Today began with worship and a message to center our hearts before we headed out for ministry. Our destination: The Hub—a busy intersection in the South Bronx that we later learned has one of the highest concentrations of drug activity in the borough. Just two weeks ago, it was featured in a major news story, prompting the mayor to send in extra patrols and sanitation crews in an effort to clean it up.

After a 45-minute subway ride, our team spread out across the area—close enough to see and support each other. Even with increased police presence, we still witnessed the harsh realities of addiction and brokenness all around us: people openly buying drugs, individuals visibly intoxicated or high, and others wandering the streets completely out of their minds. It was a sobering reminder that the battle we’re in is deeply spiritual. We spent much of our time praying for those we encountered—asking God to bring freedom, healing, and redemption.

In the middle of this heavy environment, God gave us a powerful moment of encouragement. A street sweeper named Christina stopped her machine, walked over to us, and told us she had been praying for someone to come share hope with the people in this neighborhood. With joy on her face, she said we were an answer to her prayers. She prayed over our team, and then we had the honor of praying over her as well. It was a holy moment.

We also caught the attention of three individuals from City Hall who were in the area to assess its condition. They were surprised—and moved—to see a group from Illinois sharing love and hope in such a challenging place. They even asked for Spread Truth’s information to learn more.

By 3 p.m., we gathered our team, hopped back on the train, and headed out in smaller groups for the rest of the evening. It was a day marked by both spiritual darkness and powerful light. We saw the need—and we saw God at work.