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I have known Pastor Jaime Zelaya for around 18 years. He is a Great father, husband, human being and pastor. He is always helping us with support whether in counseling or any other type of need.
He is also helping the most vulnerable like the homeless by providing food and clothing. He also prays and shares the gospel, teaches us about the word of God with us and to everyone else that needs salvation . Pastor Jaime Zelaya is always there for the needy. I am thankful for having him in our lives.
 

Betsy Occasio Delgado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have known Pastor Jaime Zelaya for  22 years. We met when he was a teacher and I was assigned as his mentor.
For the last 17 years he has served as the pastor of New Beginnings Church of Williamsburg. Over the years he has been involved with the Bowery Mission. He has
organized clothing drives and donated to them. He has also donated time, money and clothing to groups that were decimated by Hurricane Sandy.  He is always donating food to the poor and
the homeless. He has provided English as a second language classes to immigrants.
He has always been there for me when I had to be hospitalized and face illness. Best of all, he married a beautiful and talented wife and they brought three of the most precious children into
my life.

 

Charlie Berger

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In the summer of 2015 our church sent a mission team to spend a week with Pastor Jaime Zelaya and his family at the church. One of the surprising elements of our experience was the amount of time that the entreat institute poured in to each of us. We spent daily time in the Word of God led by Pastor Jaime Zelaya. It was rich, refreshing, and inspiring. In addition to the bible study we spent a special time each day praying for specific people we had met the previous day. The amount of community that was developed among our group and other teams there was surprising and unexpected; we quickly felt a part of the New Beginnings Church family.

The times of bible study, prayer, and fellowship prepared us to minister to the community. We found ourselves in a diverse people group, each with their own hurdles to cross. The church prepared us to minister in this environment and gave us great opportunities to partner in direct ministry. This is truly something for everyone no matter where they on their journey with Christ.

I would like to add that it was a joyous time with some awesome people. Our team came back so encouraged in the Lord, and better equipped to minister in our context. We plan to send multiple teams this year to New Beginnings Church of Williamsburg. 

 

Allen Bonnell

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It has been a joy to work with the ministries at New Beginnings  for the past two spring breaks. Both years I have led a team of college students to the Big Apple to spend spring break doing missions work in a place very different from home. The church family is has been so welcoming of our students. Pastor Jaime Zelaya is not only a great host, but also an incredible mentor and teacher, leading the students to delve into scripture for guidance in life as well as ministry. His sense of humor and challenging questions inspired much discussion among our group while on the trip and after we returned home. Each of the participants on the trip learned to do ministry in new, challenging ways. They learned that while the place and accents might be different, people need the Lord in every location. I look forward to returning to New Beginnings with another team soon!

 

Rev. Nathan C. Byrd 

 

This week in NY was amazing for personal and spiritual growth where I learned my need to reprioritize and value my time with God through prayer, worship,  bible study and fellowship.

I have learned that any pre-conceived ideas I had about NY were wrong! I have learned through opportunities to see different cultures and parts of NY to consider those around me who are different than me and be open to ways to connect and serve back at home. 

I have learned the power of compassion and care from Pastor Jaime Zelaya and his wife Bevsi. I am not a person who likes to be vulnerable but in a difficult moment I felt the freedom to share with them because of their consideration shown to me. 

Shelia Mullins

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Pastor Ron Yost states, "During our Spring Break Mission trip in March of 2017. I, along with six college students and another adult leader left Frostburg State University in western Maryland and journeyed to NYC to see where God might use us. Our first stop for the trip was at New Beginnings with Pastor Jaime Zelaya and the folks from the church. We were made to feel welcome. Our assignment for the day was to prayer walk. We prayed that God would work and he did. We were able to gift the church with a small token to help in the trafficking ministry. God used that seed to save a life. It is a blessing to see that God is using the faithful folks there to reach lost people for his glory. Pastor Jaime Zelaya is a gift from God whose heart and vision are contagious."

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I always thought I was doing a good job of sharing my faith with lost souls...then I took a trip to meet Pastor Jaime Zelaya...BAM!, did I receive a rude awakening and a huge challenge. Pastor Jaime has a true heart and passion for taking the gospel to the streets and reaching those who may never venture into a church or even have a remote possibility of hearing the gospel. He has taught me that church is not just inside the four walls of a building. Church can be standing on the corner handing out a snow cone and a smile, worshipping and sharing a sandwich on the corner of Marcy Ave. with women who are struggling just to survive. Pastor Jaime has taught me through scripture that those who may have special needs, lame or sick need to be brought to the front and not left behind. I have learned through prayer walking and meeting many lost souls who are clueless about our GOD, and for them to know, all it takes is just stop and ask. These are just a few things I have learned through my 2 visits to New Beginnings, and will have the privilege of going back this summer. Having been mentored by Pastor Jaime  and also in our home church in I have understood and seen the needs we have in our own community. We have learned to take on the challenge and see that we as children of GOD have the responsibility to help those who are lost, sick or need a helping hand.

 

Thank you Pastor Zelaya!

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Paul Giles

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We were blessed to have spent a week with New Beginnings Church in March during our spring break short-term mission trip. From the evening we arrived, tired and ready for bed, Pastor Jaime Zelaya warmly welcomed. New Beginnings Church, as in the people, was a great example of the Acts 2 church. When a group of college age students came for the week to their building, we were brought in like family, eating, laughing, and praising God together for what he was doing. The people have a heart that breaks for their community and obey by turning that burden into action. My favorite observation about New Beginnings was how they cared about their community with genuine service paired with a hope-filled message of Jesus on their lips. Not only were they consistent in their lifestyle and speech, but Pastor Jaime Zelaya and his family took our group of 10 people, into their lives by opening their home, hurts, and joys with us. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we could rejoice together at the end of each day with how the Holy Spirit was drawing people to repentance and restoration. As in Pastor Jaime’s words and incredible reminder, “Praise God!” Praise God for what is happening and how the name of Jesus is reviving a dead or nominal community in Brooklyn.

 

Cameron Pacheco

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Having Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, it has been wonderful to work and serving with New Beginnings and be part of the wonderful work New Beginnings Church does and has done these many years serving their community with the Christ Centered Love and working with churches around the country. 

What I have learned during these many years serving with New Beginnings and why I feel blessed to support their Christ Centered Mission financially is very heart felt.  Growing up on a farm in Nebraska and living in many small to midsized towns my whole life, I really have not had much exposure to such a vast number of diverse people groups within walking distance of New Beginnings.  I have traveled around the world with the military serving my country, but never really had the opportunity to directly witness other people groups and spend time talking about my Savior Jesus Christ.  I have always tried my best to reflect Christ in my appearance and actions throughout my travels but working with New Beginnings opened a whole new world for me.  I truly believe God is at work all around us and we need to jump in and show Christ’s love through our actions being His hands and feet.  I have prayed to God for him to help the poor and he needs to do something about reaching unbelievers.  And God’s answer to me was He has done something, He created me to reach out to the community.

Through these many years serving with New Beginnings, I have gotten the opportunity to learn how to interact with people of different races, nations, ethnicities, and world views without having to travel tens of thousands of miles to other countries.  If I were to travel overseas to witness for Christ, I would only interact with peoples of one ethnicity and one world view.  But with New Beginnings’ Christ centered mission, I have had the wonderful opportunity serve and witness to pretty much every ethnicity and world view within a ten city block of their church building.  This is why I believe God has led me to serve alongside Pastor Jamie and New Beginnings and support them in their outreach projects.  

God has blessed me and my family tenfold over the years as we have partnered with New Beginnings to witness and serve their community with the Love and Knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Pastor Jamie and his team of Christ Followers have made and will continue to huge impact in their neighborhood and throughout the country.  I look forward seeing what all God has in store for them.

Respectfully and in Christ’s Service

 

Ben Votipka 

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I first heard about New Beginnings Church from my pastor.  He told us about this new church  and encouraged us to pray about helping them get the Word out in their community.  We got snowed out on our first attempt at a mission trip but managed to make it in the spring of the same year.  I think 7 of us went the first time.  The church members were so welcoming to us and I remember being amazed at how Pastor Jaime was able to preach in two languages at once.  We did a lot of walking and passing out fliers to invite the neighborhood to come to one of their Family Fun nights.  We also passed out water bottles in the park and prayer walked, particularly at the school across the street.  Once while praying in front of the church, there was a fire drill and we got to sing “Jesus Loves Me” to the children as they waited on the street.  We left feeling like we had done what was asked of us, but knowing there was much to be done.  I have since gone back on mission trips to New Beginnings and count Pastor Jaime and and many of the members as my friends.  They have likewise come and visited where I lived.  Each time it seems that there is progress being made in the Name of Jesus in the way the neighborhood sees this little band of Christian brothers and sisters.  They now have a relationship with the school that we prayer walked around. Their kind deeds are paying off with building relationships with their neighbors. God is doing big things through their ministry and they are also reaching out to others in other places in the US by allowing them to share in the efforts.  The neighborhood has undergone some changes too and the ministries they are involved in have evolved to meet the needs of those around them.  The last time we were there we were involved in their Strange Love ministry and I been able to see fruit from that through social media.  God is causing lots of “new beginnings” to take place through the ministry of this church and its faithful servants.

 

Pamela Votipka

 

New Beginnings Church of Williamsburg essentially trains teams to practice the spiritual disciplines of the Christian faith and then apply them to the urban landscape of Brooklyn.  Each day began with prayer and expository teaching and study of the Word taught by Pastor Jaime Zelaya.  These foundations gave a theological basis from which to evangelize the Hasidic Jewish community.  For instance, in studying Romans 11:8 the actions and attitudes of the Jewish community could better be understood as the “spirit of stupor.”  In the context of evangelism, the Institute trained the group in large, open-air methods as well as more personal methods.  The group held signs proclaiming love for the Jews and also went out into the community in pairs, just as Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs. In these ways New Beginnings Church of Williamsburg proved to provide both doctrine and practical devotion for the believer. 

 

Love in Christ,

Mason Lawrence Neltner

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For the past 4 years, I have raised money, packed my bags, and set off.  So many question me, why go to New York? The answer is simple, everyone needs Jesus.  I am always assured that my time spent with my brothers and sisters at New Beginnings helps to serve that end. I have been amazed at how the members of this church do not simply meet together on Sunday, but they live life together. Even more to the point, they engage their community together. Each year, they  challenge me to look not only at Williamsburg, but also my own community more carefully. I am forced to ask the question, do I have a heart for my community as they do?

     In the past 3, going on 4, years, I have swept streets, talked to those hurting as they walked the streets of Brooklyn, and watched God use not only our service, but the service of all those churches that have come before us. I have been stretched thin by my friend and brother Jaime. He has challenged me to pray anywhere and everywhere, to get over my fears in talking with strangers, and he has encouraged me to carry what I learn to my own portion of God's creation. I never leave New York the same. I am thankful for that. 

     The teaching at New Beginnings has helped to anchor me over the last few years as well. Always pointing to first loving God and His commands, in turn, it helps me to love my neighbor more-all of my neighbors.  Honestly, I could go on and on telling stories of all the lessons I have learned. The most important that I carry with me is this. My time in Williamsburg has better helped me to see a small snapshot of God's Kingdom. I remember one particular evening we had church, and we sang praise to God-in English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.  In that moment I saw that God's Kingdom is diverse, colorful, with a multitude of languages. I saw that God's desire to see all nations come to Him and His Presence are not simply words on a page. Instead, they are the desire of an awesome God that looks down on His wonderful and diverse creation. I look forward to my trip again this year and to being stretched once again. 

 

Paul Holcombe

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I have sincerely enjoyed my time in Williamsburg serving the Lord with New Beginnings Church. God has taught me so much in such a short time. First of all, I have learned to always trust in God no matter the circumstances. He always desires the best things for His children. Secondly, I learned that you always have a family in Christ no matter where you are. I am so grateful for the extensive hospitality and genuine love I have received here from my family in Christ. Thirdly, I have learned that God’s love is universal. His love is for every race, face, language, and personality. I have witnessed this church sharing this love in the community every day. It truly blessed my heart to see such persistence. 

I have been so emboldened by this congregation’s steadfast courage in spite of many spiritual attacks. I know that God will greatly bless this ministry for their faithful work for God’s kingdom. 

I came here hoping to serve in a ministry that served the women of the Strange Love. I had no idea that God had so much more in store for me. I learned so much specifically from Pastor Jaime Zelaya and Bevsi. I will so dearly miss our late night discussions over coffee in their home. They have opened their home to me and adopted me in. I truly feel at home here. He and his family taught me that the verse in James is true in saying, “Be slow to speak and quick to listen.” They really helped me learn the importance of slowing down, listening to others, and, most importantly, listening to God. Also, I learned the incredible importance of accountability. It is not always pleasant to be corrected, but I have learned here that it is a key component in a successful Christian walk. I truly feel that as every day that passed, I grew more and more spiritually. 

Lord willing, I look forward to visiting New Beginnings Church as much as possible in the future. I plan to go home and raise awareness and support for this ministry among many different churches in the South. It is my hope that through this, God will use me to become an advocate for this ministry. It is my heart’s prayer that the Lord will keep you and bless you always. Thank you for all of the wisdom and love you have shared with me.

 

Lauren Pineo

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I met Pastor Jaime Zelaya and the wonderful congregation of New Beginnings Church 5 years ago as I was looking for a church to partner for a summer mission trip. The North Carolina Baptist Convention started a partnership with the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association and they were looking and encouraging churches to go to New York City to do mission work. God placed in my heart that burden and after some prayer, I responded to that call and God place New Beginnings Church in our way.

Since the first time I met Pastor Jaime Zelaya and the leadership of New Beginnings, we have developed a great friendship and mutual respect. We share the burden and passion to reach the lost and remove darkness. We want to trained and equipped Christians to be great disciples of Christ. Our mission teams have been blessed from these experiences of learning and putting into practice what they have learned. They have share the Gospel of Christ with people on the streets of Brooklyn and in the parks. They had done multiple servant evangelistic projects which has enhance their mission experience. Others have grown in their faith with Christ as they participate in these projects.

As the Team Leader, I feel blessed to be able to partner with New Beginnings Church. I take great joy when I see team members engaging with a total stranger in the streets of Brooklyn sharing the Gospel of Christ or praying with someone. I prayed that God will allowed to continue to partner with New Beginnings Church for many years to come and to be able to continue to make disciples for Christ.

 

In His Name

Dimas E. Castillo

The Zelaya’s visit with us exceeded my expectations.  The response from our church family and the attendance at the Tuesday and Wednesday night events were more than we expected.  As a result of our time together, our Community Outreach Team has established that on the first Friday morning of every month, we’ll be serving “Free Coffee @ the Tracks”.  This week, February  5, with be our initial first Friday event.  Given the exposure from our first giveaway, we expect to serve more coffee than before.  We are developing portable, permanent signage to use on a regular basis.  The multi-generational involvement should continue as well.
  We have also discussed the opportunities that were discovered to minister to our Spanish speaking community.  We are making inquiries into previous Hispanic ministry efforts in Rome that have not fruitful to determine the strengths and weaknesses of those efforts.  Our Pastor and staff are prayerfully seeking the Lord’s direction concerning this opportunity.
  I’m so grateful for Jaime and their family!  They have become more than partners in ministry.  We consider them dear friends and a true brother and sister to us.  We were so pleased to have them as guests in our home and grateful for the friendship that have grown between our children and theirs.  Jaime’s leadership and ability to lovingly challenge churches in their own locations is a gift and a blessing.  We’ve had much positive feedback from our members who were challenged and encouraged in several areas of their own lives through Jaime’s teaching.  We are greatly anticipating returning with our students in July of 2016 to expose even more to the work of New Beginnings and to expand the family God has given us with you all.  Thank you for your faithfulness, generosity, and love.  The Lord is using you to build His unshakeable Kingdom!

Eric Whelchel