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The first and most obvious step for dealing with the problem of our cities is to get Christians to stay in or move back to them...Not every Christian needs to live in our cities, but far more should live in them than do now. They should live in them as their mission field of choice...Many thousands should move there.

Sadly, in places where evangelicals have in some measure developed a concern for the cities they have tended only to import programs from the suburbs, staffing them with people who do not live in the city or understand city problems. And when the job is done...these admittedly well-meaning people escape back to the suburbs where they suppose themselves to be safe and where life is comfortable.

While I can see the truth in this statement, I think it is still perpetuating the same kinds of problems with emphasis. I have lived in a very exclusive suburban neighborhood--the best street in the best neighborhood in town--and my neighbors needed Christ. In some wealthy suburban neighborhoods life only appears to be safe and comfortable. Bored and lonely teens with lots of time and money and little adult supervision can make for a very dangerous neighborhood. Beautifully appointed homes and lawns can hide many kinds of pain and family suffering.

Right now I live in a neighborhood that is just three blocks from downtown. I find it much easier to meet and greet and engage my neighbors because they are out and about. It may be easier here to engage people in conversation and to bring up the gospel, but guess what. . .my neighbors still need Christ.

Maybe my thoughts on this have been colored by the fact that we have moved quite a bit because of my husband's job, but I have come to believe that each Christian has a realm of influence--and we are called to be salt and light right where we are. Every geographical area has it's inherent challenges. But the biggest challenge is the same--getting out there and being faithful. There is never a wrong place to be Christ's ambassador and wherever we are we are called to be faithful.

Now, I may be getting the influence of the individual and the church confused in my mind. I am willing to be corrected and I am sure that there are things I haven't considered. This is a broad subject. But it seems to me that if individual Christians would just be faithful to share the gospel to those around them that would be a step in the right direction.

Trust the past to God's mercy, the present to God's love and the future to God's providence." - St. Augustine
Hiraeth