Urban Leadership Foundation

It is to see incarnational/transformational Christian witness which is culturally and geographically accessible to every community in every major city of Latin America.

A key question is: "How can we assist the Latin churches to accelerate the evangelization/transformation of the 76 plus major cities of the Latin world?

Which churches and/or ministries are having unusual effectiveness?

What research already exists as to the effectiveness and/or the need within major cities?

What are the perceived and/or real barriers to urban church effectiveness, growth and pastoral effectiveness?

Who are the key individuals willing to cooperate in an effort of this magnitude?

Today seven of every ten people in Latin America live in cities. By the year 2000, 82.2% of the people in Latin America will live in over 75 major metropolitan areas. The majority will live in slums and squatter areas with marginal resources. Rural people are flocking to the cities in record numbers in search of hope for a better future. As they move, they leave behind the traditions of the past and are much more open to the Gospel.

The evangelical Church is growing rapidly but without adequate pastoral training or resources. It is evident that God is at work by the rapid growth but at the same time, the cities continue to grow even faster than the Church. Today roughly 10% of the population of Latin America is considered Evangelical. The city statistics tell a different story: Mexico City 3-4%, Lima 2-3%, Caracas .33%. It is clear that an inordinately high percentage of people in the major cities do not know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Latin cities are the centres of communication and power. As it was in the days of the Apostle Paul, the cities determine the pulse of entire nations. As the cities go so go entire countries and people groups.

Churches and Mission agencies have historically worked independently from each other and without a conscious assessment of the whole of evangelism needs for the cities. Today we must add non-western agencies from the far east, and south Asian countries as well as increasing missionary efforts from other Latin American countries. For the Church and missions to reach the growing number of unreached in these cities and adequately train pastors, will require an intentional effort to develop strategic alliances (partnerships) and supportive parallel efforts in all phases of Church growth and evangelization.

The Urban Vision network seeks the transformation, Spiritual and social, of cities of the Latin world through the proclamation of Gospel of Jesus Christ and the sharing of the resources God has given to His people

Our objective is to see the Evangelical population double in each of the more than fifty world class cities in Latin America within seven years from the beginning of each inter-city partnership.

Our goals are to:

Mobilize the people of God in each city to fulfil the mission to evangelize systematically and establish churches.

Create an awareness of the realities of each city and its needs.

Analyze the specific city context and develop the tools for ongoing analysis.

Introduce and stimulate ways to share resources and combine efforts to reach more people.

Jointly prepare programs that transform the city.

The steering committee is already meeting and has elected Rolando Gutierrez of Mexico City as chair and Paul Landry (LAM) of Miami as operating coordinator. They have also identified a consultant to manage the first phases of implementation. The steering committee will meet twice each year to evaluate progress and plan additional steps. The committee already represents eight countries and over fifteen agencies and is growing with each meeting. An advisory counsel of eight members meets more frequently to provide guidance and feedback on a timely basis.

Initial exploration funding has been provided by the Maclellan Foundation and many agencies have contributed travel costs and in-kind services. The June 95 to Feb 96 budget of $60,000 includes travel and staffing for the research utilizing a half time consultant and research assistant with specific background and skills needed.

In the fall of 1996 a "Latin Cities Summit" will be convened in a Latin city. Attendees will be potential (some precommitted) coordinators/facilitators from the more than 50 world-class cities of Latin America. This will be both a sharing/learning experience benefiting the participants as well as a working model of a process that they could adapt to their own cities. The outcome will be informed and motivated people that have the vision and skills to accelerate the evangelization/transformation process in their own city.

The specific objectives of the Summit are to:

Provide accurate data and information on the extent and effectiveness of evangelical presence in world class cities.

Provide an adequate theological underpinning for effective urban evangelization/transformation in this day and age.

Identify and share effective models of urban evangelization and transformation from Latin cities with uniquely different contexts.

Provide a context in which effective models and strategies can be shared with those in attendance.

Identify and create networks for on-going interaction and resourcing of a vision for effective evangelization and transformation .

Suggest strategies and models that could be modified and adapted by those with a city-wide vision.

Mobilize and focus prayer for the cities of Latin America.

Identify major funding sources and resources within the Latin context for ongoing support of the vision(s).

Identify researchers of the world-class cities and what new research needs to be done.

Identify the effective training institutions and methods available and planned.

Gather data and perspectives on the spiritual realities and current trends with the cities.

Celebrate God's on-going presence in the cities.