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Prophetic destiny has been woven all through this Christian outreach, from the amazing testimony of its founders; David and Robin Van Fleet, to the way God so powerfully used them in the days after 9-11, to the effective one-on-one help they offer to the poor of their city and the valuable training and equipping SLM provides to other ministry teams that visit. The next vision they are praying into is their biggest yet, the "King's Center for Urban Ministries," a place for the community and the hurting to find help of all kinds, as well as constant worship and prayer - in the heart of the world's biggest city. As you read how God has brought this effectual ministry this far, you'll know it's not an out-of-reach dream.

How Street Life Ministries began:

David Van Fleet was raised in a loving Christian home, but he rebelled early on. Getting involved with drugs, alcohol and porn, he was abused physically and sexually, eventually sinking into a lifestyle of selling drugs to survive.

But, a lot of people were praying for David. "Two guys in particular were praying for me," he explained, "they were located in Northern NJ, they told me God had spoken to them and that I was going to have an ‘Acts chapter 9 experience.' I basically ridiculed them and told them to get out of my house."

About 3 months later, nearly to the day, one night in Ship Bottom, NJ, David was finally broken, humbled, and repentant. He had been with a group of friends for a week long vacation-"to be about as high and as nasty with each other as you can be." He had been angry and suicidal, until, as David described, "Jesus just showed up in my room. Jesus showed up that night, July 12th, 1980 at 11 o'clock at night, He just showed up in my room. I spent about 3 ½ hours with the Lord, He took me through my entire life - He cleansed me, filled me and radically changed me."

"Unfortunately," continued David, "my first act as a Christian at four in the morning that night was...I went down to the Catholic church and stole a bible! I was on my way out to the car when a sister stopped me and said, ‘What are you doing? Why did you steal that Bible?' I told her, ‘Because I just met Jesus and I've got to preach Him!' She said, ‘Go ahead my son, be at peace!'"

The Lord gave David three things to do -- 1. Marry his girlfriend 2. Take the Gospel to the nations 3. Take worship to the nations.

So, David went back home and began working with the very guys who had prophesied to him about the "Acts 9 experience." The church they were in went from 35 to 250 in 6 months! In a great act of restoration, the Lord made it possible for David to go into the very schools that he had previously gotten thrown out of and share about the dangers of drug abuse.

He eventually went into Youth With A Mission (YWAM), married Robin, (his girlfriend who had since gotten saved) and attended the YWAM school of missions and church planting in Salem, Oregon. But soon the Van Fleets were called back east, where God confirmed the calling He'd placed on David and where he should fulfill it.

"It was very clearly to New York [City]," he explained. "He even gave me the theme…'NY to the nations, the nations to NY.'"

David had no desire to form his own ministry, but the Lord was very clear in wanting that, even providing the name; Street Life, which was formed in 1997.

The Ministry of Street Life after 9-11:

On the Streetlife.org website, David Van Fleet describes much of what happened in the days after the terror of 9-11, and how God specifically placed their "Step Van" where it needed to be in order to bring His healing and comfort to the people there.

"After making calls to all I could think of on Tuesday afternoon & evening, to get our S-Van into the city, the most helpless feelings I've had were upon me, so continuing in prayer, we prepared for Wednesday and trusted that God would open the tunnels/bridges to allow us access to Manhattan. Around 11:30 am the report came that the Queens Midtown Tunnel would reopen by 12 PM. So off we were, asking God to lead us fully by His Spirit. We went to the Chelsea Piers, where all the new found volunteers were gathered to receive the outpouring of food, clothes, etc., as well as the place where the police/firemen were to rest and get help. I felt (as I had all day) that I want to be at Ground Zero, or as close as we could get. So after some inquiries from our City's Finest, we prayed and asked God to get us as far as possible to serve the men in the trenches."

After several attempts at getting closer to Ground Zero so they could be of more help, David was told that, "at City Hall were lots of guys resting and recuperating, so off we went a few blocks more. For the next four hours we served police, firemen, etc., with food, drink and prayers. We were asked to return the next day by many, including a Sergeant who practically demanded us to come back! PTL what a God we serve!"

David shared just how God arranged for his team to get in and set up their "S-Van" in the very location that he had asked God for. ". . . A pounding came on the S-Van door, and an officer asked us where we are going. I told him that I had hoped to get into City Hall. He said "Great, give me a ride!" So with our new friend we whisked through the next bunch of check points and as we approached the corner I said, "I'm going to go straight into Ground Zero." It was a God-word. We dropped Him off, went through the check point and incredibly found ourselves on the corner of Church & Fulton Street… right on Ground Zero (across from the Millennium Hilton)."

But later they were told by police, "You know it's not safe for your S-Van to park there any more." I silently prayed, "God Keep us here, no matter what." I then asked, "So where do you want me?" He looks around and says, "I like that spot for you." and He points to a space right on Church Street on the corner (first in line)." [Exactly the spot he had, earlier, asked the Lord to put him.]

Using two teams of people, Street Life was able to minister to everyone who came, 24 hours a day for two weeks. They provided hot soup, coffee, dry-clean clothing, worship music and prayer to the police, firemen and other workers - about two thousand people a day. "We were the last people workers would see before going into "the hole" and the first they would see as they came out…it was so ‘of God!' And we had worship, sometimes live, sometimes recorded, and intercession going 24 hours a day."

But David and Robin felt moved to do even more and asked God for creative ways to minister. Shortly after that a friend, "Doctor Betsy," came up with the concept of a "badge of honor" and made up 1000 of them. David explains what happened next, "We gave all of them out in 1 day, praying over each person who received one. I asked for 2000 more, which came the next day. It was a God thing. Men and women were lining up for prayer and their badge of honor. In a few days 3000 were given out. SLM also gave out booklets on the World Trade Center disaster and the Gospel of John. The first night, they gave away a case of 600 booklets to workers and firemen in just 15 minutes. "It was something to see each one of them read immediately the story of the WTC Crisis with the recent pictures and a simple Gospel message," said David. "It was a scene I and others will never forget." SLM even ministered to some of the dogs who were brought in to help search for survivors, giving them food and water, prayer and a safe place to rest.

Among the many who stopped at the Street Life Prayer Station was Mike Wallace, NYC Police Commissioner Carrick and a film crew. "Mike asked, ‘What is this Prayer Station?' So I rushed in, and as cameras and mics were put in my face, I began to explain why we were there and what we were doing and proceeded to share Jesus with them both," David added. "Mike Wallace was visibly moved by this event. What a testimony to Jesus in the middle of all this to see the SLM S-Van, Trauma Counseling and Prayer Station with the grace of God so present!"

Street Life Ministries today:

Street Life Ministries continues to minister to the people of New York City, working with the poor and destitute, feeding, clothing and directing them in getting back on their feet. SLM is connected with about 400 agencies throughout the city providing jobs, rehab, shelters, legal aid, hospices and more. "We are a connection point in their time of need, we are available to the Lord for whatever is necessary. We just want to be there, to point them to the Lord, to pray with them and to get them connected."

SLM also works with a lot of other ministry teams, hosting them and training them in street ministry and doing church plants. Rapidly outgrowing the house where SLM is based, they're looking at two vacant hospitals that are nearby, hoping to make one of them the King's Center for Urban Ministries. "What we feel the Lord has next for us is not just to be mobile and going to the streets, but also taking the people who are really serious [about changing their lives], from the streets and having a place where we can serve them daily. We're trusting God to open the doors for one of these two hospitals."

I asked David how people can partner with his ministry in this vision. "Well, praying for us is a big thing," he replied, "visiting our website, bringing a team to be trained; a youth, adult or college team. And of course, those who would want to finance our ministry - that would be huge." David is hoping once they're in one of the hospitals, they will have healing rooms and be able to bring in a voluntary medical staff.

SLM also regularly holds the "All Queens Night of Worship and Intercession," which is described on their site as "a night to come and minister to God; to worship Him and to intercede for what's on His heart: the Church, the nations, the lost, the fulfillment of the great commission, and the Kingdom coming in purity and power!"

David Van Fleet sums up the vision of the ministry he began, "We believe that God wants to transform this city, and believe that He is going to start with the poor . . . radically saving them and changing them, taking them out of their poverty, despair and hopelessness, and bringing them up to a place with the Lord."

For more information on Street Life Ministries in New York City, log onto www.streetlife.org or follow the link below.

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