Hope Rising in the Inner Cities
By Karen Blake, associate missionary, Urban Harvest Ministries Dark clouds, rain, wind gusts up to 25 mph and impending thunderstorms filled the sky in the heart of the city of Detroit.
Even so, believers from more than forty churches and ministries came to the parking lot of Comerica Park (Tiger Baseball Stadium) to worship the only One who is holy and to pray to the only One who can change the city. African American, White, Hispanic and Arab Christians of various churches worshipped and cried out to God for the city. As the worship began, something supernatural happened: The wind stopped blowing. The clouds rolled back and rays of sunlight shone down right where we were worshipping. It was a physical confirmation of what the Lord had already shown us: As the people of God, empowered for change, cry out to God for their city, He pokes a hole in the cloud of oppression covering the city, shines His favor down upon His people, and begins to transform the spiritual climate of the streets.
One participant said, “I saw people stand in the gap for their city. Leaders repented and cried out to God. I know this is the beginning of change!”
The Hope for the City worship and prayer rally was a part of several weeks of intense strategic prayer and evangelism led by Urban Harvest Minstries in the South Bronx and Detroit this summer.
Urban Harvest Ministries was founded by Dr. Tom Grassano in 1994 in the South Bronx, the poorest Congressional district per capita. By reaching people with unconditional love, presenting the truth of the gospel and empowering people toward their destinies, a solid base for urban outreach (The Harvest Center) has been established. Miraculous community transformation has taken place through the rise of contagious Christ-centered lifestyles and successful methods of outreach.
UHM’s mission is to equip leaders for effective ministry in America’s cities and to implement strategic, relevant evangelism and discipleship among the urban unchurched that transform lives and communities, one person and one family at a time.
Suburban and urban churches worked together this summer to do just that and God showed Himself strong, touching the lives of people at their point of need more than ever before:
Detroit – An encounter with drug dealers in front of a drug house began with mockery and ended thirty minutes later with conviction, brokenness and tears in their eyes.
New York – While a ministry team worshipped God on a street corner, a woman stood in awe. When asked if we could pray with her, she exclaimed, “I have been crying out to God to show me He is real but nothing happened. I got no answer. Now I know God is real and He really did hear my cry!”
Detroit – A woman leaving work attempted to take the elevator several times, and each time it would not stop on her floor. Because of this delay, she met one of our leaders and had truth spoken into her life. She opened her heart to Jesus Christ that day.
A UHM team member knocked on a door and said, “God sent me here to pray with you.” The woman broke into tears and found a personal relationship with Jesus.
New York – While our team was praying over the apartments in a building, a woman opened the door to find out what was going on. She invited us in and opened her heart to Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. At another door, a man said, “I had been beating myself up on the inside because I failed God. Now I know God still loves me.”
One young woman from a short-term missions team in Detroit reported, “God kept telling me, ‘I chose this time because people have given up on this city. When change comes, they will know it was nobody but God.'”
Preparations are underway for next summer. Short-term missions teams from across the U.S. are making plans now to minister in both New York and Detroit this spring and summer. Hope for the City 2008 Seminars begin in November 2007 and will equip the Church for strategic outreach and community transformation in some of the most devastated communities of our nation. Pastors and leaders in both New York and Detroit continue to gather for prayer, seeking God’s favor for their cities.
The Spirit of God is at work, touching lives, transforming people, changing the inner city for His glory. Hope is rising!
Urban Harvest Ministries: Equipping to Serve, Empowering for Change, Exalting Christ in the City
To learn more about Urban Harvest Ministries and participating in Hope for the City 2008 in New York or Detroit, go to www.uhm.cc.
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