I'm taking a break from sermon writing today to reflect on the challenges facing urban churches in mainline denominations like the RCA. I have a friend who is the pastor of a church in downtown Newark. They are doing amazing ministry among the people of Newark. People are being fed, clothed, and discipled. People are growing deeper in love with Jesus. This is great news! The problem is a lack of resources, particularly financial resources. The people being reached by the church are unable to contribute financially to the ministry of the church, and as a result, the ministry in that community is in danger of being discontinued.
One of the exciting things about ministry in an urban context is that you get to see lives changed, sometimes in dramatic fashion. People whose lives have been ravaged by poverty, disease, crime, and addiction come to find the strength to carry on through the gospel. But stories like this are in danger of being limited because it takes funding to do ministry. In better economic times, churches like the ones in Newark could rely on sister churches in more affluent areas for support. But as expenses increase and giving decreases, these churches are unable to pledge the support they once did.
The urban church that is serious about outreach to its immediate neighbors needs help. They are trusting that God will provide. Who will God use?
In times like these, help should probably come from churches that are heavily endowed. There are too many churches with millions of dollars in the bank and five people in the pews. To be honest, there are churches that haven't touched the principal of their investments for many years because their people continue to be good stewards. What are we waiting for? What are we worried about? Perhaps now is the time to loosen the death grip on our money, for the sake of the city, the place that reminds us of the gospel mandate to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and free the prisoner?
