Silos in the City

Dr. Joe Ferrini sharing at the Christian Business Men’s Connection office.

Last month I was privileged to sit around the table with a half dozen other Christian business leaders and listen to Dr. Joe Ferrini, Cleveland/NEO City Director for Campus Crusades. For about 20 minutes, Dr. Ferrini shared his heart and strategy for something he termed “City Reaching.” I’d like to share some of the inspiration I received from his presentation in hopes that you will be as encouraged and challenged as I was.

The emphasis of Dr. Ferrini’s discussion was on the importance of ‘movements’ and their inherent power to transform communities. It only takes a quick glance through American history to be reminded of what movements can achieve (American Revolution, Abolition Movement, Women’s Rights Movement, Civil Rights Movement, etc.). Among Church history, we can also see the powerful effects of movements – Charismatic Movement, Missionary Movement, and numerous revival movements – that have impacted both Protestant and Catholic denominations alike.

The late Chuck Colson affirmed this notion when he said, “History teaches us that Movements transform cultures. God has always done His powerful work through Movements.”

Jeremy Kiner

As Dr. Ferrini dialogued with our group through this thought, I was reminded of how critical it is today that the churches of the Parma area continue to strive to work together in unity. I realize, of course, that the idea of working in unity among various denominational groups can be a sticky issue for some pastors and churches, insomuch that there generally exists an underlying implication that fundamental theological areas must be compromised in order for ecumenical partnerships to occur. I certainly understand these concerns, and respect them – especially as they relate to preserving the integrity of the gospel, which should be uncompromising. Nevertheless, we must hearken to Paul’s admonishment to the Ephesians to “make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Eph. 4:3)

Dr. Ferrini pointed out that “the more that people network together and work together, in unity, the greater the impact that Movement will have for God’s glory.” He proceeded, “a common vision and a constant networking among people” is the cornerstone of every great movement.

Somewhere in all of this, I was reminded of Jesus’ prayer for all believers in John 17:21, “that all of them may be one… so that the whole world may believe.”

The truth is, we cannot expect to experience a movement that transforms a community when local ministries are an arm’s length away from one another. It is only through unified mission and collaboration that churches in a geographic region, such as the Parma area, can experience a movement that has a kingdom transformational effect on that region. In other words, we cannot be silos in the city – operating independently and unsystematically with the rest of the Body of Christ. When churches function as silos, they cannot actually reach their city. At best, they can only reach those within the limits of their respective scopes. This limited reach only goes so far as their individual resources allow and, woefully, still leaves the high majority of the community unreached.

My heart’s ultimate desire is to see a movement of God’s people sharing His love and power throughout our community in ways that break through societal and cultural barriers and that reaches the roughly 85,000 unchurched residents in our area (Number based on Barna Group statistical data).

We can transform our community. We can reach our city. But it is no small task. And we cannot do it alone.

Christian author Dr. Jack Dennison once wrote, “City reaching is the on-going process of mobilizing the whole Body of Christ in a city to strategically focus all its resources on reaching the whole city with the whole gospel. City reaching is a Great Commission/Great Commandment commitment that brings to bear all of the theory, practice, research, and delivery systems of global missions in a dynamic synergy, focusing the full capabilities and resources of the Church on reaching the city.”

City reaching is not something that happens overnight. As Dr. Ferrini admonished our group, the only way to achieve it is by shifting ourselves from an isolated, inwardly-focused approach to an outwardly, collaborative approach aimed at redeeming society and transforming our region.

Thankfully, we have several pastors and churches in our area – both Catholic and Protestant – that I know are hungry for a movement – one that burgeons from a continuum of collective, kingdom efforts and which leads to the whole community being touched with the faith, hope, and love of Jesus Christ. More and more, it would seem as though God has been preparing the churches of the Parma area “for such a time as this.”

Right now more than ever, we need a groundswell of pastors, lay people, and faith-based leaders from all over our community committed to praying and striving for Biblical, God-honoring ways to collaborate our time, talents, and resources – no matter how complicated or impossible it may seem. We must keep praying and seeking God in how to accomplish this, as well as continue to network and dialogue with one another while we witness the unfolding of what God wants to accomplish through His Church. As we unify ourselves in Christ, we assuredly will see the unifying of the whole body for the purpose of reaching the whole city.

And with that, I leave you with this last word from Dr. Jack Dennison:

“The events and revelations in our society in recent months cry out that the time is upon us when either the church will be revived and strategically set to work (in our cities) OR total disintegration of our society will take place. To a considerable degree, it is within our hands to determine which will happen.”