San Francisco Mission Trip Stories 2026 (Spring Break) - The Walk Youth Group at Building 229
As we compiled these stories, thank-you notes, and reflections from our San Francisco mission trip, we could not help but feel incredibly grateful for the many people who have prayed for, supported, encouraged, and loved our ministry so faithfully through the years.
Union Square Stories:
We approached a teenager sitting at one of the tables. He was a sophomore in high school, originally from Vietnam, and had only been living in America for two years. He spoke fluent English because, growing up in Vietnam, he learned both Vietnamese and English.
After spending some time getting to know one another, Cohen asked him what he thought happens after people die. He responded that he wasn’t really sure, but knew that many people have different beliefs about it. Cohen then asked if he had ever heard about Jesus and the Bible. He shared that he had heard of them, but no one had ever really taken the time to explain them to him.
Together, our group had the opportunity to share the gospel with him. He explained that his family wasn’t very religious and that Christianity is not the main religion in Vietnam, so he truly appreciated us taking the time to tell him about Jesus. You could tell he was curious and genuinely wanted to know more.
Cohen encouraged him to read one of the Gospels, and I recommended John because I love the way John portrays Jesus so personally and relationally. We also had the opportunity to pray with him and explain that prayer is simply talking with Jesus.
You could tell that this encounter meant a lot to him and that it planted seeds of curiosity and faith. It also reminded me why it is so important to intentionally share the name of Jesus. While many people may have heard His name, they may not truly understand the power, hope, and love found in Him.
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We went to a park near Union Square and approached a woman who at first seemed hesitant, but the moment we told her we were sharing about Jesus her face completely lit up and she said I know Jesus and I LOVE Jesus, and with tears in her eyes she began to tell us how she met Him in the middle of recovery from meth and heroin, how what she once thought was just addiction she now understands was a deep attempt to escape depression and pain, and how she discovered that only Jesus could truly heal her and deliver her from the darkness she was fighting, and now she has been clean for several years, is raising a beautiful family, and walks in a freedom that only He could give, and she carries little Jesus figurines in her purse so she can tell anyone she meets about Him because He is her hope, her healing, and the reason she is still here.
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We were at a park near Union Square and saw two men sitting on a bench. They were a little rough around the edges but clearly curious about what we were doing. Kealon approached them and said we were telling people about Jesus. He asked if they knew Him, and they responded, “I mean, kinda, but I have questions.”
From there, he gently walked them through the gospel, explaining who God is, what sin is, and how through Jesus we can have a relationship with Him. The questions just kept coming as they leaned in, wanting to understand more, and it felt so powerful that after spending this week reading the Easter story through all four Gospels, we were able to come back to those same truths and speak directly into their questions.
Even though they did not make a decision in that moment, they thanked us for taking the time to sit with them and explain it all, and I truly believe seeds were planted because their curiosity was real and they wanted to understand who Jesus really is beyond the misconceptions they had carried.
I found myself so moved listening to Kealon, an eighth grade boy, boldly share the truth of the gospel alongside our students, who each shared pieces of their own story, showing that Jesus is not just someone we talk about but someone who has changed our lives.
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We went out and the first people we spoke to were two African American girls. We spoke to them about our reason for being in San Francisco, but then found out they were from Valdosta. It seemed like a sign from God that we were in the right place since we were on the complete other side of the nation in a huge city.
We also met many Catholics, Christians and a Buddhist. We also met a woman protesting who told us that we need to read Zechariah 14.
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Kealon and I met a man in Union Square. He told us that he was in a rush, so Kealon told him it would be quick. We started off with small talk, asking him about his day. We eventually asked him about God and if he knew Him. The man brought up an old episode from a show he used to watch. The episode was about some old pilgrims trying to find the promised land. At the end of the episode, the pilgrims realized that the promised land was love. He explained to us about the episode. He continued to talk about love, and when this man spoke you could tell he knew about the Word of God. Following that, Kealon and I asked him if we could pray for him. The man asked if we could pray for world peace, so we proceeded to pray. As we finished, he got up and told us he had a chess game and needed to get to the match. His name was Richard.
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I walked up to two dudes and told them what we were doing and why I was there. They wanted to know the whole story of Jesus, so I told them. They were so interested and wanted to know more about it. At the same time they were skeptical, but I think I was able to get them to understand and know Jesus.
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Monica, Rosanna, Modern Day Mary Magdalene Stories:
We went to a park near Union Square and approached a woman who at first seemed hesitant, but the moment we told her we were sharing about Jesus her face completely lit up and she said, “I know Jesus and I LOVE Jesus.” With tears in her eyes she began to tell us how she met Him in the middle of recovery from meth and heroin, how what she once thought was just addiction she now understands was a deep attempt to escape depression and pain, and how she discovered that only Jesus could truly heal her and deliver her from the darkness she was fighting. Now she has been clean for several years, is raising a beautiful family, and walks in a freedom that only He could give. She carries little Jesus figurines in her purse so she can tell anyone she meets about Him because He is her hope, her healing, and the reason she is still here.
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Met a lady at the park. She reminded me of a modern day Mary Magdalene. We went to talk to her. She was a little standoffish, but when we started talking to her she lit up when we mentioned Jesus. Her words were, “Oh I love Jesus.” She started to share her testimony and how she was addicted to heroin, and how many of her nieces talked to her about Jesus and how He can change her life. Eventually she went to a Christian rehab where her life began to change. From there she continued in the Word of the Lord and then convinced her friend to go and do the same thing. When we went to offer her a rose, she gave us a baby tee in return. It was so cool to hear the testimony of how Jesus moved in her life.
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We talked to these two men and shared the gospel with them. One of them had many questions and the other one was quiet but encouraging. They asked us our testimony, and we shared with them. They shared how grateful they were to hear our stories. Rosana was once addicted to meth and heroin. Her nieces are religious and kept telling her about Jesus. Finally she went to a Christian rehab center, and she said that as soon as she walked in she could feel the presence of God.
All she could say was, “Jesus is real.” She told us that she woke up the next day feeling like a new person. She completely quit drugs with no withdrawals and also got off antidepressants. She told us to always have faith and never stop doing what we were doing, even if we get turned down.
Monica and Danniell were already talking when we got there and both were raised in the church. Monica was a firm believer and prayed the most encouraging prayer. Danniell moved around a lot because of the military and went to a lot of different schools. His granny was the most prominent figure in his life, and he cried when we prayed for him.
City Impact, Staff, Appreciating Letters:
Dear Jethro,
You have really helped our group so much. We are so grateful to be able to work beside you. What you have done to help the community is so amazing to me. I absolutely admire how you were able to build connections with the community even though they may not be like you. You find a way to love them.
I also love how you are able to show up every day with a smile on your face and serve the Lord enthusiastically. I will miss working and helping with you. Thank you so much for everything.
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This is my second mission trip with The Walk. I just truly want to give thanks for what you do and how much you mean to all of us. We can do what we do because of you. Thank you so much.
This mission trip in San Francisco has brought many lessons and a lot of joy to our hearts. We were so blessed to have a chance to come here. There was one sweet lady that I would love to share with you. Her name is Cecilia (dentist at City Impact). Mrs. Cecilia was truly a blessing from the Lord. She was a testament of how God’s people should serve Him. I was lucky enough to get to work with her the second to last morning we were there. That morning we had been cleaning. We swept, mopped, vacuumed, and made sure rooms were clean for the weekend. The reason she truly blessed me was just how sweet and kind she was. She did everything with joy in her heart and was a reminder to do everything for the glory of the Lord and for His kingdom.
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Eli, Thank you for guiding us and sharing your testimony with us. You’re very encouraging and inspiring. Cecilia, you are the sweetest soul. I could talk to you for hours and never get tired of it.
Thank you to all of the team members. I am so grateful for all of you guys.
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I want to thank all the staff at City Impact. After seeing all that you guys do, it inspired me to go and do the same when I get home. I know my whole group is thankful for the hospitality and food. All the meals were fantastic.
Kevin, you’re more like a friend than anything. While we worked, we could talk about anything and still have so much fun.
Jethro, I like that it didn’t matter what you were doing, you always had a smile on your face and words of encouragement for anyone.
Andre, you’re very easy to talk to and I have always appreciated a good listener.
Pastor Rogers, the food was amazing. Thank you so much for preparing all of the meals throughout the week.
Donor Thank You Notes:
Thank you for donating and sacrificing your money and time for us kids to go on a mission trip.
I got to tell people about these verses. One of the things is, I was in Union Square and I told two men the whole story of Jesus. They didn’t know Jesus, so I told them all about the Bible and how the world started. At first they wanted to debate, but then they finally realized we knew what we were talking about. All in all, they were sitting in the Lord’s presence after that whether they knew it or not.
Thank you so much for donating. Kids like me really appreciate going on trips like this, and we can’t always afford it ourselves.
I met a woman named Rose. She struggled with addiction, but found her faith through a Christian rehabilitation center. Hearing stories like her makes me realize how good God is, and you’re helping to make that happen. We appreciate you.
Thank you so much for donating. With your support, we have been able to minister to people in the Tenderloin district. One woman we were able to meet was named Monica. When we first walked up to talk to her, she immediately got excited. She told us she loved the Lord. We spoke to her about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it has impacted our lives. After our conversation we prayed with her, but then she told us she would like to pray for us. We listened to the beautiful prayer from her over us. We are so grateful to encounter her. Without your donations we wouldn’t have been able to do it. Thank you so much. Jesus loves you.
Hi, I just want to say thank you so much for what you do, all the prayer and all the love you show us. It really means a lot to us as a whole, but also as individuals.
I think through the support you have shown and given, the Lord has not only put you on our hearts to give, but He has also put you in my heart to serve. Everything given is most definitely appreciated. One story that stuck out to me more than others was this one girl we met while doing outreach. It was like a modern day Mary Magdalene. We asked her about her story. She said that for years she was addicted to drugs, but her relatives were telling her about Jesus and she would not listen. What was so cool was that when we mentioned Jesus her face lit up and she said, “Jesus, I love Jesus.” That’s when she started to tell us her testimony. She said she kept pushing away the idea of Jesus but didn’t realize that maybe since she kept hearing about Him she should check it out for herself. She went to this Christian rehab and she said it changed her life. She even went so far as inviting her friend there with her. Again, thank you so much for all of your support and prayer. I appreciate it so much.
Thank you donors. Without you none of the mission trips would be possible. Because of you, I got to go to San Francisco and spread the Word of God to all who needed it.
While spreading the Word, I met a man named Joe. Joe was one of the safety guards on the street making sure everything was clean and safe. I walked up to him and began small talk and tried to get to know him better. The whole conversation he was lit up like a light. He was one of those kinds of people that just make your day when you talk to them. Eventually we got to a stopping point and I asked if he had any prayer requests. Joe told me that he wanted prayer for his mother. He said she was very old and he was very worried for her health.After we finished praying, we went our separate ways. Just that one conversation impacted the rest of my trip and hopefully the rest of his day. Thank you.
Thank you to all who allowed me to come on this amazing mission trip. Not only did this help others in the Tenderloin, but it also helped and allowed me to grow my faith in God. I heard so many stories and met so many new people. One of my favorite people that I met was a man named Rex. He was one of the workers at City Impact and he helped us a lot during our trip. One day there was a really sad story that someone told me about themselves during outreach. His name was Mo, and his granddaughter had passed away the night before. I asked if I could pray for him and he said yes, but since he was such a bad person that it wouldn’t work. The whole thing truly just got me worked up and I started crying. Rex came over and was comforting me. He told me there was a reason God sent me to Mo and that I did the best that I could. He truly was just a sweet man. Once again, I am so grateful to all of you. Thank you so much.
Thank you donor. I met a lady named Monica. She prayed over us for like five minutes and I feel like they gave us a bubble of protection for the whole trip.
Thank you so much for your prayers, support, love, and encouragement through so many years of ministry. Because of your support, our students were able to spend Easter week in San Francisco sharing the gospel, serving others, and growing in their faith.
One of the most meaningful moments of the trip was taking communion together on Easter Sunday at the top of Vernal Falls in Yosemite National Park.
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Throughout the week, our students studied the resurrection of Jesus in Mark 16 and compared it with the resurrection accounts in Matthew, Luke, and John. Reading through these stories from our students reminds us a lot of the disciples in Scripture. Many experienced the same moments together, yet each person noticed and remembered different details and conversations along the way.
Thank you again for continuing to pray for and support our students and ministry. We are incredibly grateful.
6th Annual Mission to San Francisco
37th Mission Trip in 21 years of ministry
The Walk Youth Group
oneneednow.com
Building 229
1NeedNow, Inc.
229 Clark Road
Thomasville GA 31757