New York City SDB Dedicates Renovated Building

The first weekend in June was a glorious time of celebra- tion at the New York City SDB Church (the oldest of 3 SDB Churches in NYC) in Brooklyn. Three of the four former Pastors were present on Sunday afternoon at the formal dedication ceremony. Socrates Thompson was not able to be there (served 1975-1986) but Richard Evans (1988-1991), Andrew Samuels (1996-1998) and Harold Smith (1999-2004) as well as the current pastor Ericessen Cooper (2005 to the present) all participated in the Sunday afternoon dedication service.

Pastor David Taylor, from the Central SDB Church in Maryland delivered the sermon titled " Dedication Costs" with text from 2 Chronicles 7:11-14.

Among the other people who came to celebrate with this congregation were Pastor Derek Thomas a member at Agape SDB in Queens, NY; Deaconess Dorothy Radcliffe, who had lived in NYC for 30 years and was part of the church as it grew, now from the Higgin Town SDB Church in Jamaica; Pastor Samuel West of the Faith SDB Church in the Bronx, NY; Pastor Herlitz Condison of the Toronto SDB Church; Pastor Kenroy Cruickshank from the Philadelphia SDB Church; Pastor Huethen Livingston, United SDB Church, Enfield, CT; Rev Kirk Looper, Executive Director of the SDB Missionary Society; and myself.

The renovated building allowed for an expanded worship center with baptistry, social hall, some classrooms, a pastor's office, updated restrooms, and a stair-chair lift to help those who cannot negotiate stairs to and from the basement.

On Sabbath day the Divine Worship Service was packed with video overflow in the social hall down- stairs. Pastor Andrew Samuels brought the message titled "New Wineskins Require New Wine" with a text from Luke 5:36-39. When you see him ask him about his animal illustrations.

There was great rejoicing, and there is much work to do in New York City and the surrounding areas. Many people need to hear of salvation by grace through faith alone and confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior.