Stories from all over our city & beyond

Our team made its way to Madina Charcoal grill. We were supposed to eat at a burger place, but after searching for a while and uncovering a lovely park we didn’t know was there, we landed at Madina. It was very small and at first glance, did not look like it would accommodate our party for seating. Amazingly, they had a hidden basement area, and it seemed like we would have the very small area all to ourselves, but that only lasted a few minutes.

Then two Indian couples came in, the women were both wearing saris. We said hello as they entered and carried on. When our food arrived, we blessed our food and ate and visited amongst ourselves, not long after, their food arrived, they ate and visited amongst themselves.

As we finished up, our team began to go off and wash their hands, use the restrooms and wait outside. Most of our team had headed back upstairs, I waited for Kasaundra, but also went up and grabbed a to go box because we had a lot of good food left over. I packed it up with the hope that we might encounter someone in need, so it would not be wasted.

As I packed up the food, the 2 couples were also starting to get ready to leave, but I sensed a lingering. One of the men seemed unable to resist asking us if we were from the “east coast,” I knew what he meant and said in my most silly Texas accent, “nope, we are from Tex-us, Dallas” everyone laughed and seemed to appreciate my silliness. I asked if they had been in London all their lives and he said yes, but east London.

He said they were getting tired of it though, because it was getting so busy. I said, I know what you mean. That was happening in Dallas. He said “really?” in a very surprised tone. I said, “oh yes, especially folks from California,” again I was being a little silly to keep things light. They laughed.

[My teammate] added that in Texas, we don’t have a property tax and our cost of living is reasonably low, especially compared to other parts of the country, like California, but I added “yeah, but folks seem determined to drive it up, supply and demand,” also in a lighthearted joking way that they seemed to appreciate.

He wanted to know if it was true that Texas wanted to be its own country. I said yes, but you can’t believe everything you read and hear. He asked if I thought that would ever happen and I said “no”. That seemed to help segue into what he really wanted to talk about, Trump. I had done my research, looking up American news interests in London, Trump’s latest conviction was at the top of the list of British/American news that day. He started talking about Trump and Biden, and I said, “yes,” agreeing with a lot of what he was saying, but I added that “we are Christians, it is our job to look to the Lord and trust God for our leadership above all, pray for our leaders, and keep our faith strong and our eyes on God.”

He knew his stuff, he asked if we were “evangelical Christians,” a group he seemed to know full well, Trump aligns himself with. I said “yes, but again, you can’t believe everything you read and hear in the news.” He spoke about how Trump was smart, manipulating voters, seemingly playing both sides, and I agreed, and I added “that that is what many politicians do, but again, we pray for our leaders and trust God.” He went on to say more about Trump and Biden, comparing their presidencies, death and war on each of their watches while in office and I listened, but ended as we were inching toward the door, knowing our team was all waiting outside, I reiterated “we have a strong faith in God as Christians, and the upcoming election and presidencies and government and so much more, is why we are desperately dependent on Jesus. These are all the things that we pray for and look to God to for help and guidance.” The conversation was pleasant and light, despite the potentially heavy subject matter. In the end, I am pretty sure that I had made the point that we weren’t on any side, but the side of our faith and trust in God. I believe I had presented a strong argument for Jesus, and that was all that I was led to do before moving along. I pray that God used my pleasant demeanor, filled with love for the Lord and the hope that I have in Him to be a witness, despite what this man may have heard or judged of Christians. They wished us well and we did the same.

I was telling my Uber driver about the sense of peace I had after all the adversity I have come through. And he said he wanted that and asked how I got it, and how he could get it. I told him to pursue Jesus Christ with all the effort he could muster.

[He] was our tour guide and we were able ask him to join Sue and I for a drink after the tour. Both his parents are atheists but Jimmy was open to spiritual conversations. We shared the gospel with him and he was visibly moved. We are continuing our conversation via Instagram. Praying for God’s Spirit to capture his heart.

We started a summer discipleship group for high school girls who had been in our youth group at the NCC. On the first day, one girl came. She was not the girl I was expecting, but it turned out to be God’s sovereign plan for her to be there. We started out just by chatting about where she was in her relationship with the Lord. She expressed a hunger to read the Bible and pray more. As we talked, it became clear she had never given her life to the Lord. So I used the three circles visual to share the gospel with her. She decided she wanted to trust Jesus as her Savior — praise God! We prayed together and she accepted Jesus. Then we did a little Bible study together so she can start learning how to know God through the Bible. God has been repeatedly showing me how He accomplishes His work in people’s heart, and we get the joy of Him inviting us into it! I’m so glad that He worked out this discipleship group according to His plan and not mine :).

While in Brixton, [we] met a man in the park who was sitting by himself. He was an artist and musician who had endured an incredible amount of trauma throughout his life. We were overwhelmed with his warm, friendly demeanor in our conversation, recommending places we should go and things we “had to see” while we were in London. As he unpacked his life for us we asked if we could bless him with prayer, especially for healing over the trauma and loss he was so burdened by, which he gratefully accepted. Afterwards with tears in his eyes he thanked us for taking time to talk with him and described how lonely London is and how desperate he was for connection with others. We told him about Kahaila (one of our ministry partners) and how it’s a safe place for him to find healing relationships with others through Jesus. He was cautious but hopeful!

While eating at a Jamaican restaurant in Brixton we encountered a father and son having lunch. They were very helpful in recommending what to get and showed us great hospitality. After we talked with them for a bit we asked if there was anyway we could pray for them. They both looked at each other and chuckled. Apparently they had just finished a lengthy spiritual conversation between themselves. [The father] was raised Catholic and his son has been trying to explain the salvation that Jesus alone brings as we walk in relationship with Him. Although [he] assured us that he prays every night, we assured him we’d be praying that Jesus reveals who He truly is to him.

I was buying a pair of shoes. Struck up a conversation with the worker. He asked what I did for a living, and I told him I was a minister. I also saw him wearing a cross necklace so I asked him what that meant to him. His response was that it was a gift from his girlfriend. He hoped to get engaged to her soon, but he has to do confirmation class first. So he asked me what that was all about. I told him I wasn’t sure what all they did, but that I was happy to meet with him and talk about what the Bible says Jesus did for him and how it could mean a lot from him. I was able to leave my name and phone number with him and he said he would reach out to talk more.

Work colleague and I were both in our NY office for the day, working in the same conference room. Gave me a chance to hear more of his story, and to share the Gospel. [He] and his wife have recently been through a painful 2 years with one of their children, and it was extreme. He shared the fear and anxiety that he lived with during that season. I shared how I have leaned on the Gospel in periods of stress and fear. [He] admitted that he’s not religious (which I took to mean that he’s an atheist). It was an open and transparent dialogue and I am hopeful of returning to the subject in the future. Please pray for [him]. Thanks!

Muslim coworker asked something about if Christians do sacrifices and I explained that before Jesus we needed them but Jesus’s sacrifice covers all my sins past, present, and future. He was flabbergasted that all my future sins are also covered! He explained that he is in constant fear of dying in between sinning and his next prayer. I am praying that this conversation touched his heart and that he desires the confidence in faith that I have in Jesus!

Today I got to visit with my friend, NA, who is Muslim. We have known each other for a few years now, but had not been in regular contact for a while. A couple months ago, God created a divine appointment for me to bump into her in Walmart, where she told me she had finally been reunited with her husband after a long immigration struggle and that she was pregnant! A friend of mine donated a box of baby clothes for her, so today I was able to visit her and drop off the clothes. She was really interested in having spiritual conversations about Jesus, the Qu’ran, and the Injeel. I was able to share with her about how my good deeds can’t save me, and why I need Jesus to rescue me from my sin. Praying she receives that message and that we can have more conversations.