In Search of Kingdom Living

I recently finished Street Signs – A New Direction in Urban Ministry by Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe. Ever since reading A Theology as Big as the City (an absolutely wonderful book about urban ministry by Bakke) for my Urban Min class with Rick Tobias, I started to ministry-crush on the guy. I totally resonate with what he’s doing and am praying whether I should walk a similar path of urban min.

This new book was an interesting compilation of two very different sections: first, Ray and Jon share their personal journeys of how they walked the road less travelled through urban min. I appreciate their candor about their lives and found myself living alongside their story (I’m increasingly an advocate for a narrative theology so I found their stories filled with the gospel message).

The second part offered some very practical nuts and bolts strategies about how to do a city consultation. I found this section a bit overwhelming since I can’t even open a lot of dialogue about urban issues in my own urban church. I can always dream that one day, such consultations may be possible.

Although there was PLENTY of advice re: urban issues, I personally found a little section about pastoring to be most helpful in my journey. Here’s a brief look:

Most of the students with me during my college days, both at Moody and then at Seattle Pacific, already had some idea of what a pastor looked like. They knew what would be expected of them as they entered church ministry after graduation and they understood the boundaries within those churches. I watched students leave school and go to pastor churches as hired hands to run the programs of the church efficiently. They were church-program focused. They may from time to time have ventured out to do some comunity events or ministry, but not often enough and not as a lifestyle. One might say that this form of pastoring was not proactive outside the local body of members. They typically did not get involved in anything global, in local social concerns, or in ongoing academics. (p. 57)

I contrast this typical portrayal of the pastoring seminary graduate with the following:

The vision of a city pastor who was academic during the week, took care of the poor, worked in evangelism and justice, and even changed systemic evil in a govermental system was an enthralling possibility. This was gold! If that is what pastors do, then I wanted to be on. (p. 55)

Many people have been asking me what I want to do when I’m finished seminary next year. I’ve laughed at the idea of pastoring and consistently/intentionally ran away from that option. BUT, again I feel I have to eat my own words. IF I could live out the vision of a city pastor (or something equivalent), I think I may be living out a life of purpose.

Ok, I have a pseudo-vision. I definitely need to commit to prayer/discernment. Please pray for me as well.