STEP 2008 was a fruitful time of ministry in New York City! Check out a few photos and thoughts from this year's STEP participants:

"STEP was a wonderful, stretching, growing, learning, encouraging, and just plain fun experience for me! It helped me really take hold of the fact that there are a multitude of Jewish and Gentile people in the world who are ready to accept Yeshua's saving grace through faith. I leave New York with a renewed heart and a new confidence for boldly sharing the truth of Yeshua the Messiah!"

STEP team members receive training at the Chosen People Ministries International Headquarters on topics such as "A Biblical Foundation for Jewish Evangelism," "Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus," and "Ministering to Russian Jews"

"The love I received from both the staff and group members, the profound spiritual insights imparted during the teaching, and the practical, hands-on approach to evangelism will stay with me for life. I have been profoundly impacted by this week in STEP, and my desire to witness to Jewish people has increased."

The team puts their evangelism training in action, sharing the Gospel in places such as Grand Central Station, Wall Street, Brighton Beach, Riverside Park, and King's Highway

"While giving out literature in Times Square, I greeted a young Jewish man and handed him a tract. We talked for a moment about what the tract was about, and he listened attentively and eagerly. His mother was with him, and she listened intently to our conversation as well. I pray that their curiosity will be stirred and their hearts opened to the truth of Yeshua!"

STEP participants spent seven days sharing the message of salvation on the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan - taking surveys, giving out tracts and Gospel literature, and engaging people in one-on-one conversations about faith in Messiah.

"STEP has been such a wonderful experience for me. I have had to step out of my comfort zone and learn to initiate conversations with strangers in order to share the gospel with them. I have also loved learning about the Jewish perspective of Christianity. It has given me a much greater understanding of the Jewish people and how best to witness to them."

In the midst of New York City's hustle and bustle, the STEP team ministered to Jews and Gentiles by sharing Scriptures about Jesus.

"My most memorable encounter with Jewish people was on Kingsway Boulevard. I talked about ‘Ruach' (the Holy Spirit) to Y. and J. I said our hearts are designed for Ruach. They loved it! I was also able to talk with them about the prophecies about Messiah in Micah 5:2 and Isaiah 9:6."

An outreach event called "Love and Romance in the Bible" offered many opportunities for STEP team members to share their faith with Jewish people.

"At the ‘Love and Romance in the Bible' outreach, I had the opportunity to love and encourage a Jewish woman who was sitting next to me. She loved my Star of David necklace and the fact that I, as a Gentile, would choose to identify with the Jewish people. I felt as though seeds were planted."