“I cannot believe you guys are here today…” - Corona Outreach

For years, David Van Fleet, director of Street LIFE Ministries has had a vision to go into Corona, Queens, (a predominately Hispanic community) with our Mobile Resource Center. Recently this month we had the opportunity to go twice on a Saturday. With the help of my friend Ana Maria, some team members and Nicole (a girl on staff who studied Spanish in school), we spent the morning getting to know people, listening to their needs, praying and serving soup, juice and bagels. Since Corona is neighborhood with a lot of need, I was chosen to go as the social worker. Personally, it was a humbling experience since my Spanish is limited and I wasn't sure of what it would be like to do outreach there. However, God shows up despite my limitations!

Our team praying for Edison

Two Saturdays ago, a woman came up to our truck crying, asking for referrals to a detox. She explained that her father was an alcoholic and he was hitting rock bottom, but because she did not have funds and there were no beds available at the city hospitals she was desperate to get him help. Furthermore, she explained how she was just walking to the nearest hospital to check if they had beds but saw our truck and could not believe that God would bring us here at her exact time of need. At that point, Ana Maria began sharing the testimony of her father being a former alcoholic and how God healed him and restored their family. She began crying and shared how her father was a Christian, fell away but knows only God can save him. However, she did not know of any Christian places that could help him since he spoke only Spanish. As our team was talking with her, I began making phone calls and got her father connected to a Spanish speaking Christian rehab. That day, we were able to give her the details for this place and prayed that her father would follow through this decision. She thanked us and said she was going to keep us updated with his progress since he still needed to go detox.

A few days later, I called to see how she was doing, and she related the following: she was able to go straight to the rehab with her father and it worked out that he did not have to go to detox! This was such an answered prayer for her, since she was not sure how she was going to pay for detox. She also shared that she hasn’t heard from him, which meant he was still there. PRAISE GOD! I love how God knows what exactly we need and how He meets us in the place of desperation! Even for me, I was incredibly encouraged knowing how SPECIFIC this need was and how much He cares/loves us to do it! Please keep Edison and his family in your prayers as this is just the beginning for them.

Beautiful One Highlights & Summer Outreach

Hello everyone!

Summer outreach has begun for us here at Street LIFE Ministries and I am excited to report we have our first short term mission team from Ohio! I look forward to seeing what will happen throughout this week & summer, as one of the most fulfilling things about summer outreach is watching those who come here to the city catch a vision and glimpse of God’s heart for people & this city! Take for example, this week’s team leader, a former student who came two years ago and felt the burden to come back to NYC and lead a team from her hometown. It’s always amazing for me to see how the seed that we sow, casts vision and produces fuel for a greater fire and passion for the Great Commission. Not only is she back for a second time around, but leading others to experience this for themselves. I’m so thankful for opportunities to take people who’ve never done missions and bring them closer to God’s heart for people and the Nations!

In other news, I have attached the link to my latest newsletter with updates from our Beautiful One outreach to women in the sex industry. We recently celebrated the One Year birthday of this outreach and in the newsletter, I include highlights from this past year.

Once again thank you for reading this, your prayers & support! You guys are amazing!

Amy's Adventures: May 2014 Beautiful One Update

Beautiful One Celebrates One Year

Hi everyone!

Check out my latest video with updates from Beautiful One and also, I have attached my co-worker Mary Anna's update. I thought she did an excellent job sharing some of the details I missed, so I asked her permission to share it.

A Visit from our Brazillian Friends
~ Mary Anna's Update

Greetings dear friends! For those of you I saw last week, it was a great pleasure to catch up with you! As always, my time in the mountains was tremendously refreshing. Also, I would like to give a special shoutout to the new members of my mailing list! Thanks for signing on! Please enjoy reading the following update from Beautiful One, our outreach to women in the sex industry.

As I sat there watching one of our friends from the massage parlor get baptized on Easter Sunday, my thoughts went to something the Brazilian missionaries we work with each year told us regarding their outreach to the local red-light district. They visited the brothels for five years before they really developed any relationships with the women or had any of them reach out for more help. Five years! Today they have banquets, birthday parties, and receive regular requests for help. Many women have been converted and have left work at the brothels. When preaching at a recent missions conference, one of the missionaries watched a woman in the congregation weep as he spoke of their work in the red-light district. At the end of the service, an altar call was given for anyone who would like to give their lives to missions. She hurried to the front to dedicate herself to the Lord, and after they prayed she excitedly told him that she was one of the women they had befriended in the brothels!

Only a few days before the baptism, we were enjoying a visit from the missionaries we work with in Brazil who so inspired us to start Beautiful One, our outreach to women in the sex industry in New York City. We tearfully traded stories and offered gratitude, encouraging them that the work they are doing in Brazil has multiplied to NYC. They thanked us for our love for the women in the Brazilian brothels and shared how they often ask when we’ll be coming again. I’m not sure I can recall ever having a more beautiful Kingdom conversation, and I don’t doubt eternity will be filled with such glorious exchanges. After her baptism, we went out to lunch with our friend and she repeatedly thanked us for our friendship, saying that if it weren’t for us, she wouldn’t have any friends in America. We are nearing Beautiful One’s first birthday, and my heart is amazed at the favor God has given us to so quickly earn trust and build relationship with some of the women.

Thank you for your prayers and support! You are on this journey with us, and what a wonderful ride it has been thus far! I can hardly wait to see what the coming year has in store!

Beautiful One & Lessons from a Drunk Man

Hi all!!

Spring is here and I am excited to report to you that we did our first Beautiful One outreach to the Strip Clubs on March 20^th! I cannot begin to express the joy our team felt when we were allowed into all three of the clubs we've been praying for and individually gave the roses to the ladies. We also made home-baked cookies for the bouncers & managers and had much favor with them! I just want to thank you all for your prayers and for making this happen. I’ll write more in my next newsletter but just wanted to share this quick update, in case you haven't heard!

Flushing Prayer Station

Last Saturday morning, a drunk man approached our team screaming in Chinese and gesturing to a book.  When I asked him what was going on, he kept saying, “I had this big book, I want it, and you guys gave me one last time.” Uncertain what he was referring to, I pointed to the Gospel of Johns in Chinese and he said no, it was bigger. He was upset because he lost it and wanted another one. Something inside of him wanted a Bible, even though he never read his previous one. As conversation continued, I began asking questions about his life and family, which he would share some and then randomly scream at people passing by. I felt God urging me to sit with him and try to calm him down when he would get disruptive. I felt the patience of God to stay and just hang out with him. Throughout that time, Mr Wen shared how the mother of his child left him and he was never allowed to see his son again but then would tell me “once you get me that Bible I will tell you more” (unfortunately I didn’t have a Chinese Bible on me and promised him one for next time). He also kept apologizing as if he did something wrong against me and when I would ask why, his response was, “I don’t know, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” If only you could see the look on his face, one I've seen in too many addicts, they were feelings of shame, guilt, anger, and hopelessness, mixed with I'm a failure. Although I couldn't share much with Mr Wen (due to my limited Chinese), I felt my assignment that day was to just listen and pray. Even when our conversation ended and he walked away, Mr Wen kept finding his way back to the Prayer Station.

Mr Wen with our Team

As I reflect back on this encounter, I realized a few things… sometimes although you might not feel very “successful” in sharing, what matters is just your presence and obedience to God's leading. Mr Wen needed someone to listen and acknowledge him. What saddens me most wasn't seeing him in his drunken state, but the looks that people had as they passed him by. You could tell, he felt as worthless as they deemed him to be. It’s sad and I am guilty of this too, but we often look at things in the natural and judge pretty quickly if it’s worth our time. Meanwhile God is calling us to see people in His eyes and just sit, hang out with the one, even if it doesn't feel beneficial or convenient. He longs to use us to be His hands and feet and be His listening ear to those who are hurting, broken and poor. You see, something inside of Mr Wen knew he needed a Bible, I can’t tell you why or understand his reasoning, but deep down I think Mr Wen knows he needs something greater than himself to save him.  I look forward to my next encounter with him, not sure when or if it will ever happen but until then I’ll keep praying for him and hope that you will too.

Thank you so much for reading this update!

Don't Walk By - Tompkins Square Park - Beautiful One

Hello Everyone!!!

I hope you are doing well! February has been an amazing month! Why? Because I “did not walk by”! It’s been six years since the “Don’t Walk By” outreach began and each year I love being a part of a group of volunteers and organizations joining together to bring an alternative to homelessness. This outreach is about compassionate everyday people who want to live out the Great Commission and the parable of the Good Samaritan. Once again, I was blessed to be a part of the Resource Team assessing the needs of those who were brought in from the streets and in need of shelter or rehab. As a result of last year’s DWB 3 men who received our offer for overnight sheltering have completed the discipleship program at the Bowery Mission.One man Dwayne, who's story is featured in the SLM newsletter (Feb 2014) is even giving back and serving at the Bowery Mission. 

I love seeing the fruit that has come through this outreach. Not to mention the countless hundreds who have received a hot meal, clothing and resources. God is so good and I am so humbled to be a part of the work He is doing in this city! Also, along with DWB, we continue to do our normal outreach at Tompkins Square Park. As you all know it’s been a cold winter and now more than ever homelessness has increased, so I am thankful that He uses us to be a part of the solution! Check out my latest video update featuring an insider look with footage from the streets and what we do with our Mobile Resource Center – “Tompkins Square Park”

Beautiful One

In addition to Don’t Walk By, I want to share an update on the outreach to women in the adult industry! I am excited to announce that after months of prayer, we finally have a name for the outreach – “Beautiful One”! It comes from Song of Solomon 2:10-11, in which the bridegroom calls to his beloved, saying, "Arise my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone." We believe now is the time for the women to arise and come out of the winter season of their souls, so as an prophetic act of this, we are going to visit the strip clubs for the first time on March 20th – the first day of Spring! Please join us in prayer as we believe for favor and divine connections. To be honest, I feel extremely excited yet nervous, but as always just trusting and being led by God to step into this new step of ministry.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support!!!

Love,

Amy

December 2013 Newsletter

December 2013 Newsletter by Amy HoYin Wong

Click here for the Street LIFE Newsletter

Inadequacy: my reflections

I have a confession to make… I often feel inadequate. In ministry and in life, sometimes the thoughts “am I good enough” and “if what I am doing makes a difference” haunts me. It’s not something I always show, but sometimes in moments of doubt I wonder if this is something I am to do with my life? Recently, I’ve asked this question repeatedly as we’ve been in the process of pioneering an outreach for ladies in the sex industry. Although I know God's been clear with my calling to serve with Street LIFE Ministries, I find myself questioning if I’m the right person for it all.

Sometimes on the streets, I encounter people with situations beyond my ability to help.  Take Jane for example, she's new to NYC and had left an abusive boyfriend in another state. We talked for hours and I did my best to connect her with resources, but in the end because she had a dog, we were not able to do much. I saw Jane the next day and she was in the same place we left her, this time her countenance much worse, talking in front of me to men passing by, as if there was some “transactions” going on. Even though I referred her to some agencies, there was nothing I could do or say to help her.

Then there’s Donna, whom I have known for years and most days when I see her, she’s either been abused by her “husband” the night before or drunk. Donna’s been homeless for over 20 years and she continues to live her life on the streets. My conversations with her (when she is coherent) often consists of letting her know how much we love her and affirming her. Sometimes she gets upset when I say it, but in the end, we hug and laugh about it. She calls me “her China daughter.”  Yet when I am with Donna, I feel so inadequate. What can I do or say to help you? What will it take to breakthrough? Or my biggest fear for her, what if she dies, never overcoming her addiction? A story I am too familiar with, as I’ve known many through the years that have.

Honestly, I don’t have the answers but the other day when spending some time with God; I stumbled upon this Bible verse:

“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Cor 3:5-6

Paul said it with such simplicity, it’s not anything that comes from ourselves, but God who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant. A covenant of peace, life, hope and freedom, that Christ died to take the place of my sins and took the suffering of man on the cross. It’s about His Spirit living inside of me and letting it give Life to others around me. It’s about serving and knowing He has qualified us to serve. In the end, it’s about God and not anything coming from what I can do. I am made adequate, not in my abilities to pray, serve or share the Gospel, but in Him.

I made a commitment six years ago to be where God wants me to be and today, although feelings come and go, I know that as long as I’m willing, He will provide the strength, grace and adequacy I need to continue on. Although I don’t always have the answers or the right words to say, ministry isn’t about that. So I conclude this with a challenge to myself and others… am I willing to change my thinking? To know it’s not about what I can do (or don’t do) but about what He has done to make me adequate? I want to be found in Him and be led by His Spirit even if it puts me in uncomfortable, “out of my control” situations. I know that it’s in that place that I will find the freedom from His Spirit to give life to others. I want to bring His Life and trust that He has made me adequate to do all that He has in store.

Thanks again for reading this update and your prayers & financial support through the years. I cannot begin to express how grateful I am to each of you and to God.