New York City Outreach Project to Launch September 21-23
by AT News Team
New York 13 begins this coming weekend with events in three languages that will be uplinked by satellite across North America. The outreach project that will continue for more than a year in the largest metropolitan area in the United States, the first year of a strategy voted by the General Conference executive committee at the 2011 Annual Council which refocuses the denomination’s missional activity on cities.
The inaugural events will highlight prayer, health and pre-evangelism plans. Friday, September 21, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. (Eastern Time), Pastor Carlton Byrd, director of the Breath of Life television ministry will kick off the prayer emphasis. Sabbath morning, September 22, Pastor Ted Wilson, president of the General Conference will speak. Sabbath afternoon, Pastor Robert Costa from the New Jersey Conference, will speak in Spanish, and from 6 p.m. on Pastor Abraham Jules from the Southern New England Conference will continue in English. All of these events will be uplinked from the North Bronx Church, 3743 Bronxwood Avenue (NY 10469).
Sunday, September 23, a five kilometer run and walk is scheduled, Let’s Move Day 2012. There will be five age groups—experienced runners over 55, adults 36 through 55, young adults 18 through 35, teens 13 through 17 and juniors 10 through 12. Those who register for $15 will receive an official T-shirt, participation medal and access to support services.
Adventists throughout North America and parts of Latin America will be able to view these live events on the Hope Channel. Anyone around the world who has access to the Web can also access the activities through the Hope Channel websites. The Spanish-language channel related to the Hope Channel, Esperanza TV, will carry Spanish versions of the events and the Atlantic Union Conference is providing access in French through Atlantic Union Adventist Media (AUAM) TV.
The New York 13 project is intended to provide more than just meetings. Efforts have already been launched to impact the health of the city and meet a wide range of human needs in local communities. July 13-22 a total of 87 volunteers were provided with 80 hours of training as community health workers. The training was coordinated by Leroy Daley, health ministry director for the Northeastern Conference and included presentations and workshops on hypertension, cancer, diabetes, weight management, massage, mental health, natural remedies and alternative medicine. The volunteers will be conducting prevention seminars in more than 30 neighborhoods.
A Leadership Development Symposium scheduled for October 11-13 will provide training in urban ministry and community impact. Presentations and workshops will be provided by Katia Reinert, health ministries director for the North American Division (NAD); Sung Kwon, director of Adventist Community Services; Gaspar Colon, director of the center for metropolitan ministry at Washington Adventist University (WAU); Zdravko Plantak, chairman of the religion department at WAU; Lilya Wagner, director of the Philanthropic Service for Institutions; Ivan Warden, associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate and former professor of urban ministry at the theological seminary at Andrews University; Gary Krause, director of Adventist Mission for the General Conference; and May-Ellen Colon, director of Adventist Community Services International. This event will be located at the Hilton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.
Information and resources are available at a website established specifically for this project, www.ny13.org. This includes a form that independent ministries, as well as denominational institutions and organizations can use to offer their resources to the overall project.
The information in this story was provided by the NAD NewsPoints.
