NEW YORK (BP)–Four people accepted Christ as Lord and Savior at an open house hosted by the North American Mission Board at the United Nations Dec. 17, according to Phil Roberts, director of interfaith witness evangelism for the Southern Baptist Convention agency.
“Even though the U.N. is in turmoil because of the events in Iraq, there were still more than 100 people here at the open house,” Roberts said. “We’re very pleased with the response.”
The reception was built on the theme, “God’s Gift to the World,” and was designed to celebrate the birth of Christ as a witness to the U.N. community. Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., led the Bible study focused on John 3:16 and extended an invitation.
The United Nations ministry is not new to NAMB, but it is new to interfaith witness evangelism office. Roberts and his staff assumed responsibility for the ministry this summer and are moving to be more “intentionally evangelistic.”
“It is clear to me there is not a more strategic ministry in the world,” Roberts said. “We can touch every country through the ambassadors from the 185 member nations.”
Bruce Schmidt, an International Mission Board missionary to Uganda, has been on furlough since late August and has served under contract with NAMB to help build the ministry. Schmidt and his family will return to Uganda in January.
“It’s a microcosm of the planet right here in Manhattan,” Schmidt said. “We lead Bible studies each week for members of the U.N. community, which includes more than 10,000 people.”
Schmidt said he is encouraged by those who have come to know the Lord as Savior as well as those who are able to strengthen their faith through the ministry.
The opportunities to evangelize the world, meanwhile, are tremendous, he agreed. “For example, we were able to send 25 New Testaments into a closed country through a diplomatic pouch with an ambassador who wanted to start a Bible study in his office back home,” Schmidt said.
“With world peace the goal of the United Nations, we focus on sharing the gospel,” Schmidt added. “How can they have peace without knowing the Prince of Peace?”
