ROC Conference
Rev. B. Keith Haney, Mission Facilitator
Background

 Serve for 15 years in
Urban ministry.
 Detroit, MI
 St. Louis, MO
 Milwaukee, WI
 Now currently working
with several urban
centers in Il. Chicago,
Rockford, Aurora
Cities as the Center of
Power

 Spiritual
 Political
 Economical
 Cultural
Leadership with a Vision for a City

Nevertheless I must go on my way today and
tomorrow and the day following; for it cannot be
that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and
stoning those who are sent to you! How often
would I gather your children together as a hen
gathers her brood under her wings, and you would
not! (Luke 13:33-34)(NIV)
God’s Heart for the City

 4 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to
all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from
Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in
them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take
wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for
your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that
they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and
do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city
where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the
LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your
welfare. (ESV) Jeremiah 29
Church in the city

The primary focus of these churches is
what is happening inside the building.
These churches are geographically in
the city but are not engaged with the
people and the culture of the city.
Excerpts from the Book, “For the City”Darrin Patrick and Matt Chandler
Church against the city

Churches in this category adopt a
defensive posture toward the city.
Believers in these churches often
align themselves squarely against
the culture and proclaim that they
are taking a stand for Christ.
Church against the city

Politics?
Bad.
Arts?
Bad.
Media?
Bad.
Church?
Good.
But a church against the city settles, even
prefers, an “Us vs. Them” mentality.
Church OF the city

These churches wholeheartedly
embrace the culture of the city, so much
so that they lose the flavor in their salt
and the brightness of their light by
abandoning the call to be in the world
without being of the world.
Church OF the city

They bend so far to the culture that
they lose their distinctive Christian
identity-they lose their ability to speak
truth effectively.
Amos 5:26-27

25 “Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings
during the forty years in the wilderness, O house
of Israel? 26 You shall take up Sikkuth your king,
and Kiyyun your star-god—your images that you
made for yourselves, 27 and I will send you into
exile beyond Damascus,” says the Lord, whose
name is the God of hosts. (ESV)
Church for the city

We need churches that are a model
of engagement where the church
speaks the truth of the gospel and
is not afraid to uphold a biblical
worldview and moral standard.
Church for the city

• This church is seeking the shalom,
flourishing of the city.
• This means seeking the peace and
prosperity of the people with whom we
live in community with, living sacrificially
and using their gifts, time, and money to
seek the peace and prosperity of their
neighbors.
Matthew 5 people

14 “You are the light of the world. A city
set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do
people light a lamp and put it under a
basket, but on a stand, and it gives light
to all in the house. 16 In the same way,
let your light shine before others, so
that they may see your good works and
give glory to your Father who is in
heaven. (ESV)
The New Strategy

 Missionary strategy with a focus on partnership
for the purpose of:
 Leadership development (People who invest their
lives in the people of the city. They live eat and
breathe among the people.)
 Church Planting and/or Missional Communities
 Relational Evangelism
Why me?

 Romans 10:14-17
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And
how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to
them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As
it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring
good news!“
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says,
"Lord, who has believed our message?“ Consequently, faith
comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word of Christ.
Three Critical Factors in Urban
Mission

 The role of the pastor
 The role of the laity
 The attitude of the congregation towards the
community
Pauline Definition of the Role of the
Pastor

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to
prepare God’s people for works of service, so that
the body of Christ may built up until we all reach unity in
the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and
become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the
fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:11-13
Lay Engagement for a Mission
Movement

 Thomas Going says, “Engaging baptized
members in ministry is absolutely
necessary. I realize this as a pastor,
because I cannot do pastoral ministry by
myself. When I try to provide pastoral care
by myself it does not get done as God
intends it to. The traditional role of the
clergy and members is the clergy doing the
pastoring and the members receiving it. It is
a very inadequate way to care for people in
our churches today.”
Mission Attitude

Transformational Churches are Aware of their
community:
75% - Believe our church exists for the sake of
those in our local community.
71% -Believe our leadership senses a call to our
local city or community and not just our church
64% Believe the activities of our church are
designed to relate to the type of people in our
community or city.
Mission Attitude

 “Growth for the church and growth of the individual
believer occur when we move ”out” by participating
in God’s mission.”
 “If we are truly interested in being a
Transformational Church, then our efforts should
reflect God’s mission.” Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer,
Transformational Church
Mission Attitude

81% of the churches believe that God had
strategically placed them in the cultural
context to serve those around them.
71% of the churches believes that as the
cultural context around them changes new
opportunities to engage people outside their
walls must be considered.
Transformational Loop
Missionary Mentality

Discern
Engage
Worship
Community
Mission
Embrace
• Vibrant
Leadership
• Relational
• Intentionality
• Prayerful
• Dependence
What Next?

 The mandate is clear,
 The promise is true,
 The urgency is real,
 The time is now,
 To be in MISSION in our increasingly
growing and diverse cities!
Questions and
Discussion