ONOMA Community Outreach, Paterson.

10/15/2026

Showing the love of Christ.

10/12/2026

ONOMA Community Outreach

Another busy Saturday in Paterson with over 120 neighbors served. We welcomed new volunteers, met practical needs, shared the Gospel, prayed together, and enjoyed plenty of conversations and smiles.

Some came with specific needs. Others asked for prayer. A few stopped by just to say hello.

One man, who has been experiencing homelessness for about six months, shared his plans to get back on his feet. I told him we'd do our best to encourage and support him along the way. He was glad to hear that.

This is what ONOMA is about. Meeting needs, building relationships, and sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

Thank you to Ramsey Presbyterian Church for providing lunches, Threads of Grace for clothing, and BAM and Perry's Bagels for providing delicious bagels. We're grateful for everyone who served alongside us.

10/11/2026

How ONOMA got started

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

ONOMA means name

10/06/2026

ONOMA Community Outreach
This past Saturday was another busy morning in Paterson. We had a big turnout, with over 120 people coming through and a lot going on throughout the morning.

As we were packing up, a guy I know came over to talk to me. I've gotten to know him a little over the years. He comes by from time to time, and when I see him, I greet him by name.

He told me he was moving down South and was going to try to start a new life. He thanked me for coming out each week and caring for people in the community. He told me he'd be praying for us and asked me to pray for him.

It was a simple moment, but it stayed with me.

I don't know him all that well, but it seemed important to him to come over, say goodbye, thank us, and ask for prayer before he left.

I think one of the things that always meant something to him was simply that I knew his name. He knew that I knew who he was.
It's a simple thing, but it's a big part of what Seen & Known means to us.

We do our best each Saturday to provide essentials and give practical help as we can. But we also want to know people, talk with them, pray with them, and share the love and hope of Jesus.

We're grateful to Rockpoint Community Church for providing the sandwiches and lunches this week, Perry's Bagels for their generous bagel donation, and all of our volunteers who came out to serve.

Please say a prayer for our friend as he embarks on his journey, that God would guide him each step of the way.

Grateful for another Saturday and the privilege of being there.

Send a message to learn more

09/23/2026

ONOMA Community Outreach
This past Saturday, we had the privilege of serving once again in Paterson. It was a busy morning, with about 120 people coming through and a positive spirit throughout the outreach.

One of the highlights for me was seeing someone I hadn't seen in a while. He stopped by just to say hello and shared that he's been working and now has a place of his own.

What an encouragement to hear!

We praise God for every good report and every step forward, big and small. It's always a joy to reconnect with people we've come to know and hear how they're doing.

Throughout the morning, there was prayer, conversation, encouragement, and opportunities to meet practical needs and share the hope of Jesus Christ.

We're grateful to the team from Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Ramsey who came out to serve, the Ho-Ho-Kus Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for preparing the sandwiches and lunch bags, and the approximately 20 volunteers who helped make the morning possible.

Week after week, we're reminded what a privilege it is to be part of this work and to see how God continues to provide through so many people.

A quick scheduling note: There will be no outreach this Saturday, September 26. Lord willing, we'll be back at the Paterson train station on Saturday, October 3.

Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support of ONOMA.

09/07/2026

ONOMA Community Outreach
It was a beautiful morning in Paterson this past Saturday, with over 100 people coming through and about 20 volunteers serving alongside us.

There were a lot of encouraging moments. I learned that two people recently found jobs, others shared positive steps they're taking, and several people asked for Bibles or Scripture. There was prayer, conversation, food, clothing, and plenty of opportunities simply to be present with people.

As I thought about the morning, I kept coming back to something Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world.”
Matthew 5:14

Light stands out.

In many ways, that's what we're trying to do at ONOMA. In the middle of some very difficult circumstances, we want to show up consistently with the love, compassion, and hope of Jesus Christ. We want people to know they are seen, valued, and cared for, and ultimately to point them to Him.

One of the things I also love is seeing new volunteers experience this for themselves. There's something about stepping outside of our normal routines and serving others in the name of Jesus that can change us too.

We're grateful for Rockpoint Community Church for providing the lunches this week, Threads of Grace for continuing to provide clothing, and all the volunteers and supporters who make these Saturdays possible.

Grateful for a safe and encouraging Saturday, and grateful that, Lord willing, we get to go back and do it again next week.

09/03/2026

This past Saturday was our first week back after taking three weeks off, and it was good to be back.

Well over a hundred people were there, many of them waiting for us when we arrived. What stood out most, though, was how many people told us they had missed us. A few said it had felt like a long three weeks without ONOMA there.

We missed being there too.

Honestly, about 15 minutes into the morning, it felt like we had never left. People were eating, talking, praying, catching up, and reconnecting. We just hit the ground running. And I think that's what encouraged me most. I was actually a little nervous heading in not knowing what to expect.

Over time, this has become about so much more than showing up with food, clothing, and supplies. Relationships have grown. People know us, and we know them. We look forward to seeing one another.

We're grateful for the many volunteers who helped make our first week back go so smoothly, including teams from Grace Church, Rockpoint Community Church, and Our Lady of Good Counsel. Grace Church also helped prepare the sandwiches and lunches for the morning.

Now we're getting back into our weekly rhythm and looking forward to Saturday.

Please pray for us as we head into another outreach. Pray that needs would be met, relationships would continue to grow, and most importantly, that people would experience the love, compassion, and hope of Jesus Christ.

Socks and body wipes continue to be especially needed and can be found on our Amazon wish list. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3KTQ66GY8JK9J/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Thank you for praying, giving, serving, and continuing to walk alongside this ministry.

It's good to be back.

08/03/2026

ONOMA Community Outreach
This past Saturday was our last outreach before taking a short summer break. Lord willing, we'll be back on August 29.

As I look back over this season, I'm finding myself reflecting on God's faithfulness.

I'm thinking about the people we've come to know by name.

I'm thinking about the conversations, the prayers, and the trust that's been built one Saturday at a time.

I'm thinking about the people we've had the privilege of walking alongside as they've taken steps toward housing, employment, recovery, and greater stability.

I'm thinking about those who have asked for prayer, those who have asked for Bibles, and those who have simply come by because they wanted to spend time with us.

One person told me this week that coming to ONOMA makes him feel like he matters. I'll be thinking about that for a while.

Moments like that remind me that while food, clothing, and other essentials are important, people also long to be known, encouraged, prayed for, and reminded that they have value.
That's what I love about this ministry.

Week after week, God has simply allowed us to keep showing up.

I'm also incredibly grateful for the many churches, volunteers, donors, and ministry partners who have made this season possible. Whether preparing lunches, serving on Saturday mornings, providing clothing, donating needed supplies, or faithfully praying, each person has played a part in what God is doing. We truly couldn't do this without you.

This past Saturday, Rockpoint Community Church provided the lunches, and we were grateful to serve over a hundred neighbors once again.

As we take a few weeks to rest and reflect, thank you for walking alongside this ministry. Thank you for your prayers, your generosity, and your faithfulness.

We'll look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday, August 29.

As always, socks and body wipes continue to be among our greatest needs and can be found on our Amazon wish list. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3KTQ66GY8JK9J/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex?

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
(Galatians 6:9, ESV)