Redeemer East Side Update
The early church was a remarkable community. It was profoundly flawed. We forget that most of the New Testament is letters written to churches in response to their dysfunctions: divisions, failures, conflicts. Yet despite—or really because of—its flaws, the early church was also a profoundly compassionate community. Their freedom to acknowledge their own brokenness created a community able to radically embrace others in the midst of their need. In fact, compassion was so central to the early church that one of the first things it did was create an office—the office of deacon—to ensure that it would continue to grow in acts of compassion (Acts 6:1-7).
The month of November is a time when members of Redeemer East Side can recommend fellow members to lead and serve the church as elder, deacon or deaconess. Far from being just a time to identify and train new leaders, it is a month to recommit ourselves to becoming a community remarkable for its mercy and compassion. Here are a few ways you can do this:
First, if you are a church member, think of one other member to recommend for elder, deacon, or deaconess. We need a lot more leaders especially as we prepare to launch new sites in the coming years. Second, pray that you, and I, and all of us would grow in concrete ways in Christ-like compassion. Third, give generously on November 20 to our annual Mercy Fund special offering, which goes to help congregants in need. But above all, strive with me to cultivate a community of remarkable compassion here at Redeemer East Side — flaws and all!
Warmly,
Rev. Abraham Cho
East Side Congregation Lead Pastor
Mark RoEast Side Pastoral Resident
"I love the diversity and energy of NYC and am excited to be back in my favorite city"
+ Members of the Sunday Service Team serve the congregation once a month — and they need your help!
+ Recommend a fellow member to serve as elders, deacons and deaconesses.
+ Hold on to your Santa Hats—His Toy Store is here! Give to provide Christmas toys for families in need by Nov. 28.
+ Serve at mini Don’t Walk By.
+ Annual Mercy Fund Special Offering this coming Sunday. Support our church's mercy ministry by making a financial gift to this vital ministry of mercy.
+ Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas? Join other East Siders for an Irish Christmas Concert at Carnegie Hall!
+ Meet new friends and learn about our vision and values at Intro to Redeemer.
+ Support the East Side Youth Ministry as they sell homemade pies to raise funds for the Mercy Fund.
+ Last call for CFW's 6th annual conference The Wonder & Fear of Technology
Mark grew up outside of Chicago, and after graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in finance, he moved to New York City in 2005 to begin his career in investment banking and private equity. After several years in the industry and serving bi-vocationally on staff at a church plant, he completed a M.Div. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and joined Redeemer recently as a Pastoral Resident serving primarily on the Community Group team. He loves the diversity and energy of NYC and is excited to be back in his favorite city and play a small part in the vision to see center-city Christians rise from 5% to 15%.
Mark is married to Holly, who originally hails from Sydney, Australia, and they have two rambunctious boys, Joshua (3) and Justin (1). When he's not running after his boys up and down the escalators at Hunter College, he loves traveling and exploring new neighborhoods and cities, watching and playing sports (especially basketball and golf), and pretending to love coffee and books. They've recently settled into their new place in Yorkville in the UES, and they love Carl Schurz park and also can't wait for the 2nd avenue subway line to be completed.
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
Church Offices: 150 W. 83rd St. | New York, NY 10024
