The sign in the window of our Greenwich Village, New York, coffee shop reads “Knitting Together,” and each week, 10–20 people come to drink coffee and knit – many of them Jewish. Liz Goldstein, who leads our New York branch, says, “We weren’t sure who would come, but we never imagined that it would be mainly young professionals and students from New York University and the Fashion Institute of Technology. What a surprise!”

Take Michelle, for example. She is a New Yorker, not Jewish, but grew up with Jewish kids – and while she’s been to numerous synagogues, she’s never set foot in a church. One night, Ruthie (one of our interns, pictured above) noticed that Michelle was having a rough time. Shoshannah Weinisch, who oversees the gathering, says, “I found out that a student from her school had just committed suicide. We shared her grief and showed her love and care.”

A few weeks later, Michele accepted an invitation from Ruthie and Lila (another of our interns) to come to church. Please pray for Michelle.

Another night, Shira, a shy, Orthodox Jewish student listened as Lila shared her faith in Yeshua (Jesus) with the knitters at her table. Shira did not return the following week, but gospel seeds were sown, and we pray that she will come back.

So many people comment on how they value the community at our coffee shop, and it’s a tangible way for us to love our neighbours. Sarah Levy, general manager of the shop, points out, “A 10 × 10-inch notice above the milk, sugar, and stirrers explains that the shop is owned and operated by Jews for Jesus.”

“Knitting Together” is just one way that we are connecting with our neighbours in the Village – and sharing what it means to connect with Messiah Jesus!