We've been so excited to get back tonight to share with all of you about our incredible day. But first, thank you all so much for your participation in the time of corporate prayer this evening. The staff received a text from Travis right before we started Porch Time letting us know that so many of you joined him this evening to pray for us, and we truly felt God honor your prayers with His presence tonight. But, before I describe our awesome debrief time from this evening, here's a brief description of how we spent our time today.
Serving group 1 had a VERY early morning today, waking up at 5am to head to St. Paul's House, which provides a morning meal and worship service to the homeless. The group helped prepare and serve breakfast for about 30 men and women before helping put on the service. Ryland Willis led the group in song, while Brad Turner shared a devotional thought that both encouraged and challenged everyone. After their time at St. Paul's House, group 1 explored Grand Central Station for a little while before participating in their own neighborhood immersion experience in Times Square.
Group 2 spent their morning at Church Alive in Brooklyn, passing out fliers and invitations to a huge, multi-church event happening in a local park next weekend. The group was surprised with how receptive the neighborhood was to receive us and the information. After lunch at the church, this team also participated in a neighborhood immersion around Rockefeller Center. Spending time in this area after our experience in Brooklyn really painted a picture of the huge disparity of resources and wealth that exists in this city.
Today it was group 3's turn to help out at the Love Kitchen, the soup kitchen run by our housing site. Team members handed out food to people in need, as well as organized the donations. After several hours of service time here, these team members got to experience the Harlem Plunge, an opportunity for the group to learn more about the neighborhood and bless someone in need in that area. This group talked to many people about Harlem, and they shared a significant amount of time with a homeless man named Ronnie. The group learned a lot about his life, and got to bless him by purchasing him a water bottle and several snacks.
Group 4 got to do their own version of the Harlem Plunge in the morning today. They spent time with a man named Rick. The group saw Jesus in Rick in the way he cared for the other homeless men and women who lived in the same park as he did. Rick challenged the group to really think about what it means to live on your own without a permanent roof over your head. After their time with Rick, these students served at a World Vision storehouse, fixing shelves and organizing boxes. The whole group really worked as a team this afternoon to accomplish the tasks at hand.
Last but not least, group 5 helped sort and bundle clothing deliveries at the NYC Clothing Bank, an organization that distributes new apparel, toys, and other goods to non-profits and government-based agencies in NYC. The group worked hard and was able to get a great visual in the stacks of clothing they packaged that would go to men, women, and children in need. After this activity, the group helped our at Green Team, a horticultural group that works with people who have been incarcerated and helps them transition into the workforce. The organization provides a 12 week course on landscape and gardening skills. Any individuals who pass the course are offered a job. Group 5 helped with a landscaping project in a local apartment complex, and the team really got to know a man named Mark who runs the program, along with several other staff members and volunteers for Green Team.
After their afternoon activities, all groups met up in Central Park for an incredible Porch Time. Since we will be attending the Mets vs. Phillies baseball game tomorrow (Friday) night, the staff decided to have our culminating debrief experience tonight to help the students process the trip and prepare them for another night of small groups. Our setting was great and, as I mentioned above, we could really feel your prayers being answered as the presence of the Holy Spirit filled the space. Students shared exciting places where they had seen and encountered Jesus, and everyone participated in our first worship set. Craig led us in our final full-length talk, reminding us about Abraham's story of faith and the importance of trusting in God. Weeks ago, on the missions overnight, students wrote down one thing or area of their life where they were trusting themselves instead of trusting God. The staff and leaders returned these cards to the kids, and they were each given the opportunity to burn (on portable grills) these cards, thereby signifying their desire to give that thing/area to God, to "sacrifice" that thing and to trust God, dying to themselves and experiencing the resurrecting power of Christ in their lives. It was an emotional moment for several students as Andrew played the Desert Song during the experience. Students responded with another short time of worship before we headed back to our housing site in silence. After a short subway ride back to Manhattan Bible Church, everyone broke up into their small groups to discuss the things we are learning and how we can bring these lessons with us back to Williamsburg.
The group is excited to have one more morning of service before a fun-filled evening at the baseball game. We look forward to returning on Saturday to share with all of you in-person our stories of transformation. Thanks again for your time of prayer this evening. Please pray that we really will finish strong in our service and that the group would continue to bond at the baseball game.
