New York: Bringing hope to a dark city

Eric Aguinaga prepares lunch for a Graffiti Ministries project in New York City. (Graffiti Ministries Facebook Page)

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Some think of a trip to New York City as a vacation; others are frightened to death by the idea of spending time in such a big city. However, New York City is ripe for missions. Every nation from the world is represented here, from faraway Russia to nearby Canada. Serving here is simply awesome.

eric aguinaga130Eric AguinagaHowever, New York City has a dark side. Certain parts of the city are known for prostitution—even human trafficking. All over the city, you can smell the unique scent of marijuana being burned. New York City is a place where God is present but too-often ignored or forgotten.

Everywhere you look, you can see people who have no hope, who have no idea where their next meal is going to come from or how they are going to make ends meet. The entire city needs prayer. It needs a sign there is hope, and that hope come from Jesus Christ.

Some people here scoff at Christians doing ministry, believing there is some hidden catch—a hustle going on. It’s the nature of the city. It seems as if everyone is out for themselves: “Forget about the other guy, as long as I get mine.” 

However God has allowed ministries to flourish, such as Graffiti Ministries, and they have brought the hope to the city. And slowly, the light is beginning to shine, going from the inside out.

graffiti coneyisland300Graffiti Ministries carwash/outreach ministry on Coney Island.Graffiti Ministries brings hope to the lost in some of the roughest areas of the city. Those areas include the Lower East Side, where Graffiti first started in the 1970s, and also the area where I am serving, Brownsville, located in Brooklyn. These areas are home to multiple kinds of people, from homeless people and drug dealers, to the well-to-do and “hipsters.”

No matter where you come from, no matter your history, Jesus still embraces you with open arms, and wipes your tears away, which is exactly what Graffiti does. No matter what the cost, Graffiti Ministries tries to meet the needs of the community—physically and spiritually. They go in and help in the community, whether that means distributing water or volunteering at a local school to help the teachers pack their classrooms up for the summer. From there, relationships are developed, disciples are made and a church rises up from within the community. 

This is awesome to witness and be a part of this summer. God is truly at work here in the city and is working within me as well. I have learned more in the past few weeks than I ever learned before. God is giving me lessons and tools for the future, and I thank the Lord for that. Without God, I wouldn’t be here right now and wouldn’t be able to experience truly awesome things. 

Eric Aguinaga, a student at Paris Junior College, is serving with Go Now Missions in New York, working with Metropolitan New York Baptist Association


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