Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality

by Harvie M. Conn

Publisher:

Baker

, 1997

Overview

Establishing vital churches in metropolitan areas represents a formidable challenge, and church planters need the wise counsel of experienced practitioners to guide them through the process. Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality provides such sage advice.

Harvie M. Conn pulls together selected articles from the quarterly journal Urban Mission that treat various aspects of planting and growing churches in the city. Contributors include urban specialists such as Ray Bakke, Craig Ellison, Viv Grigg, Robert Linthicum, and Ralph Neighbor Jr. This multiperspective approach results in a book brimming with insights and strategies for students, urban ministers, church planters, and missionaries.

The work is divided into four parts that trace the challenging but rewarding process of church planting in the city from initial stages to establishment--from dream to reality. Part 1 explores the use of research. In part 2 Bakke, Ellison, and Neighbor describe how to develop a strategy for urban ministry. Part 3 looks at the role of targeting in church planting, while part 4 contains seven models of success. Each part includes a substantive introduction by the editor and a list of resources for further study.

According to Conn these chapters reflect a growing global dedication . . . to the advancement of Christ's church and kingdom in cities throughout the world. The book motivates readers to expect great things from God for the city and attempt great things for God in the city.

Key Features

• Circles around the issue of church growth and planting
• Takes up themes that are becoming more familiar to the world church, such as networking, unreached peoples, strategic research, and ministry to the urban poor
• Traces de journey of church planting in the city

Contents

Research: Searching for the Right Questions

• Introduction to Part 1 - Harvie M. Conn
• Learning from Urban Church Research - C. Kirk Hadaway
• Using Research Strategically in Urban Ministry - James R. Engel
• Caleb Project Research Expeditions - John Holzmann

Strategy Planning: Searching for the Right Answers

• Introduction to Part 2 - Harvie M. Conn
• The Challenge of World Evangelization to Mission Strategy - Ray Bakke
• Addressing Felt Needs of Urban Dwellers - Craig W. Ellison
• How to Create an Urban Strategy - Ralph N. Neighbour Jr.

Targeting: Linking Church to Urban Community

• Introduction to Part 3 - Harvie M. Conn
• From Homogeneity to Congruence: A Church-Community Model - David Britt
• Sorry! The Frontier Moved - Viv Grigg
• Networking: Hope for the Church in the City - Robert C. Linthicum
• Rural Roots and Urban Evangelism - Rebecca Long

Samples: Linking Strategy to Model

• Introduction to Part 4 - Harvie M. Conn
• Church Planting Strategies for World-Class Cities - James E. Westgate
• Megachurches for Christian Minorities: Hope of Bangkok - Kriengsak Chareonwongsak
• Reproducing House Churches: An Autobiographical Pilgrimage - Dick Scoggins
• His Word to His World: First Baptist Church, Flushing, New York - William Travis
• . Between Resurrection and Reconciliation: The Story of New Song Community Church - Mark R. Gornik
• Harambee Christian Family Center - Benjamin P. Pierce
• Encounter with God: The Guayaquil Model - Fred Smith

Product Details

• Title: Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality
• Author: Harvie M. Conn
• Publisher: Baker
• Print Publication Date: 1997
• Logos Release Date: 2012
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• ISBNs: 9781441205988, 1441205985
• Resource ID: LLS:9781441205988
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-12-15T23:34:48Z

About Harvie M. Conn

Harvie M. Conn was emeritus professor of missions at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before his death in 1999. He served as a missionary in Korea for twelve years and joined the faculty of Westminster in 1972. Conn was for ten years editor of Urban Mission. He also wrote Evangelism: Doing Justice and Preaching Grace and Eternal Word and Changing Worlds.