Engaging Urban Affinities - Part 1

How do we practically engage affinity groups? Is there a reliable approach to engaging our cities with the Kingdom of God that is relational, natural and led by the Father rather than formulas or rules?

Engaging Urban Mission - Part 6

Discovery is more than DBS. When we use the word "discovery" many people immediately think of the Discovery Bible Study (DBS) tool developed by David Watson. Millions of people have found DBS profoundly helpful in listening to God, walking in a relationship with Him, and helping others do the same.

Practical Urban Mission - Part 5

In this post we will look at two contrasting approaches to evangelism and discipleship. One is common. The other is less common but better suited to the complexity of urban mission.

How do you lead in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) environment like a city? It is not easy to lead in complex urban environments. Bottom-up leadership is a solution that multiplies our impact.

Practical Urban Mission - Part 4

This is our third post digging into the second essential element - discerning how God is already working so we can respond in prayer and action. The key to discernment is to be curious and attentive as we go about our daily lives. Today we will look at the Conversation Grid, a tool that helps us listen to people and what God might be stirring in them.

Cities are complex. There is so much need. So many opportunities and possibilities. You know God is calling you to engage in the urban harvest. You know the task is too big to accomplish by yourself. You know you need a team, but where do you start?

Practical Urban Mission - Part 3

Today, we continue to look at the second essential element - discerning how God is already working so we can respond in prayer and action. Practising curiosity and attentiveness can help us “listen” to God. The People Map is a visual tool that helps us listen.

Practical Urban Mission - Part 2

Today, we’ll look at a second essential element - 15 questions to help us practically “listen” and discern how God is already working so we can respond in prayer and action.

I have had a number of cross-cultural assignments in over the last 25 years. The "what" was clear. Less clear was the "how". Each urban context is different. There are no guaranteed formulae to success. However, we are seeing patterns across different cities.

Practical Urban Mission - Part 1

God is at work, people are dissatisfied with the brokenness they see and experience, but the vast majority of residents in our cities are not responding to Jesus' Good News. There is a disconnect here. How can we, as urban harvest workers, be more effective at connecting the dots?

Overcoming Challenges in Evangelism - Part 2 of 2

Evangelism is often framed as if God gave us the Great Commission from a distance and sent us off to make it happen on our own. But IS God actually distant and uninvolved apart from giving us the command?

Overcoming Challenges in Evangelism - Part 1 of 2

Recently I wrote about some common challenges faced by both Christians and un-churched people relating to evangelism. My personal wrestle with these challenges & Scripture led to two powerful paradigm shifts that resolved the tension and opened up exciting new possibilities. Today we look at the first of these Scripturally-based paradigm shifts.