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
Jordanians in Metro New York
Place of Origin: Jordan
Location in Metro New York: Westchester (Yonkers); Brooklyn (Bay Ridge)
Population in Metro New York: 12,000 (Community Estimate); 6,601 (ACS 2010 Total Ancestry Reported)
Population in New York City: 1,213 (ACS 2010 Total Ancestry Reported)
Primary Religion: Christianity (Roman Catholic, Melkite Catholic)
Secondary Religion: Islam (Sunni)
Status of Christian Witness: Less than 2% evangelical. Some evangelical resources available, but no active church planting within the past two years.
Primary Languages: English, Arabic,
Significant Notes:
- Jordan's official name is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Hashemite dynasty claims to be direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. The current monarch is His Majesty King Abdullah XI.
- John 1:28 records that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in "Bethany, across the Jordan." This is not the Bethany outside Jerusalem where Jesus visited Mary, Martha, and Lazarus but rather a village on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Jordan has been excavating this area for the past decade and has discovered much evidence supporting the fact that Jesus was baptized on the East Bank, and therefore in Jordan rather than Israel. For more details, visit http://www.baptismsite.com.
How To Pray: The Gospels show that part of John the Baptist's ministry took place in Jordan, and he baptized his disciples in the Jordan River. Pray that Jordanian Christians would build upon their strong Christian heritage and increase their zeal to proclaim Christ—especially to their Muslim neighbors.
