Young Coptic group works with homeless

JC4JC members visit, feed many at Journal Square
Thursday, July 15, 2010

People usually rush through the Journal Square PATH Plaza en route to a departing bus or train. Not the members of JC4JC. They plan to sit and talk and even bring food and refreshments to share with any one, especially the hungry and homeless who stay in the area.

They've been doing this on most Sunday afternoons for almost a year. And because of their dedication, some people look forward to the young adults coming.

"They're our friends and we truly love them as a family," said JC4JC member Meryam Attaalla, 21, who grew up in Jersey City but now lives in North Arlington.

She still worships at Ss. George & Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church about four blocks from the PATH Plaza. And though this group of young adults, who call themselves "Jesus Christ for Jersey City," may belong to a particular church, this venture is not church-sponsored.

A group of Coptic Orthodox young adults began to envision an organization based on the Gospel of Matthew 25 to carry out certain ministries. They started in 2007 according to Ann Marie Toss.

"We were looking to do something more," said Toss, 24, who just received her Master's in Religious Studies from Yale. Her uncle, Rev. David Bebawy, is the pastor of Ss. George & Shenouda.

And that's where the JC4JC group, averaging about 20 volunteers, gathers on Sunday afternoon about 4 o'clock to pray before they undertake feeding the hungry.

They made an arrangement with a downtown pizzeria and then head over to the PATH Plaza with the pizzas and sodas where they'll stay until about 7 o'clock. They sit and talk with whom ever comes by.

By now, they know the regulars and the police do not bother them. In fact, Attaalla says the police are happy to see them caring for the homeless....

You might have seen the great initiative from the National Basketball Association that has stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James doing more than dunk a basketball...but lend a helping hand in their local communities. 

This year, for the first time, the Coptic Orthodox Youth Basketball League decided to do the same! The "COYBL CARES" campaign launched this season. Partnering with FTFT!, players and coaches from New York and New Jersey are putting down the basketball to hit the streets and show the love of Jesus Christ to those who need it most! Players, coaches and servants are going out and serving pizza to men and women who are homeless in New York City! God is blessing the efforts of these young men by showing weekly fruit! Tears of repentance are a familiar sight...hearts are changed, spirits are lifted, and GOD IS GLORIFIED! 

As Lent begins, the focus of this season should be on the cross. We should be thinking about how we can practically carry our cross to a world that is in dire need of Jesus' love.  

HOW TO BEAR YOUR CROSS PRACTICALLY By HH. Pope Shenouda III

‎1. The Cross is a sign of love, bestowal, sacrifice, and redemption, which you ‎carry each time you are tired in view of the practice of these virtues.‎ Try to get tired for the rest of another, and for his deliverance and his service; ‎and be confident that God does never forget the fatigue of charity, "and each one will ‎receive his own reward according to his own labor." (1 Cor. 3:8). Train yourself to ‎give: whatever you bestow and support and sacrifice...and train yourself to give from ‎your necessities, as the blessed widow had done (Luke 21:4)...Tire yourself in your ‎service, because the more you tire, the more your love will appear, and therefore the ‎greater your sacrifice will be.‎ ‎

H.H. Pope Shenouda III presided over the North American Annual Coptic Clergy Seminar (NAACCS) which was held in Holy Virgin Mary’s Spiritual Vineyard of Charlton, MA from Monday, September 14, 2009 through Wednesday, September 16, 2009. There were 14 bishops and over 220 priests from the United States & Canada in attendance. Among the bishops in attendance where: H.G. Bishop Pisenti (Helwan), H.G. Bishop Botros (Patmos), H.G. Bishop Serapion (Los Angles), H.G. Bishop Youssef (Southern), H.G. Bishop Suriel (Melbourne), H.G. Bishop Agathon (Brazil), H.G. Bishop Youssef (Bolivia), H.G. Bishop Reweis (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Makarious (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Youannis (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Youhanna (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop Armia (General Bishop), H.G. Bishop David (General Bishop), and H.G. Bishop Michael (General Bishop). The Seminar consisted of spiritual words of wisdom delivered by H.H. Pope Shenouda III and Their Graces the Bishops to the Reverend Fathers, as well as Question & Answer sessions.

On Tuesday morning, September 15, 2009, H.H. along with Their Graces the Bishop and Reverend Fathers travelled to Nashua, New Hampshire to consecrate the Coptic Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary & Archangel Michael (41 Chandler St, Nashua, NH 03064-2816). After consecrating the church H.H. and the clergy returned to the vineyard to continue their seminar.

On September 15th 2009, FTFT! will present the progress that has happened in FTFT! since it's creation to H.H. Pope Shenouda and the clergy members of the United States of America. This is a direct result of everyone's service and prayers. Please keep the service in your prayers and ask the Lord to continue to allow for the growth of this youth-centered Coptic Orthodox service organization!