After 18 years in this city, 2019 marks the year we move from adolescence into a time of fruitful maturity. In 2019 God answered many of our prayers. He showed up in growth, new venues, and transformed lives.

We’ve compiled this annual report to help you understand your impact as a partner of Every Nation Church, New York. We hope it offers a small glimpse into the love, prayers, stories, and voices that make up our community.

After seeing countless lives changed in the last decade, we look forward to seeing how God moves through us together in 2020.

Yoshiyasu’s Story

Born and raised in Japan, Yoshi, as he’s called by friends, first came in contact with Christianity through a campus ministry when he lived in America as an exchange student. Though he didn’t come to the faith then, the knowledge of Christianity led him to visit other churches. He recounts that though he was seeking the Lord, he could not find a church that would help him to be intentional in knowing and growing in Christ. While he was interning as a Japanese language teacher for a Brooklyn public school, he discovered Every Nation NYC online and visited our PM service. He met Mar-Li, our Connections Director, that evening, who was eager to introduce him to our very own Pastor Kaz Iinuma—who’s also from Japan. They met and Yoshi began attending Pastor Kaz’s Monday small group where he was not just introduced to a Bible study meeting, but a spiritual family. Pastor Kaz took him through personal discipleship and spurred him in the faith. Yoshi notes that when he became part of Every Nation NYC, he was immediately surrounded by people who truly cared for him. On May 15, 2019, after years of first learning about Jesus, he made a decision to follow him. In the Bible, seven is the number of completion, and for Yoshi, it’s a marker for the number of years in a journey that concluded in being made complete in Christ. He’s now back in Japan and is part of a great church where he serves on the worship team and continues to grow in the faith. 

The Bible

2019 was the Year of the Bible at Every Nation Church, New York. Our year long message series, Casket Empty: Your Path to Victory, took us through the grand narrative of scripture to help us understand what God is doing on the earth and how we fit into His bigger story.

in New Jersey

Razzel’s Connect Group Story

When Razzel caught up with Tina, a friend she knew from home—in the Philippines—she mentioned that she started a Connect Group in New Jersey. “I couldn’t even remember if I invited her,” she recounted. But her friend was eager to join. “Being part of a Connect Group does so much in terms of growing our faith in God,” Tina said. She’d been praying to be part of one for some time. Razzel’s goal for those she’s discipling, the majority of whom are not originally from NYC or New Jersey, is that they be firmly convinced “that they were brought here [by God] for a purpose.” As she envisioned and prayed for the group to grow, doors opened for her to introduce more people to the New Jersey women’s group. She met Abie when she engaged with her while serving on the Usher team (and immediately followed up a week after) and Lina while waiting in line for breakfast at the Every Nation World Conference in Orlando, Florida. She met many more through connections and encounters in and outside of the church, and like Genevieve, an acquaintance of Razzel, on social media–when she posted on Facebook that she was in NYC.

What started as three women meeting every other Saturday in October 2018 has grown to 15, all of whom Razzel finds time for one-on-one conversations and encourages to be active in the church. The group attends Every Nation NYC events together, like the Connections Course and women’s meetings. When Riz, who began attending the group in early 2019, was water baptized in October of the same year, her fellow Connect Group members witnessed the milestone. “I’m looking for a spiritual family and that’s where [the Connect Group] I found one,” Riz said. Luwa, who has been part of the group from the very beginning described it as a “place where they can really share and fellowship.” But for them to strengthen and encourage one another is just the beginning. “Make a difference wherever you are,” is a message Razzel regularly imparts to the ladies–she empowers them to make disciples. “Now that the relationships have been established, we can now go to the next level,” she said. In 2020, several members of the New Jersey women’s group who have taken turns in leading the Saturday meetings will start their own Connect Groups.

At the AM Service we Served

At New Jersey we served

Cayden’s Story

Lauren and her family are members of Every Nation, New Jersey. Cayden, her ten-year-old son, regularly attends the church’s Kids Club. One day, he told her that he wanted to be baptized, but Lauren, thinking it was for the best, suggested that he wait a little longer. After their talk, the faithful Kids Club disciple went straight to his room. What followed was something Lauren didn’t foresee. After 30 minutes, Cayden came out and read to her a list he wrote titled, “10 Reasons Why I Should Be Baptized.” The first two points were [in his own words]: “you do not have to be perfect yo be baptized” and “i am ready to hive my life to God.” The rest of what he stated may not bear perfect spelling, but is heavy and on point on the essence of baptism—like “yie leave tge old parts behind and come out the water ‘new’” when one is baptized and that the Word of God says “yo be saved is to declare jesus as lord and savior, be baptized and follow God’s rules.” Cayden even reminded his mom about an Every Nation tradition he took to heart: “yiu said once we were halfway done with the purple book i can be baptized,” referring to the church’s Biblical foundations material. Just like how the prophet Samuel heard from God at a young age and believed in his word, Cayden reflected confidence in a declaration he wants to make publicly. “It is inportant to me,” his list concluded. On May 19th, 2019 Cayden was water baptized before his family and church community.

Serving

In 2019

Amanda’s Story

Amanda’s volunteer history as part of Every Nation NYC for the past 13 years can be summed up in five words: “kind of involved in everything.” She has given her time, resources, and efforts to a number of ministries, including hospitality, tech pro, worship team, etc. Pastor George Gregory, formerly of Every Nation NYC East Side, got her engaged in serving the church and is whom she credits for building a very connected community. It’s a vision she carries as our PM Service’s People Engagement Director. “How did you want to be welcomed? How did you want others to see you?” is what’s on her mind when she serves with her team, which has since doubled from when she took over. Their goal is to make people feel at home at Every Nation NYC. “It’s humbling and exhilarating to be a part of something so dynamic!” she said. Amanda urges others to volunteer in ministries if they haven’t yet, citing the life-changing effects. “When you do something together, you’re able to have deeper conversations, and have more connectedness,” she said. “The more outward you are in your life, the more opportunity you will have to see Heaven meet Earth and God do miraculous things.”

In 2019 Amanda won the Team Builder Award at the ENNYS, our annual volunteer appreciation event.

Cleansing Stream

Every Nation NYC participants went through Cleansing Stream.

Every Nation NJ participants went through Cleansing Stream.

people served on the Every Nation NYC team

At the regional event, we had:

40 participants
31 ministry team members from Every Nation NYC and Every Nation NJ

Every Nation NYC Youth

In 2019, Every Nation NYC Campus had groups on three major campuses: New York University, Columbia University, and St John’s University. Not limited to just three campuses, we engaged students from over 28 colleges and universities reaching the next generation leaders from around the world.

In 2019, our volunteer team was made up of 10 individuals who love reaching students for Jesus. We are also delighted that Randy De Los Santos joined the team as a new full-time staff member.

Mursheda Parveen joined the team in 2019 as a full-time evangelist to people from unreached people groups, especially those from Muslim backgrounds. She herself was reached as a Bengali immigrant to NYC from a Muslim background. She is actively reaching out both here in NYC as well as overseas in person and online. Since joining the team in July 2019, she has discipled and led 11 people to Christ from unreached people groups including four Turkish Muslims here in NYC and seven people from Muslim backgrounds in Bangladesh.

Events

In 2019, we hosted and took part in several events starting important conversations and reaching the city, including God, Mental Health, and Wellness in NYC, Purpose Workshop with Lynette Lewis, and GodTalksNYC with Michael Guillen. In partnership with Yale University, our event God, Mental Health, and Wellness in NYC reached over 1000 people to start the important conversation about navigating faith and wellness.

In 2019 we launched the GodTalksNYC YouTube channel featuring professionals and high-level individuals in order to spark conversation both inside and outside the church. You can find videos from many of our events there.

Big Give

Your generosity through Big Give 2019 will impact these areas:

Missions
Every Nation Campus
Every Nation Youth
Every Nation Kids
Missionary Support/Church Plants
Ray of Hope

Church Operations
Staffing
Staff Training & Development
Volunteer Appreciation Event

Finances

From Pastor Kaz, Executive Pastor

This year marked the end of three year reorganization and restructuring of our church, which resulted in a stronger foundation that is sustainable and scalable for God to grow and use this church for his glory for years to come. During this time, we may have taken a few steps back, but we have began to take significant steps forward this past year in helping people Know God, Grow Together, Discover Purpose and Make a Difference in NYC and beyond. These financial numbers not only represent your faithfulness and generosity but also many lives that are being transformed on a daily basis through this church, as you see some of the stories in this report. Your generosity has also caused us to continue to be generous to others, empowering other churches, ministries, and missionaries around the world. On behalf of the Pastoral team, thank you for being part of this family and continuing to walk with us to transform the city, one life at a time.

Revenues

Expenses