NYC | Mike

High atop The Mount of Olives Jesus Christ spoke his final words before ascending to our Father. He laid upon us a Great Commissioning to make the Kingdom of Heaven known to all people. (Matthew 28: 18-20) 

Ever since the first time I heard the name Jesus Christ, there has been a divine grace upon my life on earth. Even so many years and countless sins after that I began to believe there was no way God could work through the wretchedness of a sinful man. Then through the mess of a confessional prayer in a Sunday service I hear the word, "GO.”  It was Pastor Jon speaking, but it was not his voice I heard.  

I recently returned from a short-term mission to NYC and this is a telling of the work our Lord is doing. There is no shortage of people amongst us that do not know "The Good News" and walking the busy streets of NYC made this abundantly clear. 

The week started fast, and our first task was to tour and engage with West African Muslim immigrants at an English learning class. Leading into this mission, that knowledge subjected me to a specific fear, not a fear of danger but more so a fear of inadequacy to represent Christ with every breath. But as we do, I prayed to the Father to be my voice, my mind, and most assuredly my heart. 

God quickly humbled me, showing me how poor of a teacher I am, but in the same fell swoop lifted me up on high by reminding me how personable of a man I am and that His gifts for me are not knowledge giving, but connection building. The gentleman I was "teaching" and I quickly formed a connection through humor, and I heard a small voice say, "When connected laughter begins, the heart softens." 

 The pace of the Holy Spirit did not stop there! Our next task: Prayer walking the streets of the Bronx. Again, this same fear of inadequacy came, and prayer quickly turned me around. My first interaction revealed again that my life before Christ was not without purpose but intention in the eternal grace our Father has for us. The people we met and prayed for were in exactly the same spot I was over a decade ago, riddled with addiction, stooped in anger, and devoid hope. But since God allowed me in those days to do these things, I was gaining the experience to break through the misconceptions that those without Christ have for his followers. Again, we laughed together, we bonded, we shared stories and laid hands on each other under our Creator to heal the ailments of this world within each other. Chains were broken and hearts were softened, mine included. 

I would love to recall each and every moment of the trip, but these words do not do justice to the joy in my heart that comes from serving with our team and foremost, the Lord. Prayer shall never cease; please pray for those whose soil was ready for fruit, those who allowed the birds to scoop the seeds sown, and even for the farmer, that his work never grows weary and seed pouch stays full. Please, if you see me in the streets or any given Sunday, ask me to witness the works of 

 our Lord, my day will be made! Thank you! 

“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ. ” Ephesians 3:7-8 NIV

Mike Deni, New York City, September 2026

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