Flyers in New York City are a dime a dozen. Walk anywhere near Times Square and almost every business has someone standing outside with a stack of flyers, focused only on promoting their event, brand, or sale. The people who are handing out the flyers know that the flyers will end up in the trash sooner or later. The trick to getting another person to take their flyer is to make an emotional connection, no matter how brief. “You like comedy shows, right?” “You deserve to see a show tonight.” “This opportunity will better your life!” A flyer on a New York City street alone won’t change a life–that is, unless God is involved.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to serve on a short-term mission trip to New York City. One of our main focuses was spending time evangelizing on the buses, on the ferries, and in the subways. On our last day of ministry, we went to the Brooklyn borough and hopped on a shuttle train to share the Gospel. We parked our van a few blocks away from the station. As we walked to the train station, a lone flyer on a telephone pole captured my eye. It was a simple phrase, yet a phrase packed with hope and all the amazing goodness of God that I had encountered during the week. I didn’t have the opportunity to photograph it at that moment, but I kept my camera out and my eyes peeled on the way back at the end of our ministry time.
“Meet your future you.”
This was my church’s second year serving in New York City. I opted not to go the year before because I wasn’t a huge fan of public speaking, especially in front of large groups–which is exactly what this trip’s focus was. I let my fears dictate my actions. I was afraid, so I hid.
I’ve always been a shy, introverted person. When I first meet new people, I don’t speak up very often. I tend to be quiet until I’ve know that I can trust the other person. If I’m with a larger group of people, I tend to be the listener rather than the speaker of the conversation. Public speaking is one of the things that I hate the most. Even at work, I still have to give myself a quick pep talk every time I make a page overhead. I work in retail, so you can imagine how many pep talks I give myself even in one day. I’ll lead, but I will stay in the background as I do so. It makes very little sense that I would choose to go on a trip such as this, let alone enjoy it.
“Meet your future you.”
I went to NYC because I knew I had to share the hope of Jesus that I have in my heart. I couldn’t keep it to myself, even if it meant putting myself in an uncomfortable position. This trip was not the first time I had shared my testimony in public, but it was one of first times I shared it in front of large groups of strangers. I never thought I would have the courage to stand on a crowded ferry or subway car and proclaim what Christ has done in my life. When you understand who you are in Christ, fear no longer has a place to dwell in your heart. “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20) “Perfect love casts out all fear.” (1 John 4:18)
