Igreja de Cristo
Claudio Divinio - Ethnic Church Planting Consultant
"And there was great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9).
The Church of Christ in New York was born was a result of the passion that Dr. Cláudio Divino has for ethnic church planting and missions. He has visited 36 countries and preached and taught in 19 different nations. In association with the Orchard Group and with the support from several Christian churches from East Tennessee, he planted the Antioch Christian Church in Port Chester-in the New York City metropolitan area. Dr. Divino is actively involved with the Church of Christ in New York working together with the other church planters, Elias Pereira, Evaldo Fernandes, and Cleuza Valim.
The Igreja de Cristo em New York was officially launched last Easter, March 23, 2008. The launch day attendance was 83. The worship team did a wonderful job. The Lord's Supper celebration was moving. Things are looking good: attendance is up [close to 80 people], new Christians being baptized into Christ added to the congregation, and lives being restored and transformed. This is the beauty of ministry and that is why I am so excited about the church. Another neat thing that God has provided for us is that we are now meeting in the Trinity Lutheran Church, in New Rochelle, Westchester County. The Trinity Lutheran Church sanctuary was the place where the Antioch Church used to meet when I moved to New York in 1997.
One of the goals of the CCNY is to make sure that we reach the lost for Christ. There are already 12 people that have been baptized in the CCNY. As the church works to minister to families and children, we have seen God transforming lives and restoring marriages.
Claudio continues to live in Rochester, MN, but he travels to New York at least once a month to preach and minister with the church.