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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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!