BROOKLYN, New York – “When we go on mission trips it reignites an awareness of need around us,” said Sarah Bowen of Hillcrest Community Church in Little Rock.
Bowen was one of 12 Arkansas Baptist women representing three different churches – First Baptist Church in Russellville, Hillcrest Community Church, and Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Conway – who recently spent time in Bay Ridge praying for, ministering among, and learning from the ethnically diverse community in Brooklyn, New York.
“We went into the trip prayed up, expectant, and with open eyes to the slightest opportunity to share the gospel. And praise the Lord; He went before us, with us, and behind us to minister to people who were ready to receive it. I am thankful for an opportunity to step away from my every day, mundane, and comfortable context to realign with the truth that those opportunities surround me every day,” Bowen said.
“At the same time that God used the trip to realign my heart with His for the people in my area, He used it to give me a deeper burden for the Muslim community. In the neighborhood we were the lostness is very visible so you can’t help but be sad that these people live in hopelessness. We also got to witness the cost of following Jesus for people that are truly dedicated to the radical obedience of being a believer.”
The Arkansas women partnered with Brooklyn Arab American Friendship Center (BAAFC), which they have done for over the last 14 years. They go there to teach English classes to the immigrant population, but their ultimate motivation is sharing the love of Christ. The women provided encouragement to the BAAFC staff, walked the streets praying, engaged locals in coffee shops, visited with women they have met on previous trips, and worked in a community garden.
Natalie Burk of FBC Russellville said one of her favorite parts of the trip is teaching English at the Brooklyn Arab American Friendship Center.
“The morning classes are just for ladies and the evening classes include men. All of the students were eager to learn English and have conversation,” she said. “We made connections with the students so that we can continue building relationships even here in Arkansas. Our desire is to go back in October and pick up where we left off. We saw many answered prayers while we were there.”
Rosita Waite, a member of Hillcrest Community Church, said every morning they would split up and go to different coffee shops to do their devotional, talk about Jesus and try to engage people. She noted that their morning coffee gatherings were fruitful. Through those gatherings, the Arkansas women were able to connect with international women and have gospel conversations.
“On one evening coffee shop visit we met a new friend. The place was packed with students, mostly women, and we just sat there, and God just opened the door. We had gospel conversations,” Waite said. “We came back to our hotel feeling so full of God.”
Waite went on to share that one lady they met in Brooklyn two years ago, and stayed connected with, finally decided to give her life to Jesus. “This time, she was so ready,” Waite said.
Additionally, the group visited with an Arkansas family that moved to New York City last year to serve among the North African and Middle Eastern people groups, as well as two local churches.
Bowen said she was so thankful for the opportunity to go to Brooklyn to have a moment of ministry there.
“So many times during our days there I would forget I was in the states. We were obviously the minority in the neighborhood and the streets were filled with the smells, sights and sounds of a foreign culture that I didn’t know you could experience without leaving the country. I left being even more in awe that God has brought the nations to us, and I loved soaking in as much as I could,” Bowen said.
“We saw the cost that families have made who moved to NYC to reach the lost there. We saw the price some are willing to pay as they start to discover Jesus and choose to follow Him. We saw that right here in the states there is persecution for some when we tend to believe that only happens on the other side of the world. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn these things, witness them with my own eyes, and be able to pray more specifically for the work in NYC.”