Redeemer East Side Update

I will never forget when we first moved to New York. I had just been hired as an assistant pastor at Redeemer, we had a one year old and my wife was eight months pregnant with our second. Those first months were a blur to us—adjusting to a new job, a new city, a new community, and a new baby. But, one of the things do remember—quite vividly actually—was the deacons and deaconesses who made us meals as part of the meals ministry. It was a lifeline and a reminder that we weren’t alone.

Every November, we begin a process of activating new deacons and deaconesses. The church is the one community that has been given the calling of embodying the compassion of Christ to the world. Because of that, from its inception, it has identified men and women who are particularly gifted with compassion to serve as leaders. It is a role that has marked the church for thousands of years.

Now, because it is a role of mercy and compassion, many of the best deeks are not the types to put themselves forward as qualified candidates! This is why we need church members to recommend gifted people for this role. So, if you are a member, would you take a moment now to jot down the names of a few fellow members that you think would be great? You can go here to learn more and submit your recommendation.

If you’re not a member, what are you waiting for?! We need you and all you have to offer to covenant with us as we seek God’s good for the East Side. So, join us!

Warmly,

Rev. Abraham Cho
East Side Senior Pastor

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Nick Shatraw has been serving as a Deacon at Redeemer East Side since 2015. Nick recently shared his testimony during worship services on October 29, and has shared it below:

In my capacity serving as a deacon I have the privilege to work with those in the Redeemer community who are going through trying circumstances and are seeking spiritual, financial, or physical help. We call them clients.

In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul says, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [...] For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

During the rigorous training process to become a deacon, I found it easy to view these verses as if they were meant for my future clients, but I did not necessarily see them as reflective of me, especially not my role as deacon. Progressing through training, like many others, there was a bit of a superhero complex where I thought I knew the answers that would best fix the situations of a client. Yes I had a good degree, a stable work history, and a solid upbringing, but how naive it was to believe those were what was required to heal pain and suffering. What I gradually learned was in order to help those in our church, the starting point was not necessarily diagnosing their circumstances and finding the correct formula for easiest healing, but it was a fuller understanding of my place in God’s kingdom and knowing that any healing and restoration comes from him.

This was never more clear than when at the very end of training I found myself unexpectedly in the hospital’s intensive care unit and unable to complete the program. Sad that I had come so close to becoming a full-fledged deacon, I needed to defer and to complete the final exam the following year. Although I will never know the full meaning behind this unexpected near death experience, serving as a deacon has shown me that my own suffering was not in vain. Working with those who are experiencing physical or material difficulties were now much more than ‘clients’ and our relationship was more than simply prescriptive. We were now walking together through their journey and I was able to draw upon my own experiences to help them through difficult times of their own.

God continues to show me that in my weakness he is strong. Do I have all the answers to my clients’ needs? Certainly not on my own, but through that I am drawn to deeper prayer and reliance upon Him. The changes can truly only come from him and this work has shown me in a different way how we are working for his glory.

In a city where showing any lack of strength can be detrimental to one’s career or relationships, to know that God works through weakness in us brings a certain sense of rest and joy. As Jesus identified with us in our sufferings by taking on human form, we on this mercy ministry team are called to identify with the sufferings of others. And what a joy that has been.

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