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
Ecuadorians in Metro New York
Place of Origin: Ecuador (the sierra, with many from the El Austro region; the costa)
Location in Metro New York: Queens (Corona, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Woodside, Ridgewood); Bronx (Morris Hills, Highbridge); New Jersey (Hackensack, Jersey City); Westchester (Ossining, Mariandale, Sparta); Connecticut (Danbury)
Population in Metro New York: 397,651 (ACS 2010 Specific Origin Ecuador); 279,111 (ACS 2010 Born in Ecuador)
Population in New York City: 187,572 (ACS 2010 Specific Origin Ecuador); 133,095 (ACS 2010 Born in Ecuador)
Primary Religion: Christianity (67% Roman Catholic, 33% Protestant)
Secondary Religion:
Status of Christian Witness: Greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
Primary Languages: Spanish,
Significant Notes:
- Over 60% of Ecuadorians in the United States live in the New York Metro area.
- Metro New York neighborhoods or towns with Ecuadorian concentrations are often dominated by people from one particular region or town in Ecuador. For instance, in New York City itself, serranos are predominant in Queens while costeos are more populous in the Bronx.
- Ecuadorians possibly have the largest number of undocumented immigrants in New York City.
How To Pray: When immigrants from several areas in a country settle together in a place like New York City, the change can often forge a relationship between people who would never have set foot in each other's territories back home. With a large number of evangelicals from the El Austro region, pray that their newfound relationship with other Ecuadorians will be used as an opportunity to expand the reach of the gospel.
