Let Us Rise Up and Build

Where in Scripture do we see evidence that the body of Christ really can be effective in holistic ministry in the city? To answer this question, we must first ask: “What are the marks of truly effective urban ministry?” Are the systems of a city being confronted and offered real potential for change? Are the poor and exploited of the city provided the vehicles by which they can bring about change in their situation? Are the middle class and the powerful given opportunity to join in common cause with the poor to confront the systems of the city and seek their transformation? Is there a spiritual transformation that is going on in that city, or are the changes only social? Are both the lives of that city’s poor and of its powerful being changed by God? Therefore we must ask ourselves: “In Scripture, is there any example of an urban ministry which exhibits these four marks of truly effective ministry? There are examples in Scripture of many ministries that significantly address their cities, but one example of a city ministry stands head and shoulders above all others.