Street Preachers Podcast Tour | Behind the Scenes | Part 5 | New York City

Summary

Street Preachers Podcast Tour — Behind the Scenes, Part 5: New York City

Hosted by: Phillip Anthony Mitchell & Tim Timberlake
Date: February 24, 2026
Podcast: Street Preachers
Episode Theme:
A raw, heartfelt behind-the-scenes reflection on the Street Preachers’ first podcast tour stop in New York City. The hosts discuss the challenges, surprises, spiritual hunger, and powerful moments that made the NYC stop a turning point in their ministry journey.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Phillip Anthony Mitchell and Tim Timberlake revisit their transformative experience of the New York City stop on their inaugural podcast tour. The discussion is candid and transparent, detailing organizational hurdles, the unmistakable hunger for the Gospel in the city, unexpected miracles, and the emotional impact of ministering in “hard terrain” outside the Bible Belt. It’s an honest look at the realities and rewards of grassroots ministry.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Venue Challenges & Sincere Apologies

• The hosts begin by acknowledging unexpected issues with the NYC venue.
  • Oversold Tickets: The venue was smaller than promised, forcing the team to turn people away and refund tickets. (00:25–01:02)
  • Full Responsibility: “We want to take full responsibility for what happened. We don’t want to make any excuses… We ask for your forgiveness… we hope you allow us to make it right.” — Phillip Anthony Mitchell (01:16)
  • Lessons Learned: Emphasized that this being their first tour, they’re still figuring things out but remain committed to their mission and their audience’s trust.

2. The Spiritual Hunger of New York City

• The hosts recall their amazement at witnessing a massive crowd, even in freezing conditions.
  • Atmosphere & Anticipation: “There's a line wrapped around the building and there's hunger outside and it’s cold… But people were ready for the Gospel.” — Mitchell (03:17)
  • New York Distinctiveness: Describing the unique culture—fitted hats, Makash coats, Timbs—and the gritty energy of the NYC crowd. (03:53–04:09)

3. Significance of Ministering Outside the Bible Belt

• Both hosts reflect on the meaning of taking the Gospel to NYC, a city often seen as “hard terrain.”
  • “It is possible… God blows our mind. God blows. It’s gritty, it’s cold, it’s thugged out, but it’s powerful.” — Mitchell (04:28)
  • Tim Timberlake adds, “We were outside the area in which you and I minister. This is our first time traveling outside the Bible Belt for the tour.” (04:29)

4. Testimonies of Spiritual Breakthrough

• Tim shares a moving story about attendees who couldn't enter the venue but stayed outside to experience the event:
  • Memorable Quote: “There was a group of people that couldn’t get in that purchased tickets and they stayed outside and they listened through the windows. They heard the worship and they stayed in the worship and they heard the Word…” — Timberlake (05:10)
  • Deliverance Outside: Among those outside was a young woman from Toronto, delivered from demonic possession after the event.
    • “Her eyes brightened up and… those demons left her.” — Timberlake (07:04)

5. Joy, Humor, & Teamwork on the Mission

• The episode mixes deep spiritual moments with the hosts' playful camaraderie:
  • Lighthearted Banter: Candid talk about some team members grabbing late-night Chinese food while others were in intense street ministry. (06:01–06:41)
  • Acknowledgment of Different Roles: “Even as I’m reflecting, you know, there were some cities where I put in extra work, and there’s some cities where you put in extra work. And that night, you put in extra work.” — Mitchell (07:41)

6. Street-Level Ministry: Bringing Church to the Steps

• Phillip recalls a spontaneous moment outside with young men who couldn’t get in:
  • “I remember we ministered to the two young dudes, laid our hands on them, loved on them, prophesied to them. We had church right there outside, man.” — Mitchell (08:44)
  • Emphasizes adaptability and passion for sharing the Gospel wherever possible.

7. NYC as a “Game Changer” for the Mission

• The hosts underscore how their NYC stop challenged doubt and strengthened their resolve.
  • “Seeing the power of God moving like that in the Northeast… people telling us it couldn’t be done here… and God moved mightily in that hard terrain.” — Mitchell (09:18–09:58)

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Notable Quotes & Powerful Moments

• Authenticity & Accountability:

  • “We don't want to make any excuses for what happened. It's our very first time on tour. We learned a very valuable lesson… We want to ask for your forgiveness.” — Mitchell (01:16)

• Spiritual Hunger Observed:

  • “We are in New York, in the belly of the beast, and there's a line wrapped around the building and there's hunger outside and it's cold. But people were ready for the gospel.” — Mitchell (03:17)

• Miracle on the Sidewalk:

  • “They brought this young lady to me who had been possessed by demons… and we were able… to lay hands on this girl and cast the demons out.” — Timberlake (05:24–05:50)

• Commitment to Ministry Anywhere:

  • “Let’s have church right here… We just blessed those two young men… New York was powerful to me. New York, New York to me was cataclysmic.” — Mitchell (08:44–09:16)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Venue Issues & Apology: 00:25–01:16
• First Impressions & Spiritual Hunger: 03:11–04:28
• Significance of NYC as Tour Stop: 04:28–04:56
• Testimony of Deliverance Outside: 05:10–07:04
• Lighthearted Team Banter: 06:01–07:01
• Sidewalk Ministry: 08:44–09:16
• Reflections on Breaking Barriers: 09:18–09:58

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Conclusion

This episode pulls listeners into the highs and lows of real, boots-on-the-ground ministry in one of the nation’s toughest spiritual environments. The story is one of humility, honesty, and hope: mistakes acknowledged, lessons learned, and lives tangibly changed beyond church walls. For those longing for revival and authenticity, NYC was “cataclysmic”—proving that hunger for the Gospel is alive and well, even in unexpected places.

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Transcript

[A]

What's up, street team family? You're watching this episode of the Street Preachers podcast with your hosts, Tim Timberlake and Philip Anthony Mitchell, and you are tuned in to our special behind the scenes series of our very first Street Preachers podcast tour. Stay locked.

[B]

Let me. Let me say New York. I. Street team New York.

[A]

We're sorry.

[B]

Okay. The venue. Okay, let's just. Let's just talk about it.

[A]

They told us the venue was bigger than what it was.

[B]

They told us.

[A]

They told we had more seats than. Than what we had.

[B]

And so.

[A]

So we sold tickets based on the amount of seats. They told us only to arrive and realize we didn't know we had less seats.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's.

[B]

Listen, it's not a money grab. We. We not even doing this for any monetary gain at all.

[A]

Right.

[B]

When we got here and they told us that the venue did not hold as many seats as they originally told us, we immediately started to work to try to accommodate as many people as we could. And the people that we could not accommodate, we. We reimbursed that ticket cost.

[A]

So on behalf of Tim and I, if you're part of our street team and you was disappointed because you couldn't get into the venue, New York, we sincerely apologize to you. Okay, look right at me.

[B]

Right?

[A]

We want to take full responsibility for what happened. Yeah. We don't want to make any excuses for what happened. It's our very first time on tour. We learned a very valuable lesson, and I know for us, it's a lesson for some of you all. It was painful, and we acknowledge that. We want to ask for your forgiveness. We want to ask for grace, and you want to ask that you would allow us to make it right. And we were figuring things out on the way. And so for those of you who could not get in the building, we are truly sorry, and we hope that you went back and watched that episode and maybe we got to come back to New York and do something. Absolutely. But we do sincerely apologize, and we're not experts in this, trying to figure it out as we go along, and so just thank you for your grace and your mercy. But New York was. New York was cataclysmic, at least for me. Yeah, I'm in my home city. It was only the second time I got a chance to do any kind of gospel ministry in my home city since I've been saved. It was special for me coming back to my home city right here in. Yeah, in. In Manhattan and from Queens, but right here in Manhattan, we had. We had a Beautiful. It was a beautiful edifice.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like a basilica. Absolutely. And I remember that night when we were singing because the basilica, the ceiling was so high. The. When my son taught me just the, the acoustics and the reverb in the room and it was so beautiful. It sounded like we was in heaven. It sounded holy and glorious. Angelic. It sounded angelic. Angel. And. And I remember pulling up in front of the. In front of the location and, and seeing the line and also seeing the hunger and thinking like, this is. This is New York, bro. We're in the northeast where, you know, we're not in the Bible Belt.

[B]

You remember this, like, this is Hard Terrace now.

[A]

This is. This was this. This our first city outside the Bible Belt, right?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Right?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Because we wasn't in down. Yeah, this is our first city outside the Bible Belt and we in New York in the belly of the beast and there's a line wrapped around the building and there's hunger outside and it's cold.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I mean, it had to been like 30 degrees that night. It's cold. But people were ready for the gospel. They were hungry, ready. And, and that I remember when, when we pulled up in the vehicles and we hopped out and just seeing the people ready to hear God's word, man, that blessed me so much. I was so overwhelmed. Hopping out that vehicle and seeing people in New York. New York, bro.

[B]

Yeah, man.

[A]

New York terrorism.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Everywhere.

[C]

Fitted hats, everywhere, you know what I'm saying? People out there in the Makash coats, you know what I'm saying? They out there, their Makaj coats ready and they, they north faces, man, and they montclairs and they scullies and they were out there in their timbs, you know, suited and ready.

[B]

Yeah, man.

[C]

Ready for the gospel in 30 degree weather.

[A]

And that blessed my soul. New York to me was like the. It was, it was, man, I was like a kid in a candy store in New York. It was New York to me was cataclysmic.

[B]

New York for me.

[A]

It was powerful, solidified. Yeah.

[B]

It is possible.

[A]

It is possible because we not even. Because that's. That we. We. We not in the Bible Belt. Yeah, we outside of the area in which you and I minister because you and I minister in the Bible Belt. This is our first time traveling outside the Bible Belt for the tour. And God blows our mind. God blows. It's gritty, it's cold, it's thugged out, but it's powerful. Remember that night?

[B]

I remember.

[A]

Remember what it felt like in the room that Night.

[B]

One of the most powerful testimonies that I read, there was a group of people that couldn't get in that purchased tickets and they stayed outside and they listened through the windows.

[A]

I didn't read that testimony and they wouldn't tell me about that, bro.

[B]

They.

[A]

They got blessed. Why didn't you say about this?

[B]

I forgot about it just till now.

[C]

You're not going to tell me that, bro?

[A]

Been preached just crying right now.

[C]

Tell me that, bro. They was listening outside the window.

[B]

They were listening through the window and they heard the worship and they stayed in the worship and they heard the word and then they heard the, the. The response after the word of God. And then we walked out and. And they bought this young lady to me who had been possessed by demons and she stayed the entire time. And we were able. Me, Jen and a few more of our team were able to lay hands on this girl and, and cast the demons out of her.

[A]

Are you serious, bro?

[B]

And they stayed.

[A]

See, now I feel bad bro, cuz my team and I, we went to go get Chinese food, Remember?

[C]

Yo, we, yo, we went to go get Chinese food. Come like yo, okay, if I'm in New York, it's the Chinese food in the country, you know what I'm saying? We about to go find a hole in the wall spot and go get some Chinese food. So we out there grubbing in, in like at like midnight. I'm out here, remember that? We out there grubbing at midnight. You out there casting out demons. Rice and chicken wings. That's crazy, bro. You ain't tell me that, bro. Are you serious?

[B]

Yes, man.

[C]

D, they gonna think I'm a slouch now, right? Yo, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, bro. Wait, wait wait wait. They gonna think I'm gonna st loud. Yo, I'm out there eating por for rice and chicken wings at midnight and you out there casting out demons and devils.

[A]

Come on, bro.

[C]

In them streets, bro.

[A]

Come on.

[C]

I didn't even know that, bro. Cuz we separated when the recording was over. But the team I had, I've been

[A]

telling them like, yo, best pizza, best Chinese.

[C]

So we walk like 10 blocks or

[A]

somewhere they go get some Chinese food.

[C]

We was out there street, bro.

[A]

Listen, you was doing God's work. Absolutely.

[C]

You know what I'm saying? But I didn't know that.

[A]

But did she get free?

[B]

She got free. She got free. And it was like a light went off in her eyes. Those demons left her. Her eyes brightened up and, and the people that she was with come on as A matter of fact, it was a couple that flew from Toronto.

[A]

Come on, bro.

[B]

And they were there and they were outside, and they would listen to the worship.

[A]

Come on, bro.

[B]

And so, you know, all this was

[C]

happening when we was at the Chinese restaurant.

[B]

Y' all sitting there eating pork fried rice.

[C]

I'm sitting here, mouth just dry, corners of my mouth, just praying down heaven,

[B]

casting demons out of this girl, man.

[C]

Bro, that's crazy. Sweating in the street.

[B]

It's 30 degrees outside.

[A]

But, bro, you know what. But you know what's powerful, though? Even as I'm reflecting, you know, there were some cities where I put in extra work, and there's some cities where you put in extra work.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And. And that night, you put in extra work. Thank God for that. And I know people's outside listening from the window, See, but I love that because there's a hunger in this generation, right? There's a. There's a hunger in this hour for the word of God. There's revival happening, right? Because time is running out. And to think, like, I can't get in, but I'm just gonna hang out outside and get the word. It's like. It was like that, that. That those four friends who couldn't get in when Jesus was preaching at the house, we're gonna tear a hole in the roof and let our friend. I was like, whatever we got to do to get this word, we're gonna get this word. We're not gonna complain. We're just gonna stay outside and get this word. So I didn't know that happened, you know, and that's. That's really powerful that that happened, man. So they hung outside and listened through the window. You know, when I. When I left, before we went to Dude, I walked outside, there was these two young dudes sitting on the steps. They couldn't get in. And they said. They said, yo, Pastor Philip, we came from. I know whichever borough they came from, man, we couldn't get in. I said, all right, bro, I'm with you right now. Let's have church right here. This is right before we walk in trans. So this must have been before you came out. And I remember we ministered to the two young dudes, laid our hands on them, loved on them, prophesied to them. We had church right there outside, man, with these two young dudes. I'll never forget them, man. They were so humble, so kind. And we. We just all came around in a circle and we just blessed those two young men. And then we. We went on and walked to the restaurant. But, but New York was powerful to me. New York, New York to me was cataclysmic. It was, it was a game changer. I, it. It just felt so unreal. And for me, it felt surreal.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Being in my home city and doing ministry and seeing the power of God moving like that in the Northeast and

[B]

people telling us it couldn't be done

[A]

here, saying it couldn't be done in New York. Right. Like, y', all, y' all shouldn't go to New York, show up for the podcast and all this other stuff. And, and I think that was one of my. That was one of my favorite nights in New York because I knew we was outside the Bible Belt and I knew that. That we was in what I would call very hard terrain. Yeah. Right. We was in very hard terrain. And, and God moved mightily in that hard terrain. But we didn't leave that terrain. No. Cuz then we. We went south to Philly. Yeah.

[B]

Pray you were blessed by this behind the scenes content. And if you were, please do us a favor, like subscribe, share those things, help us to continue the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, for more information, go to Streetfeatures TV if you're encouraged by the message. Help us to continue to share the message by going to the content, sharing it, but also supporting the merch. This isn't just merch, it's mission.