Living Water in a Massage Parlor

It was a Thursday evening and the night of our Beautiful One outreach.  The worship and prayer beforehand gave us expectancy for what “open doors” we would encounter that evening.  We entered the one massage parlor where we have gone so many times before.  “Lucy”* manages this place.  She invited us to sit down and we gave each lady a gift bag.

It was not busy so we started conversing with the three ladies that were there.  We were having some lively discussions about children, family, and culture.   One of the ladies was on her way out.  She had her coat on and she was walking back and forth.  However, she seemed drawn to the laughter and stories amongst us so she stayed.  I talked about my own children and a story about my eldest son and the struggles we went through as parents of a teenager.  Sharing our stories seemed to open the door for “Nancy”* to talk about herself.  She shared how she had a temper but has been going to meditation classes that focus on emptying oneself of emotions. 

It seemed like the right moment to share about Jesus being the LIVING WATER that fills us and whoever is thirsty and would drink of Him would never thirst again.  I shared how HE can live inside of her and He is the one who carries our burdens.  We empty our cares unto Him and He fills us with His peace.  What she was learning had some truth to it but it is the Word of God we meditate upon.  We die to self and JESUS fills us.  After sharing the Gospel some more, she admitted she didn’t understand everything I said.  Yet was very engaged as she did not move from where she was standing.  The other women were also speaking to her and sharing about the love of God.  We gave her a Chinese Gospel of John for her to learn more about Jesus. 

Many seeds have been sown in the past by Carol and others who have visited this massage parlor.  BUT THAT NIGHT, the seeds that had been planted and watered over and over again actually started sprouting. Her heart was more open than ever before and she listened intently.  She let me pray over her before she finally left the massage parlor.  Our prayers afterward were for revelation of the Father to flood her heart and open her eyes to the true Prince of Peace.   We invited her and another woman to our service on Sunday night where we have a meal, worship, and hear the Word of God.  This way, they could learn English faster.  But their only day off is Tuesday.  Our hearts were so full at the end of the night for the grace of God that was present with us.

*Names changed to protect identity.

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Recently I was part of a team from Green Pond, and Highlands Bible Chapel, serving the Lord on a "Don't Walk By", SLM weekend. I have served three other times over the years, and I can say that this is definitely a blessing. We don't often think about this type of outreach in our safe little suburbia life, so getting down and getting out there where the "rubber meets the road", is so humbling and a blessing beyond words.

“Don’t Walk By” is a super outreach, and I highly recommend it to everyone young and old.

I personally had an awesome interaction with one particular "guest", who had just fell into hard times, and needed to be put back on the track again. I pray for this man, who I really felt just needed to be reconnected with the right resources, and to make him feel part of society again.

I am so energized to continue in some form of outreach mission, helping those who need it most. God bless all who continue to serve in this very important mission. -Glenn Donnelly 

RE-Inspired to Missions

"I was blessed by how the teens on our trip were stirred up to bless others in a way they weren't expecting.  They teamed up with each other according to their strengths and weaknesses, to make their strategy most effective.  It was super awesome to watch this.

The "win" they experienced of being a vessel of GOOD NEWS and hope to hurting people through prayer and connection definitely motivated them and gave new understanding to their abilities and how to live out God's call as His people.  So cool to witness.

I personally was re-inspired to missions and reminded to slow down and make the most of my interactions with those I pass "along the way".  To take every opportunity to love on people, especially strangers, to connect and share Jesus with them even if in simple ways.  Prayer changes things!"  

Emily was a co-leader of the NH team that came for the 2019 New Year's Eve Outreach!

Baby Steps

Another testimony from someone who came for the 2019 New Year's Eve Outreach had this to say....

"I came here scared, terrified to be exact.  Fear has been something in my life for a long time.  But as the time here passed, I learned that Jesus can and has the power to cast it out. 

The more I focused on that truth, and with the help of my leader, I was able to begin my journey of stepping out and changing my attitude to be more "others" focused and less "me" focused.  

The Lord encouraged me to begin with just smiling at people and using kind eyes, which then I was able to begin the process of speaking with people and letting my personality shine and use the unique gifts that Jesus has given me.  Instead of something I feared, it became something joyful and blessed.  I'm looking forward to what else Jesus might call me to accomplish in my faith."

Although this is the story for one participant, many who come feel exactly the same.

"No high like THE MOST HIGH"

Josiah brought a team from New Hampshire for the 2019 New Year's Eve Outreach.  His 6 year old daughter was also a part of the team and outreach.  One testimony he shared was this....

"I approached a drug dealer who was initially asking me if I wanted drugs.  I flipped the script and told him I was dealing too and that there was "no high like the Most High" and I'm offering The Holy Ghost.  I began to prophesy to him about his gifts and calling.....he was touched."

Whether at the prayer stations or 

serving hot cocoa  on New Year's 

Eve in Times Square,  we run into 

people of all backgrounds 

and ethnicities which is an 

opportunity like no other. You never 

know  who you may meet and who the

                                           Lord will touch.

The Gospel is Free

Each time we do outreach for the women in the massage parlors, there is a sense of anticipation of what God will do.  It is quite unpredictable. Sometimes it will be one conversation that goes extremely well.  Other times each place we go is happy to receive us.  Then there are nights where doors are shut and no one wants to talk.  No matter what happens the Lord is working – through our prayer and obedience to GO.  

On a recent outreach, our team noticed a new massage parlor.  We decided to visit and see what would happen.  When we walked in, a woman greeted us.  “We are from the church and we have gifts for you!”  She was happy about it and invited us to sit.  After a few minutes of chatting and learning more about her, a man who works there came into the room.  He gave us each a cup of water and sat down with us.  

We asked, “Do you go to church?”  He said he did not and then he had a few questions of his own.  “Do you have to pay something to go to church?  Do you have to know the Bible to go to church?”  His questions were so innocent.  “Have you heard about Jesus?” we asked.  “No,” he said.  At that moment, we had the joy of sharing a portion of the Gospel with him.  

He listened intently.  We invited him to church and gave him a Gospel of John.  We found out that he just came to America three months ago.  As our conversation was drawing to a close, we offered to pray with him.  He was not ready yet to pray himself but allowed us to pray for him. The Lord definitely opened the door into this new place.  And we have found out that he has visited the Chinese Church several times already. 

Watch Law & Order SVU S21 E7 Counselor, It's Chinatown for a real-life depiction of human trafficking through massage parlors here in NYC.  Here's a link: https://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video/counselor-its-chinatown/4059560

God Hears the Cry of the Poor

One of our volunteers shares this story from Tompkins Square Park... 

We have the women’s and the men’s clothing on a couple of tables next to one another.  I was talking to Bob.  He tends the table for the men and this fellow comes up and he was looking around for some shoes and he asks us for some shoes and a shirt.  And we reply, “Oh, yeah” because I had seen some tennis shoes and they were really good, leather shoes.   And he said, “Oh my gosh.  Do you think they fit?”  And we said, “Try em on”. He put them on and he couldn’t believe it.  

He said, “I was walking down the street, saying, God, what am I going to do?  

I don’t have any money.  I can’t get any shoes and I need some really bad 

and I don’t know what I am going to do”. 

And he walked right up to us and we had a pair that were his size and very good quality; they weren’t junk.  And he was so appreciative.  Then we said, “Do you need anything else?”  He said, “Well I could use a T-shirt or something.” And we just handed one to him and it was a perfect size and he was just shaking his head, going, “I can’t believe this.” 

It was really neat to see God meet somebody’s need when they’re walking down the street in bad shape in their life and talking to God wondering what they are going to do and then 
              

BOOM, 

it’s right 

in their hand 

or right 

on their feet.