prayer

Presently, there are grave injustices in our criminal justice system. Specifically, the disproportionate prosecution and sentencing of black and brown people in America. God’s question remains: Who rises up for me against the wicked?

The U.S. comprises five percent of the world’s population, but 25 percent of its prisoners. Upon returning home, formerly incarcerated people often struggle with substance abuse, lack of education and employment skills, limited housing options, and mental health issues. Let's pray for these neighbors of ours.

As we read and pray the Psalms, we can allow the repeated mentions of God’s steadfast love to sink into our hearts—and then let it spur us on to love others with that same kind of steadfastness.

Nearly 900,000 people in New York City live with disabilities. Lack of accessible transportation and housing, unequal education, unemployment, and poor health care are among the common barriers people with disabilities face. Join us in praying on behalf of these neighbors of ours.

While the practice of hospitality will involve friends and family, it casts its eye specifically toward the marginalized. Literally it is "the love of strangers" or "showing kindness to strangers."

Approximately 998,000 New York City residents are 65 and older, and that number is expected to increase to 1.3 million by 2030. Seniors in NYC face financial abuse, lack of resources, and increasing poverty rates. Join us in lifting up the elderly to a God who promises to carry and save us, even to our old age.

While most American churches focus on reaching the next generation, these same churches are often neglecting the fastest-growing sector of society—the elderly. We must remember that the spirit is still capable of growth, renewal, and even new birth in old age.

Homelessness in NYC has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression. More than 60,000 New Yorkers sleep in the shelter system each night, and thousands more sleep on the streets. Let's lift up these neighbors to our God who intimately identifies with our homeless brothers and sisters.

It is our collective call to seek justice for the oppressed, so we bring to our God our brothers and sisters across our city who have or are being trafficked. We serve a present and loving God, and we can trust that He will bring about justice and righteousness. Join us in prayer.

We serve a God who intimately experienced violence at the hands of men. But that same God defeated violence itself three days later. The vortex of the Cross has taken away the victory of violence.