Dear Metro Family,

I am excited to share with you information regarding our annual Christmas Offering that begins on Sunday, November 19.

Over the past nineteen years, we have witnessed God do some amazing things throughout our community. We have seen marriages restored, brokenness healed, loneliness defeated, and overall lives transformed in Christ. While it is our hope and expectation as a church that God may continue to do His work in and through the lives of those at Metro, we have set aside this special offering to focus on making a Kingdom difference, both within and outside of our church.

During the Christmas season, God challenges our church to come together for the sole purpose of making a Kingdom difference. The challenge can sometimes be daunting, but we always see God’s amazing faithfulness come through in the form of your generosity. Our culture has always been founded on the principle of releasing the blessings of God, affirming that our releasing of these blessings is not conditional upon our receiving of them. So, while some of us may experience the financial pinch, we still feel it is imperative to “pay it forward,” because our hope and trust are not in the economy or the government, but rather, they are in God’s provision for our lives and in the life of Metro.

Will you begin to pray now about what God is calling you to give—over and above your regular giving—to this special offering, and thus, allow God to stretch your faith? Let us heed the words of the Apostle Paul:

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

Blessings,

Pastor Peter
peter.ahn@emetro.org

Goal: $196,000

Offering Period:
Sunday, November 19, 2023 – Sunday, January 28, 2024

Offering Breakdown

Metro Community Center, Englewood - $60,000 

Wonderful things are happening with Metro Community Center. Through Steve Bang’s move to Executive Pastor, we have welcomed Coco Kim as our new Associate Program Director who will take over with Steve’s group of sophomores. Michael W. Smith continues as Program Director for a cohort of juniors. He has expanded his role to offer more in depth guidance couseling and college preparation to both the juniors and sophomores. In addition, we continue to provide a platform for community organizations and government agencies to meet monthly to address the needs of residents. With your continued generosity, we look forward to providing much needed programs and support for the youth of our Englewood community and beyond.

Zimele, South Africa - $50,000 

This year, Zimele USA (zimeleusa.org) celebrated its 16th year of serving women in Rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Our mission to confront the root causes of poverty by empowering women with financial literacy, small business and life skills, has reached over 13,000 women heads of households since our founding in 2007. With an average of 5-6 people per household, Zimele USA supported programs have touched over 70,000 lives. These incredible Zulu women continue to break historical cycles of poverty as local community leaders and small scale entrepreneurs with mentorship and guidance in Zimele programs. Their influence and leadership has extended beyond women and orphans to youth and even men, breaking existing gender roles stereotypes.

Zimele USA will continue its mission to serve communities in KwaZulu-Natal in 2024 by:

• Supporting programs to strengthen and deepen the work with heads of households participating in the Zimele program to secure long lasting change.

• Supporting existing social service projects with focuses on small business, agriculture, health and wellness skills workshops.

• Supporting further growth of gender based violence programs launched in 2023 that now reach all community members (adults, men, women and children) in addition to Orphans & Vulnerable Children who are under the care of Zimele women.

• Bridging new connections between the Zimele USA and the South African community by developing opportunities for youth leadership and global awareness through increased US volunteerism opportunities.

• Continuing to support our partners at Zimele Wethu with their staffing and program needs.

We are excited to continue this journey together to expand God's Kingdom in South Africa.

Missionaries, Worldwide - $36,000 

Metro is fortunate and excited to be able to partner with multiple in-house missionaries.

Linda Swanson serves missionaries through Paraclete Ministry (http://www.paraclete.net) in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa through various conferences and small group gatherings in their local region. Her ministry has allowed missionaries and their families to heal and be restored from difficult challenges that they face on the mission field.

Scott and Christina Kwak have been on the field for the past 10 years primarily focused on sustainable development and multi generational impact through business as missions. They work with women and young adults coming out of challenging situations taking a holistic approach to fully love and care for anyone that is willing to take steps towards a new beginning in their lives. They equip and empower individuals / families through transitional housing, vocational training and job opportunities within the Bella Goose programs.

Jong Ah Park serves as Director of Global Mission and Leadership Development for Korean Campus Crusade for Christ (kcccusa.org) and CRU (cru.org), organizations that reach out and minister to college students around the U.S. Jong Ah will organize short-term and long-term mission trips, as well as develop curricula and implement leadership programs for college students.

Rooted Ministries, USA - $20,000 

Rooted Ministries is a non-profit providing care to several dozen pastors around the country. Right now approximately 40% of pastors are considering leaving the ministry. They are burned out, tired of the politicizing of Jesus, weary of being the focal point of so much emotional baggage from so many, discouraged by the shallow nature of many of their relationships (because they are not safe), scratching their heads about the exodus of almost every demographic from the pews, and wondering how to bring Jesus Christ and his redeeming love to our culture that is changing at break-neck speed. We have come alongside pastors from all over the country this year so that they can abide in the love of Jesus Christ, and continue to live into their call to give that same healing love away to their churches…who in turn will give that powerful love to our broken world.

Global Crisis Relief, Worldwide - $30,000

Over the past years, we’ve witnessed a significant increase in the number of disasters—not only natural disasters such as earthquakes or tornadoes, but also health epidemics that have ravaged entire communities. Without external assistance, many of these affected individuals and families lack the support to cope with the devastating losses they experience. In situations of crisis, the speed with which the aid is delivered makes a key difference, and beginning to collect funds once the event has already occurred will often result in a delay in assistance during the most urgent and critical times. For this reason, Metro will make available a Glo-cal Emergency Relief Fund to help ensure that funds are already on-hand to disburse to fitting global or local organizations in the event of an unforeseen disaster.

1. App & Website

Whether you choose to give online via the giving portal on the website (emetro.org/give), or via the Metro App, the process is the same: 

• Type the amount you wish to give 
• Select either a one-time, or recurring Gift Type 
• Select "Christmas Offering" as your Giving Type 
• Click the Next button and follow the prompts 

2. Online Banking

You can set up a one-time, or multiple check(s) to Metro Community Church through your bank’s online checking. Most banks offer this service at no charge.

Be sure to notate “Christmas Offering” on the memo line of any checks that you give. 

3. By Mail

If you’d prefer to send your gift by mail, you can send it to our office at:

Metro Community Church
PO Box 5762
Englewood, NJ 07631

Be sure to notate “Xmas” on the ‘Other’ line of the envelope or “Christmas Offering” on the memo line of any checks that you give.

4. Donate Stock

If you own stock that has appreciated in value, it can be a significant benefit to both Metro and you if you choose to donate it to the Christmas Offering. Please contact Pastor Peter at peter.ahn@emetro.org if you would like to give in this way or desire additional information. 

For more information regarding our Christmas Offering, please email us at info@emetro.org.