The way I came across Metro was a situation where I can honestly say, I didn’t find Metro, Metro found me. I had just moved to New Jersey from Maryland about  6 weeks prior to finding Metro, and though I was attending a church in Fort Lee with great people and a great Pastor, I had never really dealt with finding a home church and so I wanted to be sure that the church I attended was one that God was calling me to. One random Saturday morning on my way to the bank, (doors away from what I would find out later was MC2), a very kind lady started walking beside me, and if I have to be honest, my first thought was, “Oh great, what is she going to try to sell me now.” She was very cordial and invited me to the athletic club for bazaar that was going on and since I had a few minutes to spare before the bank opened, I thought I’d do my good deed for the day and just peek my head in. How noble of me, I’m thinking. To my surprise, I found a ton of bargains (I’m a sucker for deals), and walked out with about $30 worth of good deals. Needless to say, I was thankful to that then weird lady who ushered me into the bazaar (thanks Mayra), and as a sign of my gratitude, I made a promise that I’d come back to visit the church (how big of me!) In briefing me on what the church was about, the young lady, Mayra, enthusiastically mentioned a banquet that was scheduled in a couple of weeks, in which basically MC2 was going to host some of the underserved in our community at an event where they would be treated like society’s elite. Coincidentally, I had actually been brainstorming on such an event months prior with some individuals with whom I used to partake in a homeless outreach. Needless to say, I knew that I would have some sort of involvement with MC2, even if it just meant participating in that event. I spent some time that day reviewing the rather coincidental sequence of events of that morning, and remembered what I once heard: “Coincidence is God’s way of being anonymous”. So I went the next day and experienced MC2 and after my first exposure to the people of Metro, I knew I had found a place I could make home.

These last 3 months at MC2 have been awesome. I have experienced an authentic love from the Metro community which to me, is evidence of God’s presence. I distinctly remember that on my first visit, at different times, about half the church-goers introduced themselves to me and initiated a conversation. The thing that really impressed me about that was that despite the fact that I am challenged in recalling peoples names (even though I can remember the faces), nearly each person I had met remembered my name on the second visit around! I have never seen so many people be so quick to help and be of service, without sincere and honorable motives. I also liked the fact that the congregation wasn’t made up of a bunch of theologians who simply memorized the bible and lived in contradiction to what they knew, but it was more so REAL people who don’t claim to be perfect, but are seeking a deeper relationship with Christ, who can make them whole. I like being able to grow with the church. I was especially sold on MC2 when I found out that they have a heart for the least, last and the lost. What greater service than to help a person who can NEVER repay you. I’m excited for Metro to have found me at this point in time, because I have caught a glimpse of what God wants to do and is already doing with MC2 community, and I sincerely believe we’ll make an impact for Christianity that will forever CHANGE THE WORLD.  From now on, the phrase is no longer, “Keep it real”, … it’s ,“Keep it Metro!”

-Ed