Missions Trip

It was a short trip to New York City, just six others and me on a two-night mission to New York School of Urban Ministry.

NYSUM’s purpose is to train and equip Christian workers to reclaim our cities for Christ. One of the ways they do this is by ministering to people on the streets with the love of Jesus in practical ways such as giving out blankets, food, drink, reading materials and prayer plus spending time talking with them.

On Friday, our first night out we went to the streets late so we could find people as they settled down in the place where they would sleep for the night. We spoke kindly to them, gave them a sandwich, bottled water and reading material while showing respect for each one we would meet. It was our joy to impart hope, giving words of love and encouragement while speaking destiny into their lives.

Saturday (day two), we helped at the mission base in the kitchen (which we did the night before also). We went to serve at the soup and bread bus where we were able to talk with people and offer prayer. Some people were standing around and others were on their way somewhere. Some appeared to be on drugs. It was an eye-opening afternoon in the midst of so many interesting people we had contact with.

After dinner, we went to a women’s shelter where we played a board game with the women (Apples to Apples) and shared together in word and song. One of the women told some of us about spiritual warfare in that place. It is so important to cover work like this in prayer – thank you to all who prayed for this mission and our team!

Homeless are in many places. I have seen them in Nashville, Tennessee, in London, England, in Asheville, North Carolina and Durres, Albania. One does not have to look far to encounter someone who has no place to call home. If we look around and befriend more strangers, some of them will have a roof over their heads but they still need the love, prayer, discipleship and hope we can offer. People need what we have—they need Jesus.

My encouragement to those reading this short report is for you to make yourself available to go to people and places of this world to see things you’ve never experienced before. Go. Pray and ask others to cover you with prayer. Be ready to serve God and let Him wreck your world (in a good way!).

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“Is this not the fast that I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house, when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, your recovery will speedily spring forth, and your righteousness will go before you. The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 58:6-8

Shawna Gessler moved to PA about a year ago. She attends CCC and has a passion to see unborn children treated with respect & dignity.