INC Fights Poverty in Newark, New Jersey
INC News on the ‘My Countrymen, My Brethren’ project in Newark, New Jersey; a woman finds the true faith in Ottawa; an episode of the INC Giving Show featuring volunteers and a local food bank.
Show/Hide TranscriptHOST: This week on INC News World: a humanitarian event is held in the 3rd neediest city in America; the Church Of Christ continues to grow in Halifax, Canada; see a recent act of INC Giving, as featured on the INC Giving Show. Your INC News World starts now.
HOST: Welcome to INC News World. I’m Naomi De La Cruz, coming to you from the INC Media studios in Los Angeles, California. One in ten New Jersey residents lives in poverty, with Newark [continued in graphic]
“Ranked 3rd in a recent report of the neediest cities across the United States.” NBCNewYork.com
HOST: We see how Newark residents received much needed help from one local church. Krystal Coronel has more on this story.
BRADESH RAGOONANAN (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): It’s hard for people to, you know, give me a job.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: Bradesh is among Newark residents struggling to find work and make ends meet.
BRADESH RAGOONANAN (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): Well my situation is different because of my disability, it’s discrimination. We need a little bit of support, you know.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: And he was able to receive some much needed help from the Church Of Christ. This outreach event led by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) and its charitable arm, Felix Y. Manalo, or FYM Foundation through the project My Countrymen, My Brethren aims to build relationships and partnerships within the community.
BRADESH RAGOONANAN (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): You know it helped me to survive. You know, it made my day easier.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: Caring for the community, members also prepared musical performances to uplift spirits. And residents learned more about the FYM Foundation’s outreach programs held around the world.
SHEILA MONTAGUE (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): I was really taken aback by the love and the work that went into putting this event together. You can see it. And the sincerity is just like, it grabs you when you come in. And this is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
BROTHER ALEX REYES (DISTRICT SUPERVISING MINISTER): I hope our being here with you today reminds you that your community is loved and not forgotten.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: The Church Of Christ, particularly in the District of New Jersey, hosts a community outreach event in Newark with the help of neighboring districts such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Members gathered at the Boys and Girls Club of Newark to distribute care packages filled with basic survival needs, including personal hygiene items, food, and some winter clothing to keep them warm in this cold season.
BROTHER EDUARDO JAVIER (MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL – FYM FOUNDATION REPRESENTATIVE): One of the projects of our Executive Minister [is] to fight poverty. As we can see in the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, people in the neighboring places went to the place in order to receive the care packages from the Church Of Christ.
SHEILA MONTAGUE (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): I saw the care packages that were given out and how they were packaged and even with the clothing these are essential items that are needed in these times.
DETECTIVE ROBERT MORRIS (NEWARK NORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT – COMMUNITY DEFENSE DIVISION): The line stretched from the building here beyond the gate. The numbers, excuse my language, ridiculous! I mean, it was great.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: Representatives from 8 non-profit organizations were greeted warmly, expressing their appreciation for monetary donations to their organizations.
TIESHA NELSON (DONATION RECIPIENT – GATEWAY FAMILY YMCA – ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY): The donation received from the FYM Foundation and from the Church Of Christ in the amount of $5,000 will definitely go directly back to our residents.
ED DURANTE, JR. (DONATION RECIPIENT – BAYONNE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT): I’m floored and I’m really, honestly, on behalf of the entire city of Bayonne, I’m extremely grateful. It’s just an incredible event.
JACQUELINE QUILES (DEPUTY MAYOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): We really appreciate your commitment and your dedication. And we thank you for giving so much love, not only to the city of Newark, but also around the world. And hopefully soon you guys can come to the city of Newark and open a church here, God knows we need a church.
LIGIA DE FREITAS (DEPUTY MAYOR FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND DIASPORA AFFAIRS – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): And like Jacqueline said, if there’s a church here we’re going to work together. Number one, I’m like thankful and amazed you guys are here in Newark. Your work [with] the organization and institutions what they’re going to help our people here. That is huge, is amazing, and we[‘re] so thankful for that.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: Residents like Bradesh are not only thankful for this aid provided by the Church Of Christ, but also their love and concern for the community.
BRADESH RAGOONANAN (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): You guys are doing a wonderful job and you know keep coming around.
MARIBEL LOPEZ (RESIDENT – NEWARK, NEW JERSEY): Actually that has helped me a lot. I’ve been in struggles, and this is helping a lot. Because we all need it, everybody’s in needs, it’s a church and it’s a blessing.
GUEST REACTIONS:
I appreciate it, thank you.
Thank you guys, thanks for everything!
This is, on a scale of one to ten, this is a ten.
KRYSTAL CORONEL: The Church Of Christ members here in Newark will continue to welcome their neighbors to learn more about the Church Of Christ. Visit incmedia.org to find a local congregation near you or to speak with a minister of the gospel. Krystal Coronel; Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network; Newark, New Jersey.
HOST: Friends play a big role in one’s life, and good friends are beneficial to our health. They also, [continued in graphic]
“encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits.” MayoClinic.org
HOST: We meet one woman whose friend has given her a new outlook on life. Mark Angelo Trad has the story.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: Having experienced poverty in Cameroon, Africa she moved to Canada in hopes for a brighter future. But Brinelle knew how difficult it would be to make friends and accustom herself in her new home. What she thought was a friendly invitation ended up being a life changing experience.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (HALIFAX, CANADA): I was in Toronto with a friend, my friend lived with someone who was a member of the Church Of Christ. And then she invited me for dinner.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: What she thought would be just a dinner with friends ended up being something more memorable.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (HALIFAX, CANADA): And a minister was giving a little evangelical mission in her house.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: And with that, she also watched a video about the efforts of the Church Of Christ in her hometown.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (HALIFAX, CANADA): I did not really see other churches do that. I think the Church Of Christ is unique by the fact that [they] help a lot of people in Africa. [They] help a lot of people who are not able to feed [themselves] in their everyday lives. [They] help them more, to know that there is someone or some church who can help them have a job or to have a normal life like everybody can have. I was really happy to see that.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: In awe of the efforts the Church Of Christ does for her hometown, she was eager to learn more.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (NEWLY BAPTIZED MEMBER – HALIFAX, CANADA): I liked the first evangelical mission because it was really based on the Bible, and I really appreciate that.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: But what really caught her attention was the eagerness of the Church Of Christ members using what they learn to live as a true Christian.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (NEWLY BAPTIZED MEMBER – HALIFAX, CANADA): The Church Of Christ [has] changed my views by the fact that a lot of things that I do believe before, I found that a lot of them wasn’t really the truth. Now I think I know more things and I know better about life and about how to live righteously.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: And after fully understanding the truth she was able to take part in the holy baptism in the District of Ottawa in the Local Congregation of Halifax.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (NEWLY BAPTIZED MEMBER – HALIFAX, CANADA): It’s meaningful for me because it’s a renewing of my life.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: For Brinelle, she’s thankful for her friends who’ve been by her side throughout her journey.
BRINELLE MEEKAM (NEWLY BAPTIZED MEMBER – HALIFAX, CANADA): I’m going to say thanks first, because they help[ed] me to find this truth about God, about Jesus, and about the Bible. They helped me to come to my baptism. They helped me to change my life, to renew my life. They’re really helpful. They’re really like a family.
MARK ANGELO TRAD: To find out more about the Iglesia Ni Cristo please do log on to iglesianicristo.net. I’m Brother Mark Angelo Trad reporting for the Iglesia Ni Cristo News Network; Montreal, Canada.
HOST: The INCGiving Project was established to spread kindness, and to inspire all of us to help those around us, whenever we possibly can. And the INC Giving Show on incmedia.org shares the stories of those living up to that task. Adara Pineda has this feature from the INCGiving Show.
ADARA PINEDA: A study published by BMC Public Health showed that most food banks in Canada rely heavily on volunteers to function. In half of food banks there are an average of 5 volunteers for every paid worker. Working closely with the food banks in their area, we’ll see how INC Giving volunteers in Vancouver are taking action to meet this need.
ADARA PINEDA (continued): Every year millions of food donations go through warehouses like the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Before reaching Canadians in need, each and every food item has to be inspected and sorted. For Maurice, it was a chance to help his community.
MAURICE TORIO (INC GIVING VOLUNTEER): There are many other people who are not fortunate who will be receiving these foods and with these organizations like the food bank, they could really use a lot of help with organizing everything and getting these items to those who really need it in the community.
ADARA PINEDA: Along with other INC Giving volunteers, Maurice sorted through boxes of dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables.
MAURICE TORIO (INC GIVING VOLUNTEER): We were pretty much checking if they’re not expired and sorting them to different food categories. Not everyone will just take whatever is there because we still need to look out for the health of those who will be recipients of these goods and items.
ADARA PINEDA: Volunteering at food banks, even if it’s for a small amount of time, can make a difference.
MEGAN NICHOLAS (INC GIVING VOLUNTEER): I looked up different ways that we could give back to the community and this is one of the first ones that came up and I know that the Church has done a lot of donations to the food bank in the past. We did a lot of food drives and I thought this was just a good way to sort of do something a little bit smaller scale, but also giving back to the community. They were just telling us earlier that they get, you know, millions of things and everything or everybody that works here are all volunteers and without them, they wouldn’t be able to get the food out and the donations out to the people who need them. So they’re always very welcoming.
ADARA PINEDA: By giving back, these INC Giving volunteers continue to build a strong relationship with their community.
MEGAN NICHOLAS (INC GIVING VOLUNTEER): And as soon as I contacted them, they’re very willing to accept us. We’re hoping to be able to repeat this activity several times throughout the year because they’re always asking for volunteers throughout the whole entire year not just in the winter time and hopefully next time we can have more.
ADARA PINEDA: For these INC Giving volunteers, they hope every effort they make will encourage others to do good as well. Remember, whenever you possibly can, do good to those who need it. I’m Adara Pineda. Thank you for joining us on INC Giving, we’ll see you next time.
HOST: It’s time for the segment Solid Through the Ages.
HOST: Today we’d like to greet Leonor “Leny” Pangilinan a happy birthday! She celebrates her 89th birthday this month. She is registered in the Local Congregation of National City, Southeast California, where she served as a deaconess for many years. This is her advice to us after almost 9 decades of experience:
“Be more active in our worship services to our Almighty God, love our membership and love the Church Administration led by our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo.”
HOST CONTINUED: And her family’s greeting to her on this special day:
“Praises be to our Almighty God for all His blessings to the Pangilinan family. She is truly an inspiration to all of us in actively performing our duties inside the Church Of Christ.”
HOST CONTINUED: If you see Leonor or “Leny” in the Local Congregation of National City, remember to greet her. And if you know of anyone celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, let us know at info@incmedia.org with the subject “Solid Through the Ages.”
HOST: Well, that does it for us on INC News World. Tune in every Friday for new episodes of INC News World on incmedia.org. I’m Naomi De La Cruz, on behalf of the entire INC News World team: thank you for joining us. Have a great weekend and God bless!