On Wednesday Sept 30th, Times Square Church Youth and Praise Choir (aka YPC) joined Raven Ministry in an all out end of the summer season outreach to the homeless and park youth.
6pm began the movement, a major in-gathering arriving from all directions to 15th Street. Like a mighty army assembled, empowered for battle and victory! Immediately and without warning, after a time of prayer, teams formed using both groups approx 60 soldiers, an invading Spirit- led army searching for the souls of man. We were armed with the word of the Lord,personal testimonies, and plenty of “Missing PEACE” tracts and invitations to the Friday night GATE. No park bench occupied by a sleeping homeless man would escape or be overlooked with troops of this amount. We combed the entire vicinity south to north and east to west. Young and old, every color had an opportunity to accept or reject the words shared and the invitations extended….. even to the farmers market crowd who were nearby.
The highlight and climax of the evening seemed to be around 7:30 as all the teams were thickly gathered at the horse statue for a time of one on one friendly evangelism, listening, and prayer. There was also a spectacular spread of food with the best spicy beef taco salad this side of the south of the border….mini gourmet sandwiches, fresh fruit, cold drinks and super delicious desserts. Birthday cakes were also provided for those in the crowd; who were reminded that God had not forgotten their birthdays. The weather was perfect and amazing as the worship filled the airwaves. The worship scattered the invisible powers of darkness that usually instigates and controls this area. People were now open to hear and be comforted! The gang regulars, drug dealers, and the gay and trans gender crowd humbled themselves and partook and received. Others just happened to be in the right place at the right time and peeked in to be blessed by the goodness of God!
God showered his presence down at one point in a concentrated sort of way and ALL recognized at some moment the awesome presence of the Lord was there. Vicky led us in “Everywhere I Look Your Love is All Around” along with other selections. Everything we had prayed for seemed to be happening or accomplished as we all acted out the movements in unity.
The evening ended with a short exaltation from a brother in YPC while others from EHF with large black garbage bags, picked up trash from the festivities. Permanent smiles where expressed on the many faces through our mini camera that captured the evening throughout the night.
Looking forward to see where the Lord will have us target in 2011….hmmmm maybe Tompkins Square Park????