What a celebration in Brooklyn! The New York City Seventh Day Baptist Church marked their 50th anniversary with vibrant worship, celebration, and reflection. The theme of “Journeying by Faith” reverberated throughout the weekend of September 20 – 22, 2024.
SDB General Council Member Maura Mazza (Shiloh SDB, Shiloh NJ) recognizing Pastor Ericessen Cooper for his years of service on the SDB General Council and the beginning of his term as SDB General Conference President-Elect.
Friday evening opened with praise and worship. The following day began with Sabbath School followed by the worship service where Pastor Andrew Samuels, Chief Executive Director of the SDB Missionary Society preached a powerful message that brought commendation, counsel, and challenge. The worship service along with the sermon can be viewed here.
Sabbath afternoon brought fellowship and a beautiful luncheon hosted at the church building on 1904 Fulton Street. The Anniversary Concert closed out the day with worship, prayer, reflection, and music.
The renowned NYC SDB Choir and other invited musicians glorified God throughout a memorable evening.
On Sunday, a formal banquet was held where appreciation was extended to pioneering members of the New York City Seventh Day Baptist Church. The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, attended in person to present a proclamation to the church on behalf of the City. Pastor Andrew Samuels served as the MC throughout the evening which included music, prayer, and a Key Note Address by Carl Greene, Executive Director of the SDB General Conference of USA and Canada.
Journeying by Faith[1]
Fifty years ago, a church made up of Jamaican immigrants stood up in the great metropolis of New York City and claimed it once again for the Seventh Day Baptist Conference. Then Pastor Socrates Thompson with the aid of Pastor Saunders took a vision and made it a reality. New York City Seventh Day Baptist Church was born, and as with all birthing processes, there is pain and hard labor.
NYC SDB Pastor Ericessen Cooper with NYC Mayor Eric Adams at the Sunday evening Banquet.
From the ‘Y’, to Ogden Ave., to St. Felix, to Fulton Street, we were led every step of the way, journeying by faith. From this work, two other groups were formed and today they flourish in other boroughs of the city, five men have entered the ministry and countless others have gone on to serve in their local churches in various capacities all over the United States. We are a vibrant church in the community, making an impact in the lives of our neighbors, physically as well as spiritually.
As we celebrate this milestone let us remember the sacrifices that were made and continue to press forward for the prize of the high calling.
Not Finished
At 91 years young, founding member Deaconess Stewart shares rich stories of NYC SDB origins, and casts a captivating vision of God’s call for SDBs to undertake disciple-making today.
I would like to close out this blog with a few personal reflections. We celebrated the work that has been done, remembered the lives well lived over the decades, and glorified God for His faithfulness. There was also a clear focus on what is next for the church as they embrace the disciple-making mission in this ministry season.
Thank you for being a blessing over 5 decades–and continuing to serve as a trailblazing church among Seventh Day Baptists. Happy Anniversary to the New York City Seventh Day Baptist Church!
[1] “Journeying by Faith” section quoted from the weekend bulletin, with slight adaptations for use in this blog.
