reply, ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
Jim, Melissa, Briana, (Matt 25:40 NIV)
Jocelyn & Isaac URBAN MISSIONS REPORT
OUR CALL OPERATIONS
We are inner-city The bus team begins at
missionaries to the 7:30a.m. by cooking a poor, addicted, and vegetable-rice soup, and abused in New York the hot cocoa in the win- City and New Jer- ter or lemonade in the sey. summer. The team also stops by two bakery’s to We work at NYCR— pick up bread and stock The Relief Bus, by the bus for the day. connecting those on the street such as drug addicts, As The Bus pulls into the homeless, “that day’s” location, the prostitutes, victims team opens the windows of injustice and on the side of the bus and abuse, struggling starts serving food to families, and others people on the sidewalk. to help and hope.
We believe in Then, the team hangs out
sharing God’s love with the people eating and to the unchurched through conversation, Emilio Razo (center of pic) has been struggling with alcohol- through meeting identifies their immediate ism. He is here from Mexico, his wife has been cheating on their practical needs, prays, connects him, and as you can imagine, he has been very depressed. He needs and them to resources for wants help and is willing to do what it takes to get free. friendship help, and the opportunity evangelism! for them to receive the He has a Jehovah Witness background, but we talked to him love of God and about Jesus and the freedom he will bring to his life if he lets to surrender to Him. Him. Nef (left side of pic) was translating for me, and we have CONTACT connected him with Anchor House, a Christian's men's rehab in Brooklyn. We prayed for Emilio and sent him on his way. Jim & Melissa Berry 36A Parkway Village Cranford, NJ 07016 Emilio arrived at Anchor House, but he is now being referred (908)276-0760 to Victory Outreach in Brooklyn for recovery, please pray for a jim@nycr.org good Christian Spanish connection and that Emilio finds the help he needs. He is a poor wanderer, in need of God's grace. www.facebook.com/ jimberryIII Melissa ministers to a mother who regularly Nov. 5th, Melissa met Raphael at stops by The Relief Tremont Park. He wanted help, but Bus. She has six chil- he was afraid to trust people dren. Melissa was because he's been take advantage of able to find clothes in the past. He's from Puerto Rico. for her children He's been here for 2 years, home- through donations we less, and sleeps from bench to received. Pray for her bench. At the time, she was just able and her family as we to pray for him and gave him some continue to minister bread, bananas and hygiene God's love to her. products.
The next Thursday, on Nov. 12th,
Juan Ascencia (center), Melissa was with a team taking soup has been having family and hot chocolate out on trays to issues, feelings of people, and she saw Raphael again loneliness, depression, in front a store with a group of peo- which has lead to ple. He said, "Can you help me?" "I alcoholism. The moment have no family, I'm lonely." The team we met him, he was so brought Raphael back to the bus to broken, afraid, and des- get some clothes. We gave him info perate for love and for for shelter, but he's still hesitate to help. get help, though he wants help. Please pray for Raphael to find free- We shared the Gospel of dom from fear and ultimately give his Jesus Christ with him, heart to God. and he made a decision for Christ! He also had a very strong desire to get connected to a local church, so we con- Melissa ministers to a homeless man. She nected him to Pastor sat down next to him while he was eating Sam at Christ Love Min- soup on a park bench. She was unable to istries, just a few blocks remember his name, but he's been home- away from our location. less for 2 years. She was able to pray for him and give him info for the Queen of Please pray for Juan's Peace shelter. Pray for more opportunity walk in Christ and that to know him and share Jesus with him. he can be effectively discipled at the church.
With God, your prayers and support continually make a difference in reaching out to those in need of God’s message of love and grace. Thank you for your support!