Poverty, Evangelism & Church Planting

From my previous post, I shared a small portion about our discussions from our core group. From our reading, we have also dialogued about the topics of evangelism and poverty. This is especially relevant for us due to the cultural context and landscape within our neighborhood (i.e. lots of unsaved individuals and lots of low-income and marginalized residents). Further, this topic has been an important item for us to think about and to develop an approach for as a church plant since we are so passionate about our city and those who live here. Below are some notes from our readings and our discussions on these topics:

Biblical solutions to urban needs-that is what Christian ministry in the urban context is all about. Every Christian should think hard about the Bible’s teaching concerning the nature and causes of poverty, the stewardship of resources, our duty toward the poor, and the kind of assistance that meets the needs of the poor spiritually as well as physically.

Some causes of poverty:
· Lack of employment opportunities
· Scarcity of decent and affordable housing
· Abandoned or unrestrained children
· Surge of elderly population
· Breakdown of family support structures
· Neglect from and/or inadequacy of governmental agencies and public services
· Lack of responsibility by urban/suburban churches
Some categories of the poor:
· Physically/mentally incapable of working
· Low education, skill levels, or racial factors
· Lazy, welfare recipients
· Single women with children
· Elderly surviving on Social Security or small pensions
· Individuals struggling with various addictions
**It seems that the causes and categories of poverty are almost interchangeable.

The Christian attitude: If every person is created in the image of God and a person like myself is poor, oppressed, and helpless, and if I have resources that might lift such an individual out of distress, I need to look no further. I have responsibilities toward that person in terms of his or her temporal and eternal welfare. Therefore, the most important element in Christian ministry among the poor is not our concern for the poor as such, but our love for God and those made in his image.

All are under the bondage of the devil--rich and poor. Therefore, two principles must guide us as we engage in urban evangelism and ministry to the poor: proclaim the gospel to all and perform acts of mercy to minimize/eliminate poverty. Both are needed.

Holistic Strategy & Perspective: Urban Community Development
Spiritual Needs
Conversion to Christ & Discipleship
Church Planting & Development
Physical Needs
Community Ministries meeting human needs
Cosmic Concern for all that God made

Christian responses to the poor:
1. Seeing, learning, and loving
2. Presence among the poor and sharing their needs
3. Urban Diaconal Task Forces-a group that focuses on meeting the physical and spiritual needs
4. Educational training for ministry among the poor—specialized training for urban leaders and leadership development from within those we are ministering to

Values to Uphold:
1. Ministry must be identifiably Christian
2. Blending of God’s Word with deeds of compassion
3. Efficient and effective use of material blessings
4. Long term goal of planting and development of churches throughout the city

Summary of both chapters: All are created in the image of God and alike are under the power of sin. Yet, God desires to bring people to Himself through Jesus Christ via the church. This is effectively accomplished holistically: addressing the physical and spiritual needs of individuals, focusing on the individual and the community, and possessing short-term and long-term time frames. The Gospel as implemented by the church can liberate individuals and communities from both physical and spiritual oppression.

Questions for reflection:
How does the fact that all are created in the image of God affect you, your perspective on others around you, and your surroundings?
How does the fact that all are created in the image of God and that all are enslaved to sin enhance or expand your desire to engage in evangelism and/or ministry to the poor?
Why is the subject of poverty and ministry to the poor so controversial among Christians and within the church?
Develop four different activities or events that possess a holistic strategy and perspective in reaching those who live in the urban context. These activities must address either a spiritual or physical need and must address an individual need or a community-wide need.

Our Learning Curve

Some have asked about what we have been doing in our core group and I wanted to make sure that everyone was updated on our activities and discussions. We have been reading through Roger Greenway's book, Cities: Missions' New Frontier, in order for our entire core group to get on the same page in our understanding of the importance of the city, the dynamics involved in urban ministry, what the Bible says about urban ministry and urban churches, and what are the various approaches we might take in order to renew the city of Denver spiritually, socially, and culturally. From our reading and discussions, we have entered in a steadily increasing learning curve, in that we are beginning to make decisions and formulate a more solid ministry approach. Below are some notes from one of our discussions:

The spread of the Gospel and expansion of the church occurred in the context of cities; the cities of the early church were not much different than ours today spiritually, culturally, or socially.

This work was not done by isolated individuals (‘lone rangers’), but was accomplished through team efforts; Paul and Barnabas (with Silas, John Mark, Timothy, etc.), Peter and John (with the other 10 disciples); often Christians focus on the heroes of the faith as if they did it all alone

But how did they accomplish this? Are there models and principles for us to learn from?
-This is an especially important question since Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of the entire known world (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8) was carried out by the early church in one generation! In other words, in less than one person’s lifetime, Christianity had permeated everywhere!! They did this with no technology, no seminaries, no church buildings, no youth groups, etc.!
-Furthermore, Paul stated explicitly that he regarded his way of life and ministry as a model for others to follow (1 Thessalonians 3:9); what was his way of life and ministry model?

-With all of the needs and different cultural groups prevalent in our city, what must head the list of things to be done? In other words, using the Bible, where do we begin in obeying Jesus?
1. The disciples went to and stayed in cities to spread the Gospel and develop early communities of faith.
2. These early Christians focused on making disciples, or that everyone in every city needed to be converted to faith and enrolled in continuing, active discipleship (apprenticeship). They would then be baptized and seek membership in Christ’s visible body on earth (what we know as the church).
3. Paul’s approach to urban missions was centered on families and their social/relational networks.
§ Oikos: Is in a range of Greek words based on the idea of home or household. It is used to refer to the houses people live in and the homes that churches met in, as well as the fact that believers all belong to the household of God. But the usage goes beyond a house with a white-picket fence or the nuclear family. At times, a person’s oikos is the fundamental natural unit of society: one’s family, friends, neighbors, and associates.
§ In more urban and suburban societies, people do not build their social lives around family but instead around homogeneous interests. Is this true for us in Denver?
§ Who are in each of our oikos? List them out!

-What can Pauline mission strategy teach us about evangelism through extended families and households? In other words, what kind of effects did this strategy produce?
§ The Gospel spread and the church expanded through the conversion of individuals and their ‘households’ (oikos); e.g. Cornelius and his household (Acts 10); the jailer at Philippi (Acts 16:31-33); a woman at Philippi (Acts 16:15); Jason and his household in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9); Crispus and his household in Corinth (Acts 18:8); through the household of Titus (Acts 18:7); other households where Paul spread the Gospel and made converts/disciples (1 Cor. 1:15-16; Col. 4:15; Philemon 2).
§ The fact that entire oikos or households were converted changed entire cultures
§ Common cultural barriers were struck at the communion table, where master and slave, women and men, Jew and Gentile sat together around a common table and celebrated the same salvation.
§ These were covenant communities, committed to God and each other (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19)

-IMPORTANT IDEA: The holistic approach to missions and evangelism taken in this book neither restricts the definition of sin and evil to individual conduct nor limits urban ministry to personal and family matters. The societal dimensions of what needs to be done in the city are readily acknowledged, as is the importance of ministries for community development and the promotion of social justice. But at the same time the holistic perspective on urban mission recognizes that nothing is more crucial for social change in the city than the conversion of persons, families, and groups to evangelical Christianity.

-Thus far, according to the Bible, the pattern for ‘church planting’ was: 1) to go to and remain in urban areas, 2) share the Gospel message, 3) provide urban dwellers the opportunity to follow and serve Jesus in obedience (repent, believe, & be baptized), 4) to share the same Gospel message and provide the same opportunity for discipleship to their oikos or households, and 5) to gather these new disciples to form a community of faith, or church. (Disciple-making first, church comes second)

-Individual conversion=Conversion of their family & social networks=Transformation of cultural practices & customs=Renewal of city!

-Theologian Lesslie Newbigin rightly says, “The Church is sent into the world to continue to that which He came to do, in the power of the same Spirit, reconciling people to God” (John 20:19-23).
-Adolf Harnack, a German church historian stated, “We cannot hesitate to believe that the great mission of Christianity was in reality accomplished by means of informal missionaries.”


BRYAN’S QUESTIONS AND REFLECTIONS
1. Do you think that Paul’s urban mission strategy is still relevant for cities today?
§ If so, how can we implement it for the expansion of Denver Mosaic Church?
§ If not, what needs to be adapted or changed for today’s culture?
2. Who are each of our households/oikos? What are some ways that we can intentionally expose them or introduce them to the Gospel?
3. What does it look like to become a disciple? In other words, what are their basic behaviors, attitudes, activities, relationships, use of time, energy, and money?
4. How can we (Denver Mosaic Church) develop disciples? What is an intentional process to move a lost person to becoming an apprentice/disciple for Jesus?