Principles for Urban Ministry - Part II
October 27, 2008 – 11:23 am
I recently came on staff as the Director of Urban Ministry for Inter-City Baptist Church. I’ve settled into an apartment in the Midtown area of Detroit (on the campus of Wayne State University) and have tried to reach out to my new community. Urban ministry is both an exciting and a daunting prospect, and philosophies for reaching the city abound. Though by no means exhaustive, the following list contains some key principles [Principles 8-14 in the list] that we’re trying to implement as we seek to minister in our setting.
- Anyone who believes the Gospel will be saved
The Gospel is not for a select group. God does not discriminate based on wealth, education, nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, or anything else. The gospel is offered to all freely, and none who come are turned away. We will preach the Gospel to all, knowing that if they repent and believe they will be saved.
- Nothing can be accomplished apart from the Spirit’s power
Human effort is insufficient for spiritual work. We must work, and the Spirit must work in and through us. Without Him we can do nothing, but with Him all things are possible. We will commit ourselves to prayer and emphasize it in our ministry. We will seek to live lives under the control of the Spirit.
- God’s Word provides the answers for the important questions of life
God’s Word gives us everything that we need for life and godliness. When counseling those to whom we minister, we dare not trust our thoughts and opinions. We must allow God’s Word to shape our thinking and instruction. We will commit ourselves to prayerful reading and study of God’s Word so that we can give Scriptural answers for life questions.
- Transformed lives display the glory of God’s Gospel
Though Gospel proclamation is essential for evangelism, Gospel-worthy lives can provide credibility to our message. When we fail to live God-honoring lives we bring shame to the Gospel and contradict our spoken words. We will seek to live lives that are above reproach and are a testimony to the grace of God at work in us.
- You must be in the world to reach the world
Living in the suburbs and lobbing “Gospel grenades” into the city is not the most effective means of ministry. Living in the community provides more avenues for redemptive relationships, helps you to understand the pressures of those you are trying to serve, and lends an authenticity to your ministry. We will seek to be a part of the community in order to reach them for Christ.
- You cannot be of the world to reach the world
The world (i.e., the system of belief and thought that is in rebellion against God) should not be taken as the model of ministry for the redeemed. We cannot indiscriminately adopt any and every form of our culture and remain true to the Gospel. We must maintain radically counter-cultural lives, displaying our allegiance to God and His will. The world neither needs nor wants a cheap imitation of what it already has. It needs the light of the Gospel that brings submission to God and enmity with the world. We will maintain a Scriptural distinctiveness from the elements of the culture that are opposed to Christ’s Lordship.
- Discipleship is not a program, it’s a lifestyle
Discipleship is more than a fifteen part study guide or workbook. Discipleship can and should happen anytime and anywhere. It extends to all areas of life. This life-touching-life ministry takes time and commitment. We will open up our lives to others to utilize every opportunity to disciple those whom God has placed under our ministry.
Continued from previous post (Principles for Urban Ministry - Part I).
View pdf of all 14 principles (in Articles section).
