Students start spreading the (good) news in New York

Posted: 8/18/06

Students start spreading
the (good) news in New York

By Laura Frase

Communications Intern

NEW YORK—Students hit the streets and subways of New York this summer on a mission to help meet the needs of the Big Apple.

First Baptist Church in Arlington Sunday school teacher Regina Fancher led a team of students to New York through Go Now Missions, the Baptist General Convention of Texas’ student missions program.

The team worked in a variety of ministries, from street witnessing to teaching English to moving furniture to filing papers.

“We were trying to see all the aspects of what the city has to offer,” Fancher said.

A favorite among the students was teaching English to West Africans.

“The students loved teaching English,” Fancher said. “We see how much West Africans struggle to learn the language, and they are so proud when they do. That’s humbling and gratifying to be able to share your language so they can find a better life and a better job.”

University of Texas at El Paso student Zack Brower’s favorite ministry was bringing a kind voice to the subway.

“Most people we talked to in the subway were friendly,” Brower said. “I think it’s because we were praying while we were walking, so God set up some appointments with people who need some encouragement and prayer.”

While most people were friendly, Brower met his match while waiting in line at the subway.

A man standing in front of Brower was cursing and acting like he was going to punch the next person who looked at him, Brower said. The Texas student began praying for the man, and the man turned around. Brower asked the man how he was doing, and the man started talking to him.

“By the end, he was smiling,” Brower said. “I feel like God just put people in our paths while we were traveling.”

Hardin-Simmons University student LaShay McDanel didn’t have to look far for a blessing. She found it in her own room.

During part of the trip, students stayed in a boarding house. The girls stayed in a room with four bunk beds. Four of the beds were occupied by different girls each week.

“The last day we were there, I got to talk to the girls and share grace with them,” McDanel said. “I’d been praying for something like this.”

Fancher had women find her for ministry. She was walking down the street when two women stopped her because of her skirt, she said.

The skirt she was wearing came from Guinea, which is where the women have roots.

“They were so happy they saw me wearing a skirt from their country,” she said. “It meant a lot to them.”

The students constantly focused on helping others. Even when it came to filing paperwork for a divinity school, they devoted their time to God.

“Office work isn’t fun for anyone, but they poured themselves into it,” Fancher said.

Students learned to open their eyes to mission opportunities available in the United States, and where their gifts and talents fit into mission, Fancher said.

“This was like going on a foreign mission trip without leaving the States,” she said.