Ripe for Harvest

224 • R IPE FOR H ARVEST

Introduction: The amazing combat resource, the walkie-talkie! • For relaying tactical information • For adaptability and portability • For getting or transmitting the latest battlefield intel • For alerting authorities of your position, of the enemy’s

maneuvers, or to get needed reinforcements • For calling down strikes on enemy positions

Urban ministry is spiritual warfare. As an agent of Christ, you have been born into the middle of the “mother of all battles.”

You must learn to use spiritual weapons in this spiritual battle. Fleshly weapons will simply not do!

The Dramatic Increase Expansion of Mega-cities and Urban Agglomerations

• In 1700, less than 2% of world lived in urban areas • Beijing, London – sole million resident cities • By 1900, 9% urban, London was the world’s only “super-city”; by 1950, 27% lived in cities • In 2007, more than 50% urban, hundreds of cities now with million or more • By 2025, over 60% of the estimated 8.3 billion people will live in urban areas! • According to the World Heritage Center, by 2020, the population of Asia will be around 2.5 billion, having doubled in 25 years! • By then, more than half of the urban areas will be in Asia, those areas alone containing over one-third of the world’s population. ~ Glen Smith. “The Challenges of Urban Mission.” Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, Sept. 2006. http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles.php/480/09-2006?pg=all .

Matt. 9.37-38 – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Context Values/Vision

Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter