Redeemer East Side Update
I recently came across a quote that I have found myself returning to often. It read:
- “The deepest motive for mission is simply the desire to be with Jesus where he is, on the frontier between the reign of God and the usurped dominion of the devil.”
Take a second to read that again. It is a beautiful picture of why Jesus sends out every Christian to be informal missionaries wherever he places them. It’s not because he wants to put us to work; it’s because he wants us to be with him. We experience a different kind of communion and intimacy with Christ when we step out with him into the adventure of being emissaries of his kingdom wherever he takes us.
One of the things we’ve been saying at Redeemer East Side is that over the next several years, the task before us is to go from being a large come-and-see church to become a dynamic go-and-show movement. One way we are beginning to do that is by becoming a generative church that regularly starts new churches, like Redeemer East Harlem and The Well. But church planting alone won’t get us there. Because you are the key. We need to help shift the locus of gospel ministry in our minds away from the Sunday worship service and into the everyday places and spaces of your life. Jesus is at work right where you are now. That’s where the adventure is. That’s what he’s inviting you into.
Next Thursday, November 14, the entire family of Redeemer Churches will be getting together for an evening with our Founding Pastor Tim Keller to better equip you to live into the adventure of following Jesus on his mission in all of your life. Our hope is that as several hundred of us gather together to be better equipped for this missional living, it would actually be the humble beginnings of a quiet revolution — the patient ferment of a gospel movement on the rise in NYC. You don’t want to miss it, so register now!
Warmly,
Rev. Abraham Cho
East Side Senior Pastor
November 14, 2019
at the W83 Ministry Center, 150 W. 83rd St.
"We believe God is calling all of us to share our faith more regularly so that we'd see many more people coming to faith and being discipled to help bring gospel influence to every neighborhood, every part of the culture, but herein lies the challenge. We want to see a city renewed by the gospel but in today's culture the obstacles to sharing our faith or discipling someone can feel almost insurmountable. . . . Actively finding ways to share our faith with our friends who are not Christian requires a vulnerability that can be challenging for most of us. But if we are better equipped and have a deeper trust in what the Holy Spirit can do through our testimony, we will see God bring many new people to faith as we openly and regular share the joy and hope and have Christ."
— Dr. Timothy Keller
Pastor Emeritus, Redeemer Presbyterian Church
+ Last chance to register for Missional Living: Join Tim Keller and Rebecca McLaughlin next Thursday, November 14 to explore what it means to be a disciple in today’s culture and how we can effectively share our faith in spite of tough questions and misconceptions about Christianity.
+ Attend Intro to Redeemer East Side this Sunday, November 10 to start the process of becoming a member and making a deeper commitment to our church body.
+ Christmas Discovery is coming up on Sunday, December 8 at 11 a.m. Sign up to serve and help East Side children and their friends celebrate the birth of Jesus through an immersive Nativity program, followed by hands on experiments and sensory activities.
+ Sing with Redeemer’s Gospel Choir: Want to match your gifts and calling? Join the new Redeemer Gospel Choir! A place for worship, praise and fellowship.
+ Register for family retreat: Families with children and students of all ages are invited to join staff and volunteers from Children’s and Youth ministries for a weekend retreat in March.
+ Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas, is a season that reminds our soul’s enduring longing for “a new and glorious morn.” Check our December worship schedule and prayerfully consider friends you might invite to a service.
+ Provide Thanksgiving meals to guests: Help set up, serve, and clean up for 800 guests on Thanksgiving Day at The Salvation Army. November 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
+ Help with His Toy Store set-up in East Harlem: Decorate the pop-up store (hosted at The Bowery Mission) with Christmas cheer on Friday, December 13 from 7 to 9 p.m.
+ Serve at a Thanksgiving social: Serve dessert and play games during a Thanksgiving social at Mont Lawn City Camp South Bronx. Thursday, November 21 from 5 to 9 p.m.
VISION
The Redeemer family of churches and ministries exist to help build a great city for all people through a movement of the gospel that brings personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal to New York City and, through it, the world.
Redeemer East Side
150 E 91st Street | New York, NY 10128
