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Thrive
An Urban Plan
by Brian Seim, Champion for Urban Centers
10 December 2008

According to UN statistics, "In 1999, 47 percent of the world’s population lived in urban places." By 2030, the UN projects that proportion will reach 60 percent, totalling 4.9 billion people. … 95 percent of this massive urban growth will occur in less developed countries.

These daunting numbers place a great challenge before us. How do we do urban discipleship? As I’ve travelled to 47 cities in 20 countries and on five continents in the last 18 months, I’ve come to believe that the answer comes down to two components: formative people and comprehensive initiatives.

Formative People—City Networker

I recommend that each key city where we minister have a networker/researcher who serves Christian leaders in that city. This must be a person who has Jesus’ love for the city, humility, “stick-to-it-iveness,” spiritual sensitivity, and the skills of reflection and implementation.

The primary ministry of the City Networker would be to develop unity among church leaders across the city, to listen for change, and to help missionaries understand the social, political, and spiritual tensions that affect their work. This formative person will help develop networks of Christian leaders who will then implement strategic plans. The City Networker has a key role in the continuous involvement in the application of the strategic plan to reach the city.

Comprehensive Initiatives—Strategic Plans

For each city where we serve, we must develop an inter-related ministry strategy built on the major realities of urban life. We cannot do this on our own. Partnership with others is essential!

What type of ministry activities might be strategic for your country? Here are some ideas:

  • Disciple university students to be a presence for Christ in their upcoming profession and lives. Help them make a covenant with God not to abuse or misuse their position to achieve wealth or power, but to seek to bless others through the godly exercise of their profession in the city.

  • Intentionally rub shoulders with local political leaders and provide them with non-political, biblical, and wise council. You could even intentionally recruit short-term senior civil servant retirees who will commit to actively mentor political leaders in your sphere of influence.

  • Here’s a big one: make a movement toward influencing those who can improve the education system in your country. Wouldn’t it be great to see a whole new generation of teachers who move away from rote memory toward interaction and understanding? Here are some ideas of achievable “faith impact” initiatives: a) equip key Christian educators with the skills to teach inductive pedagogy; b) address the areas of education with the potential for spiritual transformation; and c) pair short-term teachers from other countries to local teachers for mentoring.

  • Church leaders (not just SIM-related churches): encourage them to write, teach, and mobilize. Encourage them to preach for transformation—enabling their congregations to embrace biblical answers to urban problems; to gather for peer-group learning; to acknowledge effective urban ministry initiatives; and to facilitate reflection on urban issues including traditionalism, value of youth and women, and tribalism.

  • Develop church ministries that disciple with a “win-build-send” component, emphasising outreach to neighbours.

  • Poverty: choose two sectors of poverty that can be changed effectively. Build up churches in their ability to mount strategies to make these changes. Disciple individual Christians in the emotional capacity and skills to welcome and embrace these long-term challenges.

Ministry in the city is a true challenge, which demands a creative, strategic, and holistic approach. I pray that SIM will have a great and lasting spiritual legacy in the global cities.

Comment on this post: Email brian.seim@sim.org
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