People have asked me over the years: What is urban ministry? After discussing it with a few ministers, we came up with this:
• Urban Churches have a higher turnover
• Church finances are unpredictable
• More congregants depend on the Church to break their isolation
• There is a greater cultural mix
• There is much social trauma
• There is a greater requirement for a radical gospel
• More people turn to the Church for help
• There is more chaos in Sunday services
• Small groups use the Church premises more than homes
• There are many hindrances to visitation
• Rich and poor exist in close proximity
• The poor are often aggressive
• One deals more often with malicious people
• Young adults only pass through
• The youth are difficult to handle
• Losses and damage are commonplace, and
• Church planting is more precarious
OBSERVATION: This is not intended to be negative. Some of my happiest ministry, and some of my most useful, has been urban.
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