Summer in the City (week 2)

Team 1 served in the Here’s Life warehouse on Monday. A shipment of food had arrived and needed to be sorted before it was picked up by our church partners. This food will fill food pantries across NYC. The rest of the week was spent serving in a food pantry in Brooklyn. The students worked with Omar, who is an amazing man of God with a powerful testimony. Here’s Life has partnered with his ministry for several years.

Team 2 served in Queens at a mission for men who are homeless and suffering from addiction. It was a lot of hard work but the students learned a lot from the program’s leadership and learned first hand about homelessness and steps that are taken to help people heal.

Team 3 served with Salt and Sea in Coney Island. Once again , students were blessed by working with Pastor Debbe. 20 years after being saved from a life of drugs, alcohol and living under the boardwalk, she is still amazed by God’s grace and forgiveness. She is a powerful spirit-filled woman. You never forget about time spent serving with Debbe. Students shared their testimonies, led worship and bible study for those who came for food.

Team 4 served with Coney Island Lighthouse. Lighthouse is a community centrer with a food pantry and after-school program. 50% of residents are below the poverty line. The team hosted a prayer station on the street. They were skeptical at first but had pages of prayer requests by the end of the day.

“Yesterday, there was a lady named Sheila who asked us to pray for her friend’s daughter. The daughter was in the hospital in a coma. It was wonderful to see Sheila again today passing by the mission & as she passed by she shouted that her friend’s daughter made it through last night, the day we prayed for her.”

As students approached people about prayer, a barrier was broken as people just shared from their heart. It was a perfect way to share the gospel and offer real hope.

summer begins for my harlem kids

With the start of Summer in the City, my schedule changed and I had to say goodbye to my Harlem kids in May. They go to school until the end of June so I was bummed knowing I would miss a whole month with them. I’ve missed them so much and have realized they are all a huge part of my life here. I got to drop in for a visit last week and help celebrate their last day of school. We had a cook-out with so much food- barbecue chicken, sausage, turkey legs, ribs and much more. They know how to eat in Harlem! It was so great to have fun with the kids and visit with some of their parents. Enjoy a few pictures from the cook-out below.

Summer in the City (week 1)

Team 1 served with a school in Brooklyn. There are about 12 kids of all different ages. They were in the hood for sure. The team got lessons on street slang, gang life in the neighborhood and a glimpse into what these kids deal with daily. One child prayed for his mom’s safety by asking God to not let her get shot on the way to work. They were able to love on these kids, be a positive example and share God’s truth.

Team 2 served with a church in an Asian neighborhood in Brooklyn. The mornings were spent preparing curriculum for the summer program starting soon. The afternoons were spent helping with the after-school program and loving on precious children. The leaders here are my age and sweet friends. I know they appreciated the help.

Team 3 served with the Salt and Sea mission in Coney Island. Serving alongside the leader- “the Mother Teresa of Coney Island” is a highlight for many. You see first hand what it is to walk in the spirit and to live out the gospel. Upon walking in the door this team prayed and read scripture to a crying woman. She was going to be evicted the following day because she didn’t have money for rent. Each member of the team had opportunities to step out in faith by praying with people or giving their testimony to those who came in for help.

Team 4 also served in Coney Island with another mission. They worked hard throughout the day cleaning and doing yard work. In the afternoon they helped with the after-school program. The team were blessed by the leadership here and the opportunity to work with them.

In the midst of completing their first week of ministry, the other staff and I put the students through a poverty simulation where they slept in the Here’s Life warehouse for 3 nights. More details to come….

*All of the ministries mentioned are partners with Here’s Life Inner City. Summer in the City is just another way we come alongside our partners and empower them to reach their communities for Christ.

God’s love transforms lives

Bethany experienced a very abusive childhood which left her heart filled with hatred and bitterness. These feelings grew into a life of self destructive behavior leading to over 40 years of substance abuse. Her last two years were spent homeless. She felt depressed, worthless and had no hope for change. She entered the Bowery Mission Women’s Center and found a loving stable environment where she learned about God’s love, forgiveness and transforming power. She’s gained the necessary tools to start over in her new life with Christ and be the woman He created her to be. I had the privilege of working with Bethany and 11 other women with similar stories once a week for a majority the last 9 months. I witnessed growth,strong faith and the freedom and joy in which they each tell their stories. Last Monday all 12 women graduated from the program! Many have jobs now, others are relocating to reunite with family.

God is so faithful.

Summer In the City Begins!

Summer in the City will be my life for the next few weeks! Summer in the City is an intensive 5 week project exposing college students to ministry to the poor. 19 students from across the nation have come together to serve full-time in some of the poorest neighborhoods while receiving ministry training and bible teaching at night. Fun and sightseeing will also be squeezed in.

For the last several weeks I have served as city-coordinator which means I had to figure out where and when the students would serve throughout their time here. Summer in the City is my summer assignment, so I’m taking a break from my regular Here’s Life responsibilities and helping make the next few weeks the best experience ever for our students. Along with some other planning – I’m co-leading a bible study and meeting weekly with four young ladies.

My life was changed 3 years ago on this same project and it’s exciting to be back as staff. God is going to do huge things in and through the lives of these students- I can’t wait!

It’s June and I’m just posting snow pictures and winter happenings! Better late than never, right? Stay tuned, because I am determined to catch you guys up on my life here in NYC!

Real Snow

It snowed a lot this winter. I remember being so excited after the first snow fall in early December. I had no idea what was to come! Enjoy pictures of what I call the “real snow” Most of the pics were taken in March.