A few months ago, as my mind spun in a whirl of “should do’s” and “could do’s” and “didn’t do’s,” a voice started whispering in my ear. No, literally. I was listening to an [audiobook ](https://www.amazon.com/Garden-City-Work-Being-Human/dp/0310337313/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?ie=UTF8&qid=1470842278&sr=8-1&keywords=garden+city)about the balance of work and rest — in the midst of doing one much more than the other — and through the headphones came the suggestion of Sabbath, of balancing out our frantic, demanding lifestyles by taking one day each week to reset and recharge.

For as long as I could remember, I had been living in what felt like perpetual fight-or-flight mode. I was overcommitted, overscheduled and overextended. My mind was this adrenaline-powered carousel, circling with commitments, obligations and the belief that, somehow, I could keep pace. All day, every day, it spun ‘round and ‘round, casting a trance of guilt and shame as I failed to keep up.

What if, that voice in the headphones said, you stopped for 24 hours each week? What if you set aside time to be fully present for your friends and family, instead of continuing to allow your anxiety to boil over into those relationships? What if you learned to delight in what God had already created, instead of striving to do more, be more and have more?

The voice had a good point. And thus began my summer-long experiment of observing the Sabbath, because really, what did I have to lose? And if God had bothered to embed the concept of rest into the foundation of humanity in Genesis, then etch it into stone in Exodus, there must be something to it, right?

Each weekend started with the best of intentions. But eventually I’d start making mental to-do lists of all the work I could be doing. The carousel would begin chugging up and down again, until it was zipping and flying along. Heart racing. Head spinning. Panic mode.

It seems that at the core of our subconscious — at the axle of the carousel — is the idea that our value and identity are based on what we accomplish, how much we produce and how much we possess. “The thinking … goes like this,” writes Alan Fadling in [_An Unhurried Life_](https://www.amazon.com/Unhurried-Life-Following-Jesus-Rhythms/dp/0830835733). “_If I do more, I am more. If I have more, I am more. If more people like and recognize me more, I’m more valuable._ This idea is subtle, and insidious in its undermining of the Sabbath. What happens to our sense of identity if we stop our activity to observe the Sabbath day? If I am what I do, who am I on a Sabbath day when I do nothing productive?”

[![sabbath](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/08/sabbath.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/08/sabbath.jpg)

The more I clung to the idea of Sabbath — instead of the egoistical notion that the world couldn’t carry on without my contributions — the more I began to see that it was about so much more than rest. When God stopped working on Day 7, it wasn’t because He needed to — it was so that He could soak in everything He’d created.

When God dictates the [Ten Commandments](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20&version=NIV) in Exodus, nearly a third(!) of the words He has etched into stone are about marking the Sabbath (as opposed to “do not murder,” “do not steal” or “do not worship false Gods”). Apparently, He was really into this idea. He goes on and on about it to the Israelites, who had just spent decades enslaved in Egypt. Forty years later, Moses [expands ](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%205:12-15)on the purpose of Sabbath in Deuteronomy: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.”

Observing the Sabbath, God seems to say, is not just about rest, or even celebration. It’s freedom from the idea that we’re defined by our work, or how well we fulfill society’s demands and expectations. It’s a weekly reminder that our value is based not on what we produce, but who we are and who God intended us to be.

Sabbath is the practice of feeling filled rather than drained, of inhaling rather than exhaling. That might look different based on your season in life, or whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. It can mean brunch surrounded by the people you love, or people watching at the pier; family time at the park, or spending time alone in prayer; going out for ice cream, or staying in to savor your haul from the garden. (John Mark Comer, the author of that aforementioned audiobook, “Garden City,” uses only this criteria: “Is it worship or is it rest?” Will it leave you feeling filled or drained?) It doesn’t even matter what day of the week it is. Sabbath is simply time and space to share with God and the people you love. It’s an opportunity to soak it all in — the things that bring you joy.

The thing is, you can’t bear fruit well without proper nourishment. You can pick up endless causes and commitments to serve God, love His people and sow some good into the earth. Your veins might pulse with purpose and good intentions. But I’m convinced that we’ll never do any of it well if the carousel is spinning non-stop. You will sputter out and short-circuit. Instead, we need the rhythm of choosing Eden over Egypt. We need to marvel at the garden once in a while, instead of toiling in skyscraper pyramids and living enslaved to our schedules, to-do lists and society’s expectations.

So, yes, Sabbath is about rest. It’s about shutting down the carousel and declaring that, sorry, this ride is out of service today, please come back tomorrow. But that’s only so we can recalibrate, mind, body and soul, after our schedules and everything else spin out of control. Sabbath is where we find our center again, where we rediscover the identity that God intended for us, instead of finding it in our work. It’s where we meet God in the middle, to remember we’re shaped not by what we do, but who we are and what He has given us. It’s a celebration — of all that you are, all that God is, and all that this world already has to offer.

_Brittney is a member of the Writing Team._


A Rhythm of Rest


The first time anyone ever mentioned pornography addiction to me was while I was chatting with a friend at a Dunkin’ Donuts after Sunday services. He mentioned it only casually — “I’ve had problems before dealing with sex and porn” — and then the conversation moved on.

But then I started to notice it more often: Guys who would casually mention their problems with sex, lust or pornography. These weren’t random strangers, either, but men I saw on a regular basis. Soon it had become abundantly clear: A lot of people are struggling with lust, but no one likes to talk about it.

To be clear, I use the term “lust” here to cover a wide range of behaviors from pornography addiction to an overzealous love for Tinder. It all comes back to the same core emotion, and it manifests itself differently in every person. And I would be remiss not to point out that it’s not just men who struggle with it — [Nielsen ratings indicate](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jincey-lumpkin/carlin-ross%5Fb%5F1278032.html) that one-third of online porn viewers are women.

One of the things that finally inspired me to write this article was when [Dan told his story at Hoboken Grace](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/story/dans-story/) back in June. In case you haven’t seen it yet, Dan talks openly about using pornography and relationships to cover up the pain he was feeling.

“In my mind I wasn’t as concerned with building a relationship as I was seeking the same type of escape from pain,” Dan said. “Looking back I’m able to see that I wanted that … feeling you get when you’re with someone physically rather than simply wanting to be with someone in the long run.”

Dan’s introduction to pornography began like most others: the internet. One day in sixth grade he accidentally found himself on the wrong website (as do [28 percent of teens who have been accidentally exposed to pornography](http://www.covenanteyes.com/2013/02/19/pornography-statistics/)). Initially he rejected what he saw, but eventually the idea of pornography became a normal thing.

“You hear your friends talk about it,” he said. “It was kind of normal. I really didn’t realize the gravity of it. You don’t really talk about porn as an issue until maybe college.”

But for most Americans, just admitting that you have a habit can be a hard step to make. According to [a study performed by the Pew Research Center in 2013](http://www.pewinternet.org/files/old-media//Files/Reports/2013/PIP%5FOnline%20Video%202013.pdf), only 12 percent of the 1,003 Americans surveyed admitted to watching internet porn.

That’s a startlingly low number for an online industry that generates $3 billion each year in the United States alone. CovenantEyes, an online accountability group, claims that about [64 to 68 percent of young adult men and about 18 percent of women use porn](http://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/) at least once every week. And in 2010, 25 percent of all internet searches were for pornography. From these statistics we can only conclude that the other 88 percent of Americans lied to Pew (though Pew freely admits that performing the survey over the phone was not the most tactful approach).

But no matter who you hear it from, every source echoes the same sentiment: Pornography is a growing problem. Unlike alcohol or drugs, the dangers of porn are not readily apparent. Pornography will not give you cirrhosis. It will not increase your risk for cancer. Nonetheless, its effects can be very real.

John is a counselor at a private practice who helps men and women from a variety of backgrounds tackle issues from anxiety to addiction. Frequently he encounters men and women who struggle with lust or pornography.

“It’s like any other drug,” he said. “You build up a tolerance. You’re continuously doing something and after a while it almost becomes boring or unsatisfying, and you have to do more.”

“After a while the stimulation starts to die off after a bit,” he said. “So you’re always trying to find more and more and newer ways. It builds and it builds to a point that it can be almost all consuming. It can get to a point where people look back on the time they spent viewing porn, and all of a sudden three or four hours have gone by.”

I spoke with Michael (whose named has been changed for this article) about how lust and pornography have affected his life. His struggle began in his teen years as a way to escape from emotional pain.

“My struggles have primarily been linked to using sexuality as an escape from feeling pain” he said. “That was kind of the root of my struggle that continues all the way through my adult life, and it’s something I’m still dealing with.”

And Michael is certainly not alone. He shares a similar story with many men and women who use sexuality as a way to cope with anything from depression and anxiety, to forgetting very serious traumatic events.

“We want to numb that pain,” said John. “We want to numb that struggle. So we will go to many different coping strategies, and it just happens that sex and pornography can be one side of that.”

What is clear is that pornography does play a major role in diminishing trust between partners. According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 56 percent of divorce cases involve one party having “an obsessive interest in pornographic websites.”

“It is very hard for you to realistically achieve what you would achieve through pornography,” John said. “So you almost start judging people — the human beings, the loved ones that you’re with –- comparing them to the images you’re seeing in pornography.”

It can even get to the point where porn gets in the way of loving relationships.

“It can ruin our ability to truly invest in a real relationship,” said John. “And we’re not able to really seek love either, sometimes. There’s almost a numbness, in my opinion, and people will never see that.”

But if sex and pornography addiction are such common problems, then why does it fly under the radar so easily? It’s a question with many answers. One answer is that it’s easy to hide, and pornography thrives in secrecy. This also means that it can be hard to recognize a problem even when you have one.

“One of the things I’ve noticed is that people don’t realize the effects the pornography can have on others and on themselves,” said John. “Or if they do, it’s hard for them to truly process what kind of harm it can do to a loved one or a child.”

Availability is another major part of the issue. In the pre-internet era, people seeking out pornography needed to actually venture outside and buy it at a store (presumably in trench coat and over-sized hat, since you were embarrassed to be seen doing it). And you were forced to contend with whatever they had available.

But pornography is everywhere now. It’s even in our pockets: An analysis of more than 1 million hits to Google’s mobile search sites shows more than one in five searches are for pornography on mobile devices. Most of it is free. And the supply is virtually limitless.

[![sunrise-1204204_1280](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/08/sunrise-1204204_1280-e1470936001493.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/08/sunrise-1204204%5F1280.jpg)

For Michael, the escapism first came in the form of books, but the digital age changed all that.

“As I got older, the internet opened up new possibilities for me to escape,” he said. “Before long it kind of evolved into chat communications available on the internet. Then I realized I could get a sense of intimacy — albeit false — through those means. It was kind of a progressive arc of decay in that area of my life.”

It’s also possible to fill whatever need you are seeking at the click of a button. [As the saying goes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule%5F34%5F%28Internet%5Fmeme%29), “If you can imagine it, there’s a porn for it.” And like other forms of addiction, porn use frequently escalates. A 2016 study discovered that [half of the porn users surveyed had escalated to material](http://www.yourbrainonporn.com/why-did-my-porn-use-escalate) they once found “uninteresting or disgusting.”

In fact, there is now mounting evidence that pornography is sapping men of their sexual drive. Only within the last few years has pornography become so easily available with the arrival of high-speed internet and smart phones. The results? Millennials have become the very first wave of victims falling prey to porn-induced erectile dysfunction, or PIED. As [Time magazine](http://time.com/4277510/porn-and-the-threat-to-virility/http://time.com/4277510/porn-and-the-threat-to-virility/) puts it: “These young men feel like unwitting guinea pigs in a largely unmonitored decade-long experiment in sexual conditioning.”

Now, the same people who were once enthusiastic porn users are starting to push back. Growing communities are now discouraging pornography use. [Your Brain On Porn](http://yourbrainonporn.com/) is a website started by Gary Wilson to document the overwhelming effect porn has had on its users, on top of thousands of personal testimonies from its readers. A Reddit community for people who are trying to abstain from pornography has close to 200,000 members.

Also fueling the problem, Michael says, is the volume of the content available on the internet. “Without too much effort, you can kind of tap into a great mass of material that can be really destructive to your thinking,” he said. “It really opens up all sorts of dangerous avenues.”

“We don’t like to be uncomfortable,” John said. “So instead of being uncomfortable, we’ll look for the quickest satisfaction to make us feel comfortable. And because of how readily available things are, we find ways — basically through addictions — to help us cope with something deeper within ourselves that we don’t want to address.”

“Part of it goes to the misuse of sex,” said Michael. “Sex is intended to be a form of God’s love between a man and woman in the context of marriage. I think what is seen with pornography, masturbation and lust is that it’s become something that can be decoupled from that intent. It becomes something where it’s an attempt to find intimacy, love and safety but in the wrong place.”

The good news is that there is a road to recovery. When asked about the first steps to take, everyone I spoke with gave a unanimous answer: Talk to somebody. When dealing with addiction, John said, accountability is paramount.

“That is probably one of the most important aspects. You have to start talking about the issue, talking about the problem and opening up to somebody who can be an accountable person in your life,” said John.

Michael emphasized that while many people seem to have no problem with sexuality or pornography, it’s important to remember that it’s not doing any good for them either.

“What I found is that I couldn’t do it on my own,” said Michael. “Talking about my problem with a counselor or other guys was one healthy step I’ve taken in my life. I think the act of telling another human being about my struggle was a really important part.”

For anyone who is struggling with lust, sex or pornography issues, another suggested step is seeking help. Hoboken Grace can recommend[ private counseling and therapy groups](http://hobokengrace.com/counseling/).

“Humility is a really important initial step,” said Michael. “Realize that sometimes you can’t always do this on your own.”


Let’s Talk About Lust

Frustrated about finances? Drowning in debt? Befuddled by budgets, investments and retirement planning? Join the countless others who have found financial freedom through [Financial Peace University.](https://www.facebook.com/events/194446337691815/)

FPU is a practical, nine-week course that will teach you [how to manage money God’s way](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/the-most-important-lessons-we-learned-from-fpu/). The class covers relationships, budgeting, getting out of debt, insurance and making wise investments. The average Hoboken Grace household has experienced a more than $4,000 turnaround in their finances during the nine-week course itself.

The class will be offered Mondays (from 7:30-9:30 p.m., starting Feb. 6) and Tuesdays (from 7:30-9:30 p.m., starting Feb. 7). Attendance for all nine sessions is strongly recommended, and married couples are encouraged to attend together.

Those who took the class in the fall on average [paid off more than $2,500 in debt](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/three-takeaways-from-fpu/) and saved more than $2,000, according to surveys distributed at the end of the nine weeks. But months later, they are still unloading debt, growing their savings account and applying the many other lessons learned in FPU. Here are four stories from fall semester students who are experiencing financial freedom:

**Tasheka**

I was always interested in finance, so much so that I pursued it as a career. Within my roles (current and past), I was always responsible for managing millions of dollars each month to ensure we are meeting our yearly goals.

However, when it came to my own personal finances, I lacked the same enthusiasm and insight. I knew I had my fixed monthly expenses that were paid timely, but outside of this, all my discretionary income would just disappear before the close of the month, and I was hardly saving enough for any life emergencies. I started a new job last year that pays monthly, and I knew I needed to get my spending under control for fear of getting myself in a financial bind.

I decided to sign up for FPU in January, and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in 2016 (the year of courage). Since starting the class, I have created a monthly budget every month to account for how each dollar will be spent, I’ve paid off all but one credit card, I now have a growing savings account and, most importantly, I’ve been able to tithe as soon as I get paid (instead of paying all my bills and then seeing what I have left).

This class has been a blessing to my life because I am no longer stressed about something as important as my finances. I now have a plan to be completely debt-free by 2018\. And I can honestly say I am well on my way to accomplishing my goals!

**Dan and Rebecca**

FPU has totally changed the way we view our finances together — from how we manage everyday expenses like groceries, eating out and filling the car with gas to big decisions like buying a car, house and insurance. It challenges fundamental ideas that many today have accepted as ‘truth’ when in fact those very things are what may drive people to financial ruin. We cannot recommend this course enough for those who are struggling with debt and their finances. If we were to sum it all up — in FPU, we entered thinking debt was something to be managed and left believing it’s something to be free from!

**Andy**

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

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

**Angela**

Financial Peace University gave me a plan. Prior to taking the course, I had no real plan for the money I was saving, and without a plan, I felt no strong sentiment for the money I was spending.

I had the attitude that since I was living in Hoboken, where rent is high and it is hard to save anyway, I might as well live well — support every local coffee shop, never say no to a happy hour and sport a new dress for every occasion. Increasingly louder was the inner conviction that this was not God’s intention for my earnings and for the countless hours I was spending at work.

FPU matured me as I accepted the truth that how I handle my finances now will contribute to the ease at which I can achieve the plans and desires in my heart in the future. Dave Ramsey’s passionate interpretation on financial planning caused me to waste no time in putting together a realistic budget and seeking to understand where every dollar of my income was going.

My boyfriend and I took this course together, and we’re so grateful for establishing these FPU principles in the foundation of our relationship. Our Uber trips up and down Washington Street have since subsided, and now when we’re covered in sweat going from A to B, we smile at one another and say “live like no one else now so later we can live like no one else!”

_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. Classes are full this semester. If you have any questions you can contact Sarah at [sarah@hobokengrace.com](mailto:sarah@hobokengrace.com)._


Living a Life of Financial Freedom

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

**“Where have you seen God?”**

It’s a question Pastor Chris challenged us to think about this week. But for the Writing Team, it’s the question that drives everything we do. As we think about what stories to feature in the newsletter and on this blog, we ask ourselves week after week where we see God working in our church family and in our city — what are the stories shaping our community?

Since the beginning of time, God has used stories to connect people. They are the strings that tie us together and draw us closer to Him. And in an age of social media and email newsletters, the power of story is greater than ever.

So once a month over coffee and brunch, we work through that central question: “Where have we seen God?” Sometimes the conversation centers on how we see Him using a specific person or team to impact our city. Sometimes we talk about a conversation we are working through as a church family, or discuss ways in which we see people looking for God.

From there, we think about how we can share that story. How can we show that God’s story is being lived out in our city? How can we help people continue to grow and live in healthy community? And, above all, how can we help bring people closer to God?

As we walk through these questions week after week — and after nearly 200 blog posts over the past year and a half — we see lives transformed and prayers answered. We see people passionate about serving, and things in our city worth celebrating. We see how your stories tie our community together and make all of us feel less alone.

Quite simply, we see God through your stories. So for this TEAMS post, it’s time we explain what serving on the Writing Team means to us.

**Joanna**

I joined the Writing Team because I love stories, and I want to share how God is working in my life and your life with the rest of our church family. When I feel disconnected or far away from God, or like my prayer life is just me talking to myself about all the things that make me anxious, it’s the stories I hear in my dinner group that shake me awake and remind me that God can be trusted, He does answer prayers and His plans always exceed my own. These stories make me braver and give me peace. I write to shine a light on how God is moving in our city, because the story of God’s grace and power isn’t confined to the pages of a big book scribed thousands of years ago — it’s being written every day, all around us and in us. That deserves a headline.

**Cassie**

When thinking about joining a team at Hoboken Grace, it was important to me to really consider where my God-given talents were strongest, the needs of the moment, and what I could actually commit to doing with the demands of my career. I work in the publishing industry, so the written word is very central in my life, and I’ve been blessed to have a strong gift for expressing myself and others through writing. I had been considering where to best serve at Hoboken Grace for about a month when I heard there was a need for people to join the Writing Team. It seemed like a no-brainer and where God was leading me to serve. It also allows me to actively serve even when I’m not physically in Hoboken — which is great for me, since I travel a lot for work.

Not only has working on stories with the team allowed me to take notice of where God is working in the lives of our community, but it has allowed me to reflect on my own spiritual needs and think about what topics are significantly impacting the lives of Christians at large, which has definitely influenced what projects I tend to take on in my professional life as well.

[![IMG_6700](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/08/IMG_6700-e1470327016879.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/08/IMG%5F6700-e1470327016879.jpg)

**Matt**

I was first invited to attend church by my friend Matt sometime last year. What made a deep impression on me was the way Hoboken Grace gave so much and helped people without expectation. And what I saw at the core of that community was a group of people who gave back their time to make Hoboken Grace run like clockwork. With so many people pitching in, I felt it only fair to start giving back too (plus, they kept feeding me breakfast).

Opportunity came knocking not too long after that when I saw the newsletter table at church one day. I’m an engineer by trade, but writing is my passion. Writing for the newsletter is simply something that fits my current strengths: my schedule is hectic and I frequently can’t commit to anything more than a week in advance. But writing is something I can squeeze into my spare time, and I love doing it. So far I’ve covered topics I would have never predicted encountering. It’s been an honor being able to tell some of the amazing stories people have shared with me.

**Brittney**

To be honest, I was pretty hesitant about joining the Writing Team as it was starting up last year. While on the one hand it seemed like a good fit — I’d worked for a newspaper in some form or another since junior high — my mind went to some of my insecurities instead of what I could contribute. I thought about the fact that I didn’t know many people at Hoboken Grace, and that I’d probably have to ask total strangers intimate questions about their faith (or really cheesy questions, like what got them excited about the Easter Egg Hunt). I didn’t think anyone cared about what I had to say, and was wary it would be a huge time commitment.

But I’ve never regretted saying yes. I soon learned that serving on the team was one of the easiest ways to meet people at Hoboken Grace — and one of the fastest ways to get plugged in. Week after week, I get to see firsthand how God is moving in our community — how people are growing in their relationship with Him, and how He is using us to impact this city.

But the most rewarding part for me is seeing how God uses your stories to reach other people. I love hearing that a blog post showed up in the newsletter at just the right time — when someone felt particularly alone, when they were looking for a nudge from God, or when a story changed their perception of baptism or dinner groups.

We might be the Writing Team, but this is your blog. And this blog — this community — more than anything needs your stories. That doesn’t mean you need to join the Writing Team (although you’re welcome to, especially if you like a good brunch). That means we need your story here, in this space, even if your mind is darting to your insecurities right now, instead of [what you have to contribute](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/your-story-matters/). If you’ve been thinking about sharing any part of your story (and especially if you’re hesitant about being on video), this is your opportunity. Because more than anything, we want to know where you’ve seen God.

_If you’re interested in joining the Writing Team or sharing any part of your story, email Brittney at brittney@hobokengrace.com._

**The Writing Team**

**Mission:** To tell God’s story inside our family via the Hoboken Grace blog, while helping people grow and live in healthy community.

**The commitment:** Members write weekly and attend monthly meetings.

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


Your Story

Over the past year, Improv for a Cause has raised money for organizations in Hoboken and around the globe. The events have benefited a community mentoring program, an orphanage in Mexico and a local homeless shelter.

This time, we’re sending someone to college! 

[Back with a new format](https://www.facebook.com/events/1238774169496153/?notif%5Ft=plan%5Fuser%5Fjoined&notif%5Fid=1469656427350401) this Sunday, Improv for a Cause will support Love Does’ student [sponsorship program](http://lovedoes.org/getinvolved/launch/?sponsorship=9916) — more specifically, a 22-year-old named Richard who the Uganda team met last fall. For Richard, who is the first person in his family to pursue education beyond elementary school, having the means to attend college could change the trajectory of his entire life. But it could also affect his family, his village, his district and the many lives that Richard is trying to impact.

“When he told me his story, I remember thinking, he has to go to college, no matter what,” says Brittney, who met Richard at Restore Leadership Academy, a school started by Bob Goff. “There’s something special about him. If anyone can help change the world, Richard can.”

The fact that Richard has the chance to pursue his dreams is somewhat of a miracle itself. He spent much of his childhood running from the LRA as the rebels abducted 20,000 children, making many of them child soldiers; killed thousands of other people; and displaced more than a million Ugandans in their own country. His mother gave birth while in hiding, even cutting the umbilical cord herself, he says.

As a child, Richard watched as the LRA raided villages as he and his family found new hiding places. His life was spared several times – including once when someone was killed while urging him not to sleep near a doorway. The house was struck in an attack as the person shielded Richard in the process of moving him out of the way.

![20150912_143132](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/20150912_143132-1024x575.jpg)

Years later, after the war had ended, Richard began attending Restore Leadership Academy, where he became one of the stars of the school’s award-winning debate team. His world widened, his faith deepened and his dreams grew. It was there that he decided he wanted to become a lawyer and spend his life fostering peace and justice. He also dreams of helping to build a stronger Uganda that is more resilient to corruption, and whose people are inspired to live extraordinary lives filled with love and gratitude. He has even delivered speeches on those topics in nearby villages.

“I was called to speak to a group of over 500 people in my home district on the theme ‘creating a better Uganda,’” he said in an update several months ago. “When I prayed to God last night to provide me with something to speak upon, I was provided with this: To inspire people on the heart of love, gratitude, truths, beliefs and cares … and creating a new generation that will stand so strong to say no to corruption.”

Through mentoring, Richard has also been working to build into the lives of some of the many youths in Uganda, where [78 percent ](http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/election-2016-young-voices-uganda-160216120536215.html)of the population is under the age of 30, making it the youngest country in the world.

“Young people are literally the future,” says Anna, who sponsored Richard during his last year at Restore.

After achieving one of the top test scores on national exams in northern Uganda, Richard was accepted into one of the country’s prestigious law programs. Because his family cannot afford the tuition, he has spent the past few months applying for scholarships and praying for a financial miracle. Through Love Does’ sponsorship program, he will be able to pursue his dreams.

That’s where Improv for a Cause comes in. While the show is completely free, donations will go toward the sponsorship program, to ensure that Richard will be able to attend college for the next four years. If you can’t make the show but would like to support Richard, you can do so [here](https://www.purecharity.com/richard-scholarship).

[**Improv for a Cause**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1238774169496153/?notif%5Ft=plan%5Fuser%5Fjoined&notif%5Fid=1469656427350401)

**_When:_** _Sunday, July 31, 7-8 p.m._

**_Where:_** _Willie McBride’s, 616 Grand St., Hoboken_

**_About the show:_** _Improv for a Cause is back with a brand-new show! Yes, the comedians are the same, but this time the games are in YOUR hands. You will vote, choose and suggest the games the improvisers play. In the vein of “Who’s Line Is It Anyway?,” join NYC’s funniest improv comedians as we benefit another great cause._


Improv for a Cause (College Edition)

Uncontainable, overflowing, overwhelming. These are words that those who’ve come before us have used to describe their response to God. However, they aren’t usually words we would use or words that would be used to describe us.

What have we missed in this? What if the whole time we’ve been focused on the wrong thing and in the process we’ve missed out on what they knew and experienced? Join us this summer as we change the question.


Next Series

For the past five weeks, we’ve been walking through the life of Jacob. We’ve seen him wrestle with God himself, but also greed, envy, selfishness, pride, his identity and his family. And through it all, we’ve learned about the faithfulness of God and the consequences of fighting Him.

So how do we ensure that our own stories are defined by God’s will instead of our appetites? What lies are we letting stew? How do we back away from our weaknesses and instead embrace His promises?

Regardless of your own battle — temptation, identity, forgiveness — God wants to teach us how to fight. He wants us to confront the lies waging war in our mind and heart. And he wants us to be victorious, so that we can live lives of freedom.

Here are five ways to continue the fight now that [the series](http://hobokengrace.com/series/the-fight/) is over.

**1). Know what you’re up against.** 

Is there an area of your life that you are giving over to destructive lies, instead of trusting God? What’s weighing on your identity? Where in your life are you acting like a fool?

If you’re still working through this, ask God in prayer to reveal at least one area to target. Maybe you’re battling greed, envy, lust, pride, anger or bitterness. Or maybe you’ve been chasing success, money or influence.

Like a coach reviewing game tape, pinpoint your weaknesses. When do you feel most susceptible to envy? What are some steps you can take to ward off lust? How can you interject God’s truths when experiencing anger and bitterness?

Ask God to reveal what’s really fueling that emotion or habit. Throughout Jacob’s life, he struggled with many things. But behind much of that was his inability to trust in God’s promises. He thought he needed more.

**2). Be intentional.**

Knowing your enemy is half the battle. The other half is the fight itself. And if you’re serious about winning, you need to be intentional. Most fights require consistent training.

Last month, we talked about the power of incorporating [Rhythms](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/five-guidelines-youre-struggling-develop-rhythms/) into our lives. Try picking one day of the week to pray through your fight. Be upfront with what you’re battling and ask God for strength in the process.

Also, seek accountability in a friend or your dinner group. Ask that they keep tabs on your progress. Fights usually turn out best when there’s someone alongside us.

**3). Work on curbing your appetites**.

Throughout scripture, we see people called to fast. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that, over time, teaches us to stop prioritizing our immediate needs. It’s a symbol of humility and dependence on God as we learn to lean on Him.

Try incorporating fasting into your life on a routine basis — perhaps once or twice a month. And don’t forget that fasting can go beyond food. If it’s lust you’re battling, consider a [dating fast](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/one-year-dating-fast/). If you’re struggling with envy, try taking a break from social media.

**4). Dive in.** 

If you haven’t already, read Jacob’s whole story, from Gen. 25-50\. If you have read it, read it again. Now that the series is over, focus on the story’s major themes. Where do you see examples of God’s faithfulness? Where do you see Jacob living with the consequences of sin? And where do you see parallels between Jacob’s story and your own?

**5). Read on.**

There are several books that expand on some of the themes we’ve been talking about for the past five weeks. Here are a few recommended by members of our church family:

_Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God’s Voice Above All Others_ by Steven Furtick

Day in and day out, each of us goes through life listening to and believing voices that tell us who we are or how to feel. How often are we letting God’s voice rule above all others? In “[Crash the Chatterbox,](http://www.christianbook.com/crash-chatterbox- hearing-voice- above-others/steven-furtick/9781601424570/pd/424573?dv=c&amp;en=google&amp;event=SHOP&amp;kw=christian-living-0-20%7C424573&amp;p=1179710&amp;gclid=CjwKEAjwn7e8BRCUqZiP%5FvnrtBkSJAC%5Flp4HzTfBNxeVO6iW5ola-zE2I8RetzjJi8I4Rf2dlLrNxhoC0LLw%5FwcB)” Pastor Steven Furtick exposes the many voices that lies sound like – fear, insecurity, condemnation and discouragement. We’ve all faced them at one point or another, just as Jacob did. Read this book to learn how to change your internal dialogue and embrace God’s truths in your heart and thoughts.

_The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness_ by Tim Keller

In [this short but savory read](https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Self-Forgetfulness-Path-Christian/dp/1906173419), Tim Keller discusses what true humility is by raising our awareness of the ways our ego is either building itself up or tearing itself down. He breaks down the fight within and explains how the freedom and joy God has for us can be found in self-forgetfulness.

_Unashamed_ by Christine Caine

By exposing how we let experiences of shame weigh down our identities, Christine Caine points to the truth that God is greater and longs to love and set us free from our pasts. “You can deal with your yesterday today,” [she writes](http://christinecaine.com/content/unashamed/gjrmyx), “so that you can move on to what God has in store for you tomorrow — a powerful purpose and destiny he wants you to fulfill.”

_Did you miss any part of “The Fight” series? Listen to it_ [_here_](http://hobokengrace.com/series/the-fight/)_._

[![gloves](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/gloves-1.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/gloves-1.jpg)


The Fight: Now What?

For years, Hoboken has hosted a summer movie series at Pier A Park. Under constellations and against the backdrop of New York City’s lights, picnic blankets and lawn chairs dot the grass each Wednesday night. Friends and families gather there each week, their faces illuminated by the glow of “Star Wars,” “The Big Short” or whatever film is playing.

But this year is slightly different. The air is saturated with a hint of salt and butter. Moviegoers wait in line along the sidewalk. And a group stands in the corner, handing out free bags of popcorn. 

Earlier this year, Anthony asked city officials if Hoboken Grace could hand out popcorn to the scores of people who attend [Movies Under the Stars](http://hobokennj.gov/departments/human-services/cultural-affairs/movies-under-the-stars/). “They came back and said let’s give it a shot for week one and see how it goes,” he says. “Well it proved to be a hit, and they invited us back for the whole summer.”

[![popcorn4](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/popcorn4-682x1024.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/popcorn4.jpg)Since then, a small group has served there each Wednesday night, hauling one or two popcorn machines, a generator and other supplies to Pier A. More than a thousand bags of popcorn have been handed out so far, Anthony says. Like [Simple Service](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/power-simple-service/), it’s an opportunity to love and support the community.

A few weeks ago an entire dinner group helped out during the screening for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” It’s a good thing, too, because it was the largest crowd yet.

“We just kept making popcorn and the people kept coming for more,” says Victor, whose dinner group used the opportunity as an impact event. 

Matt, who has also helped hand out popcorn, says meeting other people while serving has been one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

“Standing behind a crowded table slinging bags of popcorn around with some people is a way to get to know them,” he says.

Victor says it was fun to work together as a dinner group while also serving the Hoboken community. 

“It’s what being a Christian is all about: loving your neighbors as yourself,” he says.

People usually ask about Hoboken Grace and leave with info cards. Many are surprised that the popcorn is free and offer to pay, Matt says.

“I love when people come up and ask, ‘How much?’ and we tell them ‘It’s free,’” Anthony says. “They’re completely shocked. When they ask, ‘Why free?’ it’s a great opportunity to tell them about Hoboken Grace and how we strive to love our community any way we can.” 

_If you’re interested in serving at Movies Under the Stars this summer, email Anthony at_ [_anthony@hobokengrace.com_](mailto:anthony@hobokengrace.com) _with the Wednesday night dates you are available._

[![IMG_9877](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/IMG_9877.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/IMG%5F9877.jpg)


Lights, Camera, Popcorn


Liberty in North Korea is one of Hoboken Grace’s longtime partners, and a missions team has worked with them in South Korea each year since 2013\. This week, the LiNK staff sent an email worth sharing, thanking those who visited in May and everyone from Hoboken Grace who has supported their work to settle refugees fleeing economic and political oppression.

“Just as the North Korean people were encouraged and empowered by our friends from Hoboken Grace, they find strength in our supporters from all over the world,” the staff said. “Thank you for the ways that you support North Korean people! Your partnership has an incredible impact and we are so grateful that you are part of the movement towards liberty in North Korea.”

LiNK also sent an [11-page newsletter](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/Hoboken-Grace-Newsletter-2016.pdf) chronicling Hoboken Grace’s [most recent trip](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/new-beginnings-in-south-korea/), a week spent connecting with new friends, exploring a new culture and working with the organization’s staff.

[![korea](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/korea.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/korea.jpg)

On their first day, the team presented a career mentorship workshop at LiNK’s Young Leaders Program. Nine North Korean-born students who are preparing for college are participating in this year’s program, a series of full-day workshops covering such topics as personal growth, professional skills development and career exploration. The four members of the Hoboken Grace team shared about their careers and the paths they took to get there, telling stories about studying Shakespeare before going into ministry, shooting videos for the NFL and providing financial support at an office.

The YLP fellows said the stories were interesting and inspiring.

“What left an impression on me was how each of the Hoboken Grace members bravely changed their career paths as they learned what they were good at, and how they consistently stayed true to who they were throughout the process,” said one fellow.

The team also led some of the LiNK staff members and interns in an empowerment workshop about healthy confrontation, schedule planning and work efficiency through games and team-building activities.

“Their teaching was very beneficial for us as a staff team to bond and learn more about how we can support one another,” the LiNK staff said. “It was also a fun time full of laughter!”

The newsletter also goes into detail about some of the food the team ate throughout their trip (pigs feet, boiled pork belly and noodles, tofu rice) and the people they met along the way. That included a baby who apparently was afraid of Anthony because he looked different from anyone she had ever met. (“But through his fun facial expressions and playfulness, she soon grew to trust him and the two became friends.”)

[![anthony](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/anthony.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/anthony.jpg)

The LiNK staff said the connection between North Korean refugees and those who support them only grew stronger during the trip. They were able to share meals, culture, laughter and so much more.

“Throughout your time with us, I was reminded that what is happening in North Korea is not just a Korean story, but a global story that calls out for people from all over the world to notice, stand up and speak out for freedom alongside the North Korean people,” said Sarah, a LiNK intern. “What a powerful thing when North Koreans and their supporters get to meet each other and witness this partnership in person! I felt very encouraged by this and by you, and I hope to see even more people around the world connect with North Korea in meaningful and impactful ways.”

The Hoboken Grace team [said they left feeling just as impacted and inspired](http://hobokengrace.com/blog/new-beginnings-in-south-korea/) by the stories they heard and the people they met.

So from LiNK and Hoboken Grace, thank you for helping us support North Korean refugees. We can’t wait to visit LiNK again next year.


A Bond That Spans Thousands of Miles

Two years ago, Sarah’s husband of eight years became very sick. He was in and out of the hospital, and in addition to caring for her spouse, Sarah had a 5-year-old daughter in need of extra love and reassurance.

“At home I had to have my brave, strong face on,” says Sarah. “In front of my husband and my daughter, I needed to hold it together.”

Thankfully, Sarah had a place where she didn’t have to tell people that she was doing “fine” – her women’s dinner group.

“My dinner group told me it was OK to have my weak, disheveled, scared face on if that’s what felt better,” says Sarah. “And those women loved me and prayed for me.”

Sarah has been married for over a decade now but is completely committed to her women’s dinner group. While Hoboken Grace offers couples the opportunity to join a couples group together, Sarah and many others continue to attend a group on their own.

“I need that freedom to fall apart,” says Sarah. “And while it is important that my husband and I grow together in our faith, it is also important that we grow separately. The more time I pursue Christ on my own, the more I recognize Him as my Savior and the one certainty in my life, and I don’t expect my husband to step into that impossible role.”

[![sarah2](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/sarah2.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/sarah2.jpg)

Many men in our church family also find that their dinner group home continues to be with just guys even after their relationship status changes.

For Chad, the choice to stay in a men’s group is one he and his wife, Joanna, revisit every year.

“We’ve been married for almost three years, and almost every year we talk about joining a couples group, “ says Chad. “But in the end we always decide to join groups separately.”

For Chad, part of this decision comes down to his evolving understanding of what dinner group is all about.

“When I first joined a men’s group five years ago, I looked at it almost more like a class or a Bible study,” says Chad. “I thought it was for me — a place for me to learn and develop. I’ve come to understand that it is much more about what you contribute to the group than what you get out of it.”

Chad thinks that in a couples dinner group it would be very easy for him to make group about himself again, with every conversation coming back to his relationship.

“Right now, I’m the oldest guy and only married man in my dinner group,” says Chad. “I try to share my perspective and experiences and make it more about ministry and less about me.”

Matt, who has been married for almost two years, says he has stuck with men’s groups just because that is where he feels most comfortable sharing what is really going on in his life

“There are some things that I really need to talk about that I just wouldn’t bring up in a couples group,” says Matt. “But in my men’s group it feels safe to talk about those things, and I don’t have to explain myself – it’s understood.”

[![IMG_9523](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/IMG_9523.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/IMG%5F9523.jpg)

Ben and Vanessa started attending a couples dinner group before their first Sunday at Hoboken Grace. They were dating at the time and were new to the area and looking for community and connection.

About a year in, Vanessa was invited to attend a women’s dinner group.

“I attended both a women’s and a couples group for a few weeks,” says Vanessa. “For me, it was much easier to get to know other women in the women’s group. I also found myself talking a lot more and about more personal things. There were times in the couples group when Ben would answer a question and I might have had something to say, but it felt like we had already had our turn to speak, so I let other couples share.”

After taking a short break from dinner group after her son was born, Vanessa is back in a women’s group. She is one of just two moms in the group and only a handful of married women. At first, she admits, she wasn’t sure she had found the right fit.

“I quickly realized though that I could hang out with other moms any time I wanted at the park,” says Vanessa. “Dinner group is an opportunity for me to witness how God works in all of us at every stage of our lives. I’m learning from all the women who aren’t at the stage that I’m at, and I hope that by sharing some of the things I’ve struggled with, they are getting a more complete picture of God, too.”

[![DSCF3596](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/DSCF3596.jpg)](https://res.cloudinary.com/dzs7qxusf/image/upload/v1/archive/2016/07/DSCF3596.jpg)


Growing Together and Separately


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“We were never bored,” said Kara.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

**The Worship Team — Production**

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

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

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

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


Striking the Right Tone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


PORTRAITS: Stepping Off the Stage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Building Connections in Kenya

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

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

Here are a few suggestions:

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

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

**The Prodigal God**

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

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

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

**The Acts of the Apostles Study Book**

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

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

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

**Garden City**

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

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

**Uninvited (Released Aug. 9)**

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


Books for Your Summer Reading List

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


It Takes a Village

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

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

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


Coming This Sunday

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

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

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


Blog

A Rhythm of Rest

Let’s Talk About Lust

Living a Life of Financial Freedom

Your Story

Improv for a Cause (College Edition)

Next Series

The Fight: Now What?

Lights, Camera, Popcorn

A Bond That Spans Thousands of Miles

Growing Together and Separately

‘All They Wanted Was to Be Loved’

Striking the Right Tone

PORTRAITS: Stepping Off the Stage

Building Connections in Kenya

Books for Your Summer Reading List

It Takes a Village

Coming This Sunday

Snapchat Sundays

Blog

A Rhythm of Rest

Let’s Talk About Lust

Living a Life of Financial Freedom

Your Story

Improv for a Cause (College Edition)

Next Series

The Fight: Now What?

Lights, Camera, Popcorn

A Bond That Spans Thousands of Miles

Growing Together and Separately

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

Striking the Right Tone

PORTRAITS: Stepping Off the Stage

Building Connections in Kenya

Books for Your Summer Reading List

It Takes a Village

Coming This Sunday

Snapchat Sundays

‘All They Wanted Was to Be Loved’