Urban Impact
Subtitle: changing the world through effective urban ministry
Publisher: Wipf & Stock
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Eugene, OR
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 192
ISBN-13: 9781608996582
Description: Half of the population of the world lives in cities of one million or more. If we don't reach and disciple from these masses, our future missionary and pastoral force will be diminished. The book Urban Impact is a trumpet call to muster our forces but also deals with the philosophy and practical principles that make any ministry in the city successful. Brandishing a practical writing style coupled with real life experiences, John Thompson helps the reader understand the problems, burdens, joys, and powerful impact cities have on the rest of society. Helping the city pastor or missionary develop an effective ministry, Thompson elaborates on seven critical principles necessary for an effective urban ministry. Following this discussion the book turns to two of the leading challenges of great cities. The first being how to reach the disenfranchised -- those from minority groups, people who have substance abuse problems, and the homeless, to name but a few. The second challenge deals with one of the greatest foundational problems in our cities and in all of society: the plight of the Absent Father. Other chapters address urban discipleship as the most effective approach to promote life transformation, planting churches in the difficult urban environment, and a topic rarely discussed in urban books, raising a family in the city. - Publisher.
Table of contents: title: Mother of all challenges: Constant change, enormous needs, but-for-God impossible difficulties; title: A place of unparalleled potential: A Biblical prescription for worldwide impact; title: Principles of urban ministry, part 1: Interpersonal guidelines that insure success; title: Principles of urban ministry, part 2: Guidelines that insure credibility; title: Calibrating our compass: The great omission of the Great Commission; title: Turn the world upside down: Great impact multiplied; title: Reaching the disenfranchised, part 1: Helping people deal with racial discrimination, low self-esteem, and depression; title: Reaching the disenfranchised , part 2: Helping people deal with addictive behavior, poverty, and homelessness; title: The absent father: The greatest problem in our society; title: Living in the city: Achieving unbounded success in a degraded environment; title: Planting an urban church, part 1: God's institutional design for reaching beyond; title: Planting an urban church, part 2: Hitting the road running; title: Appendix: Test yourself: The burnout checklist