1. CITY PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE WELFARE
OF THE CITY

2. PURPOSE
To train and instill a philosophy that will seek to
promote community improvements by mobilizing
various groups to serve the city for the glory of
God.

3. CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
 A city can be defined as a geographical
location that possesses a people who create
a life that is organized around a
governance, creating a
culture, language, and customs that makes it
readily unique.
 Scripture refers to cities typically as
“mothers,” and her smaller communities or
towns as children. (Num 21:25; 32:42 and
Josh 15:45)

4. GOD’S CONCERN FOR THE CITY
• Jeremiah 29:7
•Seeking the welfare of the city
•Praying for the city
• Job 24:12
•The dying groans
•The wounded cries
• Jonah 4:11
•The people of the city
•The economy of the city
• Matthew 23:37-39
•The city’s greatest need

5. OBJECTIONS TO THE WELFARE OF THE CITY
 Moral Relativism
 Cynicism
 NIMBY
 Individualism
 Failure to understand the Gospel of Grace

6. THOUGHT TO CONSIDER
“You know the place where we placed at
It's like loves been erased they replaced that
There's no food in the crib where they plates at”
Trip Lee, Invade

7. WHY THE WELFARE OF CITIES AND
COMMUNITIES IS IMPORTANT
 Cities and communities are a reflection of the
hearts of the existing people
 Cities and communities are connected
culturally, economically and socially
 Cities and communities are to be reflections
of God’s righteousness
 Cities and communities will shine as the
Gospel changes hearts.

8. FIVE MAJOR ENTITIES OF THE CITY
The
Church
Private Non-
Citizens Profits
OUR
CITY
City Local
Government Business

9. WHO ARE THESE ENTITIES?

10. PRIVATE CITIZENS
 Individuals and families that make up the
above five entities.
 Spread across social and economic
boundaries
 Ethnicities
 Income
 Poverty
 Employment
 Education

11. PRIVATE CITIZENS
 Each citizen lives out his or her religion in the
city
 Proverbs4:23
 Matthew 12:34
 Emil Durkheim: Sacred and Secular
 Dualism
 Reductionism
 Every citizen brings to the table a set of
beliefs that impact the overall city

12. THOUGHT TO CONSIDER
„The lifestyle of the city is religion made
visible, faith reflected either toward God or
against him”
Harvie M. Conn

13. THE CHURCH
 is a united group of individuals under the
banner of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Their
purpose is to provide the spiritual wisdom
that governs individuals and families for all of
life.
 Denominations
 Leadership
 Niche

14. NON-PROFITS
 are incorporated entities that seek to address
a specific need that exist in a local, national
or global setting.
 Religious and Non-Religious
 Awareness
 Relief
 Development
 Foundations

15. LOCAL BUSINESSES
 Generate specific goods and services that
stimulate economic growth
 Provide employment to citizens
 Owned by citizens who reside in the city

16. CITY GOVERNMENT
 Consist of executive, legislative and judicial branches who have elected
officials charged with the infrastructure of a city.
 Executive: Mayor
 Legislative: City Council
 Judicial: District Judges
 Infrastructure
 Services: Police/Fire; Emergency, Schools, Transportation, Sewage
and Water
 Regulations: city taxes, annexations, zoning, public events
 Finances: Collect city taxes, distribute grants and funding to
programs and departments
 Collaboration: Work with other entities to better protect and provide
for the citizens of the city

17. HOW CAN THESE FIVE WORK TO SEEK
THE WELFARE OF THE CITY?

18. What can we
bring to the
table?
What can we
bring to the The
table? What can we
Church bring to the
table?
Private
Citizens Non-Profits
What
is the
What can we
need?
What can we
bring to the bring to the
table? table?
City Local
Government Business

19. INTENDED CONSEQUENCES
 Creates awareness
 Creates community
 Creates opportunity
 Stewardship of resources
 Stewardship of relationships

20. PARTNERSHIP MATRIX
INITIATIVE PURPOSE RESIDENT CHURCH NON- LOCAL CITY GOV
S PROFITS BUSINESS
3R’S Literacy Parents Oakwood ? ? School
Board
Sewage ? ? ? ? Conway Sanitation
Corp
Recreatio ? ? UW ? ?
n
 Connect a specific initiative to the appropriate entities
Always involve residents in community with each initiative
Resources include: finances, materials and labor

21. PRACTICAL EXERCISE
 A low income community has met with your
organization and has communicated that
they would like to have a playground for
children, adequate street lighting and begin
growing their own foods.
 Develop a plan to incorporate the five entities
of your city to address these needs by using
the partnership matrix.

22. REVIEW
 The improved welfare of a city is a theme in
Scripture
 Cities are interconnected
 Effective partnerships begin with
understanding your city
 Partnerships are vital to proper stewardship
 The local church can shape the religion of
the city and reflect a faith toward God

23. QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION*
 Who has God called us to serve?
 What are the five most pressing needs you see?
 What gifts do you currently possess that would
be beneficial?
 Where is God already working and how can you
join him?
 How does the gospel address the needs of the
group?
 If the group were to define “good news,” what
would the definition look like?
*These questions inspired from Darren Patrick and Matt Carter, For the
City, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010) , 115.

24. HELPFUL RESOURCES
Ray Bakke, A Theology as Big as the City, (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1997)
Matt Carter and Darren Patrick, For the City, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010)
Tim Keller, Generous Justice, (New York City: Dutton, 2010)
Harvie Conn and Manuel Ortiz, Urban Ministry, (Downers Grove:IVP, 2001)