The power of the gospel can turn the hopeless into a force for urban renewal

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, looked upon the urban poor of England in 1865 and saw a mission field as important as any in the world. Young women falling into prostitution, workers robbed of their wages, fathers addicted to alcohol, children and elderly dying from malnutrition and lack of access to healthcare; all with no prospect for a better life.

Booth sought to rescue the people who were the most desperate and neglected. He lived among them. He wept for them. He prayed for them. He formed an army of Christians determined to fight for the establishment of the gospel by every method love could devise.

Three principles would lead to life change: reconciliation with God, Christ-like living and service to others.

Booth recruited his army from among the folks that he was serving. He relied on the power of the gospel to transform the hopeless into urban missionaries. Even when he had rich benefactors, Booth still expected the poor to contribute their mites. He did not want to deprive them of the privilege of participating in God's work. 

Opposition came from all quarters. Neither the established church nor the “enlightened” skeptics shared his belief that Jesus' love could save the worst of humanity. When Booth's Salvation Army proved to be successful they attacked him personally, questioning his motives but, even. the Paris atheist paper, The Voltaire, praised the results while still rejecting the faith.

While the plight of the urban poor does not seem as desperate in America as it once was, there are still women forced into prostitution, hungry children and elderly, addiction and crime. The gospel is still the answer.

When we meet the physical needs of people to reach their hearts for Christ; when we help the ones who become Christ-followers to develop God-honoring habits; when we give them opportunities to serve others in need; then we can truly begin to transform the lives of the poor around us.

Focusing on Urban Ministry

I’m changing the emphasis of my blog to focus on what has been at the heart of my ministry over the years. I came to faith in Christ in an inner-city church on the edge of the Overtown neighborhood in Miami. It was a church in a transitioning community whose membership was dwindling.

The church was not going to make it on its own so the members partnered with others to expand its ministry. A Haitian mission was started, summer groups led VBS, and a weekday ESL program was led by members of a more affluent church. The church experienced revival. The VBS led to a children’s Sunday school, the church became a first pastorate for ministry students and, in time, the Haitian mission became strong and took over the building.

The call of the city was strong. While serving a rural church for a few years, I would return with mission teams in the summer to help in the renewal process of my home church in Miami.

Then I went to New Orleans for seminary and planted two churches in the inner city. I was energized by my colleagues who worked in so many different aspects of the complex urban ministry milieu. I also met Ray Bakke, who opened my eyes to the importance of reaching the cities first. My church, just outside the French Quarter, became a learning lab for my fellow seminary students and I to practice what we learned in the classroom.

Upon graduation I did a tour as a Navy chaplain but the city never left my blood. I settled in the Chicago area for 17 years where I planted two churches and helped sponsor others of many different styles and language groups.

I now find myself in San Antonio, enjoying a new city and the challenge of helping a 100 year old church catch a second wind and reach out to this community and people that Jesus loves so much.