Our most recent missions trip was a missions trip to New York City!
Check out the daily reports of this amazing trip below!
Monday | June 19th
We had a very unique day on Sunday in NYC. The regular worship service at Manor Gospel Church was a wedding. Christopher Love, a former staff member here, was married to Patricia in a most beautiful and worshipful service! These are two godly servants of Jesus and their wedding reflected their love for Him. We were blessed to be guests! Our team helped in many ways behind the scenes to serve at the wedding. It was truly a special privilege for us!
Last evening, we took the subway down to the free Staten Island ferry and saw the Statue of Liberty and the New York City skyline up close and personal. What a gorgeous place this is, and what a mighty God we have to paint the sky with brilliance! Indeed, "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1).
The team continues to do well. In addition to our food prep ministry here today, we also will be involved in open air evangelism. Pastor Bill's wife, Jill, secured a special permit for us to sing as a group and pass out gospel tracts in front of Madison Square Garden's.
We will have tons of exposure to people coming in and out of Penn Station at this location. We covet your prayers for this day as we seek to make many gospel contacts for the glory of God! We have come face-to-face with so many obvious spiritual needs. Yet, we are holding onto this promise..."The Lord is not slack (slow) concerning His promise...but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." II Peter 3:9
Tuesday | June 20th
Yesterday was an incredible day of street evangelism across from Madison Square Garden at the large post office. Pastor Bill and Miss Jill secured a four hour permit to do open air evangelism at that prime location. The group did an amazing job of singing, sharing salvation testimonies, reading Scripture, and sharing the gospel message. Our students showed great boldness in sharing their faith. Many people walked by, stopped by to listen, and engaged in gospel conversation. A few mocked us, multiple Christians encouraged us, and many were challenged with the gospel!
In the evening, we went to Ground Zero, the 911 memorial, and Wall Street. Our team continues to do well and honor the Lord. These are a bunch of tremendous servants of Jesus. Thank you for your prayers for us today as we prepare for four more distributions and services tomorrow in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, and English! We covet your prayers!
Wednesday | June 21st
Our good God continues to pour out His mercies upon us here in New York City (Lam. 3:22-23)! The team is healthy and is serving with faithfulness and excellence! Our big focus yesterday was to prepare for today's four food distributions and four gospel services. Today services will be in Spanish, English, and two Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin).
We also had the privilege of going up in the Empire State Building yesterday and getting a view of the city from the 4th tallest building in New York, and the 43rd tallest building in the world.
We ask you to please pray for us as we minister with food and the gospel to several hundred people today at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM. It will be a big day, but we're really looking forward to it! May the Lord richly bless you today!
Thursday | June 22nd
We had a jam-packed day yesterday, but boy, was it a good one! We distributed food four different times along with four gospel services. We had one English service, one Spanish service, and two in Chinese. We couldn't communicate very well in three of those services, but we sang our songs in English as many of them know English to some degree. It appeared that hearts were very blessed. Our team did an amazing job of working hard to distribute physical food and spiritual food (of the Word) with excellence!! This is an incredible group to serve the Lord with!
Last night, we went to the famous Times Square. We had a great time, but we had to stay close together. It is a busy place! Today is our last day here in NYC. We return to street ministry today and are looking forward to sharing the gospel to many more on the streets! Please pray for us! We love you all and miss you!
Friday | June 23rd
Thursday's street evangelism ministry across from Madison Square Garden was chilly, but blessed by God! The Lord sent many people our way to listen to the singing, testimonies, reading, and preaching of the Word. Pastor Bill had the sound turned up, and one lady said she heard us from the 4th story of a building four blocks away!
We had many opportunities to pass out gospel tracts and engage in Gospel conversation. It was awesome! God has worked deeply in our hearts this week. The spiritual needs in New York City are so great! Yet, the spiritual needs at home in the Roanoke area are also great ... just on a smaller scale. We have been reminded this week of our responsibility to live on gospel mission wherever we are, especially at home. How will people hear unless we tell them?
Romans 10:14-15 says, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
This is our last post as we head back to Roanoke today. We thank you for praying for us so faithfully over this week. The Lord has answered your prayers and used these students mightily! Please pray for us as we return home today! We love you all!
