Day two in the Big Apple

Today we went up to the edge of Harlem to work at the York Common Food Pantry. It is one of New York's largest pantries. They feed 1800 families a week and serve over 3oo breakfasts five days a week and up to 400 dinners three days a week.

Gladys showed us what to do and for three and a half hours we packed food bags and distributed them to a crowd that came in to take them. Today was senior citizen day and the hall was filled with people ready to go even before we arrived. It was non-stop work until we c leaned up and got ready to go at 1:30 p.m.

The Pantry also ministers to the poor and the homeless by providing just about every kind of service you can imagine. Gladys described their services and we just stood there amazed. From social workers to showers and dog food, this community ministry went beyond anything most of us have ever seen.

We had lunch in a pizza parlor in Harlem and then stopped by a market place. Then we rode the train out to Brooklyn. We got off on 54th Street and crossed over to the church. As we were approaching the building we came up behind a man who started asking the neighbors if they could help with the prayer station. He began complaining out loud that he was going to be all alone. He didn't know what God was going to do. He got louder and louder and suddenly some of us realized we had been punked.

Robert saw the group of fifteen in their neon green shirts and immediately recognized us as the group of volunteers for the prayer station and decided to have some fun with us. He got us. Robert is a lay leader and has been doing a lot of extra ministry while Pastor Larry Piita recuperates after a near fatal accident last month.

He gave us a history of the church and shared about their long standing ministry to the homeless. Pastor Larry regularly distributes sandwiches to the poor and counsels them in love. Our job today was to simply be a presence in the community. We set up a prayer station, handed out tracks and greeted the neighbors as they walked by the church. We had three or four people stop and ask for prayer. One many asked for healing. Another was asking for help to get a job. A third man asked God to use him to make a difference in the world. We also prayed with Robert and for the church.

Before we left Robert then prayed for us and asked God to bless our ministries. It was a real nice moment and it empowered us as we headed back home. We were pretty beat and we decided to pass on going out to dinner and have it brought in instead. We found a great local restaurant that delivered and we ate out on the deck of the hotel. It was a nice end to a busy day of service.

Here are a few photos of the fun we had in God's name today.

That's all for now. I'll write more tomorrow.

Cal

Day one of the mission to New York

My feet are sore as I get ready for bed after Day one of our New York City Mission Trip. The group must have walked a good six or seven miles but a few of us added even more with a couple of side trips.

We are staying at the Fairfield Inn on Long Island City, Queens. It is a nice place and we began the day with a free continental breakfast. We liked the price. At 8:30 a.m. we left and headed for the subway. It was an hour and a half ride from the hotel to Coney Island which is on the outer shores of the borough of Brooklyn. We never knew New York City was so big.

We got to the Salt and Sea Mission just before 10:00 a.m. and met Rocco, the business manager. He informed us that Pastor Debbie Santiago was in the hospital in serious condition. She had pneumonia and ended up having surgery and after more complications was scheduled for more surgery today.

He showed us a video that explained what they did at the mission and then we worshipped with several members of the community, some other short term missionaries from Ohio and the staff. The staff called on us to lead the worship service. I opened with prayer and then the group from Ohio lead the singing and shared some testimonies. Then one of their young people gave a short message about how God is always with us.

We didn't know they would call on us to help lead worship but Melanie and I led some singing and June Deptulski offered a short testimony. The staff member then shocked Sandy by asking her to offer a prayer. Sandy froze and her sister, Sharon stepped up and did a great job of closing the service.

The Mission packs food bags for people and they began coming up to get them at noon. There were a lot of volunteers today and somehow Rocco got word that we weren't coming so they didn't expect us. He told me they always had things to do so five of us went out to the Boardwalk with snacks and tracts. It was a stretch for most of us because we haven't done that before but it was ok. We had a number of copies of Daily Bread to share and several people actually wanted them.

At 2:00 p.m. we did a short devotional and prayer and then headed for lower Manhattan to make our firehouse visits. We had five visits scheduled for the fire stations around ground zero. It was an hour ride into the city on the subway and then a lot of walking. We got to see China Town, Wall Street, South Street Seaport and Ground Zero.

You won't believe this. Our visits to the first two fire houses were interrupted by fire calls. The bell rang and the guys were off while we were chatting with them. We stood outside the stations and prayed for the guys as they took off. We had gift bags for them filled with all kinds of goodies made in Connecticut. We also gave them a poster which was a reprint of a painting hanging in Washington, DC signed by Julie's husband's uncle.

We stopped for lunch and then finished up and of the last three stops, one left for a call and one was out on a call when we visited. All day we only made one visit and got to give our whole spiel. The firemen in New York really do need our prayers because they are always on the move serving and protecting the people of the city.

After finishing up our assignments, a part of the group headed to Time Square for a short visit. Some of the group had never been there. It was an experience. The lights, the crowds and the noise were amazing.

Here are a few photos from our adventure.

It was a long day and I'm turning in. Stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Cal

Settling in as we prepare for our first day

We arrived in New ork last night. Melanie, Barbara, Doreen, Michelle and Taylor got here before dinner and did a good job of scouting out the area. They learned that the hotel was offering a free barbecue dinner to the guests and they obliged. Then they took a walk to the Food Lion to pick up some groceries for our bag lunch on Thursday.

The rest of us arrived at 8:50 p.m. and got settled in within the next half hour. They we went ot onto the deck and had our first devotion of the trp. I talked about looking for Jesus in the people we met as we ministered to "the least of these." Were-introduced ourselves and spent a little time in prayer for friends and family.

There is another group in the hotel this week for Waco, Texas here to do mission work. They have mostly teen-agers and they shared a bit of what they have done already. We learned that the pastor who runs Salt and Sea Mission is in the hospital in serious condition. She has an incredible story and we are praying for her. We go there this morning.

It is supposed to rain but I believe we will be inside most of the morning and be safe under cover. It is sad because we will be just off Coney Island and the beach today an no be able to enjoy it. (No roller coaster for me!)

This afternoon we head down to the area around Ground Zero to visit five fire houses and to deliver our care packages. I'll write more later. We are leaving for the day in fifteen minutes. For a few in our group this will be their first subway ride. Woo hoo!

Cal

Sent off to serve in New York on Thursday

This morning during worship we commissioned our New York City Mission team. It was very nice. We prayed with them and promised to cover them all week long.

The team will leave on Wednesday night and make their first stop at the Salt and Sea Mission on coney Island. The mission was established in 1987 as a statement of Christian faith by Debbe Santiago. While Debbe was still homeless, the Lord led her to minister to homeless people under the boardwalk in Coney Island with food, clothing and the Bible.

The outreach program expanded to Debbe Santiago's home. Homeless men and women were able to take showers, have dinners and Bible studies. Debbe also allowed homeless women to live there. The street ministry was conducted out of a shopping cart filled with food, clothing and compassion for those whose only shelter and comfort were found under the boardwalk and in subway stations.

The need for a permanent facility in Coney Island became apparent, and a small apartment was acquired. Having outgrown that space, the Mission relocated in 1991 to a larger building where it is presently housed. By using the mission facilities, working in the streets, the subways, and having an outreach program to families in a Hotel that houses homeless families, the Salt and Sea Mission Church, Inc. provides the following services:

Food Pantry: Feeding approximately 28000 meals monthly.

Hotel Ministry: Special dinners and events each month and at holidays, feeding approximately ninety-five homeless families at each dinner. Families participate in Sunday worship services and furniture ministry and youth programs. Families receive sponsorship for apartments with Project Domiciles and follow-up for one year after getting their own apartments.

Russian Ministry: Once a week on Wednesdays

Spanish Ministry: Once a week on Fridays

Christian Fellowship: Bible studies are given five times weekly. Discipleship classes are offered separately for children and adults once a week. Prayer meetings are conducted five times a week. The Mission also provides Sunday School, and performs weddings, infant dedications and funerals.

Other Vital Ministries: There are Overcomers meetings once a week. Salt and Sea Mission Church, Inc. also offers drug and alcohol counseling, referrals to detoxification programs, job training, legal assistance, medical and dental, HIV/AIDS entitlement, literacy classes, long term residential programs, ESL classes for Russian and Spanish speaking people, reading classes for children, and outreach and food distribution to senior citizen apartment buildings

Along with these programs, there is also social service and housing advocacy, TB and HIV testing, distribution of clothing, blankets, toiletries, and assistance through the disbursement of donated furniture and household items. Salt and Sea Mission Church, Inc. is also used as a mailing address and approximately 11,000 pieces of mail are collected yearly.

The Youth Development Program offers summer camp, special excursions, Bible studies, arts and crafts, on-site recreational facilities, one-on-one counseling, after-school homework sessions, junior choirs, adopt a child, new back to school clothing, recreational time, Christmas gifts and knitwear, and new Easter and Christmas clothing.

The staff of the Salt and Sea Mission Church, Inc. are all volunteers. All food, clothing and funds of the mission are obtained through charitable contributions and grants. Tax-deductible gifts are welcome.

We can't wait to get there. The rest of the week includes work in food pantries, a prayer station and visits to give encouragement to firefighters around Ground Zero and in mid-town Manhattan. Keep us in your prayers.

Cal

Practice makes perfect

This past weekend highlighted what church is all about. It began with a surprise retirement party for Mary Brockway. Mary is not only an active member of the church family, she has also been an outstanding elementary school teacher for many years. She taught fifth grade at the Bishop School and watched several of her kids go on to achieve good things in life.

On Saturday her daughter, Amy, threw a party in Mary's honor at her home in Stonington. A few of us from church went down to mark the occasion. This is one of the special things that I have enjoyed in my ministry. Over the years I have been invited to participate in weddings, retirement celebrations, anniversary parties, graduations, Eagle scout award ceremonies and other family events. It is a reminder that church isn't just about Sunday mornings. It is about people.

Earlier this year several of us went to a fund raiser for Steve Ohlund's daughter, Anastacia. She was battling cancer and we went out to support Steve as much as anyone. When Shawn Rucker got the lead role in a play at the Spirit of Broadway theater we bought tickets and went as a group to support her. Later this summer Cassie Kane and Brandon Frechette will be tieing the knot and some of us will be on hand for that great moment.

We don't always get it right, but these events feature the church at its brightest moment. On Sunday I got to see it happen in Quaker Hill for our sister Baptist Church. Pastor Greg Hamby celebrated his fifteenth anniversary at the church and the 20th anniversary of his ordination. It was a great time. The people showered him with gifts and acknowledged the things he had done as their pastor. I know the feeling because we did the same thing here a few weeks ago on my 25th anniversary.

It's funny but a lot of people complain about the church and how often it fails them. But I think we get it right a lot more times than we get it wrong. Living the gospel as a community is a powerful thing. When we learn to be loving, forgiving, encouraging people within the church it becomes that much easier to do it out in the world.

One famous theologian once said that God created the church so we could practice Christian hospitality before we engage the world with it. I can tell you this: At First Baptist the practice is going well.

Cal