From October 10 to 16, the '4/14 Window New York Conference' will be held at Promise Church in New York, during which attendees will be able to discuss effective ways to target the younger generation from ages 4 to 14.
The "4/14 Window New York Conference' started on October 10 at Promise Church, and will last for a little less than a week until October 16.
The conference is centered on those between the ages of four to fourteen, and promotes the strategy of focusing on the younger generation in mission fields all over the world, a strategy which has been supported by academic research, as well as actual experiences in mission fields.
Some 1,000 of those who are active in children's ministry attended the opening worship service on October 10, and Pastor Pete Richardson presided over the service. Pastor Luis Bush gave a welcoming message, and expressed that he is looking forward to seeing milestones being set in world missions as a result of this conference. Following Pastor Bush, Pastor George Wood, the CEO and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, preached the sermon.
Pastor Luis Bush, who initially introduced the 10/40 Window missional paradigm, worked together with Pastor Nam Soo Kim in 2009 and introduced the 4/14 Window paradigm, moving away from a geographical strategy to a generational one.
1,107 people from 89 different countries attended the 4/14 Window New York conference, including 204 from Africa; 382 from South America; 274 from Asia; 82 from North America; 44 from Europe; and 2 from Australia.
Those who attended the conference at Promise Church were also able to experience firsthand the types of children's and youth ministry that the church offers. Promise Church currently has various types of ministry for the younger generation, including musicals, concerts, soccer and taekwondo competitions, and others. Those who lead these ministries prepared a special session for those who were interested in their programs, and shared their experiences and knowledge about children's and youth ministries. Over the duration of the conference, attendees were also able to experience "Powerhouse,' a ministry that targets youth through music, art, and taekwondo, and the musical ministry "His Life' also performed five times.
On Monday, attendees started deep discussion about this missional strategy. The day's schedule consisted of seminars, debates, and presentations from missionaries of different countries, throughout which attendees were able to discuss the needs of specific mission fields, and the direction that they should take to more effectively target the 4/14 window.
In order to hold this conference, organizers were in need of $600,000, and the congregation of Promise Church had been fundraising since last year in order to help in financing for the conference. With their efforts, they raised $500,000. Promise Church also put in efforts to pick up attendees from the airport, provided food, and served for the conference in various ways.
