New York, USA [ANN; CD EUDNews]. New York City, with a Census-estimated population of over 8.3 million in 2012, is the most populous city in the United States. Alone, it makes up over 40 percent of the population of New York state. It is known for its status as a center for finance and culture and for its status as the largest gateway for immigration to the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, New York City is also a destination of choice for many foreign visitors. Both the state and city were named for the 17th century Duke of York, future King James II of England.
Sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the meeting in New York is one of hundreds being held in metropolitan area during June as part of the denomination’s “Mission to the Cities” campaign.
Already, officials of the Atlantic Union and the two area conferences say 1,100 people have been baptized as Seventh-day Adventists during the months leading up to the event. The NY13 campaign – which features 160 different evangelistic events across the region in June alone – is expected to culminate June 29 at the Nassau Coliseum with a rally attended by more than 15,000 people. The overall effort includes the participation of the Atlantic and Columbia Unions, as well as the Southern New England, Greater New York, Northeast and New Jersey Conferences.
In recognition of the event, New York City’s public advocate, Bill De Blasio, sent his assistant Warren Gardiner to attend the opening meeting. Other public officials are expected to attend related NY13 events, said James Richmond, a community liaison for the Church’s Greater New York Conference.
"I arrived in New York when the tropical storm “Andrea” was fiercely striking the city. Unbelievably enough many of the 161 churches involved in the NY2013 campaign were quite full even if the city was shaken by the storm. I went to the largest SDA Manatthan Church were Elder Wilson was giving his first evangelistic session. The church was crowded just as the following evenings.
The topics treated by brother Wilson and by other evangelists are the same: “Revelation of hope, Christ a hope over death, Christ a hope over the present fears, Christ a hope over the future fears", commented Paolo Benini, Global Mission Director in the EUD region.
"Since last Thursday two major events have taken off here: (1) the largest event of evangelism of our church in the city of New York, and (2) the International School of mission", continued Elder Benini.
"Why the largest event of evangelism? Because 158 programs of evangelization in as many Adventist congregations in the city of New York and in New Jersey have been organized simultaneously. I've been witness at the meetings held in the historic Adventist church in NY. Un Old Baptist Temple built and donated to the Baptist church from Rockefeller and purchased by the Seventh-day Adventist immediately after the World War 2. It is in the oldest part of New York City, on the eleventh street. Every night we have seen an average of 150 non-Adventists. A surprise for me, I've never believed in the traditional pattern of public evangelism. The themes which I attended, presented by Elder Wilson, have been centered on the person of Christ. The plot is built on the book of Revelation but focused on the Hope this prophetic book offers. In the first 5 meetings there was nothing on "Apocalypse". 'Forgiveness in Christ, Jesus who saves the sinner, Hope and Victory by his resurrection, hope for a new heaven and a new earth', these are the major topics of the meetings.
There are 13 volunteers from each division (Hermann Lukas for the EUD) who are offering "one year for Jesus", and they surprised all us with their testimony: in a few days they found about 140 people who agreed to receive Bible Studies, and this with the simple door to door! In New York!?
To learn more about this issue, please visit the following web page: http://missiontothecities.org/
pictures: 1. Ted Wilson; 2. Mark Finley (ANN);
