New Strategies

When I look at what has made the biggest impact on the city of Los Angeles it has been things like economic development, jobs, small businesses, and lower crime, cleaner more sanitary streets etc. I think that most churches have good models for bringing Christians together and serving each others needs. I am challenged now with making a real, non-Christian attention getting, impact on my city. I want the low income families, the homeless, the police, city council and the mayor to bring up the names of Churches when they are asked what has made this city a better place.
What I typically find is that most models end up putting all their focus and energy into creating these communities and having big gatherings but little time, effort, and considerable resources are put into the tangible touch on the city and its people.
Having a big gathering does not impress the city, it doesn't show them unity, it shows them that there is a bigger group of Christians and they are probably going to use their leverage to unify on voting issues. That's how non-churched, non-Christians think. Until we display that we can really make a tangible difference in our city that isn't a church-growth strategy in disguise or political meddling, I don't think we are anything more to them than a religious gathering.