Chasing After Saul

Some of our volunteers praying over Saul

“Is that Saul?” Ryan asked himself as he looked across the parking lot. Sure enough, that was Saul. Saul was a man we helped get off the streets and into a church that would help him get out of his addiction to alcohol. But a few days ago he had a strong disagreement with one of the people in the program and ended up leaving without telling anybody. We hadn’t heard anything from him and we didn’t know where he was. Ryan slammed the car door and ran over to him. “Saul! What are you doing out here?” Saul shared everything with Ryan and even admitted that he started drinking again. After a long talk, Saul said that he thought God was angry with him. Ryan said, “No, that’s not true! This is God’s love in action. He’s disciplining you in love. That’s why He brought me here today!” After this amazing encounter, Saul decided to enter back into the church program, and this time he’s sticking with it. We’ve been keeping in touch with him and he is doing better than ever. He’s participating in Bible studies, working around the community, and has even saved up to buy a phone. He is growing in character, responsibility, and most importantly, in his love for God. 

Ryan hanging out with Saul 

He's Never Heard of Jesus

“I just shared with a man who has never heard about who Jesus is!” Tony said with a huge smile on his face. Coming on a missions trip from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, he was not expecting to have this type of encounter in New York City.

Galileo, a gentleman from China who had been in the United States about three months walked up to the prayer station inquiring about the Gospel of Johns on the table. As it turns out, he had never heard the Gospel message before and listened intently as Tony shared it with him. “The amazement on his face when I told him that God died for him…” was one of Tony’s highlights from the trip.

The prayer station in Flushing can sometimes be difficult with language and cultural barriers. Encounters like this encourage our team that God is faithful in answering our prayers for those in our town. He hears and answers and will draw the right people at the right time as we step out in obedience. Thank you for praying for the work we do here! 

Clarence Gets An ID

As a social worker, one of my greatest joys is being able to connect someone with a resource that can help them transition off the streets. This process is different for everybody. Some people need a detox, some a job referral, and others an agency that will advocate for their housing needs. It’s just a matter of pointing people in the right direction.

I first met Clarence when he came to the Mobile Resource Center  looking for a job referral. He wanted to start taking the next steps in establishing a new life. He had been using drugs and living in a shelter for years, but recently he hit rock bottom  and that was when he surrendered his life to God. This is what gave him the strength to change and become serious about sobriety. One of Clarence’s immediate needs was getting an ID. He lost his while in the shelter and did not know how to get a new one. I set up an appointment for him at one of the nearby social service agencies.  Since our first conversation, Clarence has received his ID and continues to come on Tuesdays to meet with us.

 

God Cares About A Report Card

One woman stepped into the room with a handful of papers from her child’s school, including a report card written in English.  She was a Chinese woman who has only been in the country for a short time and was scheduled for a parent-teacher conference the very next day.  Her English was quite limited so she couldn’t understand very much of what was written, but we happened to have two Chinese and English speaking members on our team who were able to translate the papers for her.  

As all of this was taking place, we knew that this was how God wanted to show His love to her. It never ceases to amaze us how God reaches out to people in very practical ways, and that he does it by sending his Church to those who are in need. Praise God! 

A view of some of the massage parlors we go to

Helping Linda

One day at Tompkins Square Park, Linda was looking through the clothing at the clothing table.  She shared with Amy and I that she finally got her own apartment after being in the shelter with her son for several years.  She mentioned she’s been looking for furniture but it was hard for her to pick it up since she doesn’t have a car and she was in need of a table, a chair, and a sofa.

“Really?  We may be able to help with that.  Could I get your contact information?”  I knew of a table, some chairs, and a loveseat that just became available the day before.  I was feeling the tug on my heart to try and do something to help.  But it seemed like a long shot since she lives in Brooklyn and we’re in Queens... but thankfully, it worked out! We were able to bring the furniture over the next day. When we told her we were coming, she began to tear up. She could not hide her gratitude.

Knowing that Linda was in need of more than just furniture, we put together a few bags of dry goods, produce, and toiletries. We packed all the food, gifts, and furniture in the van and went to her apartment. She was elated at our arrival and was pleasantly surprised by the extra gifts. It turned out that she had just ran out of deodorant and their food supply was scarce. She loved the table, the chairs, and the sofa, and we were able to set it up for her right away. There was also an extra futon mattress that we brought for her son's bed along with a few pillows.

Meeting Linda was certainly a divine appointment, and God's timing in bringing us together was perfect. She's been through a lot the past few years and all of her struggles really challenged her faith in God and her confidence in the Church. However, we believe that through these simple acts of love and generosity God is beginning to remind her of His faithfulness. 

Asking For the Nations!

“Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, 

the ends of the earth your possession.”

 - Psalm 2:8 -

New York City is the "City of Nations". In our own backyard there are many who have never heard the Gospel. Here at Street LIFE Ministries it is our constant prayer that God would open up opportunities to share with people from different ethnic groups. During Worship Warfare Week one of our staff members, Amy Wong, got to see God answer that prayer. Here's the story in her words:

"During Worship Warfare Week, an elderly Chinese lady came up to the Prayer Station asking for a book of prayer. She shared that her grandson had been going to church after school and was coming home praying. She inquired why we ended our prayers with “Amen” and wanted to understand how to pray. Through my broken Chinese and Google translate, I was able to explain how prayer is our way of communicating to God and how as Christians we end our prayers with “amen” because it meant we we're in agreement. I gave her a Gospel of John in Chinese and was able to point her to the prayer for salvation in front of the book, explaining that she could read the tract and if she wanted to she could pray that for herself. She thanked me for the explanation and shared how grateful she was to understand and be able to explain that to her grandson. Personally, I came away from that encounter encouraged, believing that God is hearing our prayers for the nations and giving them as our inheritance (Psalm 2:8).  Please continue praying that we would have more encounters like this!"

Amy sharing with woman who has never heard the good news

Saul Restored

One of our volunteers sharing with Saul

While our worship team was playing at the Maria Hernandez Park in Brooklyn, a Hispanic man named Saul approached one of our volunteers and asked for prayer. Up until few weeks prior to this, Saul was actively involved in his Church, but some changes in the Church led him to feel betrayed by his pastor. His hurt turned to anger - first toward the Church and then toward God. One bad decision led to another and he ended up on the streets filled with guilt that he had “stabbed Jesus in the back”. We reassured Saul that he could not “out sin” God’s grace. We shared with him the story of Peter and how he betrayed Jesus three times and yet Jesus still went to the cross to pay for his sins. God’s grace began to overwhelm him and he sat there weeping as he confessed his sins. Saul wanted to change and start over again.

Some of the guys praying overSaul

Thankfully, we were able to get him into a Spanish Church that would disciple him and give him food with a place to stay until he was able to get back up on his feet. Saul has been in there for several weeks now and is doing great! He's actively involved with the Church and is beginning to find work around town. It is so exciting to see the way Saul has been restored. Praise God for His love and His faithfulness that never ends!