I am not a city boy. I grew up both rural and suburban. I know how to survive in the woods and have shoveled my share of manure. I love Starbucks and have a dresser filled with polo shirts. I am content with a canoe paddle in hand or a laptop in lap. I love to drive my 4×4 pick-up, but I have also had a convertible sports car.
However, experiences, urban friends, professors, and Bible study have cultivated my heart for the city. I have grown to love the city — the sights, the sounds, and sometimes the smells. I am enamored by the places and the people of the city. Skylines and their high rises are captivating. The people often remind me of what heaven will look like — different ethnicities, cultures, and languages.
When I examine what has shaped my heart for the city, I find several key aspects that I pray that all would find:
1. God has a heart for the city.
While some read the city into everything in the Bible, most do not recognize God’s concern for the city in the Scriptures. Many read the Bible with their rural or suburban lens. God shows concern for the well-being of society as a whole. He is concerned with people and place (Gen 18:16-33; Neh 2:1-6, 11:1-2; Jer 5:1; Ezek 16:48-50), and He has compassion and concern for public welfare (Ps 72:1-4, 12-14; 122:6-9; Isa 58:3-7; Jer 29:4-7).
If we are going to consistently follow Christ, we cannot avoid seeing His compassionate and specific work in and for the city. Jesus ministered in and sent his disciples to minister in cities and towns of Galilee (Matt 9:35-11:1; Mark 6:6, 56). Urban institutions, like courts, worship centers, city squares, and marketplaces are found throughout Christ’s ministry (Matt 5:25, 23:7; Mark 6:56).
Most of Paul’s ministry was focused in urban centers, and the early church utilized urban centers for the spread of the gospel. Research shows that nearly two-thirds of the populations of the Roman Empire and of Christians were in the major urban cities (Stark, Cities of God, 6, 13-14, 60). Christianity spread where the majority of people were concentrated. I believe God has called us to the mission field known as the city.
2. The city is the global mission field.
The world is coming to the city through urbanization and globalization. People from all walks of life claim the city as their place to live, work, and/or play. New York City will show you this phenomenon. Residents of The Big Apple speak approximately 170 different languages. Even the small city of Springfield, OH (a city of only 62,500 where I spent some time ministering during college) has 40 different nationalities represented. The city provides a place where people from all tribes can be reached. God has brought people of all nations to the cities, and the church has an opportunity to minister to all nations while serving in the city.
3. The city is the place of influence as a change agent.
The city is a change agent. The city is the hub of power and influence. Cities are centers of politics, economics, government, and social structures. When city people are changed by Christ and begin to live, work, and play from a biblical worldview, cities are changed. In turn, politics, economics, government, and social structures are changed. When Christians influence the city, the city influences culture beyond itself for Christ. There is such great opportunity for seeing and expressing God’s glory in the city!
4. The city is full of potential.
Both place and people are full of potential. Cities are places of power and influence. Most of the influence and power, however, is not being used for God’s glory. Urban people have potential in their talents, abilities, and gifts God has granted. Furthermore, different cultures and economic classes bring new and complementary views and ideas to those of traditional, white, middle-class suburbanites. Urbanites simply need to be discipled and have their potential cultivated. I see such great potential in people saved by Christ — and He is still saving people.
5. The city is full of people.
When I travel to a big city, I am reminded about the number of people who live in the city. I am moved when I think about the fact that in the U.S. alone, 250 million of the 300 million reside in metropolitan areas (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006). Over half of the population of the world resides in an urban context. During my recent trip to L.A., I felt like over half the population of the world was trying to drive on the same road as I. Most of these people living, working, and playing in the city need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
We cannot miss the opportunity to make a difference in the city. Get involved in the city by:
- Reading a book on urban ministry (See books by Ray Bakke, David Claerbaut, Harvey Conn, Roger Greenway)
- Praying for the major cities in your state.
- Visiting an urban church or a city ministry in your area.
- Driving through the “rough” neighborhoods to get a glimpse of what most urbanites deal with everyday.
- Praying about how you can begin to have an influence in the lives of those in the city.
By: Kevin S. Hall
Assistant to the Dean, The Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth
Associate Director of The Dehoney Center of Urban Ministry Training
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary;
Executive Assistant to the President of a nationally known church consultant firm, The Lawless Group
