Getting the wor m out

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Totten and his team members took this frustration and made a challenge out of it

"Ihadnever witnessed toanOrthodox Jew in my life,"Totten said, "In fact Idon't think Ihad ever met one untilI came toNew York.W e tried to make friends with the Jews and even attended services in some ofthe synagogues"

Totten also used this situation to challenge his teammates to spend more time in prayer and have deeper devotions in theOld Testament.

Many of theteam members found themselves in similar situations where they were forced to meet the challange head-on so that they could make an impact for Christ

The concept ofone-on-onediscipleship was the greatest lesson learned by all theteam members

"The Lord has really given me a vision for discipleship," said team leader Bruce Knight. "I look at what the Bible says and it'swhat Jesus did Unfortunately many have taken the Great Commision and done the first part, evangelizing,buthave not solidly put into practice what Jesus said, 'teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Ihave commanded you."

The teams put this into practice. One-on-one discipleship was made a priority and team members grew to understand the fruits of seeing their converts developing strong foundations in theLord.

Along with the vision ofdiscipleship the team also realized the importance of strong personal growth.Every day theteam members spent two hours in prayer and Bible study and Wednesdays were setaside forfasting and prayer

The thing that made the summer great," Knight said,"wasthat weput our priorities inthe rightperspective I believe we did that this summer—I believe God blesses faithfulness and when we have him in theright place in our daily livesourministry willbe blessed."

With over more than 900 people making professions of faith and 150 people discipled on a one-to- one basis, a person can easily assume that the team's efforts were blessed,not only with seeing God work or by gaining a burden forthecity ofNew York, butby gaining experience that will carry them therestoftheirlives.

"It did two things for us," Jim O'Neill said, "Itprovided anoutletfor practical training and it brought a spark into thelivesofallwhocame in contact with theteam."

The big citieswere the strategictargetfor the great missionary,the apostle Paul, and the LBC students who participated intheNewYork program this summer now understand why.

According toone team member,every circumstance brought thegroup to a deeper understanding of thefact that it isGod who brings theincrease, yet Christians areresponsible to sow

-John Schlesinger •

Much ofthe team's efforts was concentrated in door-to-door evangelism, yet all of the team members practiced sowing the seed among the peopleon the street. Here, Harry Walls and Billy Nelson share thegosple with aman onthe street.

Cult activity was evident everywherethe team went. LesKimballand Steve Dignan share the gospel with a "moonie" selling flowers, on Times Square.

The leadership of Jim O'Neill both before the tip and duringthetime theteam was in New York, was a vital foundation tothe successfulness of theteam's activities.

Inten-.c follow-up was vital totheministry of the ti.un Here. M.m.i Reyesconducts a dicipleship lesson with Esperanu. a women sheled to

The 12 women that were a partof theteam maintinaed the kitchen that fed 55 hungrypeople three times aday. They also discipled women converts and didoffice work.