NYC | Craig

Boldness in Prayer

Where do I even start? It probably makes sense to begin at the beginning. My church offered a four-day mission trip to New York City, so I signed up. I had been asking God to show me where I could serve Him. But to be honest, as the trip drew closer, I began struggling with feelings of inadequacy and nervousness. I had never been on a mission trip like this before. Even on the way there, those same doubts lingered. But God was about to change everything.

I went with a team of four other men. We worked with a missionary to West African immigrants. I arrived in on Thursday, dropped my things off at the hostel, and headed to the Brooklyn neighborhood where the missionary runs an English as a Second Language (ESL) center.

Before the ESL classes began, I had a chance to walk the streets. I noticed a young man, “A,” sitting on a motorcycle eating. After he finished, I walked over and introduced myself. During our conversation, I asked if I could pray for him. “A” told me he was Muslim. When I said I still wanted to pray for him, he looked shocked but agreed. I prayed, and we talked a little longer until he left for work. I had another opportunity to meet and pray with “A” on Friday at the missionary’s home during a night of fellowship.

Saturday morning we traveled to the Bronx to meet with a West African church that regularly prays for its community. We paired up and walked through the surrounding blocks. Our first opportunity to pray came when we encountered a man who had just died. The ambulance hadn’t arrived yet, but a small group was gathered around him, trying to wake him. He had stopped breathing. I walked over and prayed out loud, asking God to restore breath to his body. Within moments, the man took a deep breath and began breathing again—just as the ambulance arrived.

We had many more opportunities to pray that morning. People asked for freedom from addiction, good health, relief from anxiety, and other needs. About half the people we met spoke Spanish, but God blessed me with a partner who was fluent, so we didn’t miss any opportunities. There were other powerful God-moments too—for example, two different people we couldn’t pray for initially crossed our paths again later, allowing us to pray with them. We ended the day back with the missionary, enjoying another night of fellowship, praise, and worship.

As quickly as it began, Sunday arrived and it was time to head home. It’s Monday now as I write this, and I’m still processing everything that happened. I’m tired—in a good way—and excited to see where God will lead me next. “A” has been in daily contact with me as we discuss the things I shared with him. I’m also reflecting on how I can apply what I learned in Thailand and here at home. Most of all, I thank God for replacing my doubts with excitement and boldness.

Craig Ferry, New York City 2026