This Summer we're sending a multigenerational group of 11 to the C&MA's Envision Site in New York City. Please pray for this team and consider sending them by giving a gift by clicking the button below:
NYC Mission Trip 2025
Tuesday, Aug 12
We arrived safely in NYC! After meeting with Brian and Michelle, the Envision Site leaders, and having some lunch with them, the ladies headed out to assist with an ESL class hosted by a partner ministry nearby. The guys went on a prayer walk around the neighborhood, visiting a few stores run by Africans.
Over dinner from a local Halal cart, we shared about our experiences, reflecting on the challenges and brokenness that surrounds us. There's hardship and brokennes everyone, but in some places (like this particular neighborhood in the Bronx), you can see it a little more easily. We reflected on 2 Peter 3:9 and the fact that God wants everyone to come to repentance. He was gracious with us, and is seeking after those who are far from him.
Thank you all for your prayers and support of this trip--we're excited to see what the Lord does in and through us here in NYC.
Please pray for boldness among the team--that we wouldn't be shy to speak to those whom we feel the Lord leading us to approach and that we would be fully engaged in the ministries here!
Wednesday, Aug 13
What a full day! We started the morning at Brian & Michelle's house with a devotion on Psalm 24 and training through an asylum experience.
We went to Church of the City's Prayer Room at noon, where we reflected on Isaiah 40, and debriefed over sandwiches in Central Park.
We then headed over to Brooklyn to work with several men and teens from West Africa who are learning English.
We stopped by a local market to buy some food to bring with us to Tim & Sarah Shutes house, sharing a meal with their small group. On the way, we got caught in a thunderstorm, so we got a little soaked! Tim grew up attending State College Alliance and then ACF. He and his wife are planting an Alliance Church in NYC out of the City Light Churches in Philadelphia. It was so good to see them again and hear how God is moving in their social circles.
Please pray for Tim & Sarah and their church plant. Specifically, they are praying for opportunities to share the gospel and for new believers. On Sunday, one of their members who was at the small group is inviting a group of his friends to come to church--please pray that they'll join them!
Thursday, Aug 14
Today was very similar to yesterday, starting at Brian & Michelle's house with some more training, heading to the Prayer Room at Church of the City followed by English Classes at their partner organization in Brooklyn.
It was great to reconnect with several of their students for a second day in a row. When it came time to go, several were sad that we wouldn't be back for their classes next week..
As we get further into the week, the newness of the city is beginning to wear off--it's easy to get overwhelmed and exhausted from constantly navigating public transportation and being around millions of people.
Please pray for strength and energy for the team as we head into one more ministry day before having a day off (Sabbath) on Saturday.
Friday, Aug 15
We began our day, as usual, at Brian and Michelle's apartment with training--this time preparing us to attend the Friday prayers at the Mosque of the Islamic Cultural Center of NYC. At the mosque, the guys sat along the side and observed and the girls had to sit upstairs in the balcony in a separate section for women. We listened as the Imam read the Koran in Arabic and gave a message in English.
We were joined by Pastor Tony from a near by Spanish speaking Alliance Church who then welcomed us into their fellowship space to debrief and talk about how we felt and what we observed asking questions like: What does the gospel affirm? What does the gospel critique? What could the gospel redeem?
We then headed over to Jacques and Andrea Bamogo's house. They are from Burkina Faso and are now working for Envision New York. They shared their stories and a wonderful meal with us!
Please pray for Jacque and Andrea - they are not yet fully funded, and they have dreams of starting a church for people coming to Jesus from other faiths.. You can support them on the Alliance's Giving Page, click the yellow "a worker you love" link, and then type their last name in the search box.
Also, pray for Pastor Tony and the ministry of their church. They also started an ESL program a few years ago and are training new teachers to help reach new people!
Saturday, Aug 16
Today we took a day of rest, a sabbath.Different team members chose to spend the day in different ways. Some toured the city, others spent time in Central Park or caught a show and ate good food!
Sunday, Aug 17
Today we had another training session with Brian and Michelle. Each morning at their house, we've started the day with a devotional, reading scripture together AND a trivia game. We split up into two teams, and, as of this morning, we're tied at 2 wins each. We'll have the final trivia show down tomorrow morning to determine the winner for the week!
We prayer walked the neighborhood around Brian and Michelle's apartment and, through a part of town called "Little Africa" with shops selling goods from Senegal and other West African countries. We ended at the West African Market.
From there, we traveled downtown for lunch at John's Pizzeria, which is located in the first church building of the C&MA, which also housed their Missionary training institute. The first 5 missionaries sent out by the Alliance went to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and we attended Église Évangélique amour du Christ, a church in NYC founded by a pastor whose grandparents came to faith through the work of C&MA Missionaries! The church was warm and welcoming and glad to have us visiting!
We ended the day with dinner together and another walk through a thunderstorm on our way to the subway!
Please pray for the work this church and their pastor, Prince Mabiala, who is bi-vocational. Pray for the team as well as we wrap up our time and reflect on what we've experienced and learned over this week.
Monday, Aug 18
We spent our final day with the Envision NYC Team. In the morning we spent time with the Bomogo Family. Emily and Rebecca helped to teach Andrea a few different recipes that we all shared for lunch. The rest of us spent time playing soccer with a few of their boys and some other local boys.
After lunch, we had one final training and debrief session. In addition to practicing a gospel presentation using three circles, they also taught us a micro testimony story format using these simple sentence starters:
- There was a time when...
- But more recently...
- Have you ever felt that way?
For example, you could say, "There was a time when I felt far from God and had no hope. But more recently, I've learned that he's with me and will never leave me. Have you ever felt that way?"
As we return home, we will continue to process what we learned and experienced. We were extremely blessed to be able to spend this week in NYC and this wouldn't have been possible without your financial and prayer support. We are so grateful for a church family that believes in missions and is willing to send us into the field to learn and grow. Thank you for following along on our journey!
Envision NYC
Envision NYC believes that every person in NYC should have the opportunity to experience the love, the truth, and the power of God. The full-time team seeks out and partners with immigrant communities to provide Gospel access to all people.
Learn more at their website!