Guest bloggers: Scott Bruce & Annette LaJoie

As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12, God has gifted each of us by His Holy Spirit, and has shaped us for ministry to others in unique ways. We all have different passions, experiences, and abilities that God can use to bless others. Over the next few weeks, I am going to be running guest articles from NewLife members who are involved in ministries and fellowship opportunities outside of our church. If you would like to share about how God is using you in ministry outside the walls of our church, please let me know. Today’s post is about The Street Church, and is based on interviews with Annette LaJoie and Scott Bruce.

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (Galatians 2:10)

Last August, Pastor Bryan Bywater, a captain with a ministry called Church Army, preached at NewLife. One of Pastor Bryan’s ministries is a weekly service of worship and ministry called The Street Church that takes place every Saturday on the steps of City Hall on Main Street in Hartford. Since Pastor Bryan’s visit to NewLife, a number of people from NewLife have been going regularly to serve at The Street Church (until the coronavirus forced Street Church to stop meeting). Two of these individuals, Annette LaJoie and Scott Bruce, shared with me about their experiences with The Street Church.

On a typical Saturday, the volunteers arrive around 11 in the morning to set up tables with a breakfast of pastries, granola bars, and hot drinks for the guests. As Pastor Bryan sets up for the worship service, the volunteers welcome people, talking to them and giving them food. Eventually the worship service begins, with a time of singing, preaching, communion, and occasionally a baptism, whether in the nearby fountain or with a bottle of water. After the service, tables are set for lunch, and clothing and toiletries are often given out as well.

The best part about The Street Church if the opportunity to get to know the people who come. Even though many of them are homeless and are facing many challenges in life, they all have a story, often one filled with a great deal of heartache. The more often you come, the more you have an opportunity to really share the love of Christ with the people who come. Even if you only come once, it is a great opportunity to let someone know that God cares, that He has not forgotten about them.

If you are interested, you can visit https://www.churcharmyct.com/ministries for more information, or you can simply show up at City Hall around 11 AM (once restrictions have lifted). Children are welcome to come – they can stand behind the table and help serve, and there is chalk available for them to draw or write out Scripture verses. Take advantage of this opportunity to share the love of Jesus in word and in deed.