Great Insight
I am always looking to find others who have been down the road a little further than I have… especially when it comes to serving our NW community and the city at Buffalo at large.
I was perusing through some blogs and tweets and came across a great CCDA participant down in New Orleans called Desire Street Ministries. They have been serving the Upper Ninth Ward for many years and was hit really hard when Katrina moved through. On their website they had a few tips that they had gathered for fellow sojourners…
Things To Remember In Urban Ministry
1. Don’t just give money to anyone who asks. Your gift could make matters
worse. Learn how to be a good steward of your gifts to the poor.
2. Handouts can hurt. Work to empower people and respect the God-given
dignity of each person.
3. You have as much to learn as you have to give.
4. Remember God is at work, and has invited us to join Him. He’s the main
character in the story.
5. We are all sinful, and there is only one Savior.
6. God uses foolish things so don’t think that your education or privilege will
result in success. God will use the broken people and circumstances of the
inner-city to teach you the sweet truth of his word and his ways.
7. There are a lot of highs and lows, peaks and valleys, so pray that God
would give humility and grace.
8. Don’t recreate the wheel. There are many saints who have trod the path
of urban ministry for decades. Be teachable and learn from them.
9. Be aware that dancing, good food, and laughing will be involved.
10. God cares for the poor and commands that we should also.
11. Remember that the inner city is in the condition it is today because of sin,
both from within and outside the community.
12. Racism is still very much alive in our country and hinders the Gospel from
going forward.
13. Your preaching of the Gospel must be both in word and deed.
14. Your work should be relationally driven and your relationships marked by
mutual indebtedness.
15. Recognize that there are way more gifted people in an impoverished
community than you think. Work to identify and engage them.
16. In your attempts to change the community, one of the most important
things to do is raise up godly indigenous leaders to lead the
transformation movement.
17. In urban ministry, there will be tough times and glorious times that God
designed to be shared. It’s not wise to do it alone.
18. It may take generations to see major changes so be committed and pray
for patience and long-suffering.
