Reaching the Urban Harvest
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Year of Prayer for Cities

Reaching the Urban Harvest

Today, half of the world's population is urbanized. In the United States, nearly 80 percent of our population resides in the large urban centers of our nation, a number increasing every day.

A recent article in Foreign Policy Journal states, "The 21st century will not be dominated by America or China, Brazil or India, but by the city ... cities rather than [nation] states are becoming the islands of governance on which the future world order will be built."

Listen to these facts:

  • 100 cities in the world account for 30 percent of the world economy. These cities are the engines driving globalization;
  • These same 100 cities account for all of the world's technological, medical and business innovation, along with being with world's centers of finance and trade;
  • New York City's economy alone is larger than the combined economies of 46 African nations;
  • The greatest growth of cities is taking place in areas that are not dominated by Christianity: Within the next 15 years, China will have 15 super cities - called "megalopolis" - with an average population of 25 million; Europe will have none.
Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk, authors of Operation World, state the following: "In the midst of affluence many cities have a rotten core. Unemployment, poverty, drug abuse, crime and despair are widespread. Most Christians and churches have migrated to the more comfortable suburbs, leaving areas with little Christian presence. In many cases, inner cities have become the home of immigrant ethnic minorities who need to be reached with the love of Christ." After noting other challenges for urban evangelization, the authors conclude that a combination of effective methods and a concerted effort by the body of Christ "could decisively change the spiritual climate of a city."

Success

We have seen the spiritual climate change in the South Bronx!

We have been based in the South Bronx for more than sixteen years. This is the poorest community per capita in the US, with over 50% of households having an annual income of $11,400 or less. 25 percent of expectant mothers are HIV Positive. More than three out of four students drop out of high school. It is the highest ranking community in the nation for poverty and single-parented homes.

When we arrived in this community in 1992, we saw that people were in desperate need for methods of empowerment that would restore dignity, self-worth, and independence, methods that would increase the individual's capacity to pursue his/her destiny and live a productive life in the context of faith. We did not seek to employ short-term methods that would place a "band-aid" on persistent problems, but to engage in long-term solutions one person and one family at a time.

God has brought powerful change. Playgrounds, streets corners and parks formerly controlled by drug dealers have been returned to the people. Drug dealers once controlling the streets are working jobs, raising their children, and learning to be responsible fathers. Housing conditions have improved. Employment has increased. More than 95% of the students involved in programs at The Harvest Center have graduated high school on time and proceeded to college. This is a major accomplishment in a community where more than 85% of students drop out of high school.

A new sense of hope has come to this community, and it has come because God has raised up people from this community in Christ-centered faith. Now they not only walk in freedom, peace and joy on the road to their destinies, but they are leading efforts to bring change in this community. They are now a significant part of the hope for the future. They are now a part of real change. They are living with dignity and integrity, equipped as godly leaders effecting change in their own community.

Through the empowerment of leaders, the implementation of strategic methods of outreach, the networking of churches and businesses in the suburbs and inner city, and the equipping of people for effective, relevant, life changing action among the urban poor, real change can come.

Hear Dr. Grassano share about pastoring our community here.

Hear Dr. Grassano share about breaking up fallow ground here.