The Northeast is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse regions in North America. In New York City alone, more than 170 languages are spoken. But metropolitan areas such as Boston, Philadelphia and Washington/Baltimore boast large populations of internationals as well.


Samuel Cho, a North American Mission Board missionary and church planter, is trying to reach the more than 3,500 Nepali and Bhutanese refugees living in Baltimore. In 2008 he started The Bhutan Baptist Church, just two years after starting The Nepal Baptist Church. Both churches started as small groups meeting in homes in the apartment communities where incoming refugees first settle. Cho often goes to the airport to meet incoming families and invite them to church.


Though the challenges are unique and the hearts are often hard, the church planters in the Northeast recognize the potential of harnessing the influence of the area and working diligently to move the needle back to Christ. Just imagine what might happen if a region once known for many other things became known as the region that influenced the nation toward the gospel. OM


Sara Shelton is editorial assistant of On Mission.


 


ACTION ITEM:
Pray for the five new churches planted in Vermont (a state with a Christian population of barely 2 percent) through the Green Mountain Baptist Association this year.


Watch a video about the Northeast and Shaun Pillay at www.onmission.com.


 


In Norwich connecting
By Adam Miller


The international community in Norwich, Conn., smiles when they see Shaun Pillay walking down the street. The 26-year-old church planter has made quite an impression on this New England town.


South African-born, Shaun Pillay learned of Norwich when a Connecticut church group volunteering through the IMB came to South Africa four years ago. Pillay led the group as they visited HIV/AIDS orphanages. He in turn learned of the needs in Connecticut. Later that year, Pillay was called to missions at a missions conference in Birmingham, England.


“I remember one speaker saying ‘We need you to come to Europe and America. Our churches are dying,’” says Pillay. “God spoke to me distinctly telling me to go.”


Three years ago Pillay was speaking at churches in America and he visited Norwich. He knew God was calling him to plant a church there. He flew home long enough to marry his fiancé, Deshni, before returning as a church planter to the region. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Norwich where Deshni arrived with her life fitting into two suitcases and a wedding album.


One of their earliest experiences was of going hungry one night, drinking only tea for dinner. The next morning with no money to buy breakfast they went out to prayer walk the community. That afternoon they came home to a stoop filled with well-stocked grocery bags.


24 Summer 2011 • onmission.com

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