Would you like to know a secret? Ministry in the suburbs is dangerous, sometimes worse than the urban context. The people in the suburbs are often better at hiding and concealing their sin.
Yet, every time I mention to someone where our Church meets, I often hear the same thing… “That’s not a good part of town.”
Every time I tell someone where I would like to move our family, I am told.
“That’s a dangerous part of town. Don’t move there”
I heard it today. I heard it last week and I’ve heard it repeated often. However, if the Christians decide to stay out of certain rough areas, they will only get worse. Have we not received so great a salvation to compel us to bring the light of Christ to the dark places? Gang-bangers, prostitutes and dealers all start out as children and these neighborhoods are flush with children bearing malleable minds in need of positive affirmation, encouragement and someone to look up to.
Luke 14:13: But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind...
Christians should not think an area is too dangerous to enter, but instead the neighborhood is too dangerous not to enter! These communities need Jesus and if we do not enter in, who will?
About two weeks into our stay in San Diego, two team members had their bikes stolen. It hurts and they may not be able to buy new ones, but each time a window is broken or a bike is stolen we are reminded why we are there. Jesus is the answer and we come holding Him up as the only hope for our communities.
-Dale
PS.
Today was a special day as we celebrated in worship as City Life Church, San Diego for the first time. Twenty-two of us gathered, prayed, worshipped and heard from God’s word. It was beautiful.