Participants: Shawn Boonstra (Host), G. Earl Knight, Jose Cortes Senior, Ted Wilson, Trevor Baker, Charles Cheatham, Dan Jackson, Don King, Frank Bondurant, Frank Tochterman
Series Code: SF
Program Code: SF000029C
00:16 Thank you, Christine.
00:17 I give you Jesus. 00:19 And what we're talking about 00:20 is bringing Jesus to New York City, 00:22 Metro New York City, 00:23 and then from there to the rest of the world. 00:26 And, gentlemen, I've been thinking about this, 00:28 New York City really is 00:30 this diverse melting pot of people. 00:32 That's where the United Nations is headquartered. 00:35 And we have more than 800 languages, 00:37 people from all over the world living there. 00:39 Tell me a little bit about the diversity in New York. 00:41 How do we tackle that? 00:43 What does that mean for our work? 00:44 What's New York like? 00:46 I mean, I know some people watching 00:47 maybe have never set foot in Greater New York City. 00:50 Actually, Shawn, 00:52 we know now that over 200,000 people 00:56 move into cities every single year. 00:58 And the same thing is happening in New York City. 01:01 And what a tremendous, diverse city it is, 01:04 with, as you said, over 800 languages 01:07 in that city alone. 01:09 We have a great, great challenge and an opportunity 01:13 to reach these people of New York City. 01:15 So how do we do it? 01:16 How do you bite off a project that big, 800 language groups, 01:20 and it's more than language diversity 01:21 in New York City, you've got all... 01:23 I mean, you've got lot of people 01:24 that grew up there. 01:26 But they have different walks of life, 01:27 there are different mentalities, 01:28 different philosophies. 01:30 When anytime you get, what is it? 01:31 Nearly 20 million people together. 01:33 You're going to have some diversity in that group. 01:35 How do we approach that kind of diversity 01:37 in a project like this? 01:39 Well, Shawn, in Greater New York Conference, 01:42 we have about 30 different language groups 01:46 that are currently functioning. 01:47 Obviously, we want to reach out 01:49 to touch the lives of many of these 800, 01:53 we're almost 800 other language group. 01:58 We are equipping our members right now 02:01 to be able to reach out 02:06 to these various groups. 02:08 Also, evangelists from various parts of the world 02:11 are going to be coming in and helping us 02:15 to accomplish this task. 02:17 And so we're going to be praying, 02:19 praying that Pentecost be repeated. 02:25 And that our members through prayer, 02:28 some small group, through evangelistic series, 02:30 through community outreach, 02:32 and various other method 02:34 will be able to reach these people. 02:38 And it's only with the help of the Lord 02:39 that we can have the wisdom 02:41 how to tackle this gigantic task, challenge. 02:44 But I believe, 02:46 part of the reaching this through, 02:49 doing the common things like the community services 02:53 and letting the people see that the gospel 02:57 that the church is, it touches them, 03:00 feeling, meeting their needs. 03:03 That's what Jesus said, then you bid them to follow. 03:06 So through our community services, 03:09 through the health ministries, 03:10 and everybody these days are interested in health. 03:13 And that's those are some of the approaches 03:15 that we need to do before we come with the gospel. 03:19 Develop these relationships 03:23 will help us reaching the cities. 03:26 So much diversity, 03:27 it seems to me that we really have an advantage 03:29 with all of our church members. 03:32 We're all diverse, we all come from different backgrounds, 03:34 different walks of life, some of us born in this church, 03:36 some of us born outside of the church, 03:38 from different ethnic backgrounds, 03:40 cultural backgrounds, 03:41 it seems like there'd be something 03:42 for just about everybody to do, wouldn't there? 03:44 And I've heard a number of things 03:45 being mentioned health outreach, 03:48 literature outreach, and do... 03:51 But there's one thing I think, in evangelism, 03:54 I've always looked at it like this. 03:57 I don't ever want everybody to do everything, 03:59 or just a few groups of people to do everything. 04:01 But this seems like an opportunity 04:03 for every member to do something 04:05 for the Lord to engage. 04:07 Whatever they can, right. 04:08 To fight in their armor to do something. 04:10 And still, so some may be preachers, 04:12 some may be comfortable going door-to-door 04:15 and serving the community, handing out literature, 04:17 others are very comfortable 04:19 in the health outreach and those things, 04:20 but there is one thing that we can all do. 04:22 We can all do. 04:23 We can pray. We can pray. 04:25 Now, there is a big prayer 04:26 initiative coming up, isn't there? 04:28 Yes, there is, Shawn. 04:29 Our steering committee 04:30 is working with the five conferences 04:32 and two unions in Metro New York 04:33 to have a prayer rally, and evangelism, 04:36 and prayer rally September 21, and 22 of this year 2012. 04:40 Okay. 04:42 We hope to have a tremendous program 04:45 and this program will be uplinked and downlinked 04:48 to the various churches in New York City 04:50 and wherever else through Hope channel. 04:52 So even if I don't live in New York, 04:54 I can still participate in prayer rally. 04:55 Absolutely. 04:57 Not only that, but you can also watch it on the internet, 05:01 on your iPad, your iPhone, 05:03 it will be streamed on your computer. 05:05 So you will have a tremendous opportunity 05:08 to be part of this prayer rally with Pastor Ted Wilson, 05:11 and Pastor Dan Jackson, and others, and so many others 05:15 that would participate in this from all around the city. 05:18 So in addition, it's on the internet, 05:20 I can watch it on my iPad, on my iPhone, on my Android, 05:22 even though you won't find. 05:24 Wherever you are in the world. Wherever I'm in the world. 05:25 You won't find an Android in my house, 05:27 so we are an Apple household. 05:29 We're an Apple household. 05:31 But if you're not an Apple household, go ahead, 05:33 watch it on your Android, try to enjoy that experience. 05:36 It's also on 3ABN and on Hope Channel, 05:39 you'll be able to watch it on television as well. 05:42 And that happens again, September...? 05:43 September 21 and 22. 05:45 So a Friday evening and a Sabbath, 05:48 the morning and the afternoon. 05:50 So if summer is over, 05:51 it's time to get to the prayer rally. 05:53 Right. 05:54 That's right at the turn of summer to fall. 05:56 And, Shawn, we want to say this that 05:58 we want to bathe and inundate 06:00 this entire operation in prayer. 06:02 All right. 06:03 This is why we're having this prayer rally. 06:05 We want our people to come together to pray 06:07 for NY13 for the evangelistic campaigns. 06:10 Over 300 of them 06:11 that to be held in New York City. 06:13 How many again? Three hundred campaigns. 06:15 Three hundred campaigns in one city. 06:16 In 2013. 06:18 Well, that seems worthy of prayer. 06:20 Yes. Let me ask this question. 06:23 We often hear, pray for this, pray for this, pray for this. 06:26 Gentlemen, why does prayer make a difference? 06:28 Why is it, I mean, 06:29 in my opinion, as an evangelist, 06:31 that's the most important thing we can begin with. 06:33 That's the starting ground. 06:34 But what does prayer do? How does it change us? 06:35 Well, Shawn, I think prayer connect 06:37 people with people firstly. 06:40 And secondly, it connects them with God. 06:45 I think when people are engaged with prayer, 06:50 they feel a part of the program, 06:52 they feel a part of the process 06:56 of leading people to Christ. 07:00 So prayer is important to engage people in a process. 07:05 And it's more than that, 07:07 is the work that we do is beyond ourselves. 07:11 It's a spiritual work. 07:13 And we need the help of the Holy Spirit, 07:16 it not only engages us with the people, 07:19 but it does something for us who are involved in it. 07:23 I'd have to agree with that. And you know what? 07:24 It seems like it's a great moment 07:26 actually to stop and pray right now. 07:29 Why don't we pray for New York and for the whole project, 07:32 and take a moment and bring the whole thing? 07:35 And wherever you are, 07:36 I'd asked you to watch not just with your eyes, 07:39 but with your heart at this moment 07:41 to enjoin us in prayer. 07:42 And we've got Elder Don King praying, 07:46 and Jose Cortez, president of New Jersey. 07:48 Let's stop for a little prayer at this moment. 07:51 Let's do that right now. 07:52 Our Heavenly Father, 07:53 we in the wonderful 07:55 and precious name of Jesus Christ, 07:57 we just want to thank You for the opportunity 08:00 that we have today and tomorrow. 08:03 And as long as You give us life, Lord, 08:06 to spread the everlasting gospel of Jesus, 08:09 and to share with our brothers and sisters, 08:12 and people in the street, and wherever we go, Lord, 08:15 NY13 is a wonderful opportunity for all of us, 08:19 as church members, as brothers and sisters, 08:21 believers in Christ to reach out 08:24 and touch the hearts and lives of our fellow New Yorkers, 08:28 and to endeavor to point them to the one person 08:33 that can be the answer to their problems, 08:35 their solutions in this life. 08:38 I pray, Lord, that You will bless NY13, 08:41 and bless our church members, 08:42 and bless all our people as we work together 08:45 towards this great and gigantic initiative 08:49 in reaching the cities for Jesus Christ, amen. 08:52 Amen. 08:54 Now, Father, 08:56 You know that this mission is greater than us, 08:59 we cannot do it for our self. 09:02 So please give us 09:03 a double portion of the Holy Spirit. 09:06 Bless every pastor, 09:08 bless every elder of the church, 09:11 bless every member of the church, 09:13 and help us to have the power to go to the streets 09:16 and find the people that need to meet Jesus. 09:19 They need Jesus 09:20 and we need to give Jesus to them. 09:22 But please, Father, 09:24 bless all the structure because the structure 09:26 without Your blessing is nothing, 09:28 and we need to receive the power of the Holy Spirit 09:32 in order to be successful in this beautiful opportunity 09:38 to serve in the area of New York metropolitan. 09:42 Bless us, because we pray in the name of Jesus, amen. 09:46 Amen. Amen. 09:48 That's the beginning of a mighty prayer army. 09:50 And I'm excited about what's going to happen. 09:52 Now, prayer is something everybody can do. 09:56 There is another thing that everybody can do 09:58 and that is pitching financially. 10:01 And you know, I was so deeply moved 10:03 when I heard about... 10:05 Because you transit to the finances, 10:07 I need to say something about prayer. 10:09 Prayer is no preparation for the mission, 10:12 is our mission itself. 10:14 In this invite them of a revival and reformation. 10:19 Everything begins with prayer. 10:21 People believe reformation needs to be critical 10:24 and trying to purify somebody else, but this is not. 10:27 The Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy is very clear. 10:30 Real reformation and revival begin with prayer. 10:33 And when we pray, we are going to do the mission, 10:36 and we are going to do Bible stories 10:39 and an army of people praying and doing Bible stories 10:42 are going to bring success to this important mission 10:46 that the GC, NID, 10:48 the unions and the conferences are embracing. 10:51 Amen. 10:52 Just go for it. Amen. 10:53 I want to say to you as you're watching. 10:55 As an evangelist, I've seen it time and time again, 10:57 if you walk through a neighborhood, 10:59 and pray over the houses, 11:00 and then send out an invitation, 11:02 the response is two, three, four times 11:04 as great as if you hadn't prayed. 11:05 I'd like you to make a commitment at this moment 11:07 to pray for what's happening in New York City 11:10 because it's going to spill across the whole world. 11:11 This is huge. 11:13 Make a covenant with me at this moment to pray. 11:16 And the other thing that you can do is support. 11:19 Elder King, you mentioned a moment ago, 11:21 39 cents for a copy of the Great Hope book. 11:24 And as I heard that, I thought, you know, 11:26 my family really could do 1,000 copies, 11:28 we could band together. 11:30 My daughter's, my wife and I, 11:31 and I think that's what we're going to do. 11:33 We're in for 1,000... 11:34 We're gonna do the same, Shawn. 11:35 Another thousand. We're gonna do the same. 11:37 Absolutely. 11:38 Why don't you pray about it, too? 11:39 I mean, 1,000 copies, maybe your family 11:41 that's not that much of a stretch. 11:42 Maybe you could take a step of faith 11:44 and think about 10,000 copies, 11:46 if the Lord has blessed you like that. 11:47 There are people who are gifted such 11:49 they could do 100,000 copies 11:51 if the Lord laid that on their hearts. 11:53 And I'd ask you to pray about that. 11:54 What would the Lord have you do in New York City? 11:57 Everybody could take a leap of faith. 11:59 And I've discovered that 12:00 when you take that leap of faith, 12:02 the Lord never leaves you hanging. 12:04 He never makes it impossible. 12:05 The prayer I've often prayed is, Lord, 12:07 here's what I would do if you made it possible. 12:09 And then I stretched just a little bit. 12:11 And I'd encourage you to do the same thing. 12:13 Lord, here's what I would do. 12:15 If you would make it possible, and watch what would happen. 12:17 Now, if somebody wanted to give 12:20 they can do that at NY13.org. 12:24 The information they need is there. 12:26 Yep. 12:27 There's the button right at the top 12:28 that says, "Donate." 12:30 Great. 12:31 I think we can move the world if we pray. 12:33 And if we get behind this thing, 12:35 I think the Lord ways to see us getting behind this thing. 12:37 Gentlemen, I have burned through all of our time. 12:39 I have used it all. 12:40 But I want to thank you so much... 12:43 And very profitable. For being here. 12:44 And I'm excited by some of the ways 12:46 that God is really blessing in the field. 12:49 Shawn, I do think we have an army of youth 12:53 that are ready and willing to be engaged in the academies, 12:58 in the elementary schools, and in the college, 13:01 and universities. 13:03 They are also willing and ready. 13:06 So our youth ministries are also engaged. 13:11 What will they be doing? 13:13 Sharing it with their fellow youth, 13:16 with the Facebook, with Twitter, with... 13:20 Compassion movement. 13:23 The electronic... 13:24 Social media. Technology. 13:27 You know, these are areas that they are using, 13:31 and they can use. 13:32 That's right. 13:33 Shawn, there's a minister, the youth ministries, 13:35 planning a compassion movement they call it. 13:38 Fantastic. Compassion movement. 13:39 I like the name of it. 13:41 Of getting into the streets and just working the streets, 13:44 these young people. 13:46 And not only that, we're going to have young people 13:47 coming from all around the world, 13:49 the 13 divisions of the world 13:51 are going to send a youth representative 13:54 to New York City, 13:55 to join with the youth in New York City, 13:57 to do this compassion ministry... 13:59 Oh, imagine that. 14:00 And, you know, there're also women, 14:02 women groups are now gathering for this great event 14:05 where everybody is working together. 14:07 Everybody. 14:08 Again, it's something that everybody, 14:10 there is a spot for everybody in God's family 14:12 to be a part of God's army this time around. 14:14 Amen. Let me ask you a question. 14:17 When John was on the Isle of Patmos, 14:19 God showed him the whole world lighting up 14:21 with the glory of Jesus Christ. 14:23 He saw people, sharing the everlasting gospel, 14:26 men and women making a difference 14:28 as they take their place on God's side 14:31 in the great controversy. 14:33 So here's the question that I have for you. 14:35 When John saw those people, did he see your face? 14:40 Did he actually see you envision, 14:43 taking your place in the final moments 14:45 before Jesus comes? 14:46 Did he see you sharing the gospel with your neighbor, 14:49 your friend, your family member or just out on the street? 14:53 You know, he saw somebody, 14:55 John saw somebody in that vision. 14:57 And at this moment, 14:58 I can't think of a single good reason 15:00 it couldn't have been you he saw on the Isle of Patmos. 15:04 Thanks for joining us. 15:06 Pray about your place in this great work. |
Revised 2018-12-24