Presbyterian pastor and well-known author Tim Keller has high praise for a joint church planting effort underway between the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America in New York City.
Keller appears in a short video that looks at the Kingdom Enterprise Zone (KEZ) that has begun in New York. KEZs are areas in which the denominations collaborate in order to start churches, often churches that have a fresh focus for ministry.
So far, 10 of these initiatives have taken place in regions across North America. Christian Reformed Home Missions is overseeing the KEZ effort for the CRC.
Keller, who is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, says that efforts such as these are needed in the nation’s largest metropolitan area, home to 22 million people representing many cultures and religions.
“This KEZ . . . will reach out to the whole city with the gospel,” Keller says.
Rev. Pete Armstrong, coleader of the KEZ, says on the video that he came to New York City more than three years ago to start a church that is now called Dwell.
He says most new churches start out serving an area that has about 10,000 people, while in New York the number is 80,000.
Dwell Church is nestled in a neighborhood between the homeless along the Bowery and the wealthier Nolita and SoHo.
Ten leaders from across the metro region have been meeting together to pray and dream about formation of the new KEZ.
About the Author
Chris Meehan is a freelance writer and commissioned pastor at Coit Community Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.
