Last week two of our local ministries were in full swing! We started our 10th year at the Maple Leaf Apartments in Brick and we returned to Atlantic City for a one day Bible Club at Carver Hall…

What a blessing it was to be back at the clubhouse in Maple Leaf! It is hard to believe that it is going on a decade that we have been bringing the love of Jesus to this community through an afterschool homework club! We would not be able to do this without the support, prayers and sacrifice of our volunteers!! We are so appreciative of all who come out and serve whether it is once a month or once a year. This was started from a question asked while on our mission trip in Atlantic City in 2012…”Why can’t we do what we are doing in AC back in Brick?” and it has expanded into a Thursday program for the older kids that the Brick Police are doing, which started last year. God is good! If you would like to come check out what we do and see first-hand how God is changing the lives of these students, join us on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30pm.

I continue to pray for God to raise up new leaders and Rachel C is one of those He is raising up! Having gone to Haiti last summer and to AC this summer, while in AC this summer Rachel asked if she could have more of a leadership role in upcoming trips. I said sure!! Her enthusiasm and eye for details made this past Saturday a huge blessing. With just a few pointers and suggestions, Rachel connected with Pastor Pete and planned an afternoon at Carver Hall that blessed over 25 kids!

We sang worship songs, did a Jesus craft, played games and had a short Bible devotion on a beautiful fall afternoon. Not only did Rachel put this day together but she invited friends that had never been on a mission trip before. I was personally blessed to see how this day turned out and I know that Pastor Pete and the folks from New City Fellowship were too. We are planning to return in December, Lord willing, and I am looking forward to see how God will continue to raise up this generation of Christians to go out and spread the Gospel both near and far! If anyone is interested in joining us on a 1-day trip to AC, just let us know! We also plan to return to AC for a 6-day mission trip from August 12-18, 2023.

The SOFM team came home from AC on Friday… and can not wait to go back! This year was special in many ways… It marked a decade that Step of Faith has been serving with NCF in AC!

We celebrated one of our team member’s retirement, we celebrated New City Fellowship’s intern Hakim getting his drivers license, and we celebrated Pastor Santo & wife MaryEllen as they “pass the baton” to Pastor Pete & wife Katie and prepare for their next journey to ministering in Italy. All while the team was actively learning about urban ministry and how to connect the community to the church and work side by side with all people. We had many opportunities to share and show the love of Jesus during our work projects [local landscaping, food pantries, dog mission and helping in a care center that helps new moms] as well as our 4 days with the community of the Carver Hall Apartments.

Please check out the video to see how the Lord worked through this team! 

  https://youtu.be/_Zgcs8gezNo