Dr. Larry Grays
A Burden for the City
When I was praying about going into church planting, one of my mentors encouraged me to ask God for a burden. He said, “Strategy without a burden is just ambition.” That timely word has stayed with me and guides much of what my family has been doing for the past three years. Three years ago we moved from the suburbs of Atlanta to the heart of the city. Two years ago, along with a small core group of amazing believers and the help of several gracious church partners, we launched the Midtown Bridge Church. God has given us a burden for the people of the city of Atlanta.
Most of the epistles were written to the cities. Many of God’s messengers were sent to the cities. I don’t think it is because God is more concerned with cities than with rural areas. However, I do believe it is because the majority of people are in the cities, and God is concerned with people. I am praying that God will give our convention a fresh burden for the cities of America and the world.
The last time the majority of Americans lived in rural areas was in 1921. Today approximately 80% of Americans live in major metropolitan areas. If we are going to see a Great Commission Resurgence, I believe that a strategy driven by a burden for the cities is a must. If we can reach the cities, we can reach the world.
A Burden for the Nations
I am so grateful that many voices in our convention are saying there is a need for greater diversity in our denomination. But if we continue to plant churches where there is little diversity, we will continue to see that reflected in our makeup. I do not believe every church needs to be diverse, although I do believe every church needs to be a place where people from every tongue, tribe, and nation are welcome to worship. In the major urban areas where there is much diversity and blending of cultures, that is not a forced issue. The question is, “Will the church step up and reflect the city which is a microcosm of the diversity of heaven?”
Our church is small but already has the DNA of the city and of heaven. On any given Sunday, there are people from different races, countries, education levels, economic status, and stations in life. It is so exciting to see people worshipping together from all over the world and then returning to their home countries as disciples of Christ determined to make other disciples.
A Burden for Church Planting
No matter how big one local church becomes, one church is not going to change a city. In my opinion, it is going to take a church planting movement. The movement needs to be driven by churches planting churches in the city. Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.” Please join with me in praying that God will raise up more church planters and missionaries. Pray that God will burden more churches to send out more laborers into the cities of America and the world.
