Incarnating the Gospel in the City
Yesterday I once again had the opportunity to talk to Campus Crusade Staff folks about the importance of doing ministry in Miami. I gave them three reasons. The same reasons that led my wife and I to land in this great city a little over 2 years ago.
1. Theological Reason – Cities have a special place in God’s heart. The history of the Bible starts with God creating a beautiful world and asking Adam and Eve to populate it. Moreover, God gives them instructions to use of technologies so that a God-honoring civilization would come into fruition. From the Genesis narrative we see that Adam failed therefore, God the Father sends God the Son to pick things up where Adam left off. Jesus is successful in his mission and the Bible ends with exactly what God intended since the beginning — a God-honoring city. For this reason, the concentration of the apostolic work in the New Testament is done in cities and for cities. The simple reason is that if cities are changed, whole regions will be changed. Miami is a world class city therefore, an important place to be.
2. Missiological Reason – “Miami is a church grave yard” was what a local pastor said to me during my first days in the city (I guess he wanted to encourage me… don’t know). You know what? He’s right. When I moved to Miami (just two years ago) the city was known as the second most unchurched city in the country. Apparently (from what I hear) it has recently become number 1. 40 years ago the city lost its spiritual north (or should I say east) as Latinos moved in in droves and the Anglo filled churches failed not contextualize the gospel to the changing culture. If fact, many Anglos took the opportunity to move out in disgust of the new enviroment. The result is what we see. The catholic archdiocese alone closed 10 churches last year. The properties are now up for sale. Our presbytery has closed more churches in the last ten years than it has planted new churches and I assume it hasn’t been much different with the other denominations. Miami is a virgin mission field much like Europe or even the Amazon. I live in a true post-christian city that is in desperate need of many new Gospel DNA churches and para-churches.
3. Practical Reason - Miami in my opinion is the most influential city in Latin-America as well as the future of the U.S. Last year The Census Bureau released a survey indicating that by the year 2050 the Anglo population will no longer be a majority group. In the same research we learn that the Latino population is the fastest growing ethnic trend in America which means that what you see now here in Miami you will begin to see across the country in other large urban concentrations. Miami is over 70% Latino and probably the only city where the movers and shakers (politicians, entrepreneurs, artists) are of Latin descent. In most the country Latins are mostly blue collar folks but, that won’t remain as it is for long.
I know of leaders that warned the church 3 to 4 decades ago of this present scenario. The church did not listen so… this is where we are found. I believe we have a great opportunity in our hands to impact a whole region as well as the future of America with the Gospel. If we let go maybe, we will see what we now see in Europe.
I was good for me to share with them because it reminds me of the reasons God brought me here.
Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 3:08 PM in Culture, Pastor Felipe.
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We are so thankful to be part of this great city and our church! Thank you for leading us Felipe!
These are the reasons we are committed and honored to be here.
Why ‘Recife Antigo’. I’ll write.