Joy to the World!
Our motto is "Reaching the world where the world's within reach." At no time in our brief history was the propriety of this motto more evident than at our 1997 Christmas party for Urban Nations students and their families. Nearly 200 immigrants from 22 different nations crammed into the small parish hall of the church used by Messiah's Congregation. Atheists, Hindus, ancestor-worshipers, Jews, nominal Christians and "others" arrived, decked-out and decourous, ready to eat, mingle, and celebrate.
- Steve M. Schlissel
Am Yisroel chai, the people of Israel live, is an oft-recited dictum, an anthem, of the Jews.
Our motto is "Reaching the world where the world's within reach." At no time in our brief history was the propriety of this motto more evident than at our 1997 Christmas party for Urban Nations students and their families. Nearly 200 immigrants from 22 different nations crammed into the small parish hall of the church used by Messiah's Congregation. Atheists, Hindus, ancestor-worshipers, Jews, nominal Christians and "others" arrived, decked-out and decourous, ready to eat, mingle, and celebrate.
We took full advantage of the cultural importance of Christmas in America to introduce our beloved immigrants to the Christ who often remains hidden behind the hubbub. Rev. Isaac Byrd and an entourage of musicians from his church, Reformed Christian Fellowship, performed, and also led the celebrants in singing traditional Christmas carols. The Spirit of God blessed abundantly, creating order and peace. The claims of God were pressed as I delivered two brief messages (one at the beginning, one at the end), highlighting the power of God to save us through Messiah Jesus, and urging everyone to turn from their sins and find life in his name.
The photos on these pages [to see photos, please contact the Chalcedon office at [email protected] for a printed copy of this report] are manifest evidence that God is answering your prayers on behalf of this ministry. Please continue to implore the Lord that he will use us to gather those whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world, that souls from every kindred and every tribe on this terrestrial ball would crown him Lord of All!
URBAN NATIONS
2662 East 24th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11235
718-332-4444
E-mail: [email protected]
- Steve M. Schlissel
Steve Schlissel has served as pastor of Messiah's Congregation in Brooklyn, New York, since 1979. Born and raised in New York City, Schlissel became a Christian by reading the Bible. He and Jeanne homeschooled their five children and also helped raise several foster children (mostly Vietnamese). In 2003, they adopted Anna (who was born in Hong Kong in 1988, but is now a U.S. citizen). They have eight foster grandchildren and fourteen "natural" grandchildren.