New York City: A Life on the Mission
January 29, 2025
By Genesis Reyes
Oftentimes, when we think of the mission field or missions work, our minds immediately go to distant countries and overseas opportunities. We picture faraway places with unfamiliar cultures and languages, where the need for the gospel feels urgent and visible. While these opportunities are important and impactful, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the mission field begins right where we are.
New York City opened my eyes—it opened my eyes to the truth that the mission field isn’t always far away from home.
This past December, the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to serve as a member of the New York City Winter Team through Lipscomb Missions. Our team had the honor of partnering with Youth For Christ NYC and SoulCry Church. Engaging in these ministries allowed us to witness firsthand how God’s love is at work in the heart of New York City.
We woke up one morning in Nashville and, just a few hours later, stepped off a plane into the busy streets of New York—a city that felt like a whole different world. From the moment we landed, I could not only feel the excitement and anticipation of what God had planned for us, but also his presence that came before, was behind and all around us.
Each day and every moment was a gift, with God evident in the midst of it all.
The majority of our team had little to no experience with evangelizing, and the thought of sharing our faith with strangers felt daunting at first. However, one thing was certain. We were all chosen for a purpose: to share the good news. As we stepped out in faith, we discovered that God had already gone before us, preparing hearts to hear his message. There was something profoundly beautiful about the simple act of starting a conversation—listening to someone’s story, acknowledging their humanness, and speaking the name of Jesus into their lives. Each interaction reminded us of the power of prayer and how transformative it can be to offer even a moment of hope to someone who may feel unseen or forgotten.
That same spirit of Christ’s love, kindness and joy carried into our other experiences, making the most wonderful time of the year even more meaningful. This was especially true as we served with Metro World Child, an organization dedicated to helping underprivileged inner-city children. Their mission focused on breaking the cycle of poverty by sharing the Gospel and meeting the children’s needs. It was heartwarming to see faces light up as we handed each child a gift. But the deeper joy came from sharing more than presents—we shared the story of Jesus, the true reason we celebrate Christmas, planting seeds of hope and truth in their hearts. The excitement in their eyes wasn’t just from the gifts, but from hearing about the love of a Savior who came to bring light into the world.
In continuation of the Christmas spirit, one of the most joyful experiences of our time in New York City was caroling with SoulCry Church. As we filled the air with holiday songs, we also offered hot chocolate and made balloon animals for children, bringing smiles to faces and warming hearts of all ages. The music became an invitation, drawing people in and allowing us to show kindness in a simple yet meaningful way, while sharing the message of Christmas and the love of Christ, while inviting them to be a part of the community at SoulCry.
Beyond sharing joy through music, we also had the privilege to serve in a more hands-on way, serving at a food pantry in a building that was more than a place used to distribute food, but also served as a church and a shelter. This space, despite its simplicity, is a refuge for those who are navigating difficult circumstances, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. they made the most of the resources available to them, serving Christ through His people and using everything for the glory of God. It was all worship.
What truly made this experience so special were the connections that we were able to build with each other and the people we were able to meet along the way. Whether we were having conversations on our way to and from our destinations, or as we engaged in service projects together, each interaction felt deeply meaningful. Specifically, engaging with SoulCry Church was inspiring through the warmth of the community, the powerful worship, and the shared message of God’s truth.
Friday night’s youth gathering gave us the chance to connect with, listen to, and share encouragement in our walk of faith with other people our age. It wasn’t just about what we could give them, but about the exchange of different life experiences and stories, allowing us to realize how powerful it can be to speak life into someone else’s journey, also growing and strengthening our own faith. As we spent time together over dinner, worship, devotion, and games, the Lord’s presence was truly evident, drawing us closer to him and to one another.
Sunday morning’s church service was a beautiful way to reflect on our journey and smoothly transition toward the end of our trip. In prayer, I remember being incredibly thankful, yet as I reflected on all we had encountered throughout the past week, my heart ached. It grew larger and more open to serving those who are weak, vulnerable, in need, poor, orphaned, windowed, and suffering—just as Jesus calls us to do in Scripture. The atmosphere, full of reverence for him, filled the auditorium, the classrooms and the hallways of the elementary school where they gather each week to worship the one, true, living God.
Through these moments, we experienced a small glimpse of what heaven will be like—people from all walks of life, united in Christ’s presence. There was such beauty and sweetness in witnessing how Jesus brings people together, transcending backgrounds and differences, and binding us with a common purpose of worshiping and loving him. It is powerful to know that the body of Christ, though diverse, is united by one Savior, and that one day we will experience this unity in its complete fullness in heaven, alongside him.
This was more than just another opportunity, this was a blessing for each and every one of our lives and we hope and pray we were a blessing to those we encountered along the way, as much as they were a blessing to us.
Specifically, Kyle and Sandra—both men and women of God with powerful, beautiful, and transformative testimonies—left a deep and lasting impact on our hearts. Kyle, our host partner who guided us through the streets of New York, was passionate about sharing his faith and had a heart for reaching others with God’s love. In the quiet moments as we traveled through the subway, Kyle encouraged us to use that time to ask the Lord what he wanted to teach us throughout our trip. It was a simple yet powerful invitation to quiet our hearts and listen, reminding us that moments of solitude often bring us closest to God, allowing us to hear from him more clearly.
Sandra was known for her heart for evangelizing, always carrying a sweet and beautiful smile wherever she went. She was especially vital to the Hispanic community in New York, making a significant impact through her genuine love and devotion to sharing the Gospel. Her presence was a constant reminder of how the love of Christ can shine brightly through you.
For Kyle and Sandra, this wasn’t just a one-week, seven-day experience—New York City was their home, and evangelizing was a natural part of their everyday life. No matter who they came across as they walked the streets, they consistently shared the message of Christ. Their boldness and dedication to spreading the Gospel and sharing what Jesus had done in their lives left a lasting impression on us all. Together, they demonstrated the importance of living our faith openly and fearlessly with the power of the Holy Spirit, no matter where we are.
As I admired their example, I couldn’t help but reflect: What if we started to share more about Jesus in the places we call home—in our city, community, neighborhood, workplace, or school? What if we made it as much a part of our daily lives as they did?
You don’t have to travel far or wait for the perfect moment. It’s about intentionally opening your heart, recognizing the needs around you, and exemplifying the love that Jesus has shown us. It’s not about grand gestures or distant horizons, but can be found in the moments we often deem insignificant: listening to someone’s story, offering a kind word, extending a hand to someone in need, or simply being present in someone's life. These moments, seemingly ordinary, carry extraordinary significance when done with purpose, God’s purpose.
Every moment, whether near or far, can be used for a reflection of God’s love.
To live a life on mission isn't defined by geography but by posture – having a loving heart that’s ready to share the story of Jesus and having hands ready to serve with a willingness to be present wherever God leads, guides and places us. And in his greatness and sovereignty, we can trust that he aligns everything in the most perfect ways.
Those of us who follow Jesus are not just people with a mission. We are people living on a mission field. Where lives and souls hunger and thirst to hear the name of Jesus. Who’s hearts burn to be rooted in identity and to live in freedom.
Your mission begins today, not in perfection but in faithfulness. And as you step into it, you’ll find that this mission field has no borders—it’s as boundless as the love that you are called to share.
Our gratitude extends beyond measure to everyone who made this trip possible, for your partnership, and especially for your prayers. They were the foundation of this entire experience, offering us spiritual preparation for the work we completed, protection and safety during travel, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to be with us wherever we went. Your prayers covered us with wisdom and compassion, empowering us to speak into the lives of everyone we encountered. They also opened hearts and minds, making them sensitive to the name of Jesus. We are deeply thankful for the role your prayers played in this journey, and we believe that every step we took was covered by God’s grace. We can truly testify, without a doubt, that we witnessed the Lord move.
Not a Trip
Category: Student Life