by Darcy
Delareese brought her two grandchildren to the bus for soup and bread one Friday night in Newark. We invited them in to listen to a bible story and they all joined me including Delareese. As I read the story to the children, their grandmother listened intently. She even asked questions and said she needed to learn the bible too so she could teach them at home. When I asked them if their was anything they needed prayer for she told me her son was in jail and she had lost her job. She cried as she admitted her need for Jesus and as we prayed. We were able to give them a children's bible (and a new testament) and some information for her to get another job as a nurse's aid. She left the bus full (spiritually and physically) and encouraged.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Alfreeda
by Darcy
As I was standing at the literature table at the Friday night spot in Newark, I was showing one of the kids Austin's testimony sheet. He took one for his mom and the lady next me ask me if it were really my husband, like he was a celebrity or something. She began to read his testimony and was surprised by what she was reading. I shared with her some of his past and how now he is living for God. She was excited and kept saying, "Well if God can change him then He can change me." She told me that she uses drugs every couple weeks but she wants to stop completely. She really believed that God could change her as she cried out to God while we prayed together. Afterward, she spoke with a leader who was able to connect her with Streetlight Mission in Elizabeth, where she could get help getting clean from drugs.
As I was standing at the literature table at the Friday night spot in Newark, I was showing one of the kids Austin's testimony sheet. He took one for his mom and the lady next me ask me if it were really my husband, like he was a celebrity or something. She began to read his testimony and was surprised by what she was reading. I shared with her some of his past and how now he is living for God. She was excited and kept saying, "Well if God can change him then He can change me." She told me that she uses drugs every couple weeks but she wants to stop completely. She really believed that God could change her as she cried out to God while we prayed together. Afterward, she spoke with a leader who was able to connect her with Streetlight Mission in Elizabeth, where she could get help getting clean from drugs.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Crystal
by Darcy
Crystal was nervously looking at the literature and picking out a few things. I felt I needed to ask her if she wanted prayer, so when I did she was almost relieved that I asked her. She said she desperatly needed God's strength to get her life straightened out. She had 6 kids and one on the way. She has kids in foster care and wants desperately to live right. As we prayed together she cried out to God. We took joy in knowing that because of her faith and trust she was putting in Jesus that he was hearing her cry and would answer her prayer. Crystal was encouraged by a woman who was volunteering the previous week who had come from that life but no longer is there. Pray with us for Crystal, for strength and that she will continue to have faith in what God can do!
Crystal was nervously looking at the literature and picking out a few things. I felt I needed to ask her if she wanted prayer, so when I did she was almost relieved that I asked her. She said she desperatly needed God's strength to get her life straightened out. She had 6 kids and one on the way. She has kids in foster care and wants desperately to live right. As we prayed together she cried out to God. We took joy in knowing that because of her faith and trust she was putting in Jesus that he was hearing her cry and would answer her prayer. Crystal was encouraged by a woman who was volunteering the previous week who had come from that life but no longer is there. Pray with us for Crystal, for strength and that she will continue to have faith in what God can do!
God Saved a Life
by Austin
One man's life was saved today, as he was on his way to commit suicide. David had walked all the way from 183rd St. in the Bronx to 28th St. in Manhattan. He hadn't eaten in 4 days or slept in 3 days since he found out that his ex-wife took his 4 children to the Dominican Republic and left no way to get in touch with them. After his long walk, he was a half block from where he had a stored gun. With no hope of reuniting with his children and being rejected at 3 hospitals, he was ready to end his life. Thankfully God intervened and used us at the Relief Bus to help. We were able to pray with him and then call a local hospital where they were willing to admit him to get the help that he needed. God continues to use the Bus as a refuge for those in a time of need.
One man's life was saved today, as he was on his way to commit suicide. David had walked all the way from 183rd St. in the Bronx to 28th St. in Manhattan. He hadn't eaten in 4 days or slept in 3 days since he found out that his ex-wife took his 4 children to the Dominican Republic and left no way to get in touch with them. After his long walk, he was a half block from where he had a stored gun. With no hope of reuniting with his children and being rejected at 3 hospitals, he was ready to end his life. Thankfully God intervened and used us at the Relief Bus to help. We were able to pray with him and then call a local hospital where they were willing to admit him to get the help that he needed. God continues to use the Bus as a refuge for those in a time of need.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
God Does Amazing Work
I'm sure or I hope you've had times in your life when God does something so great you're in disbelief and overwhelmed by his power. I just had one of those memorable moments. About a week ago, I had a dream that was pretty cool. I dreamed I was at the Relief bus with the kids in Newark. I was praying for the kids and I knew what each of them needed as I prayed. I remember praying for Satan's hold to be released on their lives and for release from poverty and addiction. Then I explained to them all about Jesus and the plan of salvation with such ease. It made perfect sense in my dream. The kids all understood too and were saved that night. I told Austin my dream and we both thought it was pretty cool, but I didn't think much more about it until last night. I went to the Newark spot as I do each Friday night to do a bible study with the kids. The lesson was how to pray and we read the Lord's prayer in a children's bible. As we talked about each part and practiced praying together, these conversations/questions arose:
God is so great- the kids each took turns telling God why they love him.
God please provide for us what we need. One boy said, "I don't want to be poor." We prayed for food, clothes, housing, jobs for mom and dad.
Forgive us for what we've done wrong. "I pulled a knife on my brother." from an 8 year old
Help me to forgive those who've done me wrong.
Lead us away from doing wrong. One boy said, "I don't want to smoke crack when I grow up." There is only one way an 8 year old knows about crack- people around him are smoking it.
Free us from the evil one. That's Satan or the Devil and he only wants to steal, kill and destroy. "I don't want to go to hell when I die. Does our soul go to hell?" Yes, if you don't believe in Jesus and follow after him. But you can ask Jesus to forgive you and live in your heart. When we follow after Jesus and His ways we get to live in Heaven with him when we die. Then we prayed a prayer of salvation together.
I know angels were rejoicing in heaven and I claim in Jesus' name that their lives will be changed and they won't follow in the path of destruction but follow after Jesus and His ways!
God is so great- the kids each took turns telling God why they love him.
God please provide for us what we need. One boy said, "I don't want to be poor." We prayed for food, clothes, housing, jobs for mom and dad.
Forgive us for what we've done wrong. "I pulled a knife on my brother." from an 8 year old
Help me to forgive those who've done me wrong.
Lead us away from doing wrong. One boy said, "I don't want to smoke crack when I grow up." There is only one way an 8 year old knows about crack- people around him are smoking it.
Free us from the evil one. That's Satan or the Devil and he only wants to steal, kill and destroy. "I don't want to go to hell when I die. Does our soul go to hell?" Yes, if you don't believe in Jesus and follow after him. But you can ask Jesus to forgive you and live in your heart. When we follow after Jesus and His ways we get to live in Heaven with him when we die. Then we prayed a prayer of salvation together.
I know angels were rejoicing in heaven and I claim in Jesus' name that their lives will be changed and they won't follow in the path of destruction but follow after Jesus and His ways!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Its a boy!
The boys adore Isaiah and love holding him. 
Isaiah Thomas Bonds was born on Feb. 3rd
7lb. 3oz., 21 in.Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dontwalkby.org
So Austin is way busy with school this week and the last few months he's been working a lot on this project called Don't Walk By. So I am going to attempt to share his excitement about what's been happening. This project is a collaboration of many different ministries/outreaches in NYC and churches with hundreds of volunteers. They have united as one, working as Rescue Alliance, with the goal to search and rescue the street bound homeless of NYC. Focusing on Manhattan, each Saturday in January from 2pm- 9pm hundreds of volunteers split into groups of 3-5 and walk every street in a "zone." They are literally searching out homeless people to take with them back to a base church where they can receive food, warmth, and hopefully a shelter and other resources such as detox or discipleship programs. The result has been exciting, with 30 people going to shelters and/or programs last Saturday night. As Austin puts it, "These people we encounter are so desperately cold, desperately lost, desperately drunk, they need to be rescued." Take a minute to check out the website and watch the video at dontwalkby.org or just click on the title of this post.
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