Trinity Baptist Church Online

Mobilizing the Suburban Church Toward Urban Mission

For years we have bemoaned the declining morality and spirituality of our nation and the increasing secularization of government, our schools, and our national psyche. Yet for too long, the Anglo-American church has ignored the historical axiom: “As the cities go, so goes the nation.” Our nation suffers because of our biased beliefs and prejudice toward the cities. 

Decades ago, instead of moving our churches to the suburbs, we should have seen the wisdom of the early church, who targeted the city. Now, coming full circle, churches are being called to partner with urban mission. It seems God wants to help us take the log out of our of our own eye and to help our people examine the sins that come from affluence and our emphasis on self-fulfillment. He wants the suburban church to see its values under the light of His truth. He will use the city to show that the heart of the American church belongs much more to our culture than to Him. 

After much study and prayerful reflection, I have observed five lessons the suburban pastor must teach his church if they are to see the cities as God sees them...