"Lets Blitz 'Em"

I just had a conversation with a full-time Christian leader (parachurch) who has a heart to reach the inner city. He has had some experience with urban youth and describes himself as a visionary. We have had an ongoing discussion about what parachurch ministries, like mine can do in the inner city. He has done some good things bring suburban and inner city pastors together. Our dialogue has been meaningful and he has some good ideas.

But one thing really bothers me.

He (and many, many other Christian leaders of the same generation and ethnicity) have the same impression... that we can just bombard the inner city with the Gospel and everything will work out. They think that they can just rush in, establish their agenda and be successful. He even used the war analogy. "We're battling the enemy", he ranted.

I tried to tactfully and respectfully explain how his dominant cultural background influences his perspective and how that perspective translates to the people of the inner city. If we're at war who is the enemy? Why is it that we always have to conquer something? What are we actually trying to conquer? To plant the flag of white republican values in the lost, liberal deserts of urban despair?

Is it so hard to see how inner city residents view that?

I think people think this is the easiest way to save the inner city. We don't have to relate, seek to understand, just get them to act like me and everything will be fine.

Often, I see and hear the frustration and anger of good intentioned ministries blowing in and blowing out of the inner city. They got their good story, newsletters, TV spots, etc. But then these urban communities are left with blown expectations and frustration that no one recognizes and helps with their own visions. The visions that are rooted in lifetimes of living in and understanding the culture.

There are some well known ministries here in LA now that other ministries don't really like. They don't really talk about it much, but you can tell.

My belief and the value of our ministry is to relocate into the city, learn, seek out relationships, love, be humble ask a lot of questions. We then look for the Christians that are standing in the gap, making a difference with little or nothing. Those are the heroes we can come behind and support, encourage and resource. We show God's love by feeding, educating, clothing, training, mentoring, and loving. This is where the example of true biblical unity will shine throughout the neighborhoods. This is how entire neighborhoods will change.

Let's bring the peace and hope of Jesus into the neighborhoods, not fire Gospel tract buckshot as we run through the city and then back to our safe enclaves.