Welcome to ethNYcity
The 2019 Global Cities Index ranked NYC as the world’s top global city. At a time when technology has connected the entire world, New York’s large and diverse immigrant population coupled with its global influence make Metro New York one of the most strategic places at the most strategic time in history to “make disciples of all nations.” Consider this…
- If the members of unreached people groups living in Metro New York were collectively counted as a city, they would form the second largest city in the United States.
- There are over 2 million Jews in Metro New York, which makes up the 2nd largest Jewish population of any metropolitan area in the world.
- There are over one million Muslims in the New York City area (see this blog series for a breakdown). Based on figures from a Pew Religious Landscape Study in 2014, 23% of Muslims in the United States live in the New York metropolitan area.
- Over 500,000 Hindus live in Metro New York with little gospel witness.
- Metro New York is home to some of the best universities in the US including Columbia University and NYU. Over 70,000 international students and scholars, many from unreached people groups and least evangelized countries, study here every year.
- There are 800,000 Chinese living in Metro New York–the largest number of Chinese in the Western Hemisphere.
- Queens is the most ethnically diverse county in the US and half of the people in Queens were born in another country. Around 60-65% of NYC is foreign-born or children of foreign-born.
- Approximately 800 languages are spoken in NYC making it one of, if not the most, linguistically diverse cities in the world. Over 48% of New York residents speak a language other than English in their homes.
- NYC serves as the American hub for East Asians, South Asians, West Africans, Caribbeans, South Americans, Russians, and others.
Trends indicate that by the year 2030 over 75% of the world’s population will live in major cities. Because cities are the influential centers, the effect of ministry to unreached people groups residing in these cities goes beyond the borders of the city into the world. The world’s demographics continue to change as people groups migrate and move into foreign international cities. Many of these people represent the influential thinkers and policy makers of their nations and networks. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to reach people with the gospel who can have a powerful voice to their own people and in their native lands. Enter into ethNYcity and enter into God’s plan for the world!
People Group of the Day
Yemenis in Metro New York
Place of Origin: Yemen
Location in Metro New York: Brooklyn (Bay Ridge, Atlantic Avenue); scattered in Queens, the Bronx, Harlem
Population in Metro New York: 20,000 (Community Estimate)
Population in New York City:
Primary Religion: Islam (Sunni, Shi’ah)
Secondary Religion:
Status of Christian Witness: Less than 2% evangelical. Some evangelical resources available, but no active church planting within the past two years.
Primary Languages: Arabic (Sanaani, Hadrami),
Significant Notes:
- For the past five years, rebels loyal to slain Shi'ite cleric Hussein el-Houthi, a Zaydi Shi'ah leader, have been fighting Yemeni forces in northern Yemen. While Zaydi beliefs are very moderate in comparison to other Shi'ah, the Zaydi have become increasingly militant in the last few years. The conflict has escalated since late 2009, and rebels have made incursions into neighboring Saudi Arabia. Many fear it is becoming a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
- Metro New York is also home to a significant number of Yemeni Jews, who have at least one synagogue in Brooklyn.
- Yemen has one of the highest fertility rates in the world, and is also one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. Over 45% of Yemenis live below the poverty line, and unemployment is 35%.
- A "Free South Yemen" protest was held in Washington DC in July 2009.
How To Pray: Yemen is one of the least-evangelized countries in the world, yet Yemenis in Metro New York are very accessible and easy to befriend because their businesses put them in the public eye. Pray that Christians will capitalize on these open doors to reach Yemenis with the gospel.
