Not Then, Nor NOW, Can We Avoid the Cities

One of the great challenges for the Church today, and perhaps in particular for The Michigan District, is how to carry on vital and vibrant urban ministry.  More than half of the churches that were thriving in the mid 1950’s in Detroit are now closed, with those remaining  very challenged in their ministries and even in worship attendance.  It is possible that there will no longer be any Lutheran Schools in Detroit by the end of this year.

I’ve heard some excuse this as just the normal turn of events for a city.  Others have recognized the horrible economic plight of our entire state and how it has ravaged Detroit.  Still more have said that “Lutheranism” can no longer impact Detroit like it once did because of Detroit's multi-nationalism and multi-culturalism.

What does that mean?  (There’s a good Lutheran question.)  I don't know what that comment was meant to infer.  I do know that we must not write off attempts at Gospel ministry in Detroit, and Flint, and Saginaw, and Benton Harbor, and … …

In an ‘article’ entitled “Urban Christianity” found in the Lutheran Study Bible in the book of Philippians, the following comments can be found.  I whole heartedly agree with them and find them to be very encouraging to our A2E Urban Ministry Iniative!

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians was addressed to urban Christians.  A review of Philippi’s history shows the close connection between early Christianity and the urban setting.  It also affirms that the Church of today dare not neglect the city.

The New Testament Greek word for church (ekklesia) literally means “called out.”  It refers to a group of people whom God has called to faith and in so doing has separated from the world.  It is significant that the term refers not to a building but to people.  Rather than thinking of going to church, Christian are to think in terms of being the church!  The place, then, is less important than the people, who are God’s temple. (1Cor.3:16)  … 

The Modern City Since the advent of the modern world, the majority of people around the earth have lived in cities, where industries and employment are.  That is also where some of society’s biggest problems are.  Urban ministry is more important than ever before.

    It is tempting for churches to give up on city ministries, where the work can be frustrating and even dangerous.  The rewards can seem minimal, especially in terms of financial income from inner-city churches.

    We need to remember, with Paul, that the Good News about Jesus is for everyone.  “God so love the world …”  And Jesus Himself has commissioned us to make disciples of all nations and all people.  No one is left out.  To close our eyes to any class or group of people is to forget that God, in His mercy, has included us as recipients of His love in Christ.

    Paul and the early Christians did not avoid the cities. [emphasis mine]  That is where they established most of the earliest congregations.  Even Corinth, which had a terrible reputation, became the location of a thriving church.  Today’s churches need to meet the challenges of city work.  With God’s help, the obstacles can be overcome.  Perhaps as never before, amid the concrete, bricks, and steel of urban life, we are faced with a wide-open field ripe for the harvest!

    The great cities of the world—as much as the suburbs, small towns, and rural communities—are crying out for the Gospel.  Jesus wept over His beloved Jerusalem (Lk.19:41),  and Paul longed to bring the Gospel to the people of Rome:  “[I pray that] by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you” (Rom.1:10).

I found it interesting when part of the A2E Ministry was shared with the Circuit Counselors at their Conference in May (19, 20) that three different brothers, at three different times talked to me about how encouraged they were to here about the A2E Ministry possibilities.  None of them were from ‘urban areas’.  All of them have different stories, different churches, and different contexts.  But each of them somewhere in the conversation made almost the same comment.  They said something like, “It saddened me to see very little happening in Detroit.  One wonders if Lutheranism has anything to offer the city, or even if the Gospel has lost its power there.  I don’t mean exactly that, of course; but, it doesn’t take too long before you begin to think of what is happening in Detroit as encroaching further into the state.  How long before what’s happening there comes to me?  A2E seems to be a bold, simple approach that trusts the Gospel as well as proclaims it.  If the Gospel will work there, it can work anywhere.”

How thought provoking and ENCOURAGING is that!  … because the Gospel is still the greatest power on earth, able to break the hardest substance known to man:  the sin encrusted heart.

As we continue to talk, think, and develop the A2E Urban Ministry Initiative please join us in prayer as we seek to humble ourselves before God, fear Him above all else, TRUST IN HIM, pray to Him about everything , and implore Him for wisdom.  Please pray for us as we look forward to sharing the A2E ministry possibilities and plans with more of the urban churches in Detroit, other church organizations, some of the leadership in Detroit, the leadership of our Synod, The Michigan District Bd. of Directors, and with all of the pastors of the Michigan District at the All Pastors Conference in early October. 

Romans 1:  16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Ephesians 3:  20  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

PS   If you wondering what A2E stands for … well, it stands for Acts 2 Enterprise.  “Acts 2” refers to the vitality and growth of the Early Christian Church in urban areas, in particular Jerusalem, during and after Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.  “Enterprise” is a reference to the Starship Enterprise (for all you Star Trek fans – I’m dating myself, I know).  For us it means having one large ‘mothership’ with many other satellite locations and ministries. More later about the A2E Urban Ministry Initiative.

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