about our leadership & affiliations
Won S. Kwak – Lead Pastor | Elder
Won used to be a volleyball-fanatic during his college years at CMU & Rutgers. Then he got married to the gal of his dreams and made her a volleyball-widow because he was still too gung-ho about volleyball. Eventually he realized his neglect, sought his wife’s forgiveness (she’s forgiven him for this and much more), and became a dad of four rugrats (Madelyn Joy, Naomi Ruth, Bethany Hope & Owen Lucas).
Won has served ministerially, both bi-vocationally and non, as a pastor in Flushing [NY], Somerset [NJ], Rutherford [NJ], and Park Slope [Brooklyn, NY]. At the end of 2005, he received his commissioning as a Nehemiah Church Planter with the SBC’s North American Mission Board. He is a Rutgers alum (history), has completed M.Div coursework at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is a Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors College graduate. Currently he’s receiving church planting training with Redeemer City to City (formerly the Redeemer Church Planting Center begun by Redeemer Presbyterian Church under the leadership of Dr. Timothy Keller) in their two-year Urban Incubator Church Planter training program. He’s had the privilege of addressing student groups on the campuses of Stony Brook University, NYU, Columbia/Barnard, Cornell, Penn State, Rutgers, and Yale. Won, Diane, and their kids just recently uprooted and moved to the Fort Lee, NJ area for the purpose of leading & loving this church planting mission.
Rob Freire – Pastor | Elder
The son of Brazilian immigrants, Rob was born and raised in northern New Jersey. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from state universities in NJ and now works as an adjunct professor and book editor. Rob and his wife, Delimar, live in Woodland Park with their three children (Marcelo, Noa & Marcos). They enjoy traveling, music, film, and eating at Batten Ramen at every possible opportunity. They’re also grateful to God for the chance to be part of what he is doing in and through MGFL.
North Shore Baptist Church
North Shore Baptist Church is Maranatha’s planting/mother church. This Gospel-centered local church is located in Bayside, NY. Rev. Ed Moore is the senior pastor, and both he and the elders of North Shore are committed to raising disciples and being part of the Great Commission through church planting. Maranatha Grace Fort Lee is the fourth local church North Shore has planted. The elders of North Shore are graciously providing extra-local care for Maranatha during this early season of establishing foundations.
The SBC | NAMB | MNYBA
Maranatha is affiliated denominationally with the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC is the largest missionary sending organization in the world. Through the SBC “Cooperative Program,” we help send & support over 5,000 missionaries who are currently engaging more than 1,100 different people groups around the world—the SBC takes “to the ends of the earth” quite seriously! The North American Mission Board exists within the SBC to work with local churches, associations, and state conventions in mobilizing Southern Baptists as a missional force to impact North America with the gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism & church planting. The Metro New York Baptist Association is Metro NYC’s association headquartered in Manhattan.
Shades Mountain Baptist Church
Under Send North America: New York City, Shades Mountain has mobilized to partner with Maranatha. Armed with a “God-sized” vision and the leadership of Pastor Danny Wood, Shades Mountains desires to have missionaries serving in all 24 time zones, plant churches in all 11 International Mission Board Regions, minister in all 50 states, plant 6 new churches in North America, and adopt one of NAMB’s Strategic Focus Cities. The partnership includes onsite missions work by Shades Mountain members as well as financial support of Maranatha by Shades Mountain. You can find more about Shades Mountain here.