Seven United Methodist Churches (UMCs) in Brooklyn’s Long Island West District have launched a ‘street ministry’ through a new Cooperative Parish Structure. This initiative, led by the group called Bold United Soul Seekers (BUSS), aims to enhance the churches’ witness within the community and strengthen connections among parishioners.
BUSS includes St. Mark’s UMC, Ghana Wesley UMC, Fenimore Street UMC, Vanderveer Park UMC, Kings Highway UMC, Premiere Eglise UMC, and St. Paul’s UMC.
An overwhelming number of BUSS parishioners are from the Caribbean, Africa, and African American backgrounds.
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth C. Abel, district superintendent of Long Island West District of UMC’s New York Annual Conference, told Caribbean Life that the conference shifted to a Cooperative Parish Structure “to enhance the witness of the people and congregations to each other and to the world by showing the love of Jesus Christ through forms of mutual cooperation.
“This is different from our previously organized clusters, which I understand were more about affinity and commonality,” she said. “Now, our church is in a season of needing to foster deeper connection to one another in mutual ministry in serving the world.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a major decline in the ministry of our local congregations,” Rev. Abel continued. “The cooperative parishes offer the support of local congregations that share the same polity and structure in their shared community to be more faithful to the people of God in the community.”
Therefore, she said BUSS represents “the transformation of the Brooklyn South ‘cluster’ of the seven UMCs of the Long Island West District into a cooperative parish.
The BUSS vision is for Brooklyn’s seven UMCs to work together more closely as soul seekers for Jesus Christ by training and equipping local congregants as disciples.
The Rev. Morais G. Quissico – senior pastor, St. Mark’s UMC, at the corner of Beverly Road and Ocean Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and BUSS Parish Coordinator – said that members from the seven UMCs “recently went out to meet people on the streets of Brooklyn South, praying with them and reminding them that there’s a God who cares about them.
Rev. Quissico said, “BUSS unites seven United Methodist congregations to serve Flatbush. Together, we aim to welcome new believers into the community of Jesus Christ.”
We bring the church into the community, sharing hope in a time of division and fear, instead of waiting for people to visit us.
The pastor said the first BUSS Prayer Walk, conducted on Jul. 19, started from St. Paul’s UMC, at 3714 Ave. D in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, covering the surrounding streets from the church.
He said the second BUSS Prayer Walk, held on Oct. 18, began at St. Mark’s UMC and Ghana Wesley UMC, 2017 Beverly Road, covering the surrounding streets from the two churches.
The Rev. Roger Jackson, senior pastor of the Fenimore Street UMC, 276 Fenimore Street in Brooklyn, and one of the BUSS clergy, said: “Our BUSS Street Ministry initiative is born from the desire to fulfill Christ’s command to His disciples to go into all the world.
“The people living in the communities that our churches are a part of are from around the world,” he added. “So, when we share the love of God through conversation and prayer, we are taking one local step in obedience to that which is required of us.”
The Rev. Dr. Angel Abakah, senior pastor of Ghana UMC, described as “very transformative” the Cooperative Parish Prayer Walks.
“It was beautiful to see our local churches coming together in love and ready to do the Lord’s mission,” he said. “When we stepped out to pray and share Christ’s love with the people in the community, one woman said something that really touched my team members.
“She said, ‘I have never seen anything like this. Thank you for coming to pray with me,’” Rev. Abakah added. “She was very grateful. I encourage the BUSS Parish to continue.”
The BUSS Prayer Walks were organized by the BUSS Council Prayer Warriors.
Sis. Claudia Jack, a congregant at St. Paul’s UMC and BUSS Prayer Warriors convenor, said, “The prayer walks are a very rewarding experience, because they remind us that we are able to connect with God in the midst of everything we are going through.
“When we call on Him, He will hear and answer us because nothing is impossible with God,” she added.
The youth and young adults from BUSS also actively participated in the prayer walks.
Sis. Sharell Peters, a congregant at St. Mark’s UMC and BUSS Youth and Young Adults Convenor, said: “We live in a time when people deeply need to feel seen, heard, and reminded that they are not alone.
“The BUSS Prayer Walks embody this mission — spreading the love of Christ that the world so desperately needs,” she said.
“Through these walks, our communities experience the tangible presence of God’s love, as we, the Church — the body of Christ (ecclesia) — stand with them – not only through community feedings and outreach events, but also by faithfully lifting them up in prayer,” added Peters, stating that “BUSS was birthed at a time when churches across the nation — not only within the United Methodist Church — were facing closures and decline.
BUSS is a beacon of hope for churches and communities, showing that God remains faithful and present.
In addition, Peters said, “BUSS marks a step toward the model of the Acts Church, where believers partnered together to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ — a much-needed and timely movement for today’s generation.”
Bro. Ian Wharton, a congregant at Vanderveer Park UMC and BUSS Administrative Team Convenor, said “This summer and fall, the BUSS Prayer Walks turned streets into sanctuaries and strangers into neighbors.
“BUSS reminds me that courageous prayer in public spaces still heals, gathers, and sends,” Wharton added.
Bro. Andrew Bain, BUSS Vision Bearers Convenor, told Caribbean Life that “meeting people where they are is a new way of doing church.
“It was a very moving experience for all of the people on the Prayer Walks,” he said. “This was a consistent theme among members.”
