From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
ABC/USA SETS WORLDWIDE URBAN FOCUS
From
RICH_SCHRAMM.parti@ecunet.org (RICH SCHRAMM)
Date
18 Feb 2000 05:47:51
To: wfn-editors@wfn.org
AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE
Office of Communication
American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director
E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org
ABC/USA SETS WORLDWIDE URBAN FOCUS
Calling on the expertise of urban ministry
practitioners from around the world, American Baptist
International Ministries hosted a one-day Urban Consultation
last month as an initial step in envisioning its strategies
for ministry in some of the world's largest cities.
The consultation grew out of International Ministries'
new Go Global strategic plan, which outlines goals and
strategies for international mission during the next decade.
The strategic plan lists urban mission among its six
priorities, acknowledging that "God is calling IM to
complement its historic strength in rural and tribal work
with an increased commitment to seek the shalom of the great
cities in our world."
International Ministries Executive Director John
Sundquist convened the meeting, noting, "God will ultimately
transform today's cities according to the model of the
coming City of God in Revelation 21:2." Twenty-two
participants-from urban centers in Brazil, Mexico, Dominican
Republic, Hong Kong, Thailand, Eastern Europe, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo and the U.S. and Puerto
Rico identified several shared values and goals. Among
them:
Scripture provides a clear mandate for engaging in
mission with an urban focus.
IM must seek to create a dynamic network that will
consist of overseas partners, local churches, other mission
organizations and missionaries.
Any new efforts in urban mission should begin with
an assessment of where and how the Spirit is already at work
in the city to avoid duplication of efforts.
Go Global suggests that local churches need to be
both local and global.
IM seeks to connect local churches to urban mission
opportunities overseas, to provide help and resources for
doing mission and to partner with churches to minister with
migrant peoples at their doorsteps.
IM needs to be sensitized to urban realities
existing in the world today which will influence the
allocation of its budget as well as missionary
recruitment/training.
Though there are similarities in urban settings
around the world there cannot be one model of urban
ministry; each region must be free to develop its own.
Next steps will include: searching for a staff person
to serve as IM's team leader for Urban Ministries; inviting
persons from local churches who have "gone global" to
participate in the 2001 World Mission Conference; and
developing case studies of urban churches around the world
that have transformed their communities.
2/17/00
WFN217A
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