2020 A Year of Shaking

There Will be Christmas This Year!

With an abundance of toys from World Vision, coats from New York Cares Coat Drive, and food from The United Way of NYC, we drove to several locations on Northern Blvd. to bless people in need. 

A woman and her daughter JUST came out for a walk down the street. She saw us giving out these items and while waiting in line, she spoke to me (David) with pain and sorrow in her eyes and voice,  “We have no money, very little food and there will be no Christmas this year”.   

She was immediately filled with gratitude as I told her what we had with us! And she was able to receive food and a number of Christmas toys for her son and her daughter as well as new winter coats! 

Another man named Gabriel was from Guatemala. We have seen him here often on Northern Blvd. in Flushing.  He is always so blessed for the food and gifts we have been bringing since March.  He lets me know how much he misses his kids back home. Sadly, it was only 8 am and he already had a few beers due to his daily grief over the current life he leads during this pandemic,  

These and so many others are why we come to minister unto Christ, to bless God, to be a living fragrance of the KING and His Kingdom, and to minister to the most basic needs of people, especially during this pandemic. Please keep us in your prayers as we can continue in His Grace and Mercy, and the provision by faith, that will be there in the new year ahead!  THANK YOU, who have been a part of this through your prayers and donations!

Full of Turkey

We were thrilled to order about 3 dozen frozen turkeys to distribute the weekend before Thanksgiving.  Along with that, we added a 5-pound bag of potatoes, some sweet potatoes, boxed stuffing, vegetables, and fruit.  It was an extra blessing for those in need this Thanksgiving! 

Timing was everything as we never know 

when the food truck will arrive and we don't have 

a walk-in refrigerator or freezer to store the turkeys.  

God was on our side and the order came early in the morning.  We were able to make all the bags and bring them out to Northern Blvd where men were waiting to be picked up for work.  For those remaining, the prospect seemed low.

By the time we brought the bags out, it was late morning so we had just the right amount of bags (we had extra without turkeys as well) for distribution.  We also dropped off a few at our friend, Terry's house for other families in need.  

Of course, we were not the only ones to give out turkeys this year.  It is always a blessing to be able to give, especially now when so many have lost jobs and the lockdown seems to never end.  It is a year to be extra thankful for God's goodness!

Looking Out for Your Neighbors

 

I asked Terry (who comes to The King’s Fellowship here on Sunday evenings) to tell me about the people she has been giving the food to that Street LIFE Ministries drops off on her doorstep.  Here is what she said….

“First of all, I really appreciate the fact that I keep working with this ministry because I did have some health issues this summer (heart surgery).  I am getting a lot stronger.  As a Christian, you’re going to be friendly with your neighbors and so this gave me an opportunity to make sure they were handling this COVID pandemic decently.  Everybody has high rent and it leaves a lot less money for food. 

The lady next door to me lives with her son and because of the COVID lockdowns, he lost his job and hasn’t been able to find anything else. 

They told us that their rent is so high. So, I started bringing food to them.  I asked, “Would you like any of this?” They said, “Yes”.  I started bringing the boxes of food that Street LIFE Ministries would drop off and they were blown away.  She made me some Lasagna which tasted great in a gesture to pay back for the food.  I told her that it was not necessary because it was a ministry of the church and assured her, I was just glad to give it to her because I knew she needed it.

I was able to give it to another neighbor next door.  There is a lady who lost her husband a couple of years ago.  He went to the hospital and they wanted to admit him, but he refused.   He died that night.  She was left without him and now having to struggle financially.  I gave her one of the turkeys and she thanked me so much. Both neighbors were very happy and they were ready to give me a big hug, but of course, became hesitant with the fear of the COVID virus.

There is a lot of South American workers that work for my landlady’s son and I asked him if he knew of anyone I could give food to.  He said, “Yes, my workers”.  So, I have been leaving 8 bags of food to these guys.  It is not a whole lot but many are single, and they ride bikes for transportation. I think it’s been a surprise for them that someone would leave them food.  

A nearby town I used to live in was College Point.  I met this old lady one day and said hello to her because I am now an old lady.  She was hobbling by and I found out she has Gout and was on her way back from therapy.   That is how I met her.  We have been friends for over the last 3 years and when we were giving out food, I thought of her because I knew she was alone.  She would go out on her front stoop.  People would walk by and she would have dog treats.  Some of the people would come up because their dog ran to her. She knows how to get people to talk to her.  She’s 88 and she’s lived in that neighborhood, that one house, since 1963.  She said she was going to cut that turkey in half to make it stretch.  

She knew everybody and she knew several people who also needed food.  Her hairdresser was out of work and was stuck in his house.  There was a Chinese family that lived a couple of doors down and a single man who had hip surgery.  Then there were single old ladies who lived down the street that we delivered food to as well.  

I met this one woman with a sweet little daughter.  I’ve been bringing them food as well.  Her husband worked at the airport in the baggage department, but his job hours were drastically cut back to about one day a week.  She is not working, and they have a family of four. Before they had plenty of money, but now that has all changed.

I have been able to distribute the food around.  It’s been a way for me to keep up with people and every time I bring it, and they thank me."  

We are so thankful for Terry who has been able to reach out to NYC neighbors who have suffered through the lockdowns, with the love of Jesus and with food! These are just a few of the home deliveries that we have been doing since March! And we are so thankful to you for your support this year!

A Small Gift of Appreciation/Return to the Massage Parlors

A Small Gift of Appreciation

We had the joy of delivering groceries and hygiene products to one of our Beautiful One’s throughout the lockdown.  She loved the box of goodies that we would drop off.  We also made sure to throw in a little gift and an encouraging word.  Although she is back to work now, we have remained in touch.  Last week she reached out because she had a gift for me!  We expect nothing in return but she insisted on giving this present.  I think she wanted to show her appreciation to us and this was one way to show it. 

This was an answer to many prayers that we pray to be able to connect with the workers outside of the massage parlor.  

Return to the Massage Parlors

Last month Street LIFE Ministries’ Beautiful One ministry had the joy of returning to visit the women in the massage parlors.  Since March, we had to cancel outreaches due to COVID-19.  Yet during this time, we continued to pray for the ladies.  Several of them provided us with their contact information so we could check in with them.  A few had need of groceries and hygiene products which we delivered to them.  This month we started up again, dropping off gifts and befriending the ladies.  We weren’t sure what to expect but were happy to learn that many of the ladies we know were still around.  We visited 12 massage parlors, spoke with 12 women, and distributed 20 gifts.  We also spent time in prayer over each of the sites.  It was wonderful to be back!  The challenge remains for this ministry; we long to see the ladies’ hearts softened to the Lord and have more opportunity for relationship with them.  Prayer is what will make the difference.  Would you join with us in prayer and believe for powerful things to take place in the massage parlors?  

A Listening Ear

 

A few weeks ago a young woman came by Tompkins Square Park in desperate need of help. 

“Do you guys know of any housing or shelter options?”  she asked.

“Sure!  I can give you a listing of different places that may be able to help.”  I said.

As we spoke further, her story unfolded.  She had been staying in a shelter with her boyfriend who was abusive.  Thankfully she was able to get out of there but it’s left her in a tough position.  She’s even afraid that he’ll come after her. 

After talking over different options, I asked if she would like prayer. 

“Yes, please!” 

She was very grateful and even shared how she grew up Catholic and believed in the power of prayer. 

“Thank you for listening.  You have no idea how much it meant to me just to have someone to talk with.” 

Life on the Streets - From the Heart of David Van Fleet

Living LIFE on the streets is never easy.  Instead, it can be so brutally painful. Most of us have never been homeless, nor ever would want to. But it’s not always as simple as that. Many we serve do not want to be there.  As we know, life’s many-sided issues and choices (not always our own) can come in droves and completely blind-side us. Before you know it, there you are, living moment by moment, day-to-day on the streets, in need of everything you formerly had taken for granted: food, clothing, bathroom, where to sleep, weather conditions, who to trust, and how to get any money. These are just a few of the daily dilemmas and challenges the poor and homeless face.  

I (David) chose to live that way in the early ’70s for 3 weeks on the Jersey shore which was one of my many times of running away from home, starting at 6 years old. I was sleeping under the boardwalk, panhandling, stealing all I could, and then drinking and drugging even more. 

I have never forgotten that we ALL have run from God, and yet He came to seek us out and save us from ourselves and all our sins. Because of the incredible LOVE of God, we now serve Him from the new heart He has given us, and seek to GO after ALL we can with the same LOVE that He gave us. We seek to #B12Reach1 just as Christ did and still does today! 

For people like Billy, life on the streets has been hard.  He had been coming faithfully to the Step Van at Tompkins Square Park for months now and was receiving much love and grace along with all that we bring practically. We bring clothing, food/drink, hygiene kits, prayers, Bibles and Gospels of John. He was so excited about starting a Bible study for the people living on the streets.  

This summer, he was assaulted several times, had all his belongings stolen twice, and was removed from the place he had been sleeping (as many others had during Covid19).  He then found another place on the streets with a different crowd. I saw him during our end of summer break and brought a lot of much needed practical items for him.

BUT NOW, he is NOWHERE to be found and no one has seen or heard from him in weeks. I even asked the local Police to make inquiries. So we are asking for prayer for BILLY as well as the many others we serve. Please pray with grace and true empathy.  Imagine if this was you or a loved one. God will help and reveal His heart of love to you for the ones known as the “least of these” in Matthew 25.  God is faithful and He will hear and answer us when we call!

UPDATE:  Thanks to all who have prayed for Billy the past few weeks. He is back and doing better. Even today was a small miracle as his boots were completely shot and I told him I am going to get you a pair somehow, someway.  Wouldn't you know it, somebody right then dropped off a pair of brand new perfectly fitted boots for Billy. I never take God for granted or the simplicity of prayer, nor does Billy.

From Minnesota to NYC Missionary

Never did I imagine what would happen in my first eight months in Flushing, NY. God had brought me to a place of complete trust in Him. Before I arrived in New York I went through some very difficult heartaches, through which I came out on the other side purified and refined. 

At 56 years old the jump into full-time missions was a 

long time in coming and a huge leap of faith. 

In the past five years, I’ve been on five mission trips with Street LIFE Ministries to Brazil where God gave me a burning passion for the lost through street evangelism. The cost has been high, and the enemy stole much from me as he began to see how God wanted to use me. Through it all God was there and truly trustworthy and faithful, and I realized He will NEVER leave me or forsake me! 

When Covid-19 hit, it became one of my first tests of my new found COMPLETE trust in God. Amazingly I’ve never become fearful of the virus. Psalm 139:5 became a reality for me “You hem me in behind and before, and you la
y your hand upon me”. God had my back allowing me to hit the streets without fear. It has been an amazing very busy few months here. All the norms went out the window and we got busy! Because of the great need, we in a greater way were feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, loving the unloved, and preaching the gospel. In a way, Covid-19 has opened up more opportunities for us to be salt and light and to tell many more of His great love.

All the Way from Alabama

Maggie has been with us now for more than a month and this is how she shared her story.....

Hello! My name is Maggie Jones, and I am from Jasper, Alabama. The summer before my senior year, my youth group went to Phoenix, Arizona for a Nazarene Youth Conference 2019. I experienced God speaking to me in the middle of this massive arena. It was there that I promised Him that wherever He wanted me, I would go. 

Then, God spoke again early on in my senior year, same feeling, same emotion, same everything. In that moment, I knew it was time to put some action behind my words. This is when I began searching, and my searching lasted for several weeks, until I found “Street LIFE Ministries in NYC”. I emailed and got a response that same day. I spoke with David and he shared with me that the SLM team had been praying that God would lead high school seniors to them for an internship. 

This conversation reassured my heart, and it led me to have some serious conversations with several important people in my life. The journey to finally arriving to serve with Street LIFE wasn’t easy. I could have never expected that we would be in the middle of a global pandemic. When I would share with others about my internship, and what I’d be doing, some would look at me like I was crazy. I would then share that this season of uncertainty has not been a deterrent for me, instead, this has encouraged me more that there is a greater reason that God has called me to go. After being here only one week, my heart remains the same. I have already seen in multiple ways, and in so many people, why God called me here. I am so thrilled to be serving with Street LIFE Ministries for the next two months! 

My Feet Hurt

        

A few weeks ago at Tompkins Square Park, there was a woman who had been looking at the clothes we had set out. I’ve spoken with Valerie (name changed) in the past, but mostly just pleasantries.  This day at the park she mentioned she had a lot of pain in her feet and it turns out she has plantar fasciitis. This is a condition I’ve had in the past, so I understand how painful it can be. 

Praying for people that need healing is something that I love to do at every opportunity that presents itself. So I asked if I could pray for her to which she agreed, I laid my hands on her foot and prayed.  Then I asked if it felt any different? She said it was maybe a bit better so we prayed again and there was more improvement. Several weeks went by and I see her again. Suddenly I remember her plantar fasciitis, so I asked her how her feet were feeling?  "Oh, you gotta pray for my feet, they really hurt”, she said.  

another person (not Valerie)

                                                         

I got down on my knees and laid my hands on her feet and said “In Jesus name pain be gone, tendons and bones go back into place now”. After I asked her to see how they felt which she acknowledged a little better so we prayed again. If you remember, Jesus prayed for the blind man twice before he could see fully, so I don’t hesitate to pray twice either. 

This time when she checked out her feet, the pain was completely gone and she could move and flex without hurting! She was so excited and exclaimed, “ What did you do? How did you do that?” I told her it was Jesus who healed you. At this point, Valerie was beginning to weep. I told her how much God loves her and is pursuing her. 

What I haven’t mentioned before is that Valerie had asked Jesus into her life that first time we prayed for her feet weeks before. The need for more prayer was evident, so we prayed again for her life, for her children, and for her to pursue God. Afterwards she was crying and saying she almost passed out when we were praying (as the power of the Holy Spirit was on her). I encouraged her to pray and read scripture every day starting with the gospel of John, Psalms, and Proverbs. Another friend was nearby and was equally touched. Thank you, Jesus.

We always bring food and clothing to the park for those in need but we are there for so much more!

                                            

An OPEN Door

During one of our prayer and fasting times, we prayed over Beautiful One (our outreach to the women in the massage parlors in Flushing, Queens) and specifically for “Diane” who has been receiving food from us during the COVID-19 pandemic.  That day we planned to drop off another package of food for her.  We prayed that her heart would be softened and she would be receptive to us and the Lord.  

When we arrived, I expected to leave the food on her doorstep like usual.  (She has been very afraid of the virus and did not want to come outside. We would see her peering through her window as we dropped off food and left it for her.)  

However, she opened the door, 

invited me in and showed me her room.  

“This is where I study English!” she proudly stated.  I was in shock but realized this was in answer to our prayers that day.  She and I chatted for a few moments.  She remains incredibly grateful for all that she has received.  “Dear, during the infectious disease, I did not go out for four months.  You took care of me so that I could eat and drink.  You made me the happiest woman during an infectious disease,” she wrote after receiving her “care package.”  

 

He Used to See Demons

        It was several weeks ago when a man sat down at the end of the row of chairs that we set up at Tompkins Square Park and he was eating some of the food we had given him. I’ve found over the years Holy Spirit will highlight someone that He would like me to speak with and I felt that with this man. We made the usual small talk about the weather and so on, and that he immigrated from Poland.

Then, during this conversation, he said “I see demons”.

So I began to speak to him about God loving him and the message of the gospel and I then prayed for him.

He comes back another week at Tompkins Square Park and he starts off the conversation with “my faith has been restored”. He is reading the New Testament in Polish every day which he showed me along with a book called the Bible Promise Book. At this point, I’m wanting to make sure I’m understanding what he is saying so I ask, “What do you mean your faith has been restored?” He goes on to tell me he has been listening to a Christian program every day and at the end is a sinner’s prayer for repentance, which he prays every day! So, he was no longer seeing demons!

We plant seeds and we water, but we don’t always get to see the harvest, so it was a huge blessing to know this man committed his life to the Lord, and his name is written in The Lamb’s Book of Life. Thank you Jesus!

Helping A Veteran

Today as we drove into Tompkins Square Park we prayed that God would bring new people we could connect with and those who are eager to share what is going on in their lives.  As usual, God answered that prayer when a homeless veteran that we have never met came by.  His demeanor was broken and humble.  He politely asked if he could have some fruit and bread.  

“Of course!”  

He was happy to receive the food, hygiene products, and clothing.  

He asked, “Do you have information on a shelter?”  I provided him with one of our resource sheets to get him started and recommended New York City Rescue Mission which is close by.  It turns out he’s filled out an application three separate times and he still hasn’t received housing assistance.  Knowing that he is a veteran, I offered to look into the options available for him.  He was grateful.  

“Could I pray with you?”  I asked.  

“Oh, yes! Please!” he said.  

Our new friend shared that he became a believer after reading the Bible.  He was happy to talk about his experience with God.  I asked if he had a Bible and he needed one in Spanish.  Thankfully we had one for him since we bring Bibles and New Testaments in English and Spanish.  For the rest of the day, he spent his time reading it.  

Please pray in agreement with us for a breakthrough to take place in this man’s housing situation.  Hopefully, at New York City Rescue Mission he will meet with a case worker who may be able to help.  

North Dakota shows NO FEAR

3 Generations representing North Dakota!

With teams canceling for the summer, David received a call from Amy Jo from North Dakota.  Her family had booked in January for the first week in June to come to New York City to serve with Street LIFE Ministries.

"Can we still come to NYC"?  

OF COURSE YOU CAN!  And they did! 

Here is Mary Jo's testimony....

"My heart broke when I saw men running towards us as we pulled to our spot.  They were so thankful to receive hot food and a bag of food (some rice and beans) to take with them. There were so many men looking for work to provide for their family that it was heart-breaking.  One gentleman that I spoke with shared how the pandemic caused him to lose his job.   Now he has to rely on other people for help.

11 year old Nathanael

packing the food bags

Our time in Tompkins Square Park was different and unique.  

Everyone greeted us with a smile.  It was sad to hear people ask for underwear and socks, things I take for granted.  I know a highlight for my boys was seeing Billy receive a new suitcase on wheels to store his blankets in.  The regulars were there both times eagerly waiting for us and helped us unload the truck and set up things.  They also hung out the entire time we were there to talk with us.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Caleb's story (15 years old)....

"My testimony for the ministry was about how my heart was touched.  Many people talked to me saying how we have been the only light in their lives for a long time.  They also said by us being there, it's showing that God has a plan for them in the near future.  I really enjoy preaching the Gospel to everybody, so this gives me the strength to share with joy.  I pray that when I age and marry, we will be able to come and serve because I love this ministry."