S2E7: The Challenges of City Ministry

Neil Powell, director for The London Project, shares the story of a work he was part of in Birmingham, and the origins and impact of the city-wide network there. He shares his vision for a similar movement in the great city of London. 

Stephan Pues, Kelly Seely, and Jason Lim, collaborators at the Center for Church Planting in Frankfurt, Germany, tell how they started working together for gospel renewal in Frankfurt and offer a helpful tool for assessing the level of partnership in your city.

City to City New York trainers Robert Elkin and Kristian Hernandez talk about the unique challenges of urban ministry and rethinking ministry metrics in post-pandemic New York City.  

Nilza Oyola, Executive Director of City to City Miami, describes how she helps Hispanic pastors root their ministry concretely in their local context through the community-based model of church planting and connect to a broader spiritual context by exposing them to the theological resources of Hispanic practitioners and thought leaders.

Robert Guerrero, church planting catalyst for City to City North America and the Caribbean, discusses how centering the margins in church planting could reshape our imaginations for what successful city ministry looks like.

Bishop Raymond Rivera explains his framework of “captivity theology” and the models of ministry in the city that become possible when we recognize we all minister in the context of captivity.

Tim Keller discusses “City Theology,” summarizing the Bible’s teaching about cities. Andrew Katay, from Sydney, Australia, explains the missiological value of recognizing that cities are made up of smaller cultural and geographical units, each with their own unique spiritual and practical needs.

Tim Keller discusses “City Theory” by summarizing several secular theories about what cities are and how they change. He draws some conclusions for ministry. Novelist and nonfiction writer Thomas Dyja suggests a city theory by telling the story of New York City, and offers insights into the role each of us plays in changing our city for the better. 

Tim Keller articulates City to City’s “city vision” by explaining why we must reach cities, how we should go about it, and why we are confident it can be done. Caroline Millar and Girma Bishaw discuss the mission and vision of The London Project and their work to catalyze Christian collaboration across the city. 

In the final episode, Tim Keller shares the important role of grace in today's Christian witness, encouragement about the hope our mission carries, and a brief personal update on the gospel's role in his life.