kids! I want to help the kids practice choosing joy in order to build character. We don’t have to be slaves to our emotions. We have a choice. We always have the freedom to choose how to respond to life, even when we are stuck in a canoe.


Choosing Joy

The Swahili word for mercy is Rehema. And mercy is at the heart of [Rehema Home](http://www.rehemahome.org/) – an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, that offers a new life to children who have been orphaned, abandoned or abused.

Our Kenya mission team just returned from Nairobi, where they spent 10 days serving the 60 children who call Rehema their home.

We recently sat down with one of our mission team members, Sue Bender, to talk about her experience.

**Q. What made you decide to take that leap and sign up for a mission trip halfway around the world?**

A. Well, people who know me well won’t be surprised to hear that I didn’t do any research or deeply analyze the decision. I just saw the mission trip video in church and I had this gut feeling that it was time for me to go. I used to go on mission trips back in college, but it must be about 14 years since the last time I went. But I’ve been so blessed at Hoboken Grace with support and community, that it felt like I had a strong base and it was time for me to stretch myself again.

**Q. What did you do at Rehema Home?**

A. Our time at Rehema Home was split between working on small repair projects around the home, like painting and finishing a new bathroom, and spending time playing with and getting to know the kids. I was actually really nervous about leading activities for the kids. Keeping 60 kids of all different ages interested and entertained for more than about five minutes seemed like a daunting task. But in the end, it was the simplest little things that captured the kids’ imagination. Thumb wars and hangman were the most popular games – I can’t tell you how many games of thumb war I played.

And then there was one day when I was sitting in a circle with some of the kids and kind of absent-mindedly rubbing a little boy’s back. I started tracing a word on his back for him to guess – a game my mom used to play with me – and before I knew what was happening, all the kids were running around, tracing letters on each other and laughing. I told them the game was called blackboard, and by the time we left, all the kids were calling me “blackboard.” That was not something I had planned on doing, it was just a piece of my childhood that came out, and now that little game is part of their childhood too.

**Q. What memory from the trip will always stay with you?**

A. There was a five-year-old boy at Rehema called Kelly, but we all called him Mr. Giggles, because every conversation with him quickly dissolved into laughter. One day we were sitting on the swings next to each other. We were talking and giggling and pumping our legs, seeing who would be the first one to swing high enough to kick the leaves on the nearby tree. I remember the sunlight and his giggles, and the feeling of the air underneath me as I swung back and forth. I prayed that I would never forget that moment. As beautiful as that memory is, it breaks my heart a little every time I think about it. Will Kelly even live to be my age? He’s part of the precious moment I got to experience. Will he get to grow up and experience something like that? I don’t know.

**Q. How do you think this trip has changed you?**

A. I think this trip has changed how I look at needs versus wants. We’re so privileged, and yet we make ourselves miserable confusing wants with needs, luxuries with necessities. All we really need is a roof, clothes, food and love. These are real needs, and while we are chasing our wants, the kids at Rehema Home are struggling to get these most basic of all needs.

**Q. What advice would you give someone thinking about going on a mission trip?**

A. Don’t overthink it. And don’t worry about whether you’re really the best person to help tile a bathroom or teach 60 kids arts and crafts. Just go, be present, and let God do the rest.


Thumb Wars and Mr. Giggles: Kenya Mission Trip Memories

In a world that is increasingly connected why is it that we often feel so disconnected? What does it look like to not only have community, but to create meaningful community? Join us this fall for a conversation about the many circles in our lives and the powerful truth that God wants to teach us about how meaningful community is not found, but built.

Invite a friend and join us this Fall!


Starting September 13th: Circles

You don’t have to have been part of Hoboken Grace for very long to know that we love to celebrate. Chris routinely pops a bottle of champagne on stage, and when someone comes up out of the water after baptism, we raise the roof.

This fall, our church is launching a new group entirely dedicated to celebrating — a choir. If a choir doesn’t sound like your idea of a party, we intend to change your mind.

“This is not going to be a bunch of people in robes, swaying in unison and holding sheet music,” says Dana, Hoboken Grace Arts Director. “It’s just going to be people who enjoy singing and are singing along with everyone else. They just happen to be on stage providing a model of what it looks like to celebrate and worship God.”

The choir will perform about three times a year, including at Christmas and Easter. Dana says she wanted to make the choir as user-friendly as possible, so rehearsals will almost always be on Sundays. There are also just five rehearsals before the choir will take the stage on December 20th, making it a very manageable time commitment.

“If you love singing but don’t want to be singled out this is perfect for you,” says Dana. “You don’t have to have a solo or a microphone in your face. But you do get to create something with other people. And there’s an energy that only a choir can bring, that takes celebrating to a whole other level.”

Here are five other reasons to join the choir.

1. You’ll have an excuse to start singing Christmas music in September. Yes, we said September. There are just five rehearsals before the first performance, so we won’t waste any time breaking out the holiday cheer.
1. You’ll meet people who don’t think it’s weird that you sing in the shower and sometimes – ok always – use the loofah as a microphone.
1. You’ll help make Christmas and Easter the parties they’re meant to be.
1. You promised yourself you would find a new way to get involved this year and 2016 is just around the corner.
1. You’ll never be asked to wear a choir robe. That’s right, all the community spirit and joy of making music together, no medieval robes required.

Interested in joining? Or just want to learn more? Attend the info[ meeting](https://www.facebook.com/events/1474136266215657/) on September 2oth.


5 Reasons You Should Join the Choir

We have a saying at Hoboken Grace: We don’t just live here, we love here.

Take a stroll through any part of Hoboken and you’ll see what that love — and a little elbow grease — can do. You can see it along the waterfront, where volunteers cleared debris at the Maxwell Place beach. You can see it as you pass by Holy Innocents on Willow, where the fence has a new coat of paint. And you can see it in the smiles of teachers, whose classrooms are now set up for a new school year.

Armed with rakes, leaf blowers and paintbrushes, more than 230 volunteers set out Saturday to tackle weeds, clutter, dust bunnies and debris, reaching every corner of the city during Hoboken Grace’s biggest 1Day event ever. Nearly 20 teams worked on projects at schools, parks and various organizations across the community — and the community took notice.

[![1day](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/1day.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/1day.jpg)

“We felt overwhelmingly blessed to have our classrooms arranged when we walked in the door Monday morning,” said Abby, a teacher at Mustard Seed School. “This allowed us to jump right in to productive problem-solving instead of spending time worried about the state of our space. It was such, such a blessing to us.”

Volunteers also worked on projects at Hoboken High School, the Hoboken Shelter, Church Square Park, In Jesus’ Name Charities, the city’s Cultural Affairs department, Stevens Park and other sites throughout Hoboken.

Check out the photos [here](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1024821080875284.1073741838.109704379053630&type=3) — or just take a walk around Hoboken to see the difference for yourself.


What a Difference a Day Can Make

In a world that is increasingly connected why is it that we often feel so disconnected? What does it look like to not only have community, but to create meaningful community? Join us this fall for a conversation about the many circles in our lives and the powerful truth that God wants to teach us about how meaningful community is not found, but built.


Creating Community

1Day Hoboken is THIS Saturday. Have you [preregistered](http://hobokengrace.com/1day/) and invited your friends?

Registration starts at 10 a.m. at Church Square Park (4th and Willow). Each team will head off to their respective projects soon after, then reconvene around 1:30 p.m. at The Turtle Club for an [epic after-party](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/one-epic-after-party/). You won’t want to miss your chance to win a FitBit, a yearlong [Local Barre](http://www.localbarre.com) membership, Yankees tickets, Six Flags passes, an hourlong photo shoot, a Visa gift card or Starbucks goodies!

We’ll be supporting schools, parks, nonprofits and other organizations across the city, with projects for small groups, large groups and children of all ages. Our registration team will help you pick a team Saturday morning, but here’s a preview of the groups we’ll be assisting if you want to plan ahead.

**Hoboken Homeless Shelter**

Throw on an apron and help cook and serve lunch, slicing and dicing, and mingling with the guests at the local shelter.

**Perfect for:** Anyone who loves being in the kitchen (but cooking experience is not required).

**Hoboken High School (Group 1)**

We’ll be helping the drama department clean out their tech room, hauling items to the trash and organizing the rest.

**Perfect for:** Someone who doesn’t mind a bit of heavy lifting. Technical experience is a plus but not required. This project is not suitable for children.

**Hoboken High School (Group 2)**

Each year, hundreds of Hoboken students tread the boards of the high school’s stage, and the floors have the scuffs and scrapes to prove it. This team will be cleaning the floor of the stage and repainting it black for the new school year.

**Perfect for:** Anyone who wants to relive their high school drama days – or enjoys painting in general. This project may be a good match for families with older children.

**In Jesus’ Name Charities**

Help host a one-day free flea market to provide household supplies, clothing and other goods to local families. Volunteers are needed to help with distribution, manning the event, setup and tear-down.

**Perfect for:** Anyone who loves being around other people.

**True Mentors**

Volunteers are needed to help clean the organization’s office, label bins and drawers, and create binders for mentors.

**Perfect for:** Organizers, neat freaks, etc. (or anyone looking for an indoor project).

**Church of the Holy Innocents**

The home of the weekly Rummage and Ruffage farmers market could use a bit of TLC. About a dozen volunteers are needed to repaint the wrought-iron fence that surrounds the yard.

**Perfect for:** Large groups of friends, or families with older children.

**A&P Hunger Collection**

Our food collection outside A&P, one of Hoboken Grace’s regular outreaches, will benefit the Hoboken Homeless Shelter.

**Perfect for:** Young kids with big hearts and big smiles.

**Mustard Seed School** 

This group will break into two teams, helping the staff prepare for the fall during the school’s summer work day. One team will be assigned lighter tasks – setting up classrooms (replacing books, screwing in hooks). The other team will be doing more heavy-duty projects, like moving or assembling furniture.

**Perfect for:** The aspiring handy-man. Furniture-building skills are a huge plus for the team that will be doing more heavy lifting.

**Shade Tree Commission**

A small group will work on some planting and maintenance projects. We’ll supply the rakes, gloves and garbage bags!

**Perfect for:** Green thumbs or anyone looking for an outdoor project.

**City of Hoboken** 

Like last year, we’ll be working on various projects for the city, doing maintenance work at parks and other sites.

**Perfect for:** Large groups of friends, families with children of all ages.


Sneak Peek of 1Day Projects!


In 2010, Rico Mangalindan lost his job of 12 years and was almost deported. He talks about it very openly, because those experiences have become a huge part of his testimony. “Phillipians 4:12 is one of my favorite verses,” he explains. “Because I can relate to knowing what it is like to be in need and knowing what it is to have plenty. And I too have found the secret of being content.”

Rico is now debt free, has a new job and has saved almost $5,000 in six months. So, what is his secret?

Rico credits Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University nine-week course taken at Hoboken Grace. “I had no inner peace when it came to my finances. I was living lavishly without budgeting, and saving wasn’t something I learned from my family growing up, so I didn’t know how to do it,” says Rico.

[![DSCF8999](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8999.jpeg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8999.jpeg)

But after losing his job, Rico decided he needed to make sorting out his finances a priority. “I started thinking, I’m 35, and I want to plan ahead to help support my nieces and nephews and save for my future children. I need to work on this now,” he says. When he found out Hoboken Grace offered the class, he knew it was just what he needed and signed up right away. He had listened to Dave Ramsey before, but found new motivation and accountability in the small group setting of the class.

One of the ways the Dave Ramsey’s FPU class helped him, was the idea of the 80/20 rule. “Breaking a habit doesn’t change overnight,” Rico explains. “With the 80/20 rule, I learned that in breaking a bad habit, 80% has to do with behavior while 20% with head knowledge. It takes courage, discipline, patience, determination and commitment to break a habit successfully.”

Rico has been dividing his paycheck into different sections: for rent and bills, shopping and saving. The money is transferred automatically into the accounts, so that he isn’t tempted to overspend. “The power of automation has changed my life,” he says.

The class taught him to carefully distinguish needs from wants. “After taking the class, now when I go shopping I ask myself, not if I can afford it, but if I really need it,” he says. “That has helped me save thousands.”

[![DSCF8998](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8998.jpeg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8998.jpeg)

The FPU class has also helped him choose the best types of insurance, especially car insurance. He says that finding the right insurance is crucial, because if you choose a cheaper plan without knowing the fine print or the breakdown, you can lose all your savings in an instant.

Tithing is making a monumental difference in Rico’s life as well. “Whatever I give to God, he returns it twofold,” he says.

Rico knows it isn’t easy to confront the thing in your life that you are trying to avoid even thinking about, but there is enormous relief and peace when you do. He has experienced a new kind of freedom now that he isn’t constantly burdened by nagging worries about money. For the first time in his life, Rico has financial peace and that is something you just can’t buy.

_Financial Peace University will be offered on Monday and Tuesday Nights from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. starting the week of February 6th. You can resister here for Monday nights <http://fpu.com/1035117> or here for Tuesday nights <http://fpu.com/1035116>. If you have any questions you can contact Sarah at [sarah@hobokengrace.com](mailto:sarah@hobokengrace.com)._

[![DSCF8989](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8989.jpeg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8989.jpeg)

[![DSCF8982](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8982.jpeg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2015/08/DSCF8982.jpeg)


PORTRAITS: Financial Peace Changes Lives

When you feel stuck in an in the meantime season, how often do you stare blankly at your phone, anxiously waiting for that something to happen, instead of turning your gaze to God? Maybe you’re waiting for test results from your doctor, or a job offer, or a text from that special person that feels like it could change everything. Sometimes it feels more natural to cling to plastic and metal than the hope that God offers.

Our phones don’t hold all the answers – only God does. And while you might feel as though you’ll never pull through this, you can, but only if you let Him do the heavy lifting.

This week, turn your phone into a reminder of God’s patient power. [Download](http://hobokengrace.info) the memory verse and make it the wallpaper on your phone. Then every time you turn to a device for comfort or direction, you’ll be reminded that “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13.” Your phone might not have all the answers, but it can at least encourage you to redirect your gaze.


How Your Phone Can Help You

We’re less than 10 days away from what’s shaping up to be our biggest 1Day ever, with nearly 20 service projects set up across Hoboken. And because we believe that celebrating is just as important as serving, we’re hosting an epic after-party for everyone who gave up their Saturday to love this city!

Our teams will head to the Turtle Club around 1:30, where there will be plenty of food, cake and incredible door prizes. We’re talking a FitBit, Yankees tickets and Starbucks goodies. You could even win a [Local Barre](http://localbarre.com/pages/LB-classes) studio membership – for a month, or a YEAR!

We’ll kick things off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Church Square Park (4th and Willow), then disperse across the city. There’s a [project for everyone](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/one-day-countless-ways-to-make-a-difference/). We’ll be at the Hoboken Historical Society, the Hoboken Shelter, In Jesus’ Name Charities, Hoboken High School, and nearly a dozen other sites across the city.

Don’t forget to invite your friends and [pre-register here](http://hobokengrace.com/1day/).


One Epic After-Party

Have you ever considered leading a dinner group? Maybe the timing was never right, or you weren’t sure about the commitment.

Our church is growing rapidly, and we’re looking for people to lead short-term groups that will meet for 10 weeks, introducing people who are new to Hoboken Grace to the concept of dinner groups. This is an amazing opportunity to welcome people to our church and encourage them in their walk with God, while seeing if this type of leadership is a good fit for you.

 The groups will meet from Sept. 20 to late November, when our groups typically wrap up for the year. Leaders will then have the opportunity to reflect on the experience and can choose to make the group permanent in January when all our groups relaunch.

New leaders won’t be on their own. We’ll walk them through each week, helping structure their meetings and providing training. And leaders can pick whichever time and day of the week works best for them.

If God has placed dinner group leadership on your heart, don’t miss this opportunity to try it out on a short-term basis. For more information, contact Nick at [nick@hobokengrace.com](mailto:nick@hobokengrace.com).


Friending is Trending

Each summer, we join together to see just how much we can do for our city in a single day. This year’s 1Day Hoboken has more opportunities than ever to serve and put love into action.

We’ll kick things off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22nd, at Church Square Park (4th and Willow). We’ll disperse across the city to our different service projects, then meet up later for an epic after-party. You can pre-register [here](http://hobokengrace.com/1day/).

No matter what your talents and interests are, you’re sure to find a project that’s just right for the hands and heart God gave you.

**The Foodie**  
If slicing and dicing is your thing, help us prepare and serve lunch at the Hoboken Shelter. Or, if you’re not great in the kitchen but still feel called to reach out to this population, join us for a distribution day for In Jesus’ Name Charities.

**The Parent-Kid Team**  
There will be plenty of child-friendly service opportunities. While the complete list is still being finalized, kids usually do well with our parks projects. They might also enjoy working at one of the schools we’re partnering with, like Mustard Seed, where we will be helping out during its annual community work day to prepare for next year.

**Your Quirky Art Friend**  
For those handy with a paintbrush, we’ll be painting the stage at Hoboken High School and a fence at the Church of the Holy Innocents building on Willow. We’ll also be working with the Hoboken Historical Museum.

**The Stagehand**  
Do you know what a “light lock” is? Great. We’ll be cleaning the one in Hoboken High School’s auditorium, in addition to helping the staff get organized for next year.

**The Outdoorsman**  
What would 1Day be without outdoor projects? We’ll be partnering with the city again at various parks and public areas. We’ll provide the equipment. All you need to do is show up!

Of course, that’s not all. We’ll have about 20 projects total. We can’t wait to demonstrate just how much we love this city!


One Day, Countless Ways to Make a Difference

If you haven’t signed up for a missions trip yet this year, it’s not too late. In fact, Uganda, our last trip of 2015, might be the perfect unconventional service experience for you.

We’ll be working alongside [Restore International](http://restoreinternational.org/), serving at schools, prisons and safehouses.

Restore International calls it a “vision trip,” and Cindy, this year’s trip leader, thinks that description is accurate.

“It’s just different from other mission trips,” she says. “This one is all about being adventurous and letting the day or moment take us where we see a need and can make a difference.”

This will be Cindy’s third trip to Uganda with Restore International.

“When I am serving God abroad, I feel more alive than at any other time,” she says. “It’s one of the only times when I really don’t think about myself at all, but instead I just move in love where He directs me.”

The people of Uganda and her service there have become a huge part of Cindy’s [story.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRbo3Ef1O8I&index=9&list=PLA35UzWJbgHARJv3dbdrJTa7TWTmF7gXV)

“Africa is so beautiful,” she says. “I see God everywhere, especially in the smiles of the children. There’s just a simplicity about life there. And even though they have nothing, they live like they have everything.”

The dates for this year’s Uganda trip are Sept. 5-14\. You can sign up for the trip [here](http://hobokengrace.com/mission-trips/). Or, to learn more about the trip, join us for an info meeting at 301 Garden St. this Sunday at noon. In the meantime, check out these [photos](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.716290668414884.1073741832.155692037808086&type=1) of Restore International’s past trips.


Going To Uganda

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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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