Iglesia Metodista Unida San Pablo Centenaria St Paul Centenary United Methodist Church Newark, NJ

Purposes/Goals: 

The Día de la Esperanza / Day of Hope was organized as to offer to the Newark community and surrounding communities a “hope” amidst the diverse economic difficulties that these communities are going through.

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The church wanted also to engage in evangelism and promote family unity as well and be “present” and be “seen”.

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The Día de la Esperanza- Day of Hope was also our first step into the GNJAC mission A Future with Hope as a way to start engaging the congregation into the vision. The pastors motto “We can start A Future with Hope with offering a “Day of Hope”

What we wanted to include or this “day of hope” to look like? 

An atmosphere of joy, peace and fun.

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Free games and entertainment for children.

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Handing out of Christian tracts, church info and bibles. Invite visitors to register and create a data base.

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Free food ! Hamburgers, Hot Dogs , Soda, water and Cotton Candy.

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Worship music through the day, both live and recorded. We invited a well known artist from Puerto Rico who had recently recorded his first Christian CD and also invited the church from Union City. We also had the participation of our praise leader Fernando Santiago.

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Follow up with the Sunday service with the artist José Nogueras with his testimony of healing and his praise music.

¿Where did we began? We started with prayer and soon realized as we looked honestly at ourselves that there was something important we needed to do before opening our doors….

….we had to start by taking care of the church because this is The House of Our Lord!

So…we got hands on!

Ceiling of Sunday Children's Room..(before)

Sunday Children's Room ( After)

Baby’s Room (Before and during renovation )

Baby’s Room ( After)

Women's Devotional Room (during renovation)

Women's Devotional Room (after renovation)

With new chairs and floor!

Outside of the church, back. (before)

Outside of the church, back. (after)

Front stairs ( Before)

Front stairs ( After)

Wall at the main parking lot ( Before)

Wall at the main parking lot ( After)

Side of the church (Mt. Prospect) ( Before)

Side of the church (Mt. Prospect) ( After)

Other areas ( Before)

Other areas ( After)

So….as the final works were finished the Día de Esperanza / Day of Hope…. finally arrived!! Example of post card and street banner used as promotion

Our praise leader Fernando ..opens the event with praise music..

Food Tent

Children's Christian Crafts Table

Jumping House

Part of the St Paul Congregation that said I will be there!

Olga during a praise moment!

Liturgical Dance by Union City UMC

Church table: Tracts, church info and bibles were handed out

Youth volunteers at work ….

Invited artist from PR, José Nogueras performs both traditional music from PR and praise songs from his CD.

Wilfredo and Jomara joined us as visitors and volunteers and are now attending church!

Church joins with praise and dancing !

The celebration of a successful day continued with Chicken Soup at the parsonage until late night !!

Church members in conversation with José Nogueras the artist we invited from P.R.

The following day..Sunday…artist José Nogueras shared his healing testimony and music with church members and visitors ( 11)

Saturday…August 17th…the hope continued….. Last but not least…St Paul Church gathered at Aldersgate Center for a family and friends picnic on Saturday August 17. Members and friends from Hispanic churches of both Union City and Dover joined us for this wonderful day. We rejoice and give praise that almost 100 people joined us.

Family and friends picnic !

….finally we are planning for the Spring of 2014 for the Sandy Relief Mission Fund and Local Mission Fund our Mission Fund Car Show 2014.

Turbo Bee – Race Car owned by one of our church members.

Praise God for all things He has done!!