Faith FEED Jan 2015

The Urbanization of Ministry

F@ith F

D

There is a cultural shift about to take place

Secrets of a Modern Pastor

8 Lacrae at Send Conference

34

28 Skyscraper Church

What do modernized pastors do so different from the rest of us?

8

F@ i th FE D

E

Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson

Contributors Production

Jason Hunt Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

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FaithFEEDMag@gmail.com 804-833-7628

34

Lacrae discusses how the gospel will penetrate urban culture.

Editors

Feed

God wants to take the urban culture for Himself

I

m excited about the New

Year. But most of all, I’m excited about where the Faith FEED family is going! I’m excited about where God is taking us. Most other Christian magazines are about the “now”. Think about it.

Christianity TODAY, RELEVANT, and on and on.

From the outset, Faith FEED has differentiated itself by being forward thinking and oriented.

Faith FEED, feeds Gods word to the world via innovation, creativity and design, or, the highlighting of that within our magazine.

Others are about information or application but we’re about innovation!

In this edition, we’re looking at the urbanization of church, and how county church dynamics are taking a metropolitan turn for the better, how we can be a part of that, and what that means for the future of ministry.

Are you excited too? You should be! Where Gods taking us is so much bigger and more interesting than where we’ve been already!

-Linda

Secrets of a Modern Pastor

Y

ouve met him before. He’s

urban, he’s young and he tends to be in on the trends of Christianity. He’s, the modern pastor! And we’ve sat down with a few of them to get just what they do, to stay passionate, innovative and most importantly in the loop on what Gods doing for His people.

This is what we gathered.

S

Have a 1,000 year vision top preparing for where

you are, and start preparing for

Stop preparing for where you are, and start preparing for where God wants to take you!

where God wants to take you!

God wants every ministry to take His way of doing things to the world, in every generation and every environment. That means adapting our methods

Knowing how to lead others.

Knowing how to manage technology. Knowledge, as the prophet Amos said, will keep us from being destroyed.

to reach them where they are in that day and time.

In the future that looks

Out with events, in with adventures

like connectivity. It means utilizing the people, places and

Interactivity, not preaching

things available to change the

modernizes a pastor.� One

world.

thing Mark Driscoll did that I admired was allowing members to text in questions during a Q&A.� says former Mars Hill

Stop preaching. Start Church member, John Wilkins.

communicating

Adventures mean actual trips, where, we do things, not just sit and talk. A congregation may be too big for this, but small groups aren’t. And hey, there are times when the whole congregation should march, visit and actually do things that grow the members, not just talk.

It’s not talking that’s it anymore. It’s communicating.

Communicating is done first through action, second through pictures and last through words. Jesus didn’t preach a lot. He led. He took his disciples on adventures. The end of which, inserted a spiritual lesson. However, most pastors aren’t as modern as historical Jesus. They delegate

Jesus took his

the adventure part of the

followers on

lesson to us at home. They

adventures! He didn’t just preach to them!

adopt the easy talk part at church.

“I began by making the

just greeting one another. In

service more interactive” says

either case, I’m in the loop! It’s

Donald Wheinstein of New

not just me talking and them

Deliverance Church in

listening. I get to literally see

Richmond, VA. “Now we see

what they’re thinking at the

more young people show”.

dispensing of the message”

Wheinstein allows members to chat in an online forum while he teaches, enabling him to direct the message towards their conversations.

That’s not to say he doesn’t get any questions. “Yes I get questions but that’s not what I’m looking for. I’m really looking for engagement. I want

“Sometimes I catch them

to know what they’re thinking

saying things about the

and what they need.”

sermon, at other times, they’re

Are you an out of date leader?

What are you doing to modernize your approach in advancing Gods kingdom?

Wheinstein reports a time when someone was suicidal and anonymously text into the forum. “The message was about Health and Wellness. But I quickly stopped what I was doing to pray.� Now he has a forum moderator that deals with such things, while he simply monitors the whole.

You can do it. You can modernize your approach to better serve those God has called you to lead. Pastor or not, we all should be reaching people in the modern context.

That Little Ol Wooden Church

A

hhhh. The sweet country

breeze! You’ve just spotted three deer by a bush at the forest edge. Into the driveway the marquee reads, ‘Machaon County Church’ with a batch of flowers beautifully surrounding it. A few members scatter the uncemented parking lot, its none others than, a country church. An artifact we’re learning is beginning to become more urban.

Traditional county churches can become modernized without losing the traditional values.

Things like changed design aesthetic and creative ministry approaches will help.

Traditional County Church Tend to have a more home like design aesthetic which may not be inviting to younger people.

Tends to equate “old” with “good” in their ministry approach when this isn’t always the case.

Modernized County Church Tends to keep the old that works while also adding in new approaches that will enhance operations.

Design Aesthetic

If that little ol wooden church is to go from traditional

Modern churches have a different design aesthetic

county to modernized, the design aesthetic must change.

Creative Outreach

Traditional church design looked a bit like a house,

Outreach in the traditional

because the understanding

church must change if it’s to be

was that church was Gods

modernized. What does that

house. However, this has

look like? One thing traditional

changed. Modernized church

churches have that modern

recognizes that God lives

ones tend to lose is the

within his people and the

warmth. “When we go into a

building is but where they

home to pray, we typically wear

gather. So the design bends in

our outreach t shirts” says

that favor with a structure that’s

Margeret Faye of Rockville

more conducive to learning,

Church in Tennessee.

putting the message at the

Good branding, different

center of the design, not glass

giveaways and different invites

art, candles and religious

must mark a traditional church

earmarks.

that wants to be different.

There was a point and time Events Events have to take a

when all hip hop music came from New York or L.A. Just like the time when most Rock and

change as well. In this regard,

Pop music came from the

all that’s needed is for

South. Now of course, the

traditional churches to take into

trend has changed and music

account the nearby cities

artists don’t have a “home” per

where many of their members

se, due to the internet and

dwell. Too often, we find county

technology.

based churches forgetting their urban attenders who want data and opportunities more akin to the life they must live as city dwellers.

“Yes, I want relationship

Ministries, churches and groups that can’t adapt will die.

If a men’s group doesn’t know how to work with men, while still focusing on the men, it will fail. If a church can’t work with

help” says one man, but I also

blacks as well as they work

need opportunities to connect

with whites, they will become

with other Christian couples

obsolete.

instead of going to the club.

Traditional churches don’t provide that.

Urban

Christian

How do we deal with the urbanization of faith?

U

pon Americas founding,

being a Christian meant being a white man who owned a farm

white males or filled with suit

that would be passed down to

wearing patrons. There’s no

your kids. It meant living in a

longer Jew nor Greek, male nor

small town with other,

female, at least compared to

predominantly white men,

how it was.

women and kids who all pretty

So the question comes

much behaved within the

up, how do we minister? Better

tenets of Christendom. They

yet, what issues will the more

read the bible. They went to

urbanized Christian encounter

church. They had children

regularly?

within marriage and were God fearing citizens.

But todays a new day!

The nuclear family [man,

Gay Families One group urbanized

woman and child] is all but

ministries are seeing more and

extinct. Church doesn’t look the

more of are gay couples. Whether

same anymore and who are we

or not they approve of or perform

kidding, the people don’t either.

gay weddings, this group is new

No longer is it dominated by

to today’s congregations.

white males or filled with suit wearing patrons. There’s no

There are a number of differences we must address as Christianity becomes more urbanized.

10 years ago, nobody much

like they belong to God and,

was asking pastors, “Can gays

like everyone else, are dealing

marry?� now, it’s a normal

with an issue. Secondly,

question. Ministers must have

Christians must confess that it

a response that is bible

is a sin. The bible forbids

consistent in two ways. One, it

homosexuality in both the old

must show love to gays.

and New Testament [Lev

Churches must make them feel

18:22; Rom 1:27]. Christians

like their outside or evil, quit the

who deny that will lose respect

and New Testament [Lev

mistakes their parents did, and

18:22; Rom 1:27]. Christians

select spouses that will commit

who deny that will lose respect

to them over a lifetime and

from gays in the long run.

have children within that

Nobody wants to befriend

framework. Furthermore,

someone who doesn’t stand by

pastors need to make broken

their own convictions.

families an open topic and

Broken Families

employ those with strong family dynamics to assist with the work.

The ancient church dealt with widows, women who were once married, but their husband is either dead or gone. The modern church’s dilemma is different entirely.

Our situation is single mothers, who were never married. And this is most true amongst black and other minority congregations. Churches must be prepared to train young men and women to not make the mistakes their parents did, and select spouses that will commit

Finance Generations x and y are more lulled by the idea of entrepreneurship and have very spotted employment. They don’t work for one employer for as long. Are congregations ready to deal with that? Are we ready to provide them with employment or better yet, map out a career plan that isn’t so spotty?

In the urban context we’re going to encounter these people and issues more and more. The big question is are we ready?

There are a number of differences we must address as Christianity becomes more urbanized.

Urbanization Points Christianity is becoming an urbanized faith that needs modern application

The word “Christian� is no longer a term for white males. We must learn to interact with diverse races, backgrounds and even religions before we can move forward.

S C

kyscraper hurches

Exploring a new design aesthetic for urban churches.

Why should

L

seculars own all of et’s think ahead. Far

the skyscrapers?

ahead. There are already churches in the urban downtown area. But why don’t any of them own the whole building? “We need a

skyscraper church model

sanctuary for the people” you

where floor 1 is for youth, floor

say. But why not divide them

2 for women, floor 3 for men

by interests? Like a fortune 500

and so forth? That way, you

company has executives on the

don’t have to hear the general

top floor, marketing on the

message each week, and

middle and mail at the bottom,

instead can get a more

shouldn’t we have a

targeted growth experience.

Pros A Targeted Experience Skyscraper Churches would be

In the Skyscraper Church husbands, singles and elders have their own sanctuary floors.

more segregated, but not!

Nobody stops you from going into the main sanctuary, only, you have alternatives.

Husbands can go get teaching that is specifically for them as husbands and women as wives on their respective floors.

We’re already doing it with youth church, but somehow we stopped there.

Moreover, today is a day where experiences are customized. You only get emails from magazines and websites you want to hear from, not them all. Likewise, the Skyscraper church model would be the exact same thing, only, in person. You only deal with the message parts that are relevant to you.

Networking You get to be around people of

Cons Separation

like interests in addition to like

Separation may or may not be

faith. Singles get to church with

a good thing. It all depends on

other people they know are

how it’s used. If it’s forced, that

single and potential spouses.

is to say, only one group is

“One problem I have meeting

allowed, then of course it’s bad.

women at church is not

However that’s not what we’re

knowing if she’s single or not”

doing. The Skyscraper church

says Jerry Smith, member of

simply focuses on a particular

Mount Oak Christian Center in

thing, and encourages a

New Jersey.

particular group. We’re not kicking anyone out who’s

Imagine going to church each week based on key interests. An entire floor for women’s ministry for instance.

outside of the circle.

face it, you don’t need a Listen, this thing isn’t about a

skyscraper to apply any of

skyscraper church at all. It’s

those concepts, but in the

just about innovating,

event that you’re in the urban

something the church,

downtown area trying to think

unfortunately, isn’t well known

big, without necessarily moving

for. We have to adapt to where

to the suburbs, now you have

people are going to be, and

an option. And in my opinion, a

that’s more connected, more

very good one!

informed and more sociable.

In the future, if we’re to reach the world and represent Christ’s name well, we’ll have to be on these forefronts. More targeted growth experiences, More interactive learning and more creative outreach to name a few.

In an on-stage interview with pastor D.A. Horton, Lecrae

H

said his work in hip-hop music is the result of his desire to translate the gospel into the ip-hop artist and activist

Lecrae urged Send North

language of the urban context.

Horton likened the

America Conference attendees

pervasiveness of hip-hop to the

to engage urban contexts with

widespread language of Koine

authentic compassion.

Greek that helped spread the

Jesus, he said, ate with sinners because He genuinely cared about making them

gospel through various cultures in the days of the early Church.

“We see this as the

friends and addressing them as

incarnational ministry of our

people in need of His love.

Savior so His gospel can be

“You see that in Jesus in

expressed in the known

Luke 15,” Lecrae said. “You

language around the world,”

don’t sit down and eat with

said Horton.

people you’re disgusted with.

You have to see people as individuals you love and care about.”

Lecrae emphasized the

We’ve said ‘I know the

growing spread of urban

safe place. The suburbs.’ But

culture into the suburbs and the

the hood is moving to the

importance of engaging that

suburbs. Urban culture is

culture and helping come

moving to the suburbs.

alongside indigenous members

Running away from it doesn’t

of the culture to build up as

help the case. We have to

leaders.

engage with culture.”

Lecrae also stressed how

“And it’s not just

critical it is to move out of our

proximity. It’s not just who lives

comforts into the safety of the

next to me but it’s the influence

gospel.

of all that surrounds me and if

“We feel a safety in the inner circle of Christendom, but what’s been proven over time

I’m not engaging that then it takes over and dominates.”

Monday night, Lecrae

is that Christendom has

joined hip-hop artists Tedashii

produced people who know

and Andy Mineo in a special

Christian culture but don’t have

performance for "Send

affections for Christ Himself,”

Conference Latenight" for

said Lecrae. “We don’t really

students, some who showed up

live in a Christian society.

two hours before the doors opened.

opened.

In a brief address after, Horton emphasized the importance of a biblically solid but culturally contextual gospel movement.

“There’s never been a movement in American history like we see tonight,” said

Yea, But What Does All of This Mean?

It means be ready! You

Horton. “This is just a snapshot

may not have a congregation to

of what God is doing in our

fellowship with that is mostly

generation. This is what the

anything [white, black, etc.].

gospel looks like in real life in

You’re going to see more

real time. It’s not about

diversity and thus will have to

concerts and iTunes charts. It’s

know how to respond. The

about Jesus Christ getting

urbanization of faith simply

representation in our

means that traditionalism is

generation.”

dead. There aren’t as many nuclear families anymore, there are primarily mixed ones.

There aren’t as many 30 year

A few takeaways are

jobs, there are spotted income opportunities here and there.

It’s the urban, mixed race, none traditional environment that we have to evangelize.

One, realize the social sphere has changed. The biggest trend we recognize is father absence. Today, 24,000,000 children are raised without fathers in the home according

children are raised without fathers in the home according to the National Coalition of Men. This means we must focus on the men, and keeping them as engaged Christian fathers and father type leaders in the home. That will be the first domino that knocks the remaining ones down.

Secondly, realize the setting has changed. No longer are your biggest churches concentrated in the deep county areas, its now either in the urban or suburban arena.

This means church as we know it, is closer to work, Starbucks and Macy’s.

and Macy’s. It means that unless church becomes relevant in the marketplace and city nobody is going to care anymore. Simply put, church is now competing with everything else for sale in the metropolis.

And you have to be a good sales rep in that regard.

Finally, realize the tools have changed. It’s not just for churches but church members to be on social media. The lost are looking to connect with people online who have real convictions and godly faith.

It’s not a bad thing that church has become urbanized. Not a bad thing at all. Simply because, the church is Jesus’ body and Jesus always went where the people were.

Once church folk get a hold of that concept we won’t be afraid of the changes we’re seeing on and offline regarding soul winning and the like. In fact, well anticipate them!

Think of it this way, were you to witness to someone who speaks Chinese, you wouldn’t tell them about Jesus in English. Likewise, we have to begin urbanizing our content for the new world. Lacrae was right, “We’re dealing with people who don’t have a church background to speak of.

So we have to hack their language and know their values in order to witness.”

Amen to that idea!