Church On the Streets

"the view from our truck"

Every week we go to Tompkins Square Park and set up chairs along the fence for our guests to sit and enjoy a cup of soup with bagels and hot chocolate.  For some who pass by, the sight of our step van is a delightful surprise to their day as they take time to rest and appreciate the free food.     

Two weeks ago, a man name Pete was passing by when he saw us and joyfully grabbed a cup of soup and sat down. A little after he started commenting about the music he was listening to. “That’s real good spiritual music there. It reminds me of my grandmother, she was a real spiritual woman… she prayed for me a lot and I miss her.” It was then I started asking him about his life. He began sharing how he used to go to church but didn’t want to do “the right thing”. As a result of his choices he was incarcerated and lost everything. He shared how he was trying to live right afterwards but his wife left him and he lost his apartment. This caused him to become very angry at God and questioned what’s the point to trying? All this happened a year ago, but since then Pete said he wasn’t angry and has been meaning to go back to church but hasn’t. It was then that I started sharing how God is pursuing after him to come back. Even if Pete was delaying his visit to church, God had him there to fellowship with the Church out here on the streets. He was encouraged by what I said and we continued to talk. He let me pray for him and I was able to give him some of our SLM worship music to enjoy.

That day, I was reminded what “church on the streets” looked like and like others we meet, Pete is one of many who are not ready go inside a church but God is reaching them through us going to the streets. I love it when God brings divine appointments like this and know that there are many more Petes’ out on the streets of New York.

Thank you so much for reading this & know that your support help make this happen!

Meeting Shaquetta

Hi Everyone!

This month I want to share about an encounter I had during the “Don’t Walk By” outreach.

Meeting Shaquetta

She came asking for help looking for a shelter. Kicked out of her house over a year ago, her life was now sleeping in subway carts with her boyfriend and going in and out of jail. “These are my papers from jail and oh here, information from my doctor because I have PTSD and Bipolar I.”  From the moment she sat down to the moment she left, I felt God’s presence nudging me, whispering; this was the one He was pursuing tonight. As we began our intake process, she shared how life had been difficult since she was young and that she’s experienced things that caused her to be traumatized. At 24 years old she’s been estranged from her family, has attempted suicide on the streets and felt so angry and misunderstood. No one could deal with her issues, not even her boyfriend, who she complained could not fathom why her moods would change so quickly. As Shaquetta finished the assessment, I felt God saying now is the time to ask her if she believed in Me. So I did.

Her response? “Well, no, maybe, I mean I don’t know, I feel so alone and not sure where He’s been throughout all those times.” Of course that did not surprise me. I knew exactly how she felt. Having been abused and misunderstood by people around me, I began sharing how our encounter tonight was not by accident, that being there was a result of people praying and God pursuing us. I shared how although she doesn’t feel God was there, He wasn’t giving up on her. I shared the Good News and how much He desires to have relationship with us. To give us freedom when the past comes to haunt us and make us new. Her eyes widen as she listened to the words I spoke. What happened next was truly wonderful.

A few moments later, Dawn from Walter Hoving Home joined our conversation and shared her testimony. She shared how God brought someone in her life at the right moment when she was drunk, sitting at a railroad track waiting for the train to come and hit her.  Dawn continued sharing how God helped and healed her and now she works with women in restoring their lives – something she’d never imagine! Without knowing Shaquetta’s history with suicide, Dawn had spoken life into her situation. How awesome was that!

Towards the end, Shaquetta let Dawn and I pray with her and I gave her some information about Street LIFE and our outreach at Tompkins Square Park. I reminded her that she’s not alone and that God is pursuing after her. Please continue to pray for her with me! I’m praying she will show up one of the days we are at TSP and believing that her story is not yet complete.

Thank you for your support in reaching the lost & broken on the streets of NYC.

Love,
Amy

p.s. for more stories from this months outreach check out: https://www.facebook.com/dontwalkby?ref=ts&fref=ts

 -there you find some articles & stories from volunteers who have taken the challenge to "Don't Walk By"

A full house @ DWB with guests being served and conversations at every table

Esther & Fred, Don't Walk By & Hurricane Sandy

Hello!

Happy New Year! As I think on all that has happened this month, I am excited to share with you the story of Esther & Fred in my video update.

Check it out!

Also some other neat things happening here at SLM:

• Don’t Walk By (every Sat during the month of Feb) – want to step out of your comfort zone and experience the joy of reaching the broken, hurting & needy on the streets of NYC? DWB is a unique opportunity where teams of volunteers walk the streets of Manhattan in a “search & rescue” mission looking for the homeless and offering them an alternative. For more information or to sign up go to: www.dontwalkby.org. If you are interested or coming, let me know so I can connect you to one of our staff members who is leading teams. But if you cannot make it, please pray for us!! This year I will be a part of the assessment team, engaging and connecting those who are desiring help to resources (detox, shelter, medical etc) that we have.  Every year God does amazing things and I am excited to see what He will do this year! I will keep you posted.

• Hurricane Sandy: we continue in our efforts with Hurricane Victims. Read more about it in our latest SLM Newsletter.

Thanks so much for all your support & prayers! As always, I love you guys and please feel free to let me know how I can pray for you!

Love,
Amy

p.s. Below is a picture of Mary Anna ministering to Fred at Tompkins Square Park.

November: Sandy Update #3

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are well and your holiday season spent enjoying family and friends. As we gear up for the winter season, it’s been a busy time of outreach here at Street LIFE Ministries. As some of you might know, ever since Superstorm Sandy, life is New York has never been the same. Over the past month, we’ve been going out to streets in the neighborhoods affected by the storm and doing what we can to meet the needs of the people in the community. As generous donations of cleaning supplies, blankets, coats, food etc. come in from all over; God has also opened the door for us to directly place them into the hands of those we meet. Earlier today, a few coworkers and I spent several hours going door to door surveying the needs of people in their homes. Our desire is to continue following up and doing what we can to provide and connect them with resources.

Personally this has been a real bittersweet time as I realize how much need there is among the victims of this storm. My heart goes out to those affected who are still without electricity and heat, living in their mold-infested homes.

It’s truly humbling and amazing time to see the connections and relationships formed throughout this time. Two weeks ago, I met a Chinese lady with 6 month old boy whose first floor flooded and she had no family is US to stay with. In addition to that, her husband was working a lot and she did not speak much English. Since she lives in a neighborhood which was predominately Hispanic and African American, she felt extremely lonely and had no idea about the resources provided. Since then, I’ve visited her house several times and was able to give her some food and other things she’s needed.

Beyond the physical provisions, I know that God bought her into my life to show just how much He cares about her and her family. It’s so mind-blowing for me to think that God cares that much about her to send another Chinese speaking person to her, just to show it. The other day she shared how grateful she was to have another friend. Wow. The crazy part of it all is: I feel so insecure in my ability to speak/understand Chinese yet God still uses it. (Below I’ve attached a photo of her & her son Kevin).

It’s stories like her and Sylvia (story posted below) that I am so grateful to God that He allows me to be a part of showing His love and care to His children. I know I would not be here doing this if it wasn’t for what God has done in my own life.

Anyway, thank you so much for your prayers and support. For more updates check out my blog and latest Street LIFE Newsletter

Much Love,
Amy Wong

Hurricane Sandy Relief Update #2

Great day out on the streets at Far Rockaway… I love going to serve the people there. It's been quite the journey hearing people's stories of how the storm has affected them and seeing how God is helping us build relationships in the neighborhood. Last week the Lord connected us with Sylvia, who is pregnant and has a small daughter. Her house was one of the many that the water level was over 4 feet on her first floor. She related to us that she has not been able to clean her house because of her health. It was the perfect timing as we knew we had a team coming this weekend from West Virginia & Michigan to do cleanup/demo work. We connect them to her and immediately they started working to clean her house (and others in the neighborhood). It was amazing seeing them hard at work and being the “hands and feet of Jesus.”

Today I spoke with her and she thanked us continually and was so touched by how God directed her to us and how much He loves her. At one point, tears welled up in her eyes as she shared “I thought I had a close relationship with God, but this, what you guys did for me, I feel it, I feel His love for me and my family.”

Please continue to pray for her, this is just the beginning for her and many others. Though their houses might be cleaned from all the storm damaged items, there is still a lot more construction/rebuilding to restore their house back to normal. In addition to that, they are still without power & heat, so as you can imagine, these cold winter nights are brutal.

picture is her, her husband and daughter

Hurricane Sandy Updates

Since the hurricane, Street LIFE has increased the number of days we go out on the streets to 3-4 times a week in order to meet the need in this hour. This has been a major change in our staff schedule but God is giving us the grace to press on as we minister to those affected by the storm.

Humbled by Generosity
A few weeks ago, we were driving around the Far Rockaway neighborhood looking for people who were cleaning their houses so we could bless them with some soup and hot chocolate. A man walking out of his house with piles of garbage on his front yard, came up to our truck, grabbed some hot chocolate and asked for our information. Immediately he related to us, I want to send you guys a donation for the work you are doing. He said, "when this is all over, I want to give" and he thanked us and walked away.

His words bought me to tears as I sat there reflecting his kind gesture. I couldn't help but be amazed how despite this man having to throw out so many of his damaged possessions, he still thought about giving. His thoughtfulness taught me a lesson on generosity and reminded me that despite our circumstances, we give even when we feel we cannot give anymore or given enough.

some of the garbage piled outside people's homes

volunteer enjoying some hot chocolate

handing out some clothes

Naresh: My Friend

Naresh and I talking

“God loves me?... that’s the first time I’ve heard someone say that to me.” Those were the words of Naresh two weeks ago; though we have said it many times, finally he was hearing it. For years Mary Anna and I’ve been praying and encouraging him that God could set him free and had a purpose for his life. At a young age Naresh started drinking and his addiction has left him on the streets, estranged from his family. Since we met him in 2008, we've helped him get into detox several times. He usually finishes his detox but just returns to the streets. In 2010, after a year of not seeing him, he showed up to Tompkins Square Park completely sober, joyfully sharing with us how his family had taken him in, he had been clean for a year, and was working a full time job! However, in 2011 he started drinking again, and his family once again disowned him. Every week, Mary Anna and I would continue to tell him how much we care and were praying for him. His usual response would be “no you are lying – stop lying to me.” Though Naresh continues to feel doubt and shame, we continue to love and be there for him.

Two weeks ago, he came up to the truck asking to go to detox again, saying that when he took a drink the day before, he started coughing up blood. This shook him to the core and he realized it was time to stop before he died on the streets. He expressed a desire to go into a long term facility and quit for good. I placed the phone call, got him in, and waited for a pick up. Throughout that time, I kept encouraging and sharing that we will be praying. At one point, in order to prove it to him, I stood there and prayed for him (which was huge because usually he doesn’t let me).Afterward I began to share the Gospel and what it’s meant in my life. He listened intently. As I spoke of God’s love and purpose for him, he looked at me and stated he’s never heard that before. I encouraged him to ask Jesus to reveal Himself while in detox, and he agreed to try even though he grew up in Hinduism. For the first time Naresh seemed to grasp these truths for himself. I gave him the “Father’s Love Letter” and we waited together for his ride to the detox.

Since that encounter I’ve learned that he has been sent to a rehab facility upstate. Please continue praying for him as this a critical time in his life. Pray that he will continue to follow through with his decision to get help and that God will reveal Himself to Naresh. Thanks so much for your prayers!!!