Parker’s Newday Adventist Church will officially launch a new congregation in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver (2222 Marion Street, 80205) this Sabbath afternoon, March 31, at 4:00 pm. Recently, NewsNuggets asked Pastor Dave Kennedy, one of the pastors leading out in this new church, to tell us more about this new church plant and what they’re hoping to see God do.
You and your team are starting this new church in the Denver downtown area. What’s behind this exciting development
Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all people. Well over half of the world’s population is currently in urban settings. If we are going to fulfill the Great Commission, we have to be willing to go to the cities. Currently, the Rocky Mountain Conference doesn’t have a church in to the downtown area. While it will take a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a lot of hard work, as well as support from surrounding churches, we’d like to change that. There are so many people living in the downtown area. These are people Jesus loves and died to save. We know God is already working in the city; we just want to join Him in what He’s already doing.
Is there a particular audience you wish to reach?
Our vision is “to be a diverse gathering of Christ followers seeking the good of the city.” Because diversity is a part of our vision and values, we want to welcome people from every race, every class, every age, and every walk of life. We are hoping to see former Adventists living in the downtown area who have left the church join us and come back. We are also praying to see those in the “none” category come to faith in Jesus at Newday.
What do you mean by those in the “none” category?
The “nones” are the fastest-growing religious segment in America today. They are those who when asked what their religious affiliation is, check the box that says “none.” They currently make up about 20 percent of the population. That number is even higher in the cities and among Millennials. For most “nones,” church isn’t even on their radar. It isn’t something they think about. However, they are looking for a cause to serve. We would like to provide that cause as we serve the marginalized and under-resourced of Five Points. We are hoping to invite people far from God to join us in taking on some of the biggest issues facing our community.
You mentioned needing support from surrounding churches. How can those from other Adventist churches support what you’re doing?
One way those from other churches can support what we’re doing is to put us in contact with any former Adventists living in the downtown area. If you know of someone who is no longer attending an Adventist church, contact us through our website (www.newdaysda.com) and send us their contact information. We would also love for people interested in urban ministry to come and worship with us. Our services are at 4:00in the afternoon so they don’t conflict with any other service times of local churches. Finally, people can connect with us through our Facebook page (Newday Christian Seventh-day Adventist Church) or our website (www.newdaysda.com).
Anything else you’d like to add?
Just an encouragement for people to pray for us. If this is going to take root and grow, it will only be by God’s power and Spirit. We’re willing to do the work necessary, but only God can transform a life. That’s what we want to be about.
Currently, the new congregation will hold Sabbath worship services on Sabbath afternoons at 4:00 pm in a well-known historic African-American church — Cleaves Memorial CME Church.
–RMCNews; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski
