Calvary Chapel Staten Island

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Announcer (Male): Hello and welcome to God in Our City, the daily edition. Your host and Bible teacher is Pastor Dave Watson. Pastor Dave has been the pastor of Calvary Chapel on Staten Island for 35 years. In addition, he is the co-founder and president of the New York Institute for Biblical Studies. To receive a special downloadable gift from Pastor Dave, please go to calvarychapelsi.org/gioc. That's calvarychapelsi.org/gioc. Now, here's Pastor Dave and our show.

Pastor Dave Watson: Welcome again to God in Our City, the daily edition. This is the 6:00 hour. We're on Facebook, YouTube, WMCA, that's 570 AM and 102.3 FM. We're broadcasting from Poppyseed Bagels, a great little place on Staten Island, soon to be in Aruba. They'll be called Haven when you find them in Aruba. 2220 Forest Avenue, Poppyseed Bagels. 718-233-8656. Go in, ask Joe or Anthony to make you a Maple Parkway. Talk to Brianna, she will talk to my good friend Madon and he will get you the best bagel you could possibly have. We're so grateful for them.

You know here on God in Our City, we always have something for you. We want to give you this incredible tract called Proclaiming True Liberty. You're going to have some sort of gathering for the 4th of July. You're going to be with some people, we hope, and you're going to want to share the Gospel with them. We've put together this tract, we've just written it. It's new. I literally picked it up from the printers yesterday. We would love for you to have this. You just need to let us know that you want it. You can order up to 10 of them. Say, "I want 10 of them, Dave, a pack of 10." How do I get them? 718-720-5390. We would love to give you some. Just call us, we'll send them right to you.

I asked Dr. Taylor to stay with us for just a little bit more because of his pastoral perspective, his love for the Lord, and because of his service here in our city. Dr. Taylor has served a lifetime here in our city, so we want something special for him. This is the God in Our City Heroes plaque. God in Our City Heroes Award is hereby presented to Dr. Lawrence Taylor for a lifetime of meritorious service to our city as a teacher, a mentor, a Bible expositor, and as an example. Heartfelt thanks, January 23rd, 2026. The Scripture is, "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching." Dr. Taylor, thank you so much for being with us here in our city. I don't know if folks can see the plaque. It's a nice one. Take my word for it.

Dr. Taylor teaches with us at the New York Institute for Biblical Studies. He does a yeoman's work there. As soon as we established the school, I looked to him. It took me a while to get him. He's been a huge blessing to us. He regularly has the most full classes and does just an outstanding job for the Lord there. I'm proud to call him a friend.

I'll tell you a little story. Dr. Taylor and I found ourselves together in a liberal seminary. We looked and I saw him and I said, "What are you doing here?" And he said, "What are you doing here?" We went to lunch that day and we said, "We came in here as Bible-believing Christians, we're going to leave here as Bible-believing Christians." I've got to tell you, the skill at which Dr. Taylor handles Greek, my little entrepreneurship, and some things that I've been privileged to do, the school was actually overwhelmed by us and by what we did. We sat in class and everyone looked at us like we were crazy, but really good crazy. Dr. Taylor, thank you for joining me today, for your insight, and thank you most of all for your service for our city.

At this time, I just want to encourage everybody to stay with us and listen to God in Our City on a regular basis. It'll be a blessing to you. I'm going to bring in a different sort of guest today with a different topic. This is crazy. We are in Times Square, the capital of the world, in the greatest city in the world. We have some Calvary folks here handing out tracts, talking to people about Jesus. But I'm going to bring in a very special guest to lead us through our next segment.

As you may or may not realize, our city is struggling with a very difficult topic, and that topic is antisemitism. I'm old-school evangelical. I believe that those who bless Israel will be blessed. I believe that those who curse Israel will be cursed. I believe the promises in the Bible for Israel are still valid. You have that incredibly horrific chant, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." Bible inquiry says that from the Nile River all the way over to the Euphrates will be Israel's. So, my saying is, "From the river to the river, Israel will not be just a sliver."

Today we wanted to talk about that a little bit. I've asked a new friend of mine, Rabbi Daniel Freedman, to come and talk a little bit about this with me. He is the Associate Rabbi at South Synagogue, one of the most prestigious synagogues here in our city. He's also a professor of international studies at Touro College. I'm just glad that he's here with me. Rabbi Freedman, welcome.

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Thank you so much, Pastor Dave. It's wonderful to be with you. What an honor, what a privilege. I'm Associate Rabbi at South Synagogue, but I'm also here representing Moral Hearts Alliance, and that's the organization that brings Christians and Jews together to advocate for Israel.

Pastor Dave Watson: I've spent a lot of time on the phone with Rabbi Freedman's wife, and she's amazing. She chose well. She had me sign up for almost everything she had. So, good to see you and your family. Fabulous. We are honored, the honor is all ours.

When we first talked, as we spoke, I asked you a very difficult question and that was, you've spent time in Europe, you've spent time in Canada, you've spent time in Australia, how is antisemitism on those fronts?

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Look, it's really unbelievable. I was born in the UK, I grew up in Australia. My great-grandparents came to Britain at the end of the 19th century. My grandparents on the other side came to Australia after the Holocaust, survived Auschwitz and Mauthausen.

We thought that antisemitism was a thing of the past. I grew up in an Australia that was so tolerant, so wonderful, so multicultural. I went to Sydney Boys High School, which was full of all sorts of backgrounds, religions, and everybody got along wonderfully. I spent 16 years as a rabbi in Canada and it's shocking now to hear friends and relatives in the UK, in Australia, in Canada who no longer think that there's a future for Jewish life in these countries that were once bastions of freedom and liberty. Thank God we're nowhere near that here in the United States of America. This is the most blessed country on the planet, standing alongside the promised land of Israel. Two promised lands that the Almighty has blessed. But it's terrifying to think that there are countries that claim to be Western, liberal, capitalist democracies and Jews no longer feel safe to live there.

Pastor Dave Watson: So, you're saying that Jewish people in the UK, in Canada, in Australia are packing up and leaving?

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: I have been shocked talking to friends and relatives who felt that they would see children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren in each of those countries, and now they ask whether maybe they should be moving to Israel where they know that they can be safe.

Pastor Dave Watson: Right now there are what, 15 million Jews give or take? Or am I off?

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Might be a little on the high side. Probably 15 million, probably somewhere like that.

Pastor Dave Watson: Here in our city here, it's the largest place outside of Israel.

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: That's right. New York City has been such a safe haven, a refuge to the Jewish people in ways unparalleled in history.

Pastor Dave Watson: You know, I came here in 1990, had a daughter with special needs. In 1991, I needed to go into Brooklyn. I had never been that far in Brooklyn. When I say that far, I'm ashamed. I might have been in Park Slope from Staten Island.

I went into the doctor's office. The doctor was a devout Jew and he was leaned upon by the Jewish families in the neighborhood such that even when they weren't getting their specialty, they got it from him. "No, no, you come in anyway." It was an amazing experience not having seen Hasidim up close before, not having known an Orthodox community before. It was very eye-opening. The devotion, the men in the corner trying to memorize or repeat their Torah, some of them younger, obviously for class. You automatically get a sense of respect that these people are serious, that these people beat nobody any harm. Would you say that what has happened overseas is finding its way in an expanded way in the United States of America?

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Look, antisemitism is on the rise worldwide. Historically, you and I lived in a bit of a blip of history. Post-World War II all the way through the early part of the 21st century was very different. That was probably due to the Holocaust and the aftermath of the Holocaust and a little sense of compassion on the part of the nations of the world who felt that this time it had been more than a step too far.

Beyond that, I mean, we really thought that we were reaching a stage of history where things were different. What we're seeing now is, and let's not kid ourselves, it's not something that's novel as far as Jewish history is concerned. It's just somehow a reversion to the way things have always been.

Now, I want to reiterate that America is worlds apart from most countries on the planet. We have a president that is dedicated to the Jewish population of America, is dedicated to the strong alliance between the US and Israel, is dedicated to the protection of the State of Israel. There are so many in our government, we've enjoyed bipartisan support of the US-Israel relationship because there's a recognition at least at the leadership level for the most part that you let Israel go, then America's next.

Israel stands as a bulwark against those who wish to destroy Judeo-Christian Western civilization. Even those who are not of a Judeo-Christian origin and background recognize what the Bible has brought to freedoms and liberties for all religions and all peoples. Israel stands for that. America and Israel share values and any leader of this country worth his salt understands that we support Israel because shared values means that Israel would be there to defend America and America will be there to defend Israel.

Not to say that the strategic approaches are always aligned. I think we're seeing a bit of differences in opinion right now, but those are okay because ultimately the two countries share such a deep bond and a deep friendship that, of course, anytime you've got a relationship, there are going to be differences. You're not always going to see eye to eye. Thank God that both America and Israel are democracies. That means that you're going to have parties of the right and left at different stages. They're not always going to get along, but deep down, both countries' leaders, at the top levels of both countries, understand that we are in parallel lanes heading in the same direction for freedoms for all peoples of the world.

Pastor Dave Watson: I applaud the Jewish people on all the efforts being made so that there is more understanding before and in front of everybody. In some ways, there's a belief that if we understand each other better, that it will lead to less antisemitism. But I am very skeptical that that will work because in my mind, the roots of antisemitism are so demonically oriented that it's hard to picture that as simply an understanding issue. Believe me when I tell you the efforts that are being made by the Jewish community are beyond anything you can imagine.

"Hey, listen, why don't we do some Sabbath dinners and invite our gentile friends, not to convert them, but rather to help them to see what we're doing and appreciate the beauty of it. Or why don't we invite our gentile friends to a Seder or something of that nature or have them in our home so they see what we're doing." But the vitriol sense of it, it is a prejudice that is not understandable. I've come to the conclusion that it is so very much rooted in hatred for the Jewish people by the forces of darkness because of their place in the eye of God. Now, there are friends who disagree with me, Bible-believing friends who disagree with me, but that's okay, they have their right to be wrong. But when you see it this way, you think, "Why? Why?" In my opinion, some of the best friends the Jewish people have are evangelical Christians.

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Absolutely. In my experience, yes, absolutely. Satan knows how to rear his ugly head in every situation. So, you can have Jews who are inspired by God and those who aren't. You can have Christians who are inspired by God and those who aren't. Personally, my area of expertise is actually Christian Zionism and anti-Zionism. I wrote my doctoral dissertation on those who are pro-Israel, Christians United for Israel, John Hagee's organization.

I spend a lot of time as well in the Presbyterian Church USA. Yes, some very painful moments. Painful because there are a lot of misguided people there, misguided people who are being directed by impure forces who have infiltrated the denomination and mainline Protestant denominations across the board with an agenda because they know that if they can give their campaign some kind of religious credence, it has credibility, it'll make front-page news. They've dragged down mainstream Christianity in terrible ways.

The good news for evangelical Christianity is that conservatives have exited these mainline denominations en masse. At one point, the Presbyterians had over four million adherents in America, now they're barely over a million. In the early 2000s, they lost hundreds if not thousands of congregations who became independent, evangelical, pro-Israel, pro-America, pro-Bible. The story of Presbyterianism in this country is not just about the anti-Western direction. It's also about those congregations and those individuals, including presidents of ours, like President Trump who grew up Presbyterian, President Reagan was from a conservative Presbyterian congregation. Both were pro-Israel presidents because their pastors understood that America is built on biblical values. As long as we understand America is built on biblical values, America will endure and America will continue to be the leading country on the planet.

Pastor Dave Watson: I grew up with Jerry Falwell, and Falwell used to say America is important to God because Israel is important to America. I feel very strongly that way. So, in our final couple moments that we have left, what would you have people pray for the people of Israel? What would you have us ask God for?

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: I think that what we're praying for Israel right now is that Israel's leadership can understand that God is with Israel. Even if there are other countries, including the United States of America, that has its own interests first as it should, as every country should, Israel should never feel that it's being in any way ignored or neglected because it's God's country and God will protect it. If America is going to be that vehicle, then that's America's blessing. But first and foremost, Christians of America should pray that Israel's leadership understand that God is the one who is sovereign.

Pastor Dave Watson: That's a very important point. Thank you so much. I know that in my own time with the Lord every day, around my third request, I pray for laborers for God's harvest. I pray for our president and vice president, and I have done that no matter who's been in. And that is the right attitude to have. And then I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and the protection of the Jewish people.

I don't neglect praying for a better life for the Palestinians. An end of this horrific war which is wild to think of this as that in the Old Testament, First Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures I think we call them nowadays, in the Hebrew Scriptures, you find the Prince of Persia stirring up things. You know, that Prince of Persia is an angel. That angel is still alive today, still stirring up things.

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Yes, but it's important to remember that if you look at the Iranian people, the Persian people, they are decent people who just want a good life and just want good relations even with Israel. They remember back in the day when there were direct flights between Tehran and Tel Aviv. They're not the bad ones, the bad ones are the oppressors, the persecutors.

So, we need to pray that the people of Iran are able to topple the evil regime that is treating them poorly and that are causing conflict throughout the Middle East and throughout the world. Once that happens, they will get the memo the same way that the Gulf States got the memo, that Israel is not a bad country. Israel stands for freedom and the Gulf States understand it and one day we pray that Iran will understand it as well.

Pastor Dave Watson: Amen. Amen. Thank you so much for your time.

Rabbi Daniel Freedman: Thank you so much, Pastor Dave. It's an honor to be here. God bless you.

Pastor Dave Watson: This is Pastor Dave Watson, you're listening to God in Our City. We're pleased to have you here watching us, viewing us. My next guest has just told me that he's here. Dr. Abraham Joseph is going to come and sit down with me in just a second. While he's coming, I just want to remind you that our broadcast today is brought to you by Poppyseed Bagels. 2220 Forest Avenue. 718-233-8656. Poppyseed Bagels, 2220 Forest Avenue. 718-233-8656.

You know that we're about putting resources in your hands. One of the resources we want to help you with, especially during this 4th of July period, is this little tract that we have developed called Proclaiming True Liberty. We want to give these to you. We'd like to give you them 10 at a time. It would be our privilege to do that. If you want this tract, it's no cost. No shipping and handling. We want to send you 10 for your 4th of July celebration. Just all you need to do is call us. 718-720-5390. 718-720-5390. And it's yours. Just say, "I want the tracts, here's my address," or "Send me 20 tracts, here's my address." We got these for you. We got these for you.

At this time, I want to introduce to you the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church here in Manhattan, Dr. Abraham Joseph. Dr. Abraham Joseph.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Well, Pastor Dave, good to be with you.

Pastor Dave Watson: Very good to have you here. Very, very good to have you here.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Thank you for having me. Sorry I'm late, I was just telling a guest to fly. That felt good to say.

Pastor Dave Watson: You picked quite a quiet spot for your interview. It's crazy, just buzzing with activity. Dr. Abraham, how long have you been the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church?

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Since February 2022, right after the pandemic. Just as it was leaving. So you're AP, after pandemic. You have a beautiful story. Your faith journey is related to Calvary Baptist Church, isn't it? That's right. I started attending Calvary because my parents were there, but I was not converted at that point. I was just a churchgoer. Through influence of friends, I came to know Christ and I started going back to Calvary. This time, all the messages were as though they were directed at me because now the Spirit of God worked in me through my faith in Jesus Christ. So, I was baptized, discipled in Calvary, called to ministry at Calvary, commissioned, ordained at Calvary, and sent as a missionary by Calvary.

Pastor Dave Watson: So, was that under Jim Rose?

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Jim Rose was pastor when I was baptized and discipled at Calvary, yes.

Pastor Dave Watson: And they sent you as a missionary to where?

Dr. Abraham Joseph: I served several years in India and then the Philippines. It was while I was serving in the Philippines that the church called me to be their pastor. Wow.

Pastor Dave Watson: So, how many years has Calvary Baptist Church been preaching the Gospel in our city?

Dr. Abraham Joseph: The church was incorporated in 1847. So, next year will be 180 years of preaching the Gospel, standing firm on the Word of God. I tell people all the time, the only reasonable explanation for Calvary's existence for these 180 years is that God has kept us faithful to His Word.

Our previous building had outside the stone inscription that said, "We preach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again." That inscription has been moved into the inside in the new building, but that remains the foundation. We preach Christ crucified, risen, and coming again.

Pastor Dave Watson: You know, I have said often to you, say it to our listeners, that to me, as someone who's been here only a few years, I've only been here 36 years here serving our city, but I have always looked to Calvary Baptist and its stand for the Gospel, its unwavering proclamation of Christ crucified, risen, and coming again. As a pastor, it felt good that there's a church there and has been there for 10, 20, 30, 40 years, but almost 180.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Yeah, and you know, we're not the only church. When people think of New York City, they don't think of it as Gospel-centered churches, but New York City is full of Gospel-centered churches. We are the third or fourth oldest Baptist church in New York City. First Baptist, Central Baptist, and I think there's a third one, they're all older than us and they are all faithful to the Gospel. There are so many new church plants and storefront churches all over that stand firm on the truth of God's Word and preach the Gospel. So, I'm very grateful for what God is doing in our big city.

Pastor Dave Watson: If you would just tell us a little bit about the redevelopment process Calvary has gone through, because you've just moved back in, if you will.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Yeah, so the current location of Calvary, we were downtown, way downtown in the Lower Manhattan, and then our first building was on 23rd Street. Then from 23rd Street we moved to 57th Street in the 1880s or something like that. So, we've been in this location well over 100 years. The building that was given up for redevelopment was 95 years old. So, this is the third building in our location.

The building that's just completed, we say that it's over 10 years old because that's when the planning for that and all of that started. The prior building was a 17-story building that had a hotel and the church. The hotel was a source of income for toward Calvary's ministries, but after 90 years, buildings deteriorate and it's hard to keep up code and so on. So, the church voted to redevelop, and currently, it's a 26-story office tower of which eight stories belong to the church. We moved in in February, it's great to be back in our location. God's blessed us with a place that's known for its wealth, but it's also spiritually a place of great poverty. So, God has placed us there to proclaim the Gospel to whosoever.

Pastor Dave Watson: That's right, you're on Billionaire's Row.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: That's right, but we preach the Gospel to everyone. How often the billionaires are the ones that need the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tell us a little bit about your heart for our city.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: You know, I was in the mission field for close to 25 years, 24 years, and when I came back to New York City to serve as pastor, some of my colleagues said, "Why do you want to leave the mission field?" I was teaching at a theological education institution at a graduate school where people from 20 nations, 12 countries came to study to go back to their countries to serve. They said, "Why do you want to go back to New York City and serve as a pastor?"

I said, "Well, the world has come to New York City. So, to preach the Gospel and equip people for witness to the Lord Jesus Christ in New York City is to reach the world." So, the mission of Calvary Baptist Church is to engage the city and impact the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I tell my people all the time that engaging the city and impacting the world can happen at the same place if it's New York City because God has brought the world here. People from every pocket in the world are here, unreached people groups are here. If we would reach them, we reach the world. So, it's a great privilege for me to equip our people so that wherever they are, wherever God has placed them in their neighborhoods, in their homes, in their communities, in their workplaces, they are equipped to preach and live Christ. So, I would like to see New York City transformed where the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is lifted high in this city.

Pastor Dave Watson: Amen. Amen. You know, the reason why you came is the same reason I came. I came here in 1980 as a summer missionary, 1981 as a summer missionary. I thought, "My goodness, I'd want to go to Venezuela as a missionary." I thought, "Oh my goodness, I don't need to go anywhere, I just need to go to New York." So, I came here with that intent and being a missionary here and training people to go back to their own country. I had the privilege of teaching at your institution, New York School of the Bible, for over 20 years with that intent. My good friend Rudy is producing us today, and Rudy said something one time to me that made such a huge impact. He said what happens here meaning in his life and the new life was experiencing in Christ, he said it's impacted the Dominican Republic where he was from because as his heart was being touched, his family was being touched and changed and made more like Jesus.

Where's your church found at? Give everybody the address.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: We are on 123 West 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue. We are on the block across from Carnegie Hall, Russian Tea Room, and all of that. So, between 6th and 7th on 57th Street, 123 West 57th.

I want to add one thing, you mentioned New York School of the Bible and you teach there. That's had an amazing impact. 25 years. Very much like the story you mentioned, there was an immigrant family from Africa, I forget which country, they had come and they were trained in New York School of the Bible and they learned the truth of God's Word and they said, "We need to go back to our country because there's so much false gospel out there." So, they went back to their homeland because they got the Gospel and were instructed in the Word. So, we equip people for ministry in the city but also take it around the world.

Pastor Dave Watson: When you think about it regretfully, we've lost King's College, we've lost Nyack and Alliance. The future right now of Bible education in our city are Bible institutes like New York Institute for Biblical Studies which I founded having left NYSB, not because I had anything, just I couldn't get anybody to Staten Island to travel all over, and the New York School of the Bible. Bible institutes like that are really right now the future of Bible education.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: That's the way it was supposed to be, right? Before, and I'm grateful for my seminary education and I would not trade it for anything, but equipping God's people is not just for a select few, it's for all of God's people. Churches are the ones that are called to equip God's people. The best scholarship belongs in the church. So, seminaries that are equipping people for only for the academy but not for the church are not doing their work. But theological education, biblical studies that go out from churches have immediate impact on the lives of people. We're looking at some exciting partnerships with schools and churches through New York School of the Bible to make that available, especially with what has been taken away from New York City and King's College and so on.

Pastor Dave Watson: When you read the Book of Acts and you read the church at Ephesus its founding, and you hear Paul spends two years at Tyrannus' hall and an interesting accompaniment statement is that all of Asia heard the Gospel. What happened? People were coming from all over Asia to Ephesus, the metropolitan city of the day, being trained in the Scriptures and going back. That multi-ethnic, multi-cultural church changes its dynamic in Asia by preaching the Gospel by the Ephesus School of the Bible. Paul the apostle to the gentiles saw the need to plant roots there for two years to equip people because from there it was going to go to the rest of the world and it was worth investing time in equipping people with the Word of God and the knowledge of the Lord. The whole counsel of God as we say.

Can you take a moment now and just pray for us? Not just for us, I really want you just to pray for our city. You know, this 250th year celebration's beautiful, and right now the world has come to New York City literally with these soccer games. Oh my goodness, everybody here, everybody excited about soccer, everybody's excited about all of that. But I, just my heart is that pastors of our city would have a heart so broken for our city that we will not get off our knees until we see a spiritual awakening in our midst. Would you lead us in prayer?

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Amen. Our Father and our God, You are the God of the universe. You are the God of all people. God, You desire people everywhere, all people to come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior because there is no other Savior. There is only one name that can be called upon by which people may be saved, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised on the third day and whom You promised that anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus, believes that He died for them and rose again, You will forgive their sins and give them new life as Your people.

God, we live in a city of millions who have come here from all over the world to find a life. Help them to find true life through faith in Jesus Christ. We thank You for the churches that You have established in this city, God, for that great purpose to make Christ known so that He may draw people to Himself for salvation. Thank You for the faithful pastors and churches all over the city. God, I pray for an unity that You would unite us together and we would be preaching the same Gospel of the same Lord. And together, God, that we would make Christ known in every corner, every street of this great city, and that You would do a mighty work of revival even as You did in previous centuries, God.

In the 1920s, You'll do another work of that revival, God, for the people of our city and people who have flocked here for various reasons, including this World Cup which has brought the world to us. God, that they would come here and come to know Jesus and take Him to wherever they are going so that Jesus Christ is indeed proclaimed to the ends of the earth as Lord because He is, and that God's work of redemption in His name will be proclaimed everywhere. You know You can do this, God. Do it in each one of us individually and as churches, and may it be for Your glory, Lord. We pray for New York City, God. Ask of Me and You will give the nations, You have said to Your Son Jesus. Lord, New York City belongs to the Lord Jesus. Bring it to Him. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Pastor Dave Watson: Dr. Abraham, please tell folks again your address and give us your website.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Sure. Calvary Baptist Church is located on 123 West 57th Street. That's on 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue and you can find us on the internet at www.cbcnyc.org. That's cbcnyc.org.

Pastor Dave Watson: Thank you so much. You made my day today. I appreciate it.

Dr. Abraham Joseph: Thank you, Pastor Dave, been a pleasure to be with you. God bless you. Be careful going home.

Pastor Dave Watson: Well folks, I hope you're enjoying our broadcast. We have this incredible privilege. The rain, it was raining here, it's stopped now, so Times Square is filling up. People are taking pictures of themselves all over the place, selfies and the like. But what a privilege to be here at the capital of the world presenting the Gospel to everyone. Seeing my good friends the Worths, Mayor Worths, Susan and Eric, recently retired. Good folks, so very, very good to see them. Some of our Calvary folks here as well joining us.

But we want to just remind you of the tract we have for you. We want to send you at no charge. Simply call us at 718-720-5390. 718-720-5390. Request a pack of 10. We will put it in the mail to you almost immediately. We want to thank our friends at Poppyseed, Joe, Madon, and Tony. 2220 Forest Avenue. 2220 Forest Avenue, Staten Island, for their support. Please order some bagels. 718-233-8656. Nothing better than their bagels for breakfast. They'll be in Aruba soon as well. What a beautiful country. What a beautiful country we have where someone can expand their business, grow their business, and make a difference.

Well, for me, this has been an incredible, incredible opportunity. I'm so grateful for WMCA as well as our own team here, Rudy, for making sure all this happens, the producer. But to preach the Gospel to the world from the capital of the world is an incredible, incredible privilege. Paul was at Ephesus. He spoke often with people. The Scripture says he went house to house and he proclaimed two very simple truths: repentance toward God and faith toward Christ.

Repentance toward God simply means a change of mind, having a change of mind regarding our relationship with God, regarding our sin, regarding our failure, regarding how we can be made right with God. Repentance toward God. And then faith toward Christ means a transfer, a transfer of faith from myself, from myself to Jesus Christ. What do I mean by that? Well, if I asked you today, why should you have a relationship with God? Why would God give you a relationship with Himself? Why should you go to God's home? If you said to me, "I'm not that bad a person, I'm doing the best I can, I'm trying real hard, I'm not horrible, I think God should forgive me and let me in."

Well, the truth of the matter is that you and I are not good. Oh, we're good compared to the standard each of us has. But according to God's standard, we're not good. So, I must stop relying on my own faith, my own strength, my own hope in me. I must rely on what Christ did. What did Christ do? He died on the cross for you and me. He rose from the dead. He died in my place. All we like sheep have gone astray, the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. So, I must transfer my faith from myself to Jesus Christ, from my good works to Christ's work on the cross, from my values, which a truth that I don't even live up to my values, and that I need the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior.

Have you ever made that commitment? You know, I'm here in Times Square and I'm preaching the same message I had the privilege of sharing so many years ago, nearly 50 years ago. The message is God's position. God is holy and righteous. Man's condition. Man is sinful and needs a Savior. Christ's provision. Jesus died for my sins and yours on the cross and rose again the third day from the grave. And your decision. You must, I must make that decision to trust Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I must invite Christ into my life to save me, to change me, to give me eternal life.

With the beautiful song, New York, New York in the background, will you now pray with me as we close. Heavenly Father, thank You for all our listeners here and everywhere. Thank You for all the good works You've done in our life. Thank You for being so very, very, very good to us. Thank You for Jesus, His death, His burial, His resurrection. And Lord, the truth that we can have an eternal relationship with You by repenting of our sin, changing our mind about who we are and who You are, seeing You as holy and righteous, and then Lord, giving our hearts to You, following Jesus as our Savior.

Lord, if there's someone listening who's not made that commitment, I pray You'll help them right now to open their hearts to You, open their souls to You, and in this moment, give their heart to Jesus Christ. In this moment, say, "God, I'm a sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus, You died for me. You are who You said You are. I give my heart to You. Jesus, save me from my sin and give me a new life."

As I speak, Lord, to Christians today, help us, Lord, to be burdened for this city. Burdened for the lost in this city. Lord, please, please keep our city safe. Please watch over and protect it, God. Please, Lord, give our leaders wisdom in protecting our city. May Your hand be upon them. Lord, please, we pray for the protection of the Jewish people here. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray for the protection of our houses of worship. And we pray, Heavenly Father, that You will use us, Your Church, to bring glory to You, to bring our city to Christ. Send a great revival, Lord. Begin it with us. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.

Again, I want to send you these beautiful Bible tracts. They're absolutely free. We want you to have them. Proclaiming True Liberty. Just call us, let us know how many you want. 718-720-5390. We'll generally send out a pack of 10. 718-720-5390. Beyond that, next week we'll be back in the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 6. I want to thank again our friends at Poppyseed for making this all possible by sponsoring us. If you can, stop by Poppyseed. 2220 Forest Avenue. You might see me there. Say hello to Joe, say hello to Anthony, say hello to Madon, say hello to Brianna. Ask her take your order and support this incredible business here on Staten Island. You can order bagels, call in 718-233-8656. 718-233-8656.

It's been an incredible experience. I want to thank our producer, Rudy. Have you ever produced in Times Square before? Put that on your resume. I produced in Times Square. Nobody else in Staten Island can say that. I want to thank Joe and Nell and Zayda. Who else is here? Maritza's here. Where'd she go? Diane Kent's here. Marie and Ro is here. My old friends, Eric and Susan. So, thank you for joining us. Please join us again next Monday for another edition of the daily edition of God in Our City.

Announcer (Male): Thanks for listening to God in Our City with your host, Pastor Dave Watson. We hope the show was a blessing to you. Again, to receive a downloadable gift from Pastor Dave, go to calvarychapelsi.org/gioc. That's calvarychapelsi.org/gioc. Please check out Pastor Dave's blog at nycshepherd.com. That's nycshepherd.com. Please invite a friend and join us every weekday for another edition of God in Our City.

Announcer (Male): God in Our City is sponsored by Calvary Chapel Staten Island. Please contact the ministry with your support at WMCA.com. Under Programs, click Program Guide. Listen to God in Our City live Sunday morning at 11:30 on AM 570 and 102.3 FM, The Mission WMCA.

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