JEG is the product of the desire of the KFI community to have a center that will provide the venue for the various activities of the KFI community. It is important to know how it came about and evolved into the present through the years. KFI have had a few opportunities to either see or buy a potential land or a Building to eventually become it’s headquarters. It even had a chance to occupy a Building in the Union City, NJ area to what we believed at that time as the future KFI Headquarters. But it went nowhere because there were a host of issues that we did not have a control of back then.
After that time, nothing more really have shaped up to become a real possibility of having one. It was at this time when most of the community were just verbally sharing a common desire of having a “Dream Center”.
During a lull in the activities of the Marriage Encounter Weekend on November 24, 2002, a group of eight encountered couples, i.e. couples who had completed a Marriage Encounter Weekend decided to meet and this became the pilot meeting of this drive for a ‘Dream Center’.
At that meeting, everyone had the same desire to establish a group with the sole purpose of raising funds to build a center in the future. It was also agreed that whoever was present in that meeting was considered members of the proposed organization. On that same day, officers were voted upon more specifically as servant leaders.
At the second meeting held on December 7, 2002 the organization was named “Joshua”, inspired by the biblical story in the book of Joshua which narrated the way Israel took possession of the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua, the successor of Moses.
Four years went by and on February 11, 2006, a Valentine party was held as the initial attempt of fund raising for Joshua. The event was blessed with a minimal income which was added to the funds of the group, known among us as the “Joshua Fund”.
JOSHUA REVELATION
On December 7, 2014 which was a Sunday, the Joshua group decided to reveal its existence to Brother Conrad and Sister Bing at the Raritan Bay Hospital in Perth Amboy, NJ. This was a moving experience because Bro. Conrad was already very ill at that time and he never thought that there could be a special group of dedicated brothers and sisters who were working discreetly in pursuing his desire – which is to have a dream center. He eventually shared that he was already becoming discouraged because it seemed that no one else in the community shared the same common vision or desire to have our own place for our headquarters. He then said that this revelation was the missing piece that he so hoped and prayed for all this time. We believed that Brother Conrad, right at that very moment, was once again elated, inspired and reinvigorated to carry on with his dream of the Center.
INCORPORATION
Succeeding meetings have resulted in a few more developments:
-In January 2015, the Joshua group discerned and chose to be called as the “Joshua Evangelization Group” or JEG, in short.
-On February 6, 2015, we were incorporated in the State of NY as a “Not- For- Profit” entity. Therefore, our official name is now “JOSHUA EVANGELIZATION GROUP, Inc.
-On May 14, 2015, we were approved for a 501(c)3 status by the Internal Revenue Service.
On August 16, 2015. We applied for a “sales tax exemption status” in the state of New Jersey and it was approved.
As everyone can see, it is our humble privilege and honor to say that we are now officially and legally capable to raise funds, solicit, collect and process funds for use towards our plan to build a facility as our corporate offices and headquarters for our activities. This Building will be both a place for our administrative functions and our place for our corporal works of mercy that will fill the void in the lives of those that we are able to help, especially the youth, the aged and the sick.
Currently, the group has a total membership of 26 couples and 4 individuals for a total of 56 members.
DREAM CENTER – BUILDING CONCEPT
The group’s creative ideas of a building have so far produced this description of a building and its surroundings: haven with the Lord to ease our pain, fears and insecurities through a life of prayer, faith and service to others.
A site in the middle of a nature place, secluded from the noise and complexities of urban life but centrally located, enough to be reachable by public transportation, made of wood, brick, stone, glass, etc., with a tall ceiling for a foyer with the morning sun going thru a 2- story glass panel facade. Eventually, we envision a place that can accommodate and hold events relative to the LSS, Luke 18, Antioch, Barnabas, MEWE and the Family Encounter Weekend Retreats. It may seem to be like a dream, but with your help and our God’s inspiration, we are committed to realize this dream and give our recipients a chance for a better life and much more importantly, a life grounded in the love of our God.
FINANCIAL
Donations, grants, wills, bequests, etc. will be accepted from hereon and a tax-exempt certificate will be furnished to the extent allowable.
Eventually, the group’s creative ideas, imagination and dream of a building have become fruitful when God blessed them with what they have been praying for, its own building. On August 2021, with fervent and continuous prayers of the group, a property for sale located in the Hillsborough Township of Somerset County, New Jersey, the property owner/ seller accepted the group’s financial offer to buy the property.
Although God did not grant a building structure and location that the group ideally desired, the group believed that it was the will of our loving God. The group was so grateful, thankful and gave overwhelming praise to God for this gift.
PROPERTY DETAILS
400 US-206, HILLSBOROUGH, NJ 08844
The front view of the property located at 400 US-206 Hillsborough, New Jersey 08844.
On May 11, 2022, a few months short of 20 years from the time of the first pilot meeting of the group that started the drive for the Dream Center, the property closing was done at the property site
Bro. Charlie signed the check for the final sale settlement & witnessed by some board members.
The “Door Key” for the building was given to JEG by the seller/buyer real estate agent.
Soon after the closing event, JEG members had an overwhelming moment of joy and thanksgiving. A Holy Mass was offered and celebrated as a thanksgiving to God for His love and this wonderful gift to the JEG family. It is the first property that JEG acquired and can be humbly called the “JEG Center”
A. The blessing of the newly acquired JEG Center and Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Efren Esmilla, the group’s spiritual director, on May 28, 2022
B. The Center Inauguration and Ribbon cutting ceremony was held on July 3, 2022. It was well attended by several members of our KFI community, not only JEG and KFI-ME members but also members of prayer groups who were touched by Bro. Conrad. They came from Florida; North, Central and South Jersey; Philadelphia and New York.
Truly, it was a jubilant and joyful celebration. The event, highlighted by the celebration of a Thanksgiving Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Alex Enriquez, culminated with the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated by Fr. Alex Enriquez on July 3, 2022 during the Inauguration and Ribbon Cutting ceremony of the JEG Center.
The JEG Center, with its road sign brightened by spotlights, as visible from the highway.
Photo was taken on January 23, 2023.
JEG Road Sign facing the highway of US 206.