Comments on: THE WESTERN WINDOW: Reaching the Cities of the West in Order to Reach the World http://alvinreid.com/archives/387 equipping leaders in the coming generation to change the world Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:56:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Alvin Reid http://alvinreid.com/archives/387/comment-page-1#comment-8890 Alvin Reid Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:03:43 +0000 http://alvinreid.com/archives/387#comment-8890 Thanks David. I value much your thoughts on this. I am really trying to get a handle on how we can best, not only in the short term but long term as well, reach America even as we try to reach the nations. Your word to work with existing churches is a good one. I would add the need to work with all evangelicals who seek to reach a given city. And sadly, the edge of lostness in the US increasingly would include the larger cities of the South as well. Blessings on your ministry there. Thanks David. I value much your thoughts on this. I am really trying to get a handle on how we can best, not only in the short term but long term as well, reach America even as we try to reach the nations. Your word to work with existing churches is a good one. I would add the need to work with all evangelicals who seek to reach a given city.
And sadly, the edge of lostness in the US increasingly would include the larger cities of the South as well. Blessings on your ministry there.

]]> By: David Rogers http://alvinreid.com/archives/387/comment-page-1#comment-8888 David Rogers Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:43:41 +0000 http://alvinreid.com/archives/387#comment-8888 Alvin, Interesting post. For several years now, people like Peter Wagner (not to endorse his theology) have been talking about the strategic importance of the 40/70 Window, comprising all of Europe, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, and parts of China. See here, for example: http://www.globalharvest.org/index.asp?action=target4070 Having worked in Spain for the past 18 years, I can indeed attest to the vast spiritual need in this part of the world. As far as specifically targeting mega-cities, as opposed to towns and areas with smaller population goes, I concur that in the US, this is crucial. In the IMB, we have placed a big emphasis in recent years on being "on the edge of lostness." In the US, it would seem, as you point out here, that "edge of lostness" is located primarily in some of the larger cities, especially those outside of the Bible Belt. In Western Europe, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any area or population segment that would not qualify as the "edge of lostness" by American standards. However, in most places, the work is more advanced, both in total numbers, as well as evangelical percentage, in the big cities, as opposed to smaller towns, which many times have no evangelical witness at all. It is true, as you also point out, that the bigger cities have a big influence over other areas. But, I believe that, if we are to specifically target the bigger cities, we must keep in mind the churches that are already there, and who have been diligently working to evangelize their own people for years, and work as closely as possible with them. As North American missionaries, this has not always proven to be the easiest thing to do. Not meaning, in any way, to "pour cold water" on your post. Just offering a few additional observations from the field. By the way, I met with the advance team from Keller's Redeemer Presbyterian in Madrid a little more than a year ago, as they were scouting out church planting options there. I was impressed by their learner's attitude, and desire to work alongside and in harmony with those who have come before them. Alvin,

Interesting post. For several years now, people like Peter Wagner (not to endorse his theology) have been talking about the strategic importance of the 40/70 Window, comprising all of Europe, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, and parts of China. See here, for example:

http://www.globalharvest.org/index.asp?action=target4070

Having worked in Spain for the past 18 years, I can indeed attest to the vast spiritual need in this part of the world.

As far as specifically targeting mega-cities, as opposed to towns and areas with smaller population goes, I concur that in the US, this is crucial. In the IMB, we have placed a big emphasis in recent years on being “on the edge of lostness.” In the US, it would seem, as you point out here, that “edge of lostness” is located primarily in some of the larger cities, especially those outside of the Bible Belt.

In Western Europe, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find any area or population segment that would not qualify as the “edge of lostness” by American standards. However, in most places, the work is more advanced, both in total numbers, as well as evangelical percentage, in the big cities, as opposed to smaller towns, which many times have no evangelical witness at all. It is true, as you also point out, that the bigger cities have a big influence over other areas. But, I believe that, if we are to specifically target the bigger cities, we must keep in mind the churches that are already there, and who have been diligently working to evangelize their own people for years, and work as closely as possible with them. As North American missionaries, this has not always proven to be the easiest thing to do.

Not meaning, in any way, to “pour cold water” on your post. Just offering a few additional observations from the field.

By the way, I met with the advance team from Keller’s Redeemer Presbyterian in Madrid a little more than a year ago, as they were scouting out church planting options there. I was impressed by their learner’s attitude, and desire to work alongside and in harmony with those who have come before them.

]]>