THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE & "SAY YES" AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - Lauren Dawn RoskoBridging Urban Mission Project (BUMP) and 20 Trinity International University (TIU) students partnered again to serve the Brooklyn communities of Bay Ridge and Sunset Park over spring break.
Brooklyn’s First Evangelical Free Church (EFC) National BUMP ministries coordinator Renee Young hosted TIU’s group in a large basement that also housed college students serving through the Center for Student Missions (CSM).
The TIU students partnered with Brooklyn’s First and Second EFCs, and the Vroom St Church in Jersey City, tutoring at after school programs and teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at the Arab American Friendship Building and the Dorcas Chinese Community Center.
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Love them so they ask why.
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The group was lead by Director of College Activities & Leadership Development and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) student Adam Gustine, who desires to pastor someday in an urban setting.
“Leading this trip has been a remarkable learning experience for me,” said Gustine. “As I learn about urban ministry and the work of God through the church in the city, I can't help but be intrigued by it. I love leading this trip because I get to interact with students as we encounter the city together. I am already excited about this trip next year.”
At the Arab center, TIU junior Abigail Seeland continued teaching two women how to write and pronounce the English language alphabet. Moroccan immigrant Fatnaarjz, 60, spoke Arabic and understood a little French, but was illiterate. The grandmother had the passion of a kindergartener as she copied Seeland’s English letters on the pages of her journal.
“It was one of the most humbling experiences of the trip for me,” said Seeland. “To see their desire to learn and thankfulness was moving, and to experience love through smiles because it could not be expressed through words was powerful. It made me want to pursue ESL in the future, even if it is just through volunteering at a local school.” This was Seeland’s second New York mission trip through TIU.
Direct proselytizing is not welcome at the Arab center, as most students are Muslim. EFCA missionary Nomi Naeem converted from Islam six years after her immigration from Palestine to the United States forty years ago.
“Love them so they ask why,” said Naeem, who does not fear proclaiming her faith openly to fellow Arabs. Naeem is a member of First EFCs Arab Evangelical Church that has a regular attendance of 35. There are more than 70 thousand Arab Americans living in Bay Ridge Brooklyn.
TIU alumni and Urban Target Outreach Project in America (UTOPIA) missionary Ben Dodd lives in Jersey City across from the Vroom Street Church where he directs the after school program. Dodd is indispensable to the church, as he also sings and plays guitar in the worship service.
“Half of the world’s people live in cities,” said Dodd, “That’s why I’m here.”
Both Brooklyn EFCs are in need of summer interns and students who can commit as a UTOPIA missionary for one or two years. The six-week summer job pays $1,500 and the student can match that amount with a stipend through raised support.
"UTOPIA missionaries are a bright light to the churches of New York City," said Brooklyn’s First EFC pastor Dan Reeve. Reeve is a church planter in Bay Ridge and a TEDS graduate.
UTOPIA missionary Emily Green lead Second EFC’s first ever after school program “Say Yes!” in the heart of Brooklyn’s China Town. The program is a youth mentoring ministry that opens church doors to inner-city children during after school hours, providing them a safe and productive educational atmosphere off the streets, while teaching them about Jesus Christ.
The TIU New York mission group completed work projects for First EFC, painting the UTOPIA room and stairwell, and designing and creating board games for the after school programs at Second EFC and Vroom Street Church.
The team also broke into groups of three to four and designated a few hours to walk through Sunset and Boro Park to observe and pray for the people, and community life – these are called “neighborhood walks.”
“God lit a fire in my heart for urban ministry last week,” said TIU senior Nicole Calvin, “We all individually have forms of capitol, some unique, to offer to underprivileged people. In New York I was a friend, a teacher, a servant, a student, a learner… these are things all people can be to each other wherever they live.”
