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Day 7 Friday-Final Report New York City-July 5-12, 2008 Youth Trip-Holy Apostle Church, Katy, TX & Amor Family, S.D. (Day 6 report may be seen at the end of Day 7 report.)
We are no longer able to pass on your email messages. Thank you for supporting your team.
As you read this final trip
report I want to thank you for allowing your friends and family to
be a part of this week of ministry. The community of Brooklyn
has seen the Love of Jesus and each team member is returning home
more like our Savior-Jesus Christ. Please pray that He will
continue to pour His love on Brooklyn and
If you have any questions concerning the ministry of The Center for Short Term Missions, would like to help support our work or learn more about making trips available to other groups please email Bob at cstm@pa.net.
Thank You Again! Bob Wright Director of The Center for Short Term Missions
As this final report
is being written your team is in the sanctuary having their final
Thank you for allowing your group to be with us. Thank you for loving them. And please continue to pray that they would fall more in love with our Savior everyday.
Day 6 Thursday New York City-July 5-12, 2008 Youth Trip-Holy Apostle Church, Katy, TX & Amor Family, S.D. (Day 5 report may be seen at the end of Day 6 report.)
God has
The Russian church survey at Coney Island is producing fruit we could not even imagine. Students are praying for the family of a deaf man. Students are coming face to face with God's truth and love. Pastor Slava is learning how to be even more effective at reaching his community.
Debriefing was beautiful tonight. So many from the team shared what the Lord has been teaching them. It was a time of unity. It was a time of celebration. Please pray that the Lord would continue to make us like His Son.
If you have a message of encouragement you would like us to pass on to someone in the group email Bob at cstm@pa.net. In the subject line write "Letter from Home".
Day 5 Wednesday New York City-July 5-12, 2008 Youth Trip-Holy Apostle Church, Katy, TX & Amor Family, S.D. (Day 4 report may be seen at the end of Day 5 report.)
Here is an overview of our devotional this week. Please pray for your team that they would grip all that the Lord has for them during this time in His Word.
You’ve seen the t-shirts, the commercials, the extreme sports, and maybe even a few of your friends embracing the popular “no fear” logo & concept. It has led to innumerable dare-devilish, death-defying stunts across the country, with the participants becoming heroes in the eyes of many; a few seconds of insanity resulting in notoriety, admiration and pride. Shows like “Fear Factor” are even adding financial gain to the list of rewards for staring fear in the face. “Evidently, fear is not a factor for you” is the parting comment to the winning party at the end of each show, shortly before receiving the $50,000 prize.
The truth is: fear IS a factor for all of us. Most will not have the opportunity to traverse the side of a burning building in this lifetime, but everyone has and will continue to experience fear in one form or another. In fact, you are likely walking into this trip with many anxieties yourself. Do any of the following hit home for you?
*Fear of harm (What if I come across a snake? A crack vile? A street fight?) *Fear of rejection (What if the people I’m trying to care for don’t listen to what I have to say? What if I get laughed at?) *Fear of not fitting in (What if I “don’t get along” with the rest of the group? What if I’m not funny enough? Interesting enough? Or don’t have anything to contribute to conversations?) *Fear of looking stupid (Who came up with this dress code anyway!? And how am I supposed to survive without my curling iron!?) *Fear of failure (What if our drama flops? What if no one comes to know the Lord?What will my supporters think?) *Fear of discomfort (How am I going to cope with no air conditioning? Food that I’m not used to? Cold showers? Sleeping on the floor?)
What do we do with these fears? Could they be considered somewhat reasonable (at least compared to some of the crazy phobias that are out there)? And how do we handle the fact that some passages of Scripture prohibit fear while others actually command it? Is God a schizophrenic?
The goal of these studies is to help you discover God’s perspective on fear and what role, if any, it should play in the life of a believer. By the end of the week, we trust that you will “KNOW FEAR” in a way that you never have before and that this newfound knowledge will truly set you free!
This team has been fantastic. They are giving all the energy they have. They are connecting with those they meet. They are caring well for each other and they are experiencing their God in even greater ways. I am convinced that God is pleased with His children.
If you have a message of encouragement you would like us to pass on to someone in the group email Bob at cstm@pa.net. In the subject line write "Letter from Home".
Day 4 Tuesday New York City-July 5-12, 2008 Youth Trip-Holy Apostle Church, Katy, TX & Amor Family, S.D. (Day 3 report may be seen at the end of Day 4 report.)
The Amor family and the youth group from Katy have become one. Circumstances have brought us to the point where both groups are doing the same ministry so reports from here on out will be referring to both groups together.
I think the thing that jumps out at me the most concerning this groups ministry today is the boldness with which it occurred. So many shared about their love for Jesus so openly and directly. This took place in a church tower with Caleb, on the boardwalk at Coney Island with so many, at camp and during VBS.
Your group is falling in love with the children they are meeting. They are playing with them and praying with them. The look forward to the next day of camp or vbs just to see them again. Praise the Lord with me that this group has been so eager to care.
If you have a message of encouragement you would like us to pass on to someone in the group email Bob at cstm@pa.net. In the subject line write "Letter from Home".
Day 3 Monday New York City-July 5-12, 2008 Youth Trip-Holy Apostle Church, Katy, TX & Amor Family (Days 1 & 2 reports may be seen at the end of Day 3 report.)
The teams are doing it
all. Today teams helped to re-point the church tower,
Please pray for your team that the Lord would give them the strength they need, that He would continue to give them the joy they have and the craving to serve.
If you have a message of encouragement you would like us to pass on to someone in the group email Bob at cstm@pa.net. In the subject line write "Letter from Home".
Day 1& 2-Saturday & Sunday New York City-July 5-12, 2008 Youth Trip-Holy Apostle Church, Katy, TX & Amor Family
Welcome friends from Katy, TX. Your group arrived safely Saturday afternoon. After moving in and getting a quick bite to eat the team headed to Grace Baptist Church, our host ministry, for an orientation with Pastor Rob Sundholm. His stories of God's work in this community amazed us. Please pray for the team that God would have His way in us and through us to this community this week.
We concluded our day with a prayer walk back to the church we are staying it several blocks away and a time of debriefing to discuss our expectations and fears for the trip.
Sunday was a busy day with the team attending and sharing in a Spanish service, a Sunday School class, an English service and a Russian service. While it was tuff to understand all that was being said the team was blessed by the time or song we all shared together.
The team spent the afternoon
preparing 700 gift bags containing flyers advertising
Our mother/daughter team from Sioux Falls arrived Sunday evening. Check back for updates on their ministry to the homeless of NYC.
Please pray for the team this week as they seek to grow more into a likeness of Jesus while serving this local ministry.
If you have a message of encouragement you would like us to pass on to someone in the group email Bob at cstm@pa.net. In the subject line write "Letter from Home".
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that He will continue to mold each of us into His image as we move
through the following weeks, months and years.
been so good to us. The work on the tower is progressing
nicely. Drew and the team continue to fill the gaps between
the stones with concrete while developing wonderful relationships
with some of the teens from the community that are helping.
Our
time at Covenant House, a shelter for teens, was indescribable.
The Lord introduced one of the team to a residence dealing with the
very same challenges. The Lord had several of your teens share
their testimony. "Mayo" connected with several around the
piano being able to share the Love of Jesus with them.
Everyone left touched, challenged and encouraged. 
Please
pray for us as we continue to move through this week with even more
of God's courage to share
His love with others. And please pray that each participant
will continue to see that our relationship with Jesus is a 24/7
privilege. 
our upcoming VBS, a Gospel
tract and a CD entitled, "How to Live Forever!" It took less
then an hour to distribute all 700 gift bags.