Foundations for Christian Mission, Mentor's Guide, MG04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

cannot build in their current site. They have a number of ministries in the community which target the neediest members of it; the church has been there for decades, and is now in the midst of genuine renewal. With their pastor becoming more and more a city- and nationwide person of influence, the leaders are convinced that by moving and building, they could greatly increase their ministry opportunities and impact on the city. Others, who see the church as the salt and light of their current impoverished urban neighborhood, struggle with the idea of the church leaving a place where it is greatly needed to go to a community which is affluent and “safe.” If you were called to advise the pastor and leaders on their upcoming decision, what principles and perspectives would you give them about the direction you think they ought to take? A conflict has arisen in an urban church that recently initiated a series of evangelistic outreaches in an extremely poor and isolated part of an inner city in a major Midwestern city. Motivated by a deep passion to go to places where other churches and ministries were unwilling or afraid to go, the pastor trained and commissioned an outreach team to go into the apartment complexes with the Gospel. The receptivity of many of the apartment’s residents was amazing, including even managers of the building, which allowed the team access to certain unused apartments. With a fair amount of interest and participation, it was not long before the team had started its own Bible study, and saw fruit—some of the families and individuals in attendance came to Christ. During one of the studies one evening, an invited guest and resident of the apartment shared her feelings about the outreach team and the church who sent them. “I don’t know you people, and honestly you seem to be okay. But, I don’t understand how you can say God sent you in here to share the Good News ‘bout Jesus, but nothing has changed in the neighborhood. The gangs are still crazy, ain’t no jobs anywhere, and most of us are struggling just to get by. How can God send you guys in here just to tell us about salvation without saving us from the neighborhood? I just don’t understand that. That kind of Good News ain’t encouraging—nothing’s changing around here!” How would you answer this dear sister’s analysis and doubts? That Kind of Good News Ain’t Encouraging– Nothing’s Changing around Here!

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