God's Not Through with the City

ROC ConferenceRev. B. Keith Haney, Mission Facilitator

Background

Serve for 15 years in Urban ministry.

Detroit, MI St. Louis, MO Milwaukee, WI Now currently

working with several urban centers in Il. Chicago, Rockford, Aurora

Biblical Approach to Urban Ministry

Cities as the Center of Power

Spiritual

Political

Economical

Cultural

Leadership with a Vision for a City

Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (Luke 13:33-34)(NIV)

4 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all

the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (ESV) Jeremiah 29

God’s Heart for the City

The primary focus of these churches is

what is happening inside the building. These churches are geographically in

the city but are not engaged with the people and the culture of the city.

Excerpts from the Book, “For the City”-Darrin Patrick and Matt Chandler

Church in the city

Churches in this category adopt a

defensive posture toward the city. Believers in these churches often

align themselves squarely against the culture and proclaim that they are taking a stand for Christ.

Church against the city

Politics? Bad. Arts? Bad. Media? Bad. Church? Good. But a church against the city settles,

even prefers, an “Us vs. Them” mentality.

Church against the city

These churches wholeheartedly

embrace the culture of the city, so much so that they lose the flavor in their salt and the brightness of their light by abandoning the call to be in the world without being of the world.

Church OF the city

They bend so far to the culture

that they lose their distinctive Christian identity-they lose their ability to speak truth effectively.

Church OF the city

25 “Did you bring to me sacrifices and

offerings during the forty years in the

wilderness, O house of Israel? 26 You shall

take up Sikkuth your king, and Kiyyun your

star-god—your images that you made for

yourselves, 27 and I will send you into exile

beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose

name is the God of hosts. (ESV)

Amos 5:26-27

We need churches that are a

model of engagement where the church speaks the truth of the gospel and is not afraid to uphold a biblical worldview and moral standard.

Church for the city

• This church is seeking the shalom,

flourishing of the city. • This means seeking the peace and

prosperity of the people with whom we live in community with, living sacrificially and using their gifts, time, and money to seek the peace and prosperity of their neighbors.

Church for the city

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on

a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a

lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand,

and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the

same way, let your light shine before others, so

that they may see your good works and give

glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)

Matthew 5 people

The New Strategy

Missionary strategy with a focus on partnership for the purpose of: Leadership development (People who invest their

lives in the people of the city. They live eat and breathe among the people.)

Church Planting and/or Missional Communities Relational Evangelism

Why me?

Romans 10:14-17How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And

how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!“

But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?“ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

The New Face of Urban Ministry

Three Critical Factors in Urban Mission

The role of the pastor

The role of the laity

The attitude of the congregation towards the community

Pauline Definition of the Role of the Pastor

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:11-13

Lay Engagement for a Mission Movement

Thomas Going says, “Engaging baptized members in ministry is absolutely necessary. I realize this as a pastor, because I cannot do pastoral ministry by myself. When I try to provide pastoral care by myself it does not get done as God intends it to. The traditional role of the clergy and members is the clergy doing the pastoring and the members receiving it. It is a very inadequate way to care for people in our churches today.”

Mission Attitude

Transformational Churches are Aware of their community: 75% - Believe our church exists for the

sake of those in our local community. 71% -Believe our leadership senses a call

to our local city or community and not just our church

64% Believe the activities of our church are designed to relate to the type of people in our community or city.

Mission Attitude

“Growth for the church and growth of the individual believer occur when we move ”out” by participating in God’s mission.”

“If we are truly interested in being a Transformational Church, then our efforts should reflect God’s mission.” Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer, Transformational Church

Mission Attitude

81% of the churches believe that God had strategically placed them in the cultural context to serve those around them.

71% of the churches believes that as the cultural context around them changes new opportunities to engage people outside their walls must be considered.

Transformational Loop

Discern

EmbraceEngageWorship

CommunityMission

• Vibrant Leadership

• Relational• Intentionality• Prayerful• Dependence

Missionary Mentality

What Next?

The mandate is clear,

The promise is true,

The urgency is real,

The time is now,

To be in MISSION in our increasingly growing and diverse cities!

Questions and Discussion