News Archive...
Celebrating a year of “Shalom-building”
This spring NECT celebrated the closing of another successful “ministry year” with our second annual Barbecue Picnic at Covenant Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in North Haledon, NJ. NECT partners have been making an impact in their communities in 2010-11. From ministries designed to help individual development needs to those advocating for justice in their communities, our partners are stepping out in faith to spread the peace only possible when we accept God’s claim on His creation... MORE.
ESL and Citizenship Ministry of Tri-Boro Community Transformation
Tri-Boro Community Transformation is a coalition of ministries seeking to bless the Prospect Park-Haledon-North Haledon communities with God’s mercy and justice. We praise the Lord for his grace upon the recently completed ESL and Citizenship Classes hosted by Unity Christian Reformed Church. A total of eighteen students completed the level 2 and 3 classes. Six people participated in the Citizenship Class led by Victoria Donoghue, an attorney from NECT partner David Nachman and Associates. A graduation celebration was held on April 2 which included a hearty lunch as class members contributed some great food. Several local newspapers gave coverage including the Hawthorne Press... MORE.
Owning the Change at Safe Haven
For the past year Al Santino has been serving as the Community Development Strategy Coach with NECT partner Safe Haven Urban Redemption in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, NJ. Kingdom light shines in Newark as Safe Haven employs teenagers and young adults from the community in their after school program and mentors them in their spiritual and social development. Growing in work responsibility, sound values, and learning how to serve, these teens are helping the young people to own the change in their community... MORE.
NECT Partner Seeks "FIAM" in the Bronx
NECT Director Al Santino has had an ongoing relationship for the past seven years with Fordham Manor Reformed Church in his Bronx community. For the past year he has been providing consulting and workshops for the newly formed Faith in Action Ministry (FIAM). The mission of FIAM is to advocate for resources that will revitalize the community through empowering people and associations by mobilizing alliances in the greater Bronx... MORE.
Philadelphia Community Organizing Forum
Pastors and lay leaders of several Philadelphia Christian Reformed church plants gathered on the Saturday morning of January 15 to envision, encourage and strategize together for community ministry. This was the second forum organized by NECT for the sake of supporting the Philadelphia churches in their community ministry. MORE...
Prayer Walking at Midland Park CRC
In 2009 Midland Park Christian Reformed Church recommitted itself to go into the town and pray for our community. We mapped out routes and asked for God’s leading for our Outreach ministry. Our prayer and vision has been to engage our church with the community and see individuals, families and businesses as members of God’s family. Our goal is to reflect Christ’s love and care to those around us and become the beacon of light which radiates God’s Shalom. MORE...
Community Organizing as a Kingdom Apologetic
Community organizing has become a political buzz word as of late. The term refers to the process or art of bringing people and organizations together to a collaboration “table” to work for the common good. For God’s people, community organizing can be a reflection of shalom, “the way God intended things to be.” MORE...
New Philadelphia Consultant Joins NECT
NECT has been blessed with a new Church and Community Consultant for the Philadelphia area. Rev. Kyuboem Lee is the pastor of Germantown Hope Community Church which is an NECT partner engaged in community development... MORE.
Neighbors Supporting Neighbors In Germantown
Penny Meads, along with church and community volunteers, is making a difference in her Germantown, Philadelphia neighborhood. Since January she has been serving as an Americorps Member through Germantown Hope Community Church which is an NECT partner... MORE.
Jump Starting Good Neighbors
The other morning I went to out to start my car in my Bronx community and encountered a dead battery... MORE.