Restoring The Soul of the City

Many people think that if you help someone get a new haircut, a new wardrobe and/or a new job you’ll transform a person. But those barely scratch the surface of what is really going on deep in a person’s soul; hurt, loneliness, pain, anxiety, and confusion. Yet to be able to love and care for your friends who are hurting we must listen, spend time and learn all that is going on deep in their lives.
When I was in Mexico struggling to communicate with an interpreter I realized that just as God has created a person with a soul, He has created cities with souls. I believe that the millions who live in our cities are shaped by the “soul” of the city: the cultural and ethnic heritage, the industry and commerce, the history, the art and education, the spiritual life, and the social life of the city. The soul of the city also bears the hurts, the crimes, the loneliness and anxiety. In order to see a city-wide supernatural, spiritual and physical transformation we must take seriously "restoring the soul" of our city. A recent UN report states, “In 2008, the world reaches an invisible but momentous milestone: For the first time in history, more than half its human population, 3.3 billion people, will be living in urban areas.” We’re doing our best to learn, listen and observe the soul of a city. Our dream is to bring together the whole church to share the whole Gospel to the whole city. We believe this city transformation will take humble and collaborative partnerships with civic, social, business, cultural and religious leaders. We’re trusting God that in the next 12 years our ministry will instigate movements of city transformation in 20 cities around the world so that more people will experience the love of God.

Prayer One Denver

Monday Morning at 7:30 I gathered with 15 church and ministry leaders to connect and to take a helicopter ride over Denver Metro. Over the last two years a business man who loves to fly and his pastor have ministered to others by flying them over the city to gain a new perspective on the city and of God’s heart for the city. This ministry is known as “Prayer One.” For 25 minutes we flew 500 feet over Denver. As we flew we prayed and ask God to use us to transform the city. I was struck by how small Denver looked and was reminded that ministry is not about us; it is about God. He has always cared for cities and most importantly He cares for the people who live there. Pray with us that God will connect us to the right leaders, partnerships, ideas and plans that will leverage our efforts.