On Friday June 9 at 6:00pm, Bethesda Covenant Church will host an evening of food and fellowship at the Maharaja Indian Restaurant (230 E. 44th between Second and Third Ave.) We will gather to enjoy conversation, worship, and to hear about the work of CitiVision from its founder and president, Tom Mahairas.
The mission of CitiVision is to make, motivate and equip disciples to impact their cities with the Gospel. More than half of the world's population will be living in urban areas by 2008. By 2030, it is expected that 60% of the world population will live in urban areas. Almost 180,000 people are added to the urban population each day. It is estimated that there are almost a billion poor people in the world, of this over 750 million live in urban areas without adequate shelter and basic services. 1/3 of people in developing countries living in cities, live in slum/squatter settlements. Over 1/2 the people in the world live on less than $2 per day. CitiVision desires to help break the cycle of spiritual and economic poverty through evangelistic outreach ministries focused on the youth and disadvantaged through the practical application of the Gospel. Their goal is to give a spiritual framework to people without hope, to educate in terms of personal financial accountability, to give a new awareness of the world around them and to strengthen their character with principles that will carry them through the rest of their lives.
Founder Tom Mahairas was born in Thessaloniki, Greece. He immigrated to the United States with his family when he was eight years old. As a rebellious youth, Tom became submerged in the drug culture of the 1960's. In 1968, while hitchhiking in Upstate New York, he was brought to Word of Life Island where he received the Lord and soon after shared his new faith in Christ with his then girlfriend, Vicky. Tom and Vicky went to Bible College in South Carolina. After graduation, they married and moved to New York City to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Tom began Manhattan Bible Church in in 1973. In 1978, Manhattan Christian Academy was started to provide a Christ-centered education for the less fortunate of New York. In 1982, he established Transformation Life Center, to help men with life-controlling problems. In 1986 Tom began New York Gospel Outreach: a one-week, hands-on missions trip in the heart of New York City. In 1987, Tom opened the Love Kitchen, a food for homeless program, where individuals receive daily physical as well as spiritual nourishment. Pastor Tom has preached across the United States and around the world in such countries as India, Nigeria and Greece.
Please join us -- all are welcome! Contact the church office for more information, or to RSVP, at 212.684.2062.
