This month we're praying for my own nation and specifically the people of New York city! America is an increasingly post-Christian culture and that has played out in a wave of disdain for the gospel that has been unknown to our soil since our country's founding.
How to get the most out of Planted seeds
1. Download and print the resource package 2. Display the info graphic and prayer points somewhere where the whole family can see (ours is by the dining table) 3. Pray for the nation of the month each day 4. Pick two or more activities from below. (You are welcome to do them all, but let's be real, sometimes the "extras" just ain't happenin'!)
Pickup some of the recommended books from the library, scatter them around the house, or intentionally select them for read alouds
Plan a night to eat pizza (how hard is that. 🍕😃)
Locate New York, NY on a map
Watch the the recommended videos
Our Info Graphic has a NEW LOOK!
Spotlight on a Missionary
You are encouraged to pray for a missionary from your own church to New York, NY, but on the chance that your church is not currently supporting a missionary here, please consider joining us in praying for our featured missionary
David and Ashley Coffey with CRU in New York, NY
If you are unfamiliar with CRU, you may be familiar with the name CRU used to go by, Campus Crusade for Christ. They've been around a long time serving in colleges and universities to bring the light of Christ to this essential demographic who is distinctly characterized by a search for meaning and truth.
Below, David and Ashley explain their ministry and calling in their own words:
Imagine rubbing shoulders with the affluent and the homeless on the same city block. Crossing political, corporate, and cultural centers of the world all in one subway trip. Where over a million trend-setting college students strive to leave their marks on the world. Welcome to New York City!
After helping launch and maintain movements in Western Pennsylvania (IUP, Mt Aloysius, St Francis, UPJ) for seven years, we too have joined the buzz in this exciting city. Only one percent of the world's nearly 7 billion people go on to college, and NYC hosts a full cross section of them. Nearly every country in the world is represented here. Today these influential urbanites are in desperate need of the gospel! Our dream is that one day this city would be known as a launching ground for the gospel.
We make a great team; David is a creative visionary, and Ashley is a business-minded achiever! Our goal is to win students to Christ, build them up in their faith and send them on a life-long mission with Christ. Would you dream with us.. would you partner with us as we carry out His call on our lives?
Check out their website here.
Recommended Reading
New York is truly a melting pot of many different cultures, and I really enjoyed how the reading selections for this week highlight that fact. The books are almost a mini-tour of nations! Enjoy the diversity this month!
When Jessi Came across the Sea, by Amy Hest - Recommended age 6-12
Beautifully illustrated, this is the first of three immigrant stories featured this week. This is a beautiful story of a young Jewish girl's journey at the turn of the 20th century.
Madlenka, by Peter Sis - Recommended Age 3-8
Madlenka has lost her tooth and is looking to tell anyone who will listen! Her trip around the block takes her on a trip around the world culturally. Full of detailed illustrations, this is a fun one to pour over and look for snippits of familiar cultural tales on each page.
Grandma's Gift, by Eric Velasquez- Recommended age - 5-12
Grandma's Gift tells the true story of author Eric Velasquez' boyhood as a Puerto Rican in New York. You can appreciate his grandmother's difficulty in immigrating late in life and trying to navigate the city, as well as the inspiration Eric found which launched his career in art. It is a wise grandmother who sees potential!
Coming to America, A Muslim Family's Story, by Bernard Wolf - Recommended age 5-12
A pictorial journey through the eyes of a Muslim family as the adapt to life in the United States.This is a non-fiction story that will certainly open little eyes to the joys and trials of being an immigrant.
You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum, by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman - Recommended age - all
A wordless book that tells a hilarious story through quirky drawings, and relates modern day street scenes to classic works of art. As an armature art admirer, I loved how each page was a new adventure tied to an old masterpiece.
My baby blue Jays, by John Berendt - Recommended age 3-8
A pictorial chronicle of raising baby jays on a New York balcony. I appreciated how this encourages little ones to keep their eyes open for wildlife even in unexpected places.
The Story Teller's Candle, by Lucia M. Gonzalez - Recommended age 5-12
Richly illustrated, the story of the first Puerto Rican librarian hired by the New York Library system. I loved seeing through a child's eyes what a difference embracing their culture, and having books in the own language made towards them feeling at home in this strange city.
Under New York, by Linda Oatman High - Recommended age - 4-10
A great introduction to life below the streets of New York. From Subways and water works to restaurants and storefronts.
When you Meet a Bear on Broadway , by Amy Hest - Recommended age 2-5
A sweet story set in New York about a young bear who has lost his mama, and the child who helps him find her.
The Nutcracker in Harlem, by T.E. McMorrow - Recommended age 4-12
A retelling of the Nutcracker set in the golden age of jazz in Harlem.
The Book Itch, by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, Recommended age 8-15
The true story of Lewis Micheaux's dream to open the first African American bookstore in Harlem. The National Memorial African Bookstore opened in the 1930s and attracted a lot of attention with famous guests such as Muhammed Ali and Malcolm X visiting and even speaking from the store front. I have recommended this for slightly older children due to the fact that it does cover the murder of Malcolm X.
New York's Bravest, by Mary Pope Osborne, Recommended age 5-10
Part legend, part tall tale, firefighter Mose Humphrey's was a real New York firefighter who's deeds were stretched time and again. However the bravery of New York's firefighters of the past, and in more recent times makes them heroes worth emulating.
Sugar Hill, by Carol Boston Weatherford, Recommended age 5-15
A poetic walk through Harlem's historic neighborhood providing a brief introduction to many of the significant figures who were influential there. This is a good jumping off place to dig deeper for the older kids since there are paragraph long biographies in the back to spark interest in learning more.
Goodbye, Havana! Hola, New York! by Edie Colon, Recommended age 6-12
This is another non-fiction look at the joys and trials of immigrating to the United States. Like Coming to America, this book will help young children from the US understand and empathize with the hurdles of language and culture that come with moving to a different country.
Recommended Videos
This is just a travel video, but gives a good visual tour of the city.
A short historical overview of New York
Then and now side by side photos of New York from 100 years ago to present day.
Recipes
What says New York better than pizza and cheesecake? I've gotta be real here and say I'm tempted to just drop the number for Pizza Hut and be done :-D However, we are among the growing number of Americans with various food allergies, so I usually make our pizzas at home. Here are the two crust recipes I usually make as well as the best New York style cheesecake I've made (and I've made a lot of cheesecakes y'all!)
Lindy's is said by many to be THE New York Cheesecake. This is one of my favorite cheesecake recipes to date, and you will not be disappointed. I may just go ahead and make some this weekend!
Quick Pizza Crust This is my own recipe that evolved over time and makes about 2 large pizzas.
4 cups flour
2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp yeast (1 pkg)
1 2/3 cup warm water 2 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp oil
herbs or spices as desired... I often add a Tbsp of minced garlic, basil, or Italian seasoning blend. Add all ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on medium high for about 4 minutes. cover and rest until doubled 1-2 hours. Oil a pizza pan and oil your hands, divide dough in half and press into desired shape. Let rest 20 minutes, top as desired and bake @ 400 for 20 minutes.
This is the recipe I use for those of my family who can not have gluten. It's fast, easy, and delicious!
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