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: SF000029B
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00:14 And we're back.
00:15 And we're talking about NY13 or this monumental project 00:19 that's going to focus on the metro New York area 00:22 in 2013. 00:24 Now, here's something I bet you didn't know 00:25 about New York City. 00:27 Did you realize that Washington DC 00:29 was not actually the first capital of America? 00:32 No, it was in 1789 00:34 that George Washington took his oath as president 00:37 on the balcony at Federal Hall in New York City. 00:40 So it was the place, 00:42 a place where America got a real start, 00:44 and we're praying, 00:45 it'll be a place where the wrap up of the work 00:47 will get a real impetus and a real start. 00:50 Now I'm back with a panel, 00:52 and you'll notice that my panel has shifted somewhat. 00:55 While Christine was singing, we changed some seats around, 00:58 and now I have a very esteemed panel of conference 01:01 and union presidents with me. 01:03 I've got Frank Tochterman 01:04 from the Southern New England Conference. 01:07 I'm going to get these wrong. 01:08 You know I'm going to get them wrong 01:09 because I'm nervous about getting them right. 01:11 Trevor Baker from New England. 01:13 Northeastern. 01:14 No, Northeastern, I knew it was an NE, 01:15 Northeastern. 01:17 Elder Earl G. Knight from Greater New York, 01:20 and our board chairman for the project, 01:22 Elder Don King from the Atlantic Union, 01:25 president of Atlantic Union, 01:26 Elder Jose Cortes from the New Jersey Conference, 01:29 and Elder Charles Cheatham from Allegheny East. 01:32 I almost got them right, I almost did it without a flaw. 01:36 Guys, tell me a little bit about your territories 01:39 and why you are presiding 01:42 in the best territory in the United States. 01:46 Southern New England Conference 01:48 is made up of three small states, 01:49 Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. 01:52 We have 11 million people living in that area. 01:55 Wow, 11 million, that's a third of the population 01:57 in my home country Canada 01:59 living in that little area, amazing. 02:00 Wow. Yes. Elder Baker? 02:01 Well, the Northeastern Conference 02:03 shares its territory with the Greater New York Conference. 02:05 But we expanded to New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, 02:10 Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and even Vermont. 02:14 Wow, I get lost 02:16 to try to look around in the territory? 02:18 But the southern part of Connecticut 02:21 along with the New York territory, 02:25 they'll be the ones that mostly involved 02:27 in this New York 13 initiative. 02:29 We have a membership of 50,000 plus. 02:32 Fifty thousand plus. 02:34 Elder Knight? 02:35 I'm privileged to share territory 02:37 with my good friend Trevor Baker, 02:39 who is in Northeastern Conference. 02:41 Greater New York Conference covers the territory 02:46 mainly in the metropolitan area of the city of New York. 02:50 We extend to about 100, 120 miles north towards Albany. 02:56 We have 25,000 plus members that we are currently serving, 03:01 we would like to add many thousands 03:04 to that next year. 03:05 Let's double it. 03:07 We're excited about the prospect of New York 13, 03:10 and our people are getting ready, 03:12 we are geared up for tremendous success, 03:15 and to see souls come to know Jesus better. 03:17 Fantastic. 03:19 Elder King, we met you in our first segment 03:21 in the Atlantic Union, 03:23 just a second or two about the Atlantic Union? 03:25 Well, the Atlantic Union 03:26 is one of the two unions involved with NY13. 03:30 We have about 107,000 brothers and sisters, 03:32 believers in that union. 03:34 It covers all the way from New York to Buffalo 03:36 across to Bermuda, 03:38 and we're just excited about the wonderful possibility 03:42 of working together in New York. 03:43 You almost make it into Canada. Almost, right on the border. 03:47 Elder Cortes, New Jersey? 03:48 New Jersey is this side of the river. 03:51 And we have over 8 million inhabitants, 03:56 very close to New York. 03:59 We belong to the Columbia Union. 04:01 We already passed the 14,000 members 04:03 going to 15,000, 04:05 and we are ready for the mission 04:07 together with our work, 04:09 Seattle Conference, Allegany. 04:10 Elder Cheatham? 04:12 We cover the vast area in the Northeast. 04:16 Most of the cities that we cover 04:18 are in the states of New Jersey, of course, 04:22 but also in Pennsylvania, in Maryland, 04:25 and Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware. 04:27 So we have a large area, 04:29 but our target populations 04:31 are primarily in the heart of the urban and inner city, 04:34 the hardcore urban inner city structure. 04:38 And we are happy to have a number of churches 04:43 on the western side of the Hudson River. 04:47 And that's our targeted area 04:49 for this campaign of New York 13. 04:52 Great stuff. 04:53 Now we've got a lot of territory 04:55 and only a few minutes, 04:56 but if you guys could tell me a little bit 04:59 about what's going on in the field, 05:00 how are we getting ready for this big initiative? 05:02 How are we working together? 05:03 What are some of the things going on 05:05 in your neck of the woods? 05:06 I know that we won't be able to do any of them justice 05:09 because we have only seconds for each, 05:10 but what's going on in the field 05:12 to get ready for this big initiative? 05:15 Well, in Northeastern, 05:16 we're trying to spread the word first of all, 05:19 and then trying to get the members 05:22 and the pastors trained. 05:24 One of the mediums that we are using 05:27 is through our health ministries, 05:29 a lot of missionary training, medical missionaries, 05:32 Bible's instructors, 05:34 those are two of the initiatives 05:37 that we are starting to work with, 05:39 train individuals so that they can get out. 05:42 So a lot of emphasis 05:44 on getting the members into the streets, 05:45 and they're the ones being ministers. 05:47 Right. 05:48 We believe that 05:50 until you mobilize the lay members, 05:53 you're not going to be able to accomplish the task, 05:56 and that's what we're doing. 05:57 We are currently training lay Bible workers. 06:01 We have been training our pastors. 06:04 We are engaged with prayer ministries. 06:07 In fact, we in Greater New York Conference 06:10 intend to have 3000 prayer warriors 06:13 for this project. 06:16 We are working on the medical aspect as well. 06:19 We have people who are working there. 06:23 We have what? 06:24 Department leaders, 06:26 who are already engaged 06:27 in preparing the various segments 06:30 of the conference. 06:33 We are currently also getting ready 06:36 with The Great Hope book, 06:40 we are intended to scatter them like the leaves of autumn. 06:44 Now The Great Hope is the condensed version, 06:46 it's the abridged version for... 06:48 A sharing version really of The Great Controversy. 06:49 Yes, yes. 06:51 And we are very enthusiastic 06:54 about the prospect of sharing several thousand. 06:59 In fact, this New York 13 07:02 is not only considering 2 million or 3 million, 07:05 we are hoping that we could do even 4, 07:07 5 million, maybe 20 million. 07:08 Unbelievable. 07:10 And so we're excited about that in Greater New York Conference 07:12 along with my sister conferences, 07:15 we want to make this a tremendous success 07:18 for the advancement of the kingdom of God. 07:20 Elder King, tell me a little bit more 07:22 about this Great Hope Project? 07:23 Yes, Great Hope, as you mentioned earlier, 07:26 is a condensed version, 07:27 a distribution version of The Great Controversy. 07:31 And our hope and vision is to distribute 07:36 two to three million copies of these books, 07:38 which is sort of like one tenth of the entire population 07:41 of New York City. 07:42 And we're excited about it. 07:44 And we are depending on our church members, 07:47 and to really be able to purchase these books, 07:51 boxes up them so that they can be made available. 07:55 There are other parts of the world 07:57 where this has been done, 07:59 and we hope to do the same thing 08:00 in New York City. 08:01 I'm a member in one of your churches, 08:03 how many copies, how much would you hope 08:04 that I would support The Great Hope Project. 08:06 What would you recommend to my family and I, 08:08 perhaps as something that we could do 08:10 to participate in that? 08:12 I think if you could purchase a few hundred of these books, 08:16 you know, I'd like to recommend thousands, 08:18 you know, especially for you. 08:21 Wait, because we're all... They are only 39 cents. 08:23 Elder Earl, but they are 39 cents. 08:25 So it's not unrealistic for a family 08:27 to pray about 1000 copies. 08:29 Absolutely. 08:30 I mean, it's still a fair sum of money 08:31 for some families, 08:33 but we're stepping out in faith, 08:34 and this is about 08:35 making something happen by faith. 08:37 So really, for a family like mine, 08:38 1000 copies wouldn't be 08:40 out of the realm of possibility. 08:41 I think it's a doable. 08:43 Fantastic. 08:44 Elder Cortes, tell me about what is going on in New Jersey 08:46 and what you guys are doing to prepare the soil? 08:48 Oh, New Jersey is very excited. 08:50 As you normally, yours is a bit of evangelism. 08:53 They have bit of evangelism 08:54 and the home of the small groups. 08:57 And we are working in that direction. 08:59 We selected 80 cities 09:01 where we have not the presence 09:04 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 09:06 and we are starting with 12 committed Christians 09:10 beginning the mission in that particular city 09:12 and two universities, 09:14 Rutgers University and Princeton University. 09:16 And this group begin to get together with people, 09:20 and begin Bible stories, 09:21 sing a small group style as Jesus did it. 09:24 And then we already enlightened these cities 09:28 with the Gospel of Jesus. 09:29 And the plan is to have 80 new churches 09:33 in these 80 cities where we had not previously. 09:37 So you're dreaming of 80 new churches. 09:39 I think that's a kind of dream 09:40 that makes God smile about the project. 09:42 And the idea is not take 40, 50 member 09:48 for a particular church 09:49 and bring them to another city 09:51 because this is not church planting, 09:52 this is transplanting the church. 09:54 And what we are planning to do is church planting, 09:57 12 people to begin to have a critical mass, 10:00 and then organize them in a company 10:03 and then in a church. 10:04 So the dream really is new churches? 10:05 New churches with new people. 10:07 We have 100 million people in this country, 10:11 unchurched people, 10:12 people who know nothing about church, 10:14 they don't go to churches. 10:15 So we don't need to be picking members of the church. 10:18 We need to bring new people to our community. 10:21 Fantastic. 10:22 Elder Cheatham, tell me about what's going on 10:23 in your neck of the woods? 10:25 Well, again, in the northern part 10:26 of the New Jersey, 10:28 we are concentrating primarily 10:30 in the area of modeling the ministry of Jesus. 10:35 We're told that Jesus, He mingled, 10:39 He built relationships 10:41 regardless of what culture or whatever, 10:43 He reached out to Samaritans, Jews, everyone, poor, rich, 10:49 and that were, those were the what methods 10:51 that Jesus used. 10:53 In the heart of the urban area 10:55 that have lot of hurting people. 10:57 Rather than just, 10:58 we will be a part of spreading the message 11:02 through the book, 11:03 but we're training our pastors and our members 11:05 to get out in the streets, 11:07 go up and down the neighborhoods, 11:09 knock on doors, 11:12 find out what the needs of that community are, 11:14 and meet their physical 11:16 as well as their spiritual needs, 11:18 and win them to Jesus Christ. 11:20 So a real community based approach? 11:21 Right. 11:22 Elder Tochterman, tell me a little bit about your? 11:24 Yes, Shawn, in the Southwestern part of the Connecticut, 11:26 there are three counties, the Fairfield County, 11:30 the Litchfield County, and the New Haven County. 11:33 In those three counties are 20, rather two million, 11:39 two and a half million people, you know, 11:42 and they are the counties closest to New York. 11:45 And in those counties, we have 11 churches, 11:47 they're growing churches, 11:49 but they're looking forward to growing more 11:51 as they become a part of NY 13. 11:54 Well, now, recently, 11:56 we started talking to pastors and so on, 11:58 pastors are looking at this, I mean that... 11:59 You guys are representing groups of workers, 12:02 how can pastors become involved in this? 12:04 What role should they be playing 12:05 as we reach out into all these metropolitan areas? 12:09 Training the members of the church 12:11 how to do that type of ministry, 12:13 that's what I want my pastors. 12:15 So really a model 12:16 where pastors aren't doing the work 12:18 and the members are watching 12:19 and an entertainment based kind of a model. 12:22 Pastors serve as mentors and coaches. 12:23 And so if members would like to participate, 12:26 the best thing to do, 12:28 it's coming to the pastor and say, 12:29 "What can I do? And how can I get started?" 12:33 Am I hearing right? 12:34 Pastors are the gatekeepers. 12:36 They are in charge of the church. 12:38 And their mission is to be the trainers of the trainers. 12:41 If we are going to grow, we need people to be trained 12:44 to do the mission of the church in the right way. 12:47 I should also say, Shawn, that pastors, 12:49 the pastors will be constantly updated 12:51 with information about NY13. 12:53 Okay, and how does that happen? 12:55 Well, we're going to have newsletters 12:57 through our website, NY13.org. 13:00 In fact, anyone can go on NY13.org 13:03 and find out information about what's happening, 13:05 what is taking place, what is going to take place 13:07 and so forth, 13:08 all the announcements will be there. 13:10 So newsletters, the website, you know, the internet, 13:13 you know, all these various medium 13:16 we'll be able to get this information out. 13:18 What about Facebook? I'm a real Facebook guy. 13:20 Yes, absolutely. 13:22 It will be on Facebook, Twitter, yeah? 13:23 Are you on Twitter as well? I tweet on Twitter. 13:26 Oh, you do. Okay, good, good. 13:27 Yeah, you know what? I do it too much actually. 13:29 I'm up in the two in the morning tweeting away. 13:31 It's good thing that wasn't around 13:33 when I was in college. 13:34 We want to use every possible way 13:35 of getting this word out to our members, 13:38 so that they can be a part of this great initiative. 13:39 So it's a really broad based communication. 13:41 Very broad based. Broad based training approach. 13:44 I'm a member in one of your churches 13:46 in your district. 13:47 I want to do something, I mean, I'm hearing this New York, wow, 13:50 we're going to touch the world through New York. 13:53 I mean, the world is come to New York, 13:54 it's a wonderful place to kick off, 13:56 it's a very visionary project 13:57 that's going to trickle back to the rest of the world 13:59 we are praying. 14:01 And yet, what can I do? 14:02 I'm sitting in the pew in church, 14:03 and I'm hearing about this, and I'm really excited, 14:05 what do I do? 14:06 I mean I want to be in. Yes, yes. 14:08 Actually, Shawn, this year 2012, 14:10 we're planning and we're already having 14:12 a number of training programs, 14:15 there are youth programs, youth ministry programs, 14:17 there's Bible work ministry, 14:20 you know, learningh ow to become a Bible worker, 14:22 you know, to visit homes 14:24 and study with people that you can become involved. 14:26 There's also the language ministries 14:28 that are, you know, through the Hispanic, 14:30 you know, Spanish language, French language 14:32 and many other languages as well. 14:34 And there's just a plethora of training programs 14:40 that are happening. 14:41 If our church members 14:43 simply go to their pastor and say, 14:45 "I want to be involved." 14:47 Their pastor will be able to help them 14:49 and tell them how they can become involved. 14:52 It's an exciting opportunity. 14:53 Okay, fantastic, guys. 14:55 We're going to take a short break. 14:56 We're gonna come back 14:58 and pick it up where you left off. 14:59 But what we're going to do in the meantime 15:00 is listen to Christine sing again 15:02 about reaching people for Jesus Christ, 15:04 and how important that job is 15:08 in the work that Christ has given the church. 15:10 So let's listen to Christine, I'll be right back. 15:28 If the ship of your life 15:31 Is tossing on the sea of strife 15:36 You need someone 15:42 If you feel so all alone 15:46 And your house is not a home 15:50 You need someone. 15:57 If life seems so unfair 16:01 And there's no one left to share 16:03 All those lonely days and nights 16:08 When things just don't turn out right 16:11 And you want someone to care 16:15 And someone to just be there 16:20 You need someone 16:24 I give you Jesus 16:29 He's the peace that passes all understanding 16:39 I give you Jesus 16:43 He's the perfect love that casteth out all fear 16:53 I give you Jesus 16:58 He's the water that you drink 17:02 And never thirst again 17:08 I give you Jesus, 17:12 My friend 17:16 I give you Jesus 17:24 If the pressures all around 17:28 Keep your spirits to the ground 17:31 Then you need someone 17:38 If your body is in pain 17:42 And your health you can't regain 17:46 You need someone 17:53 If the times that you have tried 17:57 With all the strength you had inside 17:59 And it seems that you have failed 18:03 Remember on the cross He nailed 18:07 All the bitterness and grief 18:10 To give you peace and sweet relief 18:14 He is that someone 18:17 That someone you need 18:21 I give you Jesus 18:25 He's the peace that passes all understanding 18:35 I give you Jesus 18:39 He's the perfect love 18:41 That casteth out all fear 18:49 I give you Jesus 18:54 He's the water that you drink 18:58 And never, never thirst again 19:04 I give you Jesus, 19:08 My friend 19:12 I give you Jesus 19:18 I give you Jesus 19:22 Oh, He's the water that you drink 19:27 And never, never, never thirst again 19:34 I give you Jesus, my friend 19:40 I give you Jesus |
Revised 2018-12-24