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Welcome to the Mission City podcast. Mission City is a podcast that explores the role of global cities in missions. We will be sitting down with a diverse group of people to discuss their work in the urban context, so that we can be equipped to better engage our cities.
Mission City podcast
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Mexico City, the Urban Unfathomable

Mexico City has been dubbed the urban unfathomable. Rick serves with the International Mission Board as the city team leader for Mexico City. In this role, his challenge is to have a broad understanding of the spiritual and physical needs of the city, and work with churches, agencies, and believers from around the world to respond to those needs. A major part of this task is to create and implement strategies, as well as helping others do the same. In this episode, Rick Martinez is focused on serving in this urban unfathomable.

Credits

This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

The University and the City

Cities and universities have long been points of convergence for people with diverse backgrounds. Urban universities are, in some ways, a glimpse of our urban future; to impact these spaces with churches is to impact the cities, which is to impact the world. Our guest on this episode is doing just that.

Credits

This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

Episode 13 – Simplifying the Complex: Comprehensive City Strategy

How do we think about engaging a city in a comprehensive manner? Cities, by definition, are complex human settlements. Jacob Boss shares ways to embrace the complexities of a city without getting bogged down by the complexity.

Credits

This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

Episode 12 – Know Your City through Research

In order to love your city well you must know your city well. How does an urban pastor or ministry leader learn more about the city to which he or she is called? Minh Ha offers tools and practical tips in researching cities.

Credits

This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

Episode 11 – Smart Cities

What is a smart city? EJ Smith is a Smart City Engineer based in South Eastern United States but works with organizations throughout the United States as well as South East Asia. He was raised in a rural environment where he came to appreciate simplicity and ingenuity but became fascinated with what a well-planned city can provide to its residents.

Credits

This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

Episode 10 – Shepherding in Global Cities

Dr. Matthew Watson is the pastor of teaching and outreach at Christ City Church in Washingon D.C. Listen in as he share his experience shepherding a mobile congregation in a global city. Matthew has worn a varety of ministry hats that has had him serving in Fresno, CA; Memphis, TN; Jos, Nigeria.

Credits

This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

Episode 9 – Responses Among the Urban Poor

A conversation with Dr. Ash Barker who has been serving in underserved urban neighborhoods for nearly three decades. He is co-CEO of Seedbeds, an organization committed to developing leaders in Birmingham, England.

Time stamps

  • 2:00 – Tell me a little about yourself
  • 6:15 – Can you tell us a little about “Urban Neighbors of Hope”
  • 9:20 – Why is the “common rhythm” you spoke of important?
  • 13:49 – Can you tell us a little about Newbigin House?
  • 22:00 – Can you talk through the realities of living in slums?
  • 31:00 – What type of monetary investment is necessary?
  • 36:08 – Can you talk about the issues of mental health challenges?
  • 38:20 – What can the church do in response to the vulnerable?
  • 40:57 – Tell us about your writing and books.
  • 42:50 – Other resources

    • Links

  • Seedbeds
  • Make Poverty Personal
  • Slum Life Rising

    • Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 8 – Starting Churches in the San Francisco Bay Area

    When Dr. Linda Bergquist came to faith as a young adult, she naturally began planting churches. She has been doing so ever since and has been mobilizing and mentoring church planters in San Francisco. Dr. Bergquist combines her years of experience and sharp, insightful thinking for the sake of the kingdom.

    Time stamps

  • 1:30 – Tell us about yourself
  • 4:20 – Tell us about the city where you live
  • 5:50 – How do people relate to their city?
  • 9:35 – What are some commonalities that you see planting in urban contexts?
  • 13:48 – Can you describe the challenges of planting in a post-Christian city?
  • 19:00 – Urban church models
  • 23:00 – Books related to church models
  • 24:00 – What have you learned about culture and church planting?
  • 27:50 – What advice would you give to people just getting started in church planting?
  • 30:00 – What are some resources that you would recommend?

    • Links

    Guest Bio

    Linda has been involved in church planting for 38 years, 36 of which have been in urban areas. She is currently a church planting catalyst for the North American Mission Board and has served as an adjunct professor in several seminaries. She co-authored the following books:

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 7 – In the Slums of Kibera

    It is estimated that Kibera has a population ranging from five-hundred thousand to two million people. Travel with us as we go into the heart of one of the world’s largest slums to talk with church planters and local pastors about the challenges they face ministering among the urban poor.

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 6 – Diaspora Peoples in a Global City

    In many cities, the church is engaging a portion of the population while neglecting smaller population segments. Brad shares from his work with the many different ethnic enclaves of New York City.

    Time stamps

  • 2:00 – Tell us a little about yourself
  • 3:12 – Can you tell us how you came to faith and about your family?
  • 4:35 – How did you go from small town SC to a city like New York?
  • 6:34 – Take us to Queens, what is the NY you experience?
  • 8:03 – Why such diversity in Queens?
  • 9:44 – What you so focused on those resistant to the gospel?
  • 13:40 – Why is diaspora mission important for the church to think about?
  • 16:42 – Why have you chosen this specific strategy?
  • 21:45 – How do you go about reaching people from different backgrounds?
  • 26:45 – So what is your goal in New York?
  • 28:50 – How do you see people divide themselves?
  • 30:43 – How do you identify gaps in cities?
  • 32:00 – How have you started using social media?
  • 34:45 – What’s been the most unexpected way you’ve seen God work?
  • 38:16 – Can you describe what church planting has looked like during COVID?
  • 40:07 – What are the biggest challenges you face?
  • 42:30 – What is Global Gates up to around the world?
  • 43:49 – What would you want to highlight to those in cities around the world?
  • 45:00 – Recommended resources

    • Links

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 5 – Engaging North African Cities

    God is at work in cities that are traditionally seen as resistent to Christianity. Eddie Pate, Professor of Evangelism at Gateway Seminary and Pastor of FBC Barstow, shares his experiences in a couple of major cities in North Africa.

    Time stamps

  • 1:50 – Eddie’s Bio & background
  • 6:00 – How and when did cities come on your radar as significant for Christian ministry?
  • 9:35 – Describe Khartoum
  • 14:05 – How do you approach/engage cities of this size?
  • 23:50 – How did you see the challenge of people groups play out in cities?
  • 27:50 – What does church planting look like in cities that are primarily non-Christian?
  • 30:23 – How do you get churches started in cities like this?
  • 34:30 – With exponential growth, how do you address leadership capacity?
  • 36:28 – What are a couple of lessons you wish you knew?
  • 38:00 – Future plans?

    • Links

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 4 – A Watershed Moment

    A watershed moment in human history is the migration of populations to global cities. John Brady has served as the VP of Global Engagement with the International Mission Board and has observed many shifts in missions history. Listen in as he discusses the impact of cities in the missions landscape.

    Time stamps

  • 1:37 – What are some trends you see happening?
  • 4:10 – What kind fo impact does that have for us as we think about engaging the world with the gospel?
  • 7:00 – How do people relate in cities?
  • 7:50 – What are some of the potential strategic advantages that cities bring?
  • 15:00 – Where in the Bible do we see cities as a paradigm?
  • 20:35 – How can the urban/rural tension work?
  • 28:51 – What are some gaps that you see of things that we need to be doing?

    • Links

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 3 – Movement at the Margins

    A movement of new churches in the Greater Los Angeles area have begun in an unlikely way. Kirk Overstreet tells the story of ex-convicts, addicts, and homeless being redeemed and transformed by Jesus, beginning a movement of new churches.

    Time stamps

  • 1:13 – Can you tell us a little of your story?
  • 2:01 – How did you meet Jesus?
  • 3:16 – Describe the LA area
  • 6:22 – Where’s a place in LA that you love to go?
  • 6:56 – Thoughts on church planting and Set Free churches
  • 15:13 – Set Free Church ministries
  • 19:49 – Set Free Church locations
  • 20:18 – International location description
  • 21:35 – Set Free Church values
  • 24:53 – What are some of the most difficult aspects of the work?
  • 28:07 – What advice do you have for people working in cities?
  • 31:32 – What a few other church planting tips for those in cities?
  • 34:53 – Any resource recommendations?
  • 35:41 – Where we find more info

    • Links

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 2 – Informal Settlements and Church Planting

    Research suggests 1 out of 7 people in the world lives in an urban informal settlement (slum). Dr. Viv Grigg has been a pioneer in church planting in informal settlements through his own ministry experience and in mentoring many others to do the same.

    Time stamps

  • 1:30 – Tell us a little about yourself
  • 4:48 – Can you describe the process of going to live in the slums?
  • 6:50 – What did you find the most challenging moving to a slum?
  • 12:30 – A story of being confronted with violence
  • 13:48 – The development of your organization
  • 21:40 – Community dynamics in slums
  • 23:13 – Church polity issues and three models of church in slums
  • 26:56 – What have you been involved in recently?
  • 30:41 – Urban poverty and how the church can step in
  • 32:22 – What’s need to address systemic poverty and injustice?
  • 35:47 – What are some resources you would recommend

    • Links

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.

    Episode 1 – City Spotlight: Johannesburg

    Johannesburg is a leading city in Africa, the continent with the highest rate of urbanization in the world. Kurt Holiday shares from his 20 years in the city seeking to love the people of the city and serve the needs of the church there.

    Time stamps

  • 1:22 Kurt’s Story
  • 2:06 Tell us a little about Joburg
  • 4:43 Joburg’s influence
  • 9:50 What changes have you seen in Joburg?
  • 10:35 What is the spiritual climate of the city?
  • 12:20 How are you working to make a difference in your city?
  • 20:45 What have been some key challenges in your work?
  • 26:18 How do you minister to a closed-after-dark city?
  • 27:45 How have you seen God work unexpectedly?
  • 29:53 What lessons have you learned over the past two decades?
  • 32:22 What have you learned from experience, not in books?
  • 35:11 How is relationship essential to ministry in the city?
  • 40:25 What has sustained you over 20 years in Joburg?

    • Links

    Credits

    This episode was hosted by Michael Crane and produced by Radius Global Cities Network and Scott Slucher.
    The Mission City Podcast is a production of Radius Global Cities Network.
    Radius Global Cities Network

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