When the Forefront Community Helped Me Pay My Bills

Emem Offong, an elder at Forefront

I have been a part of Forefront church for almost 10 years. In that time,  I have seen and experienced examples of true community countless times.  One such example occurred in 2009 when I was freelancing and having a tough time making ends meet. I had started hanging out with other freelancers at church, one of whom was becoming a good friend.  As we got closer and shared more about our lives, we realized we were both struggling financially. So for most of that year, we shared our earnings with each other. If she made some money from a freelance gig, she shared it with me and I did the same. What I needed that year wasn’t prayers, it was cash. And thanks to my friend, I was able to pay my bills and take care of myself during a really difficult time. Her generosity is the reason I still live in New York today. It is also one of many reasons why I am immensely grateful to be a part of this community.