Urban Ministry
The term "urban ministries" is very broad, because most of us live in the city. A quick search for "urban ministry" at google.com turned up more than 279,000 sites.
There are urban ministries that focus on the homeless, others that speak to the hip-hop generation, and seminary courses on the theology of the city. Then there are ministries whose heart is for intercultural ministry and racial reconciliation. The links on this page will focus primarily on these.
Emmanual Gospel Center publishes an excellent Urban Ministry Resource Guide. EMC is an urban ministry based in Boston that provides resources to nurture urban churches and urban ministries and to encourage ministry in urban and ethnic
communities.
More than 300 churches and agencies are members of the Christian Community Development Association, which offers training and publications on reconciliation and urban ministry.
CCDA also holds a large annual convention. Everyone interested in urban ministry will benefit from reading CCDA's Principles of Christian Community Development.
Urban OnRamp is a CCDA member which maintains a multidimensional web site with articles which deal with real-life issues like dealing with youth gangs as well as a directory of organizations which minister in the inner-city.
The Urban Ministry Institute trains leaders for the urban church, especially among the poor, in order to advance the Kingdom of God.
The Council of Leadership Foundations is "an
interactive body of city and regional leadership foundations whose
shared mission is to be a catalyst and equipper for united Christian
leadership and resources in urban America that is redemptive, creative,
collaborative and generous to the poor." The CLF was formed in 1994 by the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, and has grown to include organizations in over 30 of the largest cities in America.
Transforming the City is an online book developed by participants in a workshop organized by International Urban Associates (IUA). IUA brought together twenty-five urban ministry experts for a week of brainstorming and asked them two questions:
- "What does it take to be effective in urban ministry?"
- "How do we communicate what we know about urban ministry?"
The group came up with interactive methods to express their findings, using storytelling and art, and wrote chapters on diversity, relationships and conflict resolution, all in an urban ministry context.
Youth Specialities produces books, curricula, periodicals, and training events to equip adults who minister to teenagers.
The Reconciliation Network, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, works cross-culturally to mobilize the Body of Christ, especially the African American church, for ministry.
Their site includes information and links on urban ministry.
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Recommended Reading
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Theirs Is the Kingdom:
Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America
by Robert D. Lupton
Harper SanFrancisco, 1989
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Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development
by John M. Perkins
Baker Book House, 1993
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Discovering Your City: Bringing Light to the Task of Community Transformation
by Bob Waymire, Carl Townsend
LIGHT International, 2000 |
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A Heart for the City : Effective Ministries to the Urban Community
by John Fuder (Editor)
Moody Press, 2000
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Restoring At-Risk Communities : Doing It Together and Doing It Right
by John Perkins
Baker Book House, 1996
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| No cover photo available |
Journey to the Center of the City : Making a Difference in an Urban Neighborhood
by Randy White
Intervarsity Press, 1997
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City Reaching: On The Road To Community Transformation
by Jack Dennison
William Carey Library Pub, 1999
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Urban Ministry : The Kingdom, the City, & the People of God
by Harvie M. Conn and Manuel Ortiz
Intervarsity Press, 2001 |
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Commitment to Conquer : Redeeming Your City by Strategic Intercession
by Bob Beckett
Fleming H Revell Co, 1997
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Cities : Missions' New Frontier
by Roger S. Greenway
Timothy M. Monsma
Baker Book House, 2000 |
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Urban Disciples : A Beginner's Guide to Serving God in the City
by Jenell Williams Paris
Judson Press, 2000 |
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A Theology As Big As the City
by Ray Bakke
Intervarsity Press, 1997 |
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Signs of Hope in the City : Ministries of Community Renewal
by Robert D. Carle (Editor)
Louis A. Decaro (Editor)
Judson Press, 1999 |
| No cover photo available |
The Urban Christian : Effective Ministry in Today's Urban World
by Ray Bakke
Intervarsity Press, 1987
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