INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

CHRISTIANDISCIPLESHIP

Equipping members for Global Mission

and Outreach

General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries

Community Services & Urban Ministry Certification Program

Module Syllabus & Teaching Notes

CS08 Urban Mission 101

Centers of Influence-Life Hope Centers (REVISED)

Version 1 – For General Audience

2 contact hours

Developed byBruce Campbell Moyer, STD

Department of World Mission,

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI

with Sung Kwon, Gary Krause, and May-Ellen Colón

©2011 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®

URBAN MISSION 101 & CENTERS OF INFLUENCE-LIFE HOPE CENTERS

Objectives:

The students will:

  1. Understand and respond to the call from Adventist church leadership to focus on comprehensive urban ministry world-wide.
  2. Be able to express their own feelings about urban life, and read the Bible as the urban document that it is.
  3. Grasp the growth of cities and the dynamic and complex nature of urban life, and how their churches can become effective change agents in the urban setting.
  4. Acquire a balanced view of Ellen White’s counsel regarding moving out of and moving into the cities.
  5. Learn an overview of the history of Adventist urban ministry.
  6. Explore the elements of comprehensive urban/community-based ministry, including centers of influence.
  7. Explore basic ways of analyzing cities to determine ministry focus.
  8. Be able to differentiate between urban myth and reality and understand the nature of secular, urban people, with a view to successful urban ministry.
  9. Apply the lessons learned to their own urban setting.

Module Requirement

  1. Attend and participate in the class.
  2. Read the readings provided.

Textbooks:

There are no required textbooks.

Reference books and extra reading:

These books may or may not be available to the student. To the degree that they are available, they are listed for enriching extra reading.

Tony Compolo, The Kingdom of God Is a Party. (Dallas, TX: Word, 1990), pp.3-9.

Conn, Harvie M. The Urban Face of Mission.Phillpsburgh: P&R Publishing, 2002.

Conn, Harvie M. and Ortiz, Manuel, Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City, and the People of God. Downers Grove, IL: InterVaristy Press, 2001.

Grigg, Viv. Companion to the Poor. Monrovia: MARC, 1990.

Grigg, Viv. Cry of the Urban Poor. Monrovia: MARC, 1992.

Sahlin, Monte. Mission in Metropolis, Lincoln. NB: Center for Creative Ministry, 2007.

Van Engan, Charles and Jude Tiersma (eds.). God So Loves the City. Monrovia, CA.:MARC, 1994.

White, E.G. Ministry of Healing. Mountain View: Pacific Press, 1909. (pp. 469-516)

White, E.G. Christian Service. Mountain View: Pacific Press, 1947.

White, E.G. Welfare Ministry. Washington, D.C.: Review & Herald, 1952.

Yamamori, Tetsunao. Bryant Myers and Kenneth Luscombe (eds.). Serving with the Urban Poor. Pasadena, CA: MARC, 1998.

Class Notes

I. Call to Urban Ministry

(Slide 2) Watch and discuss the General Conference Comprehensive Urban Evangelism video.

(Slide 3)When we think of the magnitude of reaching huge cities we may feel that this task is too big for us. BUT one person can onlydo so much. Whenever you have a huge challenge, strike out the “only!”

(Slide 4) Definition of “Urban.” “Urban” is about people.

(Slides 5-12) Here are some interesting insights regarding cities from various writers.

(Slide 13) As time allows discuss the questions.

II. The Bible – an Urban Book

(Slide14) The Bible – Urban or rural?Do you view the Bible as essentially a rural or urban book? Why? Explore the following list of the Bible writers who lived/worked in cities and note which ones lived/worked in villages/towns.

  1. Moses: Lived formative years in urban Egypt
  2. Ezra: Lived in Babylon and Jerusalem
  3. Isaiah: A priest who lived and worked in Jerusalem
  4. David: Grew up in town, ruled from a city
  5. Jeremiah: A priest in Jerusalem
  6. Ezekiel: A priest in Jerusalem
  7. Jesus: Lived in urban, cosmopolitan Galilee
  8. Paul: Tarsus, Jerusalem, traveled from city to city
  9. Luke: Urban trained physician
  10. John: Wrote to seven urban churches
  11. Amos: The only known village-dweller to write in the Bible
  12. The reality is that the Bible is a very urban book, written by urban people

Discuss: What migration patterns are recorded in the Scriptures? (Babel, Exodus, Exile, Diaspora, Early Church, etc.)

  1. What changes did urbanization appear to cause?
  2. What was God’s part in these migrations?

(Slide 15) There are 119 cities mentioned in the Scriptures.

Yes, the Bible is definitely an Urban Book. It ends with the city-that-will-be (Slides 16, 17).

III. Challenges of Urban Growth and Dynamic and Complex Nature of the Urban Setting

(Slide18)Today over half the world lives in cities. How did we get to where we are? In 1900, 4% of the population of the world lived in cities. By 1950 that number had grown to 20%. By the year 2007 it was 50% and growing rapidly. There are two significant causes for this phenomenal growth: migration and birthrates. Today we are living in the midst of the largest mass migration in human history, and each year, in Mexico City, the equivalent of the population of Chicago is born in Mexico City. The South is moving North, the East is moving West and the majority of this movement is into cities.

(Slides 19-21)Let’s define our terms.

  • (A megacity is usually defined as a metropolitan area with a total population in excess of 10 million people. Some definitions also set a minimum level for population density (at least 2,000 persons/square km). Megacities can be distinguished from global cities by their rapid growth, new forms of spatial density of population, formal and informal economics, as well as poverty, crime, and high levels of social fragmentation. A megacity can be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas that converge upon one another. The terms conurbation and metroplex are also applied to the latter. The terms megapolis and megalopolis are sometimes used synonymously with megacity. (Wikipedia)
  • (Slide 22)In 2000, there were 18 megacities – conurbations such as Tokyo, New York City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Mumbai (then Bombay), São Paulo, Karachi that have populations in excess of 10 million inhabitants. Greater Tokyo already has 35 million, which is greater than the entire population of Canada.
  • (Slide 23)In 1800 only 3% of the world's population lived in cities. 47% did by the end of the twentieth century. In 1950, there were 83 cities with populations exceeding one million; but by 2007, this had risen to 468 agglomerations of more than one million. If the trend continues, the world's urban population will double every 38 years, say researchers. The UN forecasts that today's urban population of 3.2 billion will rise to nearly 5 billion by 2030, when three out of five people will live in cities. (Wikipedia)
  • (Slide 24)By 2025, according to the Far Eastern Economic Review, Asia alone will have at least 10 megacities (cities with a population greater than 20 million), including Jakarta, Indonesia (24.9 million people), Dhaka, Bangladesh (26 million), Karachi, Pakistan (26.5 million), Shanghai (27 million) and Mumbai (33 million). Lagos, Nigeria has grown from 300,000 in 1950 to an estimated 15 million today, and the Nigerian government estimates that the city will have expanded to 25 million residents by 2015. Chinese experts forecast that Chinese cities will contain 800 million people by 2020. (Wikipedia)

(Slides 25, 26) Today the world’s largest cities are (2010 statistics):

  • 1 TokyoJapan 33,600,000
  • 2 SeoulSouth Korea 23,400,000
  • 3 Mexico CityMexico 22,400,000
  • 4 New York CityUSA 21,961,994
  • 5 Mumbai (Bombay) India 21,600,000
  • 6 DelhiIndia 21,500,000
  • 7 São PauloBrazil 20,600,000
  • 8 Los AngelesUSA 18,000,000
  • 9 ShanghaiChina 17,500,000
  • 10 OsakaJapan 16,700,000
  • 11 CairoEgypt 16,100,000
  • 12 Buenos AiresArgentina 16,000,000
  • 13 KolkataIndia 15,700,000
  • 14 Metro ManilaPhilippines 15,600,000
  • 15 JakartaIndonesia 15,100,000
  • 15 KarachiPakistan 15,100,000
  • 16 TehranIran 13,500,000
  • 17 BeijingChina 12,800,000
  • 18 DhakaBangladesh 12,750,000
  • 19 LahorePakistan 12,700,000
  • 20 LondonUnited Kingdom 12,500,000
  • 21 ParisFrance 12,000,000
  • 22 IstanbulTurkey 11,800,000
  • 23 Rio de JaneiroBrazil 11,500,000
  • 24 LagosNigeria 10,200,000
  • 25 MoscowRussia 10,100,000
  • 25 BangkokThailand 10,100,000

(Source: Th. Brinkhoff: The Principal Agglomerations of the World, 2006-11-22 )

(Slide 27) Growth - Between 2000 and 2030 the global population will grow by 2.2 billion, and 2.1 billion will be added to the cities.

—The Futurist

(Slides 28-39) Adventists have a big challenge in the world’s cities—especially since the Adventist Church is currently stronger in rural areas and islands than in cities.

(Slides 40, 41) BUT “should not I [and my church] be concerned about that great city?” [in my region]? (Jonah 4:11). . . .

(Slide 42) Discussion Questions

Additional Reflection Questions:

  1. What has been the pattern in urban growth patterns? When did it begin to change dramatically? What factors do you think led to this change?
  1. What would seem to have been the movement pattern of the churches during this time? Why do you think this has been so? What factors led to this change?
  1. What have been the changes, in the city nearest to you, during the past 50 years? Think of population, ethnic demographics, economy, regional and global inter-connectedness, etc. What factors have led to this? How has your church (congregation and/or denomination) related to these changes?
  1. What changes on the part of your congregation and/or denomination should have happened? Why?
  1. What positive changes have other congregations/denominations in your area made?
  1. To the best of your ability, with a phonebook and the internet, identify and plot as many places of worship as you can on a map of your local city. Please note “old-first” churches, institutional churches, neighborhood and storefront churches. Plot also synagogues, temples, mosques, Buddhist wats, etc.

Reflect on the map now in front of you.

1)Which areas are heavily churched? Why?

2)Which areas are unchurched? Why?

3)What is the relationship between churches and industry, commerce, institutions (hospitals, universities and colleges, etc.)?

4)What might this map suggest in terms of church planting strategies?

  1. What are the barriers to movement in your neighborhood, around your church? How are these helpful? How are they unhelpful?How might they be changed?

IV. Jesus and the Multitudes(Slides 43-52)

How did Jesus see the crowds? Let’s review Christ’s incarnational attitude and method. How do you and I see the crowds? With compassion?With a desire for their good, their welfare, their Shalom?

V. Modern Incarnational Urban Ministry That Reflects God’s Kingdom Values (Slide 53)

There are many prophetic voices today that advocate incarnational ministry in the cities. A notable example is that of John M. Perkins.

In 1989 John M. Perkins founded the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), in Chicago, IL ( Perkins described the mission of CCDA in terms of three R’s – a biblical approach to living out Kingdom values and the gospel in urban poverty situations:

  1. Relocation: Perkins firmly believes in the importance of relocating to needy communities and living where you are serving (which he has done many times over the past four decades). Jesus “moved into the neighborhood” and mingled with people (John 1:14, Message, Luke 4:16-19, etc.). Perkins realizes that, “Living the gospel means desiring for your neighbor and your neighbor’s family that which you desire for yourself and your family.” Only by joining a community do a community’s need become one’s own. For some people, relocating might mean “going back” to a neighborhood after growing up and becoming educated and skilled, and then returning and using the leadership and skills gained to improve the community.
  2. Reconciliation: This means reconciliation of people to God (2 Cor. 5:17-20) and of neighbor to neighbor to neighbor (John 13:35; 15:12). Through the Gospel we break down racial, ethnic, or economic barriers so that as Christians people can come together to solve the problems of their shared community.
  3. Redistribution: Means bringing our lives, skills, educations, and resources and putting them to work so that people will be empowered in a community of need. Redistribution was manifest as early Christians shared their resources (Acts 2:44, 45). Redistribution also means developing people—so that they have skills and good work habits, and teaching them to manage what they own. It Is about economic development and about investing in each other’s lives so that local enterprises that meet local needs can be started that employ indigenous people.

References:

John Perkins, With Justice for All: A Strategy for Community Development (Ventura, CA: Regal Books,1982).

(Slide 54) With Justice for All: A Strategy for Community Development further explains Perkin’s three-R strategy. This is among several books written by John Perkins.

(Slide 55) This Ancient Chinese Proverb is a good summary of John Perkins’ message.

VI. Ellen White’s Counsel on Moving Out of and Moving Into the Cities

(Slide 56) But…Didn’t Ellen White counsel us to move out of the cities and live in the country? Discuss this question in groups.

(Slides 57-59) Ellen White Periodical Index, etc.

VII. Brief Overview of History of Adventist Urban Ministry.

(Slides 60-64)The early Adventist church was active in urban ministry. The church membership doubled in the 1890s decade and church leaders have associated that growth with active community/urban ministry.

(Slide 65-68)Some have referred to Ellen White’s statement in Testimonies, vol. 8, pages 184, 185 as a rationale to not help the poor through social ministry:

“The Lord has marked out our way of working. As a people we are not to imitate and fall in with Salvation Army methods. This is not the work that the Lord has given us to do. Neither is it our work to condemn them and speak harsh words against them. There are precious, self-sacrificing souls in the Salvation Army. We are to treat them kindly. There are in the Army honest souls, who are sincerely serving the Lord and who will see greater light, advancing to the acceptance of all truth. The Salvation Army workers are trying to save the neglected, downtrodden ones. Discourage them not. Let them do that class of work by their own methods and in their own way. But the Lord has plainly pointed out the work that Seventh-day Adventists are to do. Camp meetings and tent meetings are to be held. The truth for this time is to be proclaimed. A decided testimony is to be borne. And the discourses are to be so simple that children can understand them” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, pp. 184, 185).

Reflections regarding Ellen White’s Salvation Army statement:

1. What were the Salvation Army’s “methods?” Here are excerpts from The Signs of the Times, March 19, 1894, “The Missionary’s Pattern,” by Ellen G. White that shed light on their “methods:”

(Slides 69-70) “There is need for every soul to study the Pattern, Christ Jesus. Those who follow his methods of labor will have freedom in utterance and earnestness in manner. They will be inspired by the sacred themes of truth. Christ understood the needs of all classes, and was successful in preaching the gospel to the poor. He understood all their temptations. We need to study methods whereby we may preach the gospel to the poor and downtrodden and degraded of humanity. But let no one think that God will approve of a method which will require a man to act the part of a clown, or like a man who has lost his senses. Such methods as these are wholly unnecessary and inappropriate. {ST, March 19, 1894 par. 2}

(Additional commentary) “Among the Salvation Army workers such methods as these have been employed; but it is more necessary that they should study and preach the word than act in a sensational way in order to draw the attention of the people. It is the word of truth that, like a strong, golden chain, will bind men to God, where they will learn of the great Teacher. It is the word of God that is to test character. The Lord has precious, conscientious souls who have joined the Army; but they need to advance and receive other and higher truths of the word of God. {ST, March 19, 1894 par. 3} . . . [in the same article, see below:]

“Oh, that all who claim to be Christians might have a view of the misery, the destitution, of those who are low down in the scale of humanity, and might realize at the same time that these are souls for whom Christ died! God understands every woe. His heart is touched with human woe and sorrow, and it is time that all Christians should wear his yoke, and work in his line, identifying themselves with human sympathy in the way in which he identified himself with our fallen race.” {ST, March 19, 1894 par. 6}

2. Here we see that we can’t merely jump to conclusions over one statement by itself, but must consider what the Bible says and what Ellen White says elsewhere about the issue of working with the poor. As we can see, the above article also emphasizes the need for all Christians to help the poor. In fact, our eternal destiny depends on faithfulness in helping the poor. (e.g. Matthew 25:31-46; The Desire of Ages, p. 637) “When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering” (The Desire of Ages, p. 637).