Adventures Staff Ryan Stewart gives a behind-the-scenes view of set up and leading a youth group trip to New York City – and shares a cool story of a practicing witch asking for prayer.
In 2014 I was tasked with the project of finding new ministry partners in New York City.
While this was my first time doing logistical planning like this, it actually ended up really well. God definitely had my back on NUMEROUS occasions!
Through someone else who works in the Adventures office, I was connected with Salvation Army up there… and they were a Godsend many different times. I then got connected with an organization called The Relief Bus that ended up being an incredible ministry. And then through a lot of different people I met some guys (who used to be affiliated with YWAM & The Brooklyn Tabernacle) who do a Prayer Station ministry in Brooklyn that ended up being a ministry favorite by many participants.
During this first trip, the group of 15 split into two groups on Monday & Wednesday and worked with two different Salvation Armies and served at their soup kitchens and then helped with their day-camp type ministry.
On Tuesday, we all participated with Pastor James doing prayer stations in Columbus Park in Brooklyn. For over a decade, James and his team have been praying with people in this park as they walk by.
*Pastor James and I on the Brooklyn Promenade
It can be quite intimidating trying to start conversations with complete strangers. You definitely encounter the people who want absolutely nothing to do with you, but it’s so encouraging when people genuinely accept your offer to pray with them. It reminds you of the need that EVERYONE has for love and compassion.
It was AMAZING seeing the boldness and fearlessness these kids had! They repeatedly went up to complete strangers and very genuinely met them where they were and asked them if they could pray with them.
One of the coolest stories I heard from our time here at the Prayer Station was from a group of girls who ended up praying for woman who was a practicing witch. Somehow they got talking about Joel Osteen, and the woman was talking about how he is a “pagan preacher” and how ‘they’ (witches) love what he preaches because it’s so similar to what they believe. She went on to say how she was pleasantly surprised by these girls (the participants) because they were the most genuine Christians she’d ever met. She even let them pray for her!
A witch wanted these Christian girls to pray for her! How cool is that!?
One question that we ask on our trip evaluation, that every participant fills out at the end of the trip is, “What was one way you grew closer to God on this trip?” Here’s what some of them said:
– It made me less shy to share what I believe…
– Praying with people on the streets
– I grew closer to God when I felt the holy spirit in me, telling me to go out and share God’s love.
– I had to lean on him for confidence & endurance
– I was stretched. I had to learn to listen to his leading.
– I felt his presence and could feel him challenging me. …by going out of my way to talk to people that are so different from me.
There is nothing better than seeing how God works on a trip, how he weaves all of the pieces together for his glory.
For more information on summer 2015 trips to New York City, click here.
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