The Gettys Talk Christmas, Family and Evangelical Growth in NYC
CP: At your N.Y. concert you were joined by some of the people of Times Square Church. Can you explain the connection you have to that particular church and the influence the late Pastor David Wilkerson and evangelist Nicky Cruz has made on you?
Getty: I first learned about David and Nicky as a kid in my youth group in Northern Ireland. In time, I found out about their work at Times Square Church, in NYC. The story of Christianity in NYC over the last 25 years is an extraordinarily exciting one -– there has been a 300% growth in Evangelical Christianity, which is almost unparalleled in other cities – in the supposed capital of the world. There are many factors for this – not least of all the gifted pastors, who have led the church plant movements, and not forgetting the immigration factor as well.
From a human point of view, it seems the work Times Square Church did in the 1980s, and having the courage to do what they did in a very different N.Y. culture and their fearless conviction, is what paved the way for so many of these movements. I believe all of us who worked in NYC will forever be in their debt.
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CP: Your successes prove how greatly your ministry impacts people, with everything going on in the world and living in these dark times, how has that changed your approach to what you do?
Getty: The older I get, and the more aware I become of the reality of the culture we live in, the more I become increasingly determined to continue doing what we're doing. In the aftermath of Kristyn and I doing the new version of "Facing a Task Unfinished" and the arrangement of "Thou Who Wast Rich," we actually decided to postpone our Spring tour and just do a 2-week tour in June, simply because the need for songs is too great right now. There are more Christians in the world now than ever before and yet we need deep believers if we are going to survive, never mind flourish, never mind change cultures.
CP: You have already accomplished so much, what are your future goals in ministry?
Getty: My serious goals are more to do with personal life, marriage, and trying to raise 3 very crazy, little girls. I think if I could make good progress on each of those, I'd settle for that.
In terms of the direction our work is going, we have four unique projects in the next 2 years – the new hymn project, launching music for children and families, our first global church music conference and the huge growth opportunities built around the Christmas show.
CP: Can you tell us about your upcoming conference? Why you decided to hold one and your hopes for it?
Getty: The conference is in 2017, on the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's Reformation Declaration. Luther believed in reformation of the church through preaching and singing of the Word as getting back to core Christianity. I fear our generation is struggling with that in our congregational singing, at what is an utterly critical juncture in history. The conference will be built around congregational singing, with a theological, practical, and artistic dimension around it.
To check out their concert, "Joy-An Irish Christmas," or for more information on the Gettys, visit www.gettymusic.com
