For those that don't know what we did:
- We had a team of about 15 Southern Seminary students (plus two spouses and one teenager) making 18 total people who were on this trip.
- Trip lasted Saturday to Saturday.
- We were broken up into teams of four and sent to our assigned churches during the week (from about 9ish to 4ish) to help serve, based on that particular churches needs.
- Our church was Maranatha Grace, which was located in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Literally the first stop off the George Washington Bridge from NYC. Believe it or not, we had less of a commute than some of our team that stayed in NY.
Bryan and I both went into this trip knowing a little bit of what NYC is like and loving the fast-passed, diversity-driven urban atmosphere. We definitely had/ have a heart to see the many ethnically and religiously diverse people that live in these densely populated areas reached for Christ. We also came into this trip with an open heart and an open mind regarding how the Lord will use us in future ministry with such a growing passion for cities. We prayed and sought the Lord to use this experience to help better "fine-tune" our desires and give us a more realistic and focuses vision for future ministry in urban atmospheres.
When we received our ministry plan to be assigned to a church in New Jersey, several weeks prior to leaving on our trip, we were a little confused. We thought this trip was to minister to NYC church plants, not Jersey! We laughed and considered it one of the many ways the Lord humbles us....and boy did He! We were so naive to think we (and maybe I should only be talk from my perspective, because I am not sure if Bryan felt the same way I did) knew better than the Lord. He knew exactly what he was doing, of course. My skepticism was even supported when a few members of our team seemed perplexed when we said we were assigned to a church in Jersey. However, quickly did I realize the error of my ways.
We had an amazing time serving the members of Marnatha Grace. It was more of a blessing to us, I am sure, than we were to them. Each day we had a different task, which was such a joy. One day we spent clearing out a members yard of weeds, another helping with VBS decorations and canvassing, and our big finale was hanging out with some parents from the church with their kids at local history museum. It was such a fun week of serving and getting to know some wonderful people. We spent some awesome one on one time with Won Kwak, the pastor of this church who wisely answered many of our questions about Church planting and ministry in general. Bryan and I quickly realized that we discovered New Jersey's hidden gem's in the evangelical world. Won was immensely helpful and super encouraging. The kind of pastor you really want to learn from and sadly is extremely rare in this area, as well as a gospel centered church. He is loving this town and watching the Lord do marvelous things in His ministry. We greatly appreciated all his (and the entire churches) wonderful hospitality. We were so blessed by the time we were able to spend with several of the church's members, one on one.
A few things I've learned:
1.) I think we both came away from this trip laughing at how good God was to get us out of NYC (hah) and into Fort Lee, NJ. Granted, Fort Lee is a bustling area with lots of diversity and literally a 10 minute drive through the Lincoln Tunnel to Times Square, we did enjoy seeing some familiar places like malls, Moe's Southwest Grill and houses with yards. We greatly enjoyed being in NYC. We love the buzz and the ministry that is currently going on, but we feel the Lord brought us out of the city for good reason. We were pleasantly surprised that you can live in Jersey and still maintain all the benefits of living in NYC!
Especially when you consider a place like Fort Lee. Possibly as diverse in demographics as NYC, Fort Lee and its adjacent "towns" have a more family friendly feel. Not, that the NYC isn't, it is. We just felt less intimidated by Fort Lee and less inhibited. Living in NYC you must make certain sacrifices to live. I don't mean that in a morbid way, just a practical way. Like for example; you may want to limit the number of children you have based on the sizes of apartments and price. If your ministry is in Manhattan and your forced to live, based on affordability in Brooklyn or Queens, you really have lost a great area of influence in your ministry area simply because you aren't living there. That is just one example. We're not sure if we are at the point where we want to start making some of these limitations on our family plan. Of course there are other sacrifices; but to us, these are all understood based on the nature of living in an urban enviorment, like taking public transportation vs. owning a car, easy grocery shopping, in-house laundry and so many other things we take for granted living in the suburbs. Having said these things; it isn't impossible to do with a large family, just very difficult (and maybe impractical based on what we are currently accustomed to).
2.) Being so close to such a major city is a glimpse into the nations. It goes without saying that NYC (and its surrounding cities) has the most ethnically, racially and religiously diverse demographic than any other city in the world. You literally have almost every nation accounted for and only a stones throw away. I love this. At any moment, and depending on what block you are on, you can literally be transported into the streets of China, Egypt, Arabia, Italy, etc. Which, to me, made evangelism and "connecting" to people so much more difficult.
I found it insanely difficult to have impromtu conversations with strangers; much less trying to work the gospel in there was needless to say, hard! It made me super convicted about the extreme lack of urgency I have with the same opportunites at home. How easy is it to have random conversations with people here in the south? Super easy. Most of the time people want to engage. They don't like not saying 'hello' or commenting on the weather. Our biggest blessing is Mady and her glasses. I get stopped EVERY WHERE, EVERY DAY about her glasses. How easy would that be to turn into a gospel conversation? SO EASY. I was very convicted at my lack of diligence and even plain disregard for the eternal destiny of those around me and the obvious opportunities I have squandered in the past. Especially in reflecting on how very difficult it was to engage people in NYC about anything, much less the gospel. Don't get me wrong, we love these people and lots wanted to talk...but many wanted nothing to do with Christianity.
Some Praises:
1.) Two of our team members were able to see two different people of middle eastern decent and religion come to know the Lord!
2.) Bryan was able to witness to a Buddhist Monk, Church of Latter Day Saints man on his mission and a Jehovah's witness.
3.) We saw many prayers answered in sustaining us during a very hot week (on record) for NYC.
4.) We grew in friendships with many new people; from our teams and the churches we served.
5.) We are thankful for the connections made and the doors opened on this trip. We feel we have the "answers" we need regarding future ministry for our family. We expect and know that the Lord is good and will continue to use our family for His glory as longs as we keep our hearts and plans open to Him.
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