From Christine:During this summer, we have been traveling around the city to various parks and locations....not always bringing the table with us since we are without a car, but using resources given to hand out to people while engaging them in conversation. I've really enjoyed it, and you get a different feel for the various locations. Some parks are generally more receptive and open to receiving Bibles, tracts, or books, and others are not. Prayer as always plays a large role in breaking through strongholds, and we rejoice and thank God for this opportunity He has given each of us to serve Him on the streets of NYC.
The Saturday before the July 4th holiday we combined efforts with another ministry to shine the light of the Gospel in Washington Square Park. It was warm and muggy, yet no one seemed to care as the park usually displays a wide variety of the arts with many people showing off their talents. With this brings the opportunity to share the Good News with many interesting people from all types of backgrounds and beliefs. On this day, along with the ministry with which we were working, we shared the park with a Mennonite group up from PA who also ministered with a choir, open-air preaching as well as handing out various tracts. There was also a man doing a photo shoot who was sharing music over the loudspeaker about how Jesus saves. I overheard a man sitting on a bench remark how "Jesus is everywhere!" I said, "Amen." Praise God. :)
We all had many interesting conversations that day with Muslims, homosexuals (gay pride in NYC that weekend), universalists/syncretists, New-Agers, atheists, Catholics and others. I praise God each time when someone will not shrink away but listens to what you have to say about Jesus Christ. They may not fully understand, but we all rejoice that whether it was a seed planted for the first time or a seed that God is in the midst of watering, we are God's instruments. What wonderful work this is!
We were able to set up the Sunday after the July 4th weekend in Bryant Park. It was another hot and muggy day, but we were able to set up the table underneath the trees while still praying for cloud cover. God graciously provided cloud cover not too far afterwards, and maybe 3 hours later He also brought rain. But for that time we were able to minister in a completely new location, and it was a location that also seemed to house many homeless people. Many of them came up to the table. Suzi had the foresight to bring leftovers from a previous Italian dinner, and we were able to share this with a couple; Heidi was able to share a sandwich she made. God is so good! One homeless man came up to our table crying and claiming that God led him to our table from across the park. He was overjoyed to see a Bible. He was crying, because he said that someone stole his Bible, and he was no longer able to read it or read it to his girlfriend. From what he was telling us, he seemed to have some knowledge of scripture as well. He said that he was backslidden and is regretful of that, but he says that while that is the case he knows that God is faithful, and He has provided for his needs, even when homeless! Amazing grace. It was wonderful to hear and talk with him and to see how moved he was by God's word. We were so happy and rejoiced in the Lord for His provision.
Again, once we set up the table people came over, and we were able to give Bibles to a mother and daughter from China who now live in the States. The daughter, who was perhaps 12 years old, also took Castles In the Sand and Trapped In Hitler's Hell. May God bless her and her mother as they read the Bible and these books. We were also able to immediately witness with a woman who lived in the Times Square area in a women's shelter. She was raised a Catholic but got upset with the church as well as other churches she attended; she left and never returned. She stated she has wanted to return but is unsure of it and where to go. We pointed her to Heritage Baptist and were also able to share with her the real truth of the Gospel, of which she was aware, but since leaving the church she admitted she mixed in other religions with Christianity. We were also able to give her the yoga brochure and a few other resources to help her know Jesus Christ.
Another man with whom I spoke claimed that nothing in the Bible was true and that everyone on the planet will be much better off once they realize that we are all as gods. His sticking point seemed to be the story of creation, and he didn't believe that God sanctioned marriage between Adam and Eve even though the Bible clearly states "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." It is clear that Adam thought of Eve as his wife, and Eve thought of Adam as her husband. He just didn't want to believe it was true, and because of that, he refused to believe anything else that we told him. I pray that he will earnestly read the Bible to refute anything he thinks is not in there, and that God will break him down, and he will eventually come to believe that the Bible is the TRUE word of God and that He means what He says.
It is always a pleasure and a joy to serve our Lord and Saviour on the streets, and we thank Him yet for the freedom that we still have to do so. Praise be to God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
The Saturday before the July 4th holiday we combined efforts with another ministry to shine the light of the Gospel in Washington Square Park. It was warm and muggy, yet no one seemed to care as the park usually displays a wide variety of the arts with many people showing off their talents. With this brings the opportunity to share the Good News with many interesting people from all types of backgrounds and beliefs. On this day, along with the ministry with which we were working, we shared the park with a Mennonite group up from PA who also ministered with a choir, open-air preaching as well as handing out various tracts. There was also a man doing a photo shoot who was sharing music over the loudspeaker about how Jesus saves. I overheard a man sitting on a bench remark how "Jesus is everywhere!" I said, "Amen." Praise God. :)
We all had many interesting conversations that day with Muslims, homosexuals (gay pride in NYC that weekend), universalists/syncretists, New-Agers, atheists, Catholics and others. I praise God each time when someone will not shrink away but listens to what you have to say about Jesus Christ. They may not fully understand, but we all rejoice that whether it was a seed planted for the first time or a seed that God is in the midst of watering, we are God's instruments. What wonderful work this is!
We were able to set up the Sunday after the July 4th weekend in Bryant Park. It was another hot and muggy day, but we were able to set up the table underneath the trees while still praying for cloud cover. God graciously provided cloud cover not too far afterwards, and maybe 3 hours later He also brought rain. But for that time we were able to minister in a completely new location, and it was a location that also seemed to house many homeless people. Many of them came up to the table. Suzi had the foresight to bring leftovers from a previous Italian dinner, and we were able to share this with a couple; Heidi was able to share a sandwich she made. God is so good! One homeless man came up to our table crying and claiming that God led him to our table from across the park. He was overjoyed to see a Bible. He was crying, because he said that someone stole his Bible, and he was no longer able to read it or read it to his girlfriend. From what he was telling us, he seemed to have some knowledge of scripture as well. He said that he was backslidden and is regretful of that, but he says that while that is the case he knows that God is faithful, and He has provided for his needs, even when homeless! Amazing grace. It was wonderful to hear and talk with him and to see how moved he was by God's word. We were so happy and rejoiced in the Lord for His provision.
Again, once we set up the table people came over, and we were able to give Bibles to a mother and daughter from China who now live in the States. The daughter, who was perhaps 12 years old, also took Castles In the Sand and Trapped In Hitler's Hell. May God bless her and her mother as they read the Bible and these books. We were also able to immediately witness with a woman who lived in the Times Square area in a women's shelter. She was raised a Catholic but got upset with the church as well as other churches she attended; she left and never returned. She stated she has wanted to return but is unsure of it and where to go. We pointed her to Heritage Baptist and were also able to share with her the real truth of the Gospel, of which she was aware, but since leaving the church she admitted she mixed in other religions with Christianity. We were also able to give her the yoga brochure and a few other resources to help her know Jesus Christ.
Another man with whom I spoke claimed that nothing in the Bible was true and that everyone on the planet will be much better off once they realize that we are all as gods. His sticking point seemed to be the story of creation, and he didn't believe that God sanctioned marriage between Adam and Eve even though the Bible clearly states "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." It is clear that Adam thought of Eve as his wife, and Eve thought of Adam as her husband. He just didn't want to believe it was true, and because of that, he refused to believe anything else that we told him. I pray that he will earnestly read the Bible to refute anything he thinks is not in there, and that God will break him down, and he will eventually come to believe that the Bible is the TRUE word of God and that He means what He says.
It is always a pleasure and a joy to serve our Lord and Saviour on the streets, and we thank Him yet for the freedom that we still have to do so. Praise be to God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
