Graffiti 2 Ministries Blog

03/10/10

11:21:23 am Mighty, Powerful, Strong to Save and ALWAYS Keeps His Promises  

Categories: b2evolution, 705 words

This past weekend Graffiti 2 took 24 teenagers to the Pinebrook Youth Retreat hosted by the Baptist Convention of New York. Kelsey has already posted her impressions of the trip below. If you haven’t read her post, please continue to read the next post below. Here are a couple more stories.

“Jack” is a young man that has been a part of G2’s programs for 3 years. I have written about him several times before in this blog. Last year, God answered prayer in a vivid way. In January of 2009, “Jack” stepped out of our programs and decided to do his own thing which took him down a devastating path. After a few weeks of personal discouragement, God gave me a clear vision. “Jack” would be the “Prodigal Son.” Five months later, through a set of circumstances I never would have dreamed, God restored “Jack’s” relationship with Graffiti 2.

Well, history tends to repeat itself. Once again, in January of this year, “Jack” stepped out of G2’s programs. Immediately God gave me a peace about the situation. “Jack” is someone who I had prayed incessantly over, yet God told me that it was His job to draw “Jack” to Him, not mine. In fact, God told me, and I conveyed this message to my staff, “‘Jack’ will turn his life over to me soon.” When “Jack” signed up for the Pinebrook Retreat, I could not help but begin to pray for that weekend to be “Jack’s” divine appointment with God.

On Saturday night, Pastor Sammy Lopez invited people to be “Radical for Jesus” and to “Believe and Obey.” I immediately began praying for all of our young people by name. With eyes closed, I felt movement close to me and one of our young men whom God has been revolutionizing for the past 4 months was the first to respond to the Gospel presentation. Sammy requested youth leaders to follow their students to the altar. I went forward and placed my hand on this young man and began to pray. Another one of our students came up beside me and I placed my hand on them, praying and rejoicing about what God was doing. As I prayed, I felt someone else touch my hand. I opened my eyes, turned my head and there was “Jack” grasping my hand. That evening I prayed with “Jack,” but more importantly, “Jack” prayed to accept Christ in his life. He is now my new brother in Christ.
Yesterday, I was walking the street and I ran into “Jack.” He seemed to be glowing with joy. He grasped my hand and gave me a warm, brotherly hug.

One more story as a testament to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

On February 24, in the back storage room of Graffiti 2, “Edgar” prayed to ask Christ in his life. “Edgar” and his brother “Victor” both attended the youth retreat this past weekend. During the same message mentioned previously, God began to move in “Victor’s” life. “Edgar” later recounted, “I was standing with my head bowed and I saw someone going forward. I didn’t look up but I did see their shoes. I was thinking, ‘Hey, that person has the same shoes as my brother.’ Then I realized, it was my brother!” “Victor” responded to the Gospel and committed his life to following Jesus.

Later that evening, a panel discussion was held which allowed the students the opportunity to ask questions. I had just returned from counseling students in response to the message. Standing in the back of the room, I listened as “Victor” stood and asked, “Do all babies go to heaven?” This question floored me. I knew what no one else knew in the room besides my other staff members. Five years ago “Victor” and “Edgar” watched their father kill their one-year old baby brother. As the panel began to answer his question, “Victor” had tears running down his cheeks. When he finally understood their responses, that yes babies go to heaven, “Victor” turned to “Shane” sitting behind him and said, “We’re both going to see ‘Bobby’ one day in heaven!”

God is mighty, powerful, strong to save and ALWAYS keeps His promises!

God bless.
Andrew Mann
Director

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03/08/10

11:18:30 am Pinebrook Youth Retreat  

Categories: b2evolution, 1059 words

This weekend might have been one of the best God has given me the privilege to be a part of since I moved to New York. If you’re thinking “the best in 6 years?!”…you’ve got me confused with Andrew. I’ve actually only been in the city for six MONTHS and this is my first official Graffiti 2 blog…I’m Kelsey and its so very nice to meet you :o)

This weekend we took 24 teenagers to Pinebrook for the annual Youth Evangelism Conference and it was wonderful. A very powerful, beautiful, fruitful and JOYous experience! I was a little nervous going into the weekend…I had been given the reigns and knew the students had really high expectations for an awesome time and personally I wasn’t sure what was coming. This weekend was a growing experience for me as well…God really reignited my passion for our teenagers and neighborhood. He filled my heart with an urgency to spread His love. The camp pastor, Sammy Lopez started his message on Saturday night with a powerful statement. He said, “Look around, not everyone in this room is going to Heaven.” I was brokenhearted. The thought that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to celebrate in Heaven with some of the teenagers that I have grown to deeply love really crushed me. I had begun the night praying for a few specific students by name…there were a handful that came with us that I knew God was speaking to. When Sammy said that, I started praying again. I was anxious and could feel the Spirit moving but I had no idea how big!!

For the past few months, Ashley and I have really bonded with two of our seventh grade girls. For me personally, I am constantly encouraged by their growth. They challenge us both in so many ways I have spent many nights in prayer for them. This weekend started off a little rocky with a surprise visit from a parent. Friday morning one of the girls’ very concerned mother came to Ashley’s apartment to talk with hopes that one of us could spend some time with her this weekend and really minister to her. I was afraid she would carry those burdens from home into the weekend and it would damper her “retreat.” I knew going into it that these girls needed a break from the neighborhood. During the Saturday night service, Ashley and I had made the decision to separate them during worship so one was with me and the other was with Ashley. During worship, my little friend really seemed to be hurting. When it came time for Sammy to begin the altar call my heart started to beat really fast; I so desperately wanted to see a beautiful change in her life. While I was up at the front praying with two of our other students, she too came to the front and took my hand. Afterwards when we were in the counseling room, I realized that BOTH of our girls had made the decision to accept Christ in their lives!! I had the opportunity to sit with them and talk and pray with them. My heart was bursting!

Also in that room was another student that I had been praying for during worship. His brother is actually mentioned in Andrew’s latest blog “Raining Rat.” Just a few short weeks ago, he came running to me and Ashley and said, “Hey guys…I’m a Christ follower!!” And since, he hasn’t stopped smiling. He is filled with Joy and it is bursting out of him! These two boys weren’t on our original list to go to Pinebrook, in fact, they turned in their paperwork to us on Wednesday night and were put on the wait list. However, once Andrew said it was my decision, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to tell them no and they were going. This particular student brings a ton of entertainment to Graffiti 2 and I was looking forward to spending a weekend with him. During the Saturday night service he was sitting next to Ashley and when Sammy called for the students who felt God moving in their life to come to the front he asked her, “Do I need to go up there?” She in return told him to “do what he felt God was telling him to do.” He said his heart was beating fast and then headed up there!! I of course cried…its kind of my thing. I went up to the front to pray with him and he was tearing up too, you could see it in his face that God was working! Praise the Lord…I cannot wait to celebrate with him in Heaven! Later that night, during our small group session his brother said that the best part of his weekend was when he realized that his brother was standing at the front and was now a Christian. Once again, Ashley and I started to cry…it was precious!

I know I am getting long so I’ll wrap it soon…thank you for bearing with me so far. My heart is happy…my heart is bursting and I’m starting to tear up again thinking about our weekend. God really made big changes in our youth group. He taught me so much through the faith and growth of our teenagers. After being prompted by Sammy, one of our teenagers, who I had to ask to leave one afternoon during After-School program, approached me and apologized for giving me a hard time and attitude. We hugged, had a moment and I cried ;o) Saturday night was a amazing! Many times I had to restrain myself from just breaking out in spastic, celebratory dance! We had 9 teenagers realize how much God loved them and prayed to receive Him in their lives. Please take time to pray for these students! We are thrilled and you should be too…we have NINE new brothers and sisters we get to worship in Heaven with!!

If you have made it through this entire blog, then thank you! I hope you have been blessed by these stories as much as I have. Andrew will be updating soon as well…it was indeed, an awesome weekend!!

God is Love,
Kelsey

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02/25/10

06:09:34 am Raining Rat  

Categories: b2evolution, 372 words

Tuesday evening, I had the opportunity to counsel a teen boy from our programs. Him and his siblings have faced significant challenges at home. I primarily sat and listened as he vented his hurt, pain and anger from the past 5 or 6 years of his life. In his words, he followed God when he was young, but when the horrible things happened, he no longer believed in God.

I asked him a simple question. Why are you here at Graffiti 2? He responded saying that he followed a friend and he wanted to be here because it was good for his brother. His brother follows him. As we talked further, I suggested that he was here because God brought him here. God has him in the right place at the right time to experience His love in powerful ways. I shared the plan of salvation with him and felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to give him a day to think about it.

Last night, his friend who brought him to Graffiti 2 sat with him and shared his testimony. I walked in the back room as they were finishing up. I was proud of the young man who was sharing Christ. I sat down explained a little more and asked him if he wanted to become a Christ follower. He said yes and prayed to accept Christ in his life. Praise God!

On another note, last night I went outside to walk Proof. I was on the phone with my mother when I heard a very loud "Plop!" I turned towards the sound and saw a rat on the ground. I am not sure what happened, but I think the rat tried to commit rat suicide by jumping off the roof of my five story apartment building. Either that, or he was a kamikaze rat with an unsuccessful attempt to take me out. I jumped when he started moving and hobbled under the fence to the school yard. He made it about 15 feet and collapsed on the other side of the fence. I still shutter at the thought of that thing landing on my head. I can't help but imagine the headlines, "South Bronx Pastor Killed By Rat!!"

God bless.
Andrew Mann
Pastor/Director

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02/20/10

03:59:38 am Fire!  

Categories: b2evolution, 710 words

Asleep in bed, I drowsily awoke to the smell of smoke. I rolled out of my bed as I heard a commotion outside. Looking out my bedroom window over the air-conditioner, I saw some men yelling up towards the building saying, "It's on the third floor!" I live on the fourth floor.

Often we are asked the hypothetical question, "If there was a fire what is the first thing you grab?" Well, after I slipped on my sweat pants, got Proof on her leash, I grabbed my computer. I slipped on my slippers but decided before I stepped out the door I would look out my living room window.

There were some immediate realizations. First, the fire wasn't in my building, it was in the building next to me. Second, this wasn't any small fire. Third, a family was on the first floor fire escape of the building next to me yelling for help. Fourth, God please be with all these families.

I opened my apartment door and saw firemen going up the stairwell. The roof of my building abuts the roof of the next building. I asked if I needed to evacuate, they said that this building was fine and safe.

Unleashing Proof and sending her back in the apartment, I stepped out the door with prayers on my heart. Prayers for the families and firemen (people that walk towards while others walk away).

On the first floor I saw a family that I know. There children, Chris and Weston, have been in our summer programs in the past. Chris immediately told me, "We were stuck on the fire escape." Although they live in my building they were staying in their aunts house on the fifth floor of the building next door.

Exiting my building door, the first thing that became obvious was the seriousness of the situation. Fire trucks lined the entire street. I stepped out on the sidewalk and looked toward the building. Shattered glass was frequently falling to the ground as firemen were in the burning apartments breaking out windows. The third, fourth and fifth floors of the building were burning.

As I stood outside, I received bits and pieces of information from people I knew. "My cousin was taken to the hospital, I'm about to go now. She lived on the third floor."

I overheard a couple of other people talking, "The short lady." "Oh, you mean Joshua and that other girl's mother." "Yeah, she was taken to the hospital. It started in their apartment." Joshua and his sister Danesha have been a part of our programs in the past.

Looking around you could read the emotions on people's faces. Grown, tough men looked up at the building astonished. A lady sat on our front stoop with luggage and clothes surrounding her with a single tear going down her cheek. A maintenance man looked frustrated and tired as he said, "What a Saturday morning!" Another hardened man I know walked by and talked to me for a second. "I've lived here since I was 10 years old and I'm 65 now. I've never seen anything like this on this block."

Right now I am sitting back in my apartment. I still smell smoke. I can hear the sounds of the firemen breaking glass and spraying water. There is another, somewhat eerie sound of smoke alarms going off in the building next to me.

I currently recognize two feelings. The first is gratitude. I have to admit, I feel somewhat selfish for feeling this. The reality is when living in apartments, this could happen to anybody. It could have just as easily been the apartment below me that caught on fire. The second is sadness. These families have struggled to obtain the little they have. Now it is destroyed. Destroyed by fire, destroyed by smoke, destroyed by water seeping down to the floors below. I watched as some people scurried back inside once the doors opened. Checking on their apartments. One young lady who lived the floor below the fire exited with a stroller and shopping cart stacked with clothes. I heard her say, "The apartment was flooded."

Pray for these families and pray for me to recognize and seize any ministry opportunities.

God bless.
Andrew Mann
Director

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02/09/10

07:53:30 am Many New Posts Below  

Categories: b2evolution, 18 words

For those that follow this blog regularly, I have posted several new entries below so keep reading down.

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