Who Are Your Neighbors?

This morning I was reading in
Proverbs 27. Verse 10.
"Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father
and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away."

This reminded me of something that has been on my heart a lot lately.
A few weeks ago, I was home with my 2 year old son and 3 men came crawling through our back window... apparently to finish up a robbery they'd started earlier in the day when I was out of the house. I hadn't even noticed things were missing until after the police were in the house with me later. We were unharmed, and ran out the front of the house as the men ran out the back when I started screaming... but the experience shook up our family and really brought a lot of things to light.
The most important comfort to me over the days following the incident (besides my faith in God's protection and leading us to this home in the first place) was the comfort of my neighbors. By the end of the first day, I had 13 neighbors (many of whom I already was on a first name basis with, but also many new ones) come to check on me. I now have at least 6 of their cell phone numbers on my speed dial, and instructions to call if I ever need anything. When I got scared to walk into my house alone, my neighbors walked with me through the house and gave me hugs when I needed it. When I had workers come to give quotes on security systems and the like, my neighbors walked right up to my porch to make sure these were good people talking to me.
One of the police officers that first day said, "Don't give up on your neighborhood. It takes good people to make a good neighborhood."
He was right.
I've been thinking a lot about who my neighbors are. It really does take a village to raise a family in safety and wholeness these days, especially in Los Angeles.

When I need instant help, I can't call my family - they all live between 4 and 40 miles away. I need to call my neighbors. And I actually have church family pretty close, too. In a church our size, there are enough of us, that most of us have someone from our Metro family who lives pretty near to us. Wouldn't it be awesome if you knew that someone from your spiritual family lived a few minutes away and could help you out in a time of need?
To me, that is what being family is about. Finding those people and as we say in our family, "doing life with them"

We've made it very clear to the people that we meet - "hey, we have room in our life for new friends." This is LA, and one of the hardest things about LA is how often people move in and out of the city. There is a lot of turnover, and it's hard to find people who are committed to you. But if you look, you'll find them here at Metro...

here are some fun ways to break the ice at getting to form better bonds with your Metro family:
1 - go on the fall retreat!
2 - join a small group (sign ups are happening again soon! if possible, find one CLOSE to you)
3 - if you have free time, call the church office and volunteer to come help with a project
4 - join one of the prayer meetings that happen during the week
5 - find a service opportunity - lots of ministries need help
6 - ask someone to lunch after service

some fun things that we've done as a family as well...
-hosted parties and invited people over
-set up a standing weekly date with another family that whenever we're free, we do Saturday breakfast with each other
-get on facebook, and find some metro friends there
-introduce ourselves to people we've not met before at church "Hi. I haven't met you before..."

Here's to creating a family here... in LA ... the kind we can call on.

FALL RETREAT

This coming week is our annual all church Fall Retreat!
If you haven't signed up yet, but want to, contact info@metrochurch.org ASAP.
You don't want to miss this...

Staff interview - Vanessa Sokic

Vanessa and her husband Phil are our amazing youth group leaders here at Metro, read below to learn more about the friendly voice who answers the phones in our office!

What is your name and where are you from?
Vanessa Sokic, that's a hard question for me to answer. I was born in Texas, but was raised in Florida and Ontario, Canada.

How did you come to know Christ?
I grew up knowing Christ, but I never understood what it meant to walk daily with Him and to have a personal relationship with Him until April 2006. Although I knew what right vs. wrong was, I decided it was fine to take things into my own hands and ask for forgiveness later for many years. I heard a sermon on surrender and I learned that God would take care of all my problems. He would make me pure and that was when I hit rock-bottom. Since then, I feel like I have been on the fast-track for growing in Christ.

Do you have family? children? single? Married?
Yes, my husband of almost 5 years, Phil. and our three cats, Oreo, PingPong, and Two.

What is something really fun about you that we might not guess?

I can tap dance.

Closest friend at Metro
the other Vanessa...

What small group do you attend?
Phil and I lead the youth group on Friday nights and we were attending the Trabun's group for a year. I'm also a part of the women's Thursday night group.

Favorite Metro event
I love the all church retreats, and the weekly eventful staff meetings

What do you do for a career outside of church?

I moved to LA with the purpose of becoming an actress, but God obviously had other plans for now. That is still a passion that I hope to pursue... and right now I am in the church office full time.

If you could do one thing in the next 5 years, what would it be?
to go to Africa and to start a family, not necessarily at the same time

What is your favorite pair of shoes?
ooooh, my new pink pumps (ouch)

What ministry positions do you hold in and out of Metro?
My extended family is my first ministry. I am a Metro youth leader, women's Bible study leader and serve on the welcoming committee and I sing in worship, too. I also take seriously the ministry I have to my neighbors and friends who don't know the Lord.

Most encouraging verse in your life right now.
Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

Staff interview - Nicole (Niki) Woolsey

As a part of getting to build community together here on this blog, we thought it would be fun to interview some of the staff members here. Niki Woolsey is the new Little Kids Ministry Director at Metro and here are some fun things to know about her:


What is your name and where are you from?
Niki Woolsey. I was born in Northern California but, after 40 something moves, I'm pretty sure I'm from everywhere.

How did you come to know Christ?
I was so fortunate to grow up in a Christian home with parents who really nurtured me towards a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

Do you have family? children? single? Married?
I am married to Chris and we have 2 kids, Cassidy (2004) and Connor (2007).

How long have you been at Metro?
We have been going to Metro for 12 years (since '96)!

Closest friend at Metro?
Liberty Worth

What do you do for a career outside of church?
Mommy.

If you could do one thing in the next 5 years, what would it be?
Become a better wife, a better mom, and a better servant for Christ.

What is your favorite pair of shoes?
It's too hard to pick just one. Something high and sassy!

What ministry positions do you hold in and out of Metro?
Little Kids Ministry Director

Most encouraging verse in your life right now.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt. 6:34)

Favorite place to travel to:
Anywhere! I'm easy to please!