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The Clarksburg Closet provides free clothing to our neighbors in need, thanks to the generous support and donations from our community. CLARKSBURG CLOSET The Clarksburg Closet provides free clothing to our neighbors in need, thanks to the generous support and donations from our community. "I was naked and you clothed me… Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. ” Matthew 25: 36,40 Please note: If MCPS has a delay or closure, we will also remain closed. The Clarksburg Closet will be closed April 12-21 NEED CLOTHING? Click here to submit a request and get your order started. Once complete, email to info@clarksburgcloset.org . VOLUNTEER INTEREST? Sign up here to be a vessel of His love to people from all walks of life. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS? WHERE DO I PICK UP MY CLOTHES? Pick-up will occur at our building, which is located at 23810 Stringtown Road, Clarksburg MD 20871. Please note we are several doors down from Cedarbrook Community Church. We will contact you when your order is ready for pickup. Due to an increased volume of requests that include an unprecedented number of crisis orders, we find that the time our all-volunteer staff takes to fulfill an order varies greatly. Please allow up to 4 weeks for your request to be processed. Thanks for your patience. We ask that you make a clothing request no more than once a season. Inclement Weather Policy: The Clarksburg Closet is closed on days that MCPS announces a delay or closure due to inclement weather. WHAT TYPES OF DONATIONS ARE NEEDED? Donations of clothes and shoes are always welcome! Our building is located at 23810 Stringtown Road, Clarksburg MD 20871. Please note we are several doors down from Cedarbrook Community Church. We are consistently in need of these items: - Diapers and wipes, in unopened packages: specifically Newborn and Size 4 - New underwear & socks, in unopened packages - Children’s shoes - Children’s clothes, as we find that 90% of requests from local crisis agencies are for children - Boy's clothes: size 8-18 - Boy's/Men's shoes: size 6-9 - Men's clothes: small to large (29-36 waist) - Girl's clothes: size 3T to 12 HERE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED CONTACT US LOCATION HOURS 23810 Stringtown Road Clarksburg Donation Drop-Off Hours Tuesdays: 10am-12pm 1st Saturday: 10am-12pm LEARN MORE ABOUT US

JONATHAN KWON Senior Pastor Jonathan comes to us from his current position as Executive Pastor for Campus Ministries at Woodside Bible Church in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he has served since November 2018. Prior to this, he worked as a consulting manager at Deloitte Consulting in New York City (2013-2018) and as a case worker, policy analyst and Director of Quality Assurance for the New York City Department of Homeless Services (2004-2013). In parallel with these positions, Jonathan served as Youth Pastor, English Ministries Pastor, and ultimately the Lead Pastor for Teaching and Administration at Hanmaum Baptist Church in Glen Cove, New York (2004-2016). Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Theology from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Public Policy Degree from the New School, and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. He was ordained in 2015 by the Metro New York Baptist Association and Hanmaum Baptist Church. Jonathan is married to Michelle, and they have two daughters, Kate (age 3) and Clara (age 1).

AFRICA DESTINY LEAHY Tell me more about your mission? I am the Global Ministry Director for Africa at MOPS International. MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, and we reach moms around the world, encouraging and equipping them to realize their potential as mothers, women and leaders in relationship with Jesus Christ and in partnership with the local church. We believe that better moms make a better world. Within the region of MOPS Africa, I am reaching over 5000 women, in 200 groups, in 17 countries across the continent. I believe this ministry has the potential to change the cycle of poverty in Africa when moms are given resources, skills, and knowledge to raise their children well. My largest role in this ministry is to oversee a leadership team of 18 women who are our country- and regional- coordinators, by training, coaching, and providing them with curriculum and materials for them to bring out to the MOPS groups in their region. What are some victories I can celebrate with you? MOPS Africa has grown ten-fold in the last four years. We now have an established and thriving leadership team, who meet with me on a monthly basis for training and prayer. We also have a large network of MOPS Africa local coordinators that interact on a group forum, sharing victories, photos, prayer requests, and encouragement. Since I began overseeing the continent, we have released several curriculum specifically designed to reach the impoverished mothers we serve. This curriculum has been translated and distributed to our 200 groups across Africa, and helps our local coordinators facilitate meetings that teach practical mothering skills and provide essential space for moms to open up and share about the joys and challenges of motherhood, all while guiding them closer to Jesus. What are some of the challenges you face? Living stateside while serving globally has a host of challenges. There are limited opportunities for travel to meet and train groups face to face, and with the recent pandemic it has come to a halt. We have managed to utilize technology as much as possible, but there are major hurdles when using Zoom and other internet based programs, including internet coverage and cost for local leaders. How can I pray for you? There are a variety of decisions I have to make on a regular basis, many times without past experience or ministry protocol. I covet prayers for wisdom and focus to continue to walk in the direction God is leading in this ministry. How can I support you? I have a unique position in the missionary field, because I am not compensated in any way for my time; I do not raise funding for myself. The position I hold is 100% volunteer, and it is my responsibility to raise the funding needed to sustain the projects and recurring costs for the MOPS Africa budget. Therefore, all support and donations made to this ministry go directly back to the MOPS groups I serve. I am honored to be able to donate my time and focus to supporting this growing region of the world. You can make a tax-deductible donation here: https://mops.givingfuel.com/mops-africa-fund Where can I learn more? I update what is going on across my groups in this monthly blog - https://mopsafrica.blogspot.com/ . You can also watch a short video of what MOPS Africa is all about here - https://youtu.be/MMstQoxlnt4 . And, you can learn more about MOPS International at https://www.mops.org/ . global missions

be7ce2f8-13a9-489b-9a21-4ba4910edb99 Fishers of men: a disciple is committed to the mission of Jesus A fully-formed disciple of Jesus will live as Jesus lived: loving others as we love ourselves, caring for the marginalized, and sharing the good news of Jesus wherever we are. We do not have to quit our jobs and move to a foreign country to participate in the mission of Jesus. We do it right where we live and work and play. Each month on this page we will offer practical guidance on how to join Jesus in the work he is already doing in the lives of those around us. Incarnational Living BOOKS Analog Church: Why We Need Real Places, People and Things in the Digital Age by Jay Kim Placed for a Purpose by Chris and Elizabeth McKinney ARTICLES Living Incarnationally by Greg Boyd Incarnational Living by Jay Ferguson VIDEOS Sustaining Incarnational Mission by John Tyson Incarnational Mission by Jeff Vanderstelt NOTES COMMENTS hands page

Assist Gaithersburg Help: Call Center - Food/Infant Coordinator Assist Work at home using your phone and computer with Internet access; return calls to schedule clients to receive food or infant needs at our food pantry; phone hours are M-F 9 am to 12 noon; commitment is 6 hours per month. 1 hour monthly Monthly 5

Find Assimilation: Guest Follow Up Team Member Find Reach out to visitors and first time guests during the week. 1 hour monthly Monthly 4

BLESS is built around five simple, straightforward practices that help us make loving our neighbor and sharing our faith a natural part of our everyday lives. If we do at least one of these BLESS practices every day, we will not only look more like Jesus, but we will help others find Jesus as well! Top of Page Listen Eat Serve Share Begin I will bless you… and you will be a blessing… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:2-3 From the very first pages of the Bible, we see God blessing his people so that his people might bless those who do not know him. We have been blessed so that we can be a blessing to others. As followers of Jesus, two of the most important ways to bless our world is by actively loving our neighbors and helping them connect with Jesus. But practically, how do we do this? BLESS is built around five simple, straightforward practices that help us make loving our neighbor and sharing our faith a natural part of our everyday lives. If we do at least one of these BLESS practices every day, we will not only look more like Jesus, but we will help others find Jesus as well! BEGIN WITH PRAYER I will pray for the people in my life and the places where I go. LISTEN WITH CARE I will listen to and discover the needs of others and the places where God is at work. EAT WITH OTHERS I will share meals and spend time with the people in my life. SERVE WITH LOVE I will respond to the needs of others and help them in tangible ways. SHARE YOUR STORY I will share with others the story of Jesus, and what he has done, and is doing, in my life. As we seek to love our neighbors and help others connect with Jesus through the BLESS practices, we begin with prayer—recognizing we can only do this through God’s power. Pursuing Jesus’ mission in our lives should always begin with prayer. Offer yourself to God Ask God, “How do you want to grow and use me to bless the people in the places where I live, work and play?” Create a BLESS Prayer List Who do you live, work and play with who do not know Jesus? Another approach is to think of people you know, people you used to know, and people that you would like to know who have yet to connect with Christ. Talk with God about these people, asking him to help identify 3-5 of them to pray for daily. Write these names down. Commit to asking God to grow and use you to bless those that you are praying for, and be sure to go and look for opportunities to be a blessing. PRAY Pray that God would bless them and their families. Pray that God would give you opportunities to do good for them. Pray for open doors into relationships. Pray for opportunities to listen to them, eat with them, serve them, and share your story. Pray that God would give you wisdom to make most of these opportunities. Pray for courage that, when given the opportunity, I would share God’s story with love and gentleness. RESOURCES BOOKS How to pray: a Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig Possible: Discover the Joy of a Prayer, Care, Share Life by Lon Allison ARTICLES 10 Daily Prayers to Boost Your Outreach by Kevin Harney The Importance of Prayer in Evangelism by Matt Slick VIDEOS Why Prayer is Critical for Evangelism by Jerry Root How to Pray for Others by Allen Parr Begin Listen To BLESS others, begin with listening rather than talking. In the Gospels, we find that Jesus asked over 300 questions while only providing direct answers to 8 of the questions asked of him. There is power in asking good questions and listening attentively to the answers. When people know that they are being heard and understood, they feel accepted and valued. So, get curious and ask good questions, and listen well so you can learn how to BLESS others! Learn to listen with care to: God: who is God asking you to put on your BLESS list, and what is he saying to you about these people? People: seek to learn people’s stories – be attentive to their hopes and dreams, struggles and pain, and listen for evidence of God’s work in their lives. Places: where are the needs and gaps in your community – how can you be meaningfully involved in showing the love of Jesus and make an impact for good where you live, work and play? The Four H’s of Listening – four categories of great questions that we can ask: History: Tell me your story. Where did you grow up? Go to school? First job? Heart: What is your favorite (hobby, team, band, restaurant, vacation spot, etc.)? Habits: What are you into? Good at? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Hurts: How are you doing with (name the situation)? RESOURCES BOOKS The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations by Mary Schaller and John Crilly Conversational Evangelism by David and Norman Geisler ARTICLES Everyday Witness by Paul Borthwick What Great Listeners Actually Do by Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman VIDEOS Communication Skills: Empathetic Listening – Inside Out 5 Ways to Listen Better by Julian Treasure (TED Talks) Eat Eating together is one of the surest ways to move a relationship from an acquaintance to a friendship. Eating with others helps us to build relational bridges, discover people’s stories, and discern next steps. Jesus commonly ate and drank with those he sought to engage, such as Matthew, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, and many others. We have the opportunity to richly BLESS others through hospitality. Three questions to consider: How can I be intentional about having a meal with the people I am seeking to BLESS? What are the obstacles that I face to extending hospitality to others? (Not a good cook, no time, limited space, messy house…) How can I overcome these obstacles? (Eat out, keep it simple, potluck, don’t worry about having a pristine house, focus on the people…) Simple ways to eat with others Meet for coffee Order pizza Invite a work colleague to lunch Have dinner together at a home or a restaurant Invite a neighbor over for dessert Host a game night Organize a BBQ with some neighbors Add one person to one meal per week RESOURCES BOOKS Eats With Sinners: Loving Like Jesus by Arron Chambers A Meal With Jesus by Tim Chester ARTICLES The Dinner Table as a Place of Brokenness, Connection, and Blessing by Barry Jones Why Eating Together is a Big Deal to Jesus by Jack Wakefield VIDEOS Here’s What Happens When Strangers Unexpectedly Eat Together at the Airport by JetBlue Art of Neighboring Serve Perhaps one of the most powerful ways to BLESS others is by genuinely serving others with love. Jesus had a profound impact through serving the people around him – and we can as well. As we listen carefully and develop relationships with others, we will discover opportunities to serve them in meaningful ways. As we humbly and joyfully serve others, they will begin to experience the love of Jesus in tangible ways. God longs to love others through you. Simple ways to serve others. Find little ways to acknowledge important events (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.). Offer to meet a tangible need, such as providing a meal, babysitting, running an errand, raking leaves, shoveling snow, etc. Invite someone you are praying for to join you in a service project (you may even have the opportunity to share why you serve others as you serve together). Keep someone company when they are going through a difficult time. Be generous and willing to share what you have with others. Offer to pray for someone. RESOURCES BOOKS The Greatness Principle by Nelson Searcy Improving Your Serve by Charles Swindoll ARTICLES We Serve God by Serving Others by Rick Warren 8 Blessings We Get From Serving by Veronica Sexton VIDEOS Serving Others by Renovare Britain The Importance of Serving Others by Anquan Boldin Share As we build a relationship and earn trust with others, we may have the opportunity to BLESS them by sharing our story of how Jesus has changed, or is changing our lives. Talking about what Jesus means to us and what he has done in our lives does not have to be complicated or dramatic. Keep it short, simple, real, and keep it focused on Jesus. Sharing our story can help someone else connect with Jesus! A simple way to share your story. BEFORE: Your story before you trusted in Jesus, and committed your life to following him. DURING: Your story of how you received Jesus, and made a commitment to follow him. Tell how you came to this place, and what you did. AFTER: Your story after you made a commitment to follow Jesus. Tell about the difference that receiving and following Jesus has made in your life. RESOURCES BOOKS This Invitational Life by Steve Carter True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In by James Choung ARTICLES Sharing Your Journey of Faith by the Life Team Personal Evangelism 101: The Complete Guide by Chelsea Kight VIDEOS I Am Second The Power of Story by Rocky Thomas

Assist Clarksburg Community Assistance Network: Administrative Support Assist Provide administrative support to our board directors. Tasks could include data entry, volunteer scheduling, budget, taxes and financial reports. 1-2 hours monthly Monthly 1

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 1 REPRODUCE MORE 4 REFINE MORE 2 RECOGNIZE MORE 5 REFLECT MORE 3 RECRUIT MORE 6 RELEASE MORE

MARIAN GREEN Communications Administrator

85544a0b-2b35-4e29-a55e-045324e37e5a I will make you become: a disciple is being changed by Jesus Jesus wants to transform us so that we become the kind of people who genuinely love God and others from the core of our being. This change in our hearts goes way beyond what our willpower and good intentions can accomplish. But, it is also not something that God will do in us without our involvement. Each month we will provide video and print resources that look at a spiritual practice, experience, or relationship that can ground us in a lifestyle of openness to God and the work he is doing in us. Biblical Meditation BOOKS Life With God by Richard Foster Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson ARTICLES Biblical Meditation at Bible.org 10 Ways to Effectively Practice Biblical Meditation by Sam Storms VIDEOS What is Biblical Meditation? by Michael Brown The Power of Godly Meditation by Charles Stanley NOTES COMMENTS heart page