Welcome to Urban Ministries
"Our partner ministries are places where we can
effectively present grace and mercy to the hungry, the homeless, those in a
crisis pregnancy, those emerging from prison, or to those otherwise left to grow
up without the influence of Christian parents, teachers, or friends. The
hundreds of our members who serve in these outstanding ministries consistently
report the surprising and priceless joy experienced when we enter with Christ
into the sufferings of our neighbors."
- Dennis Roossien, Urban Ministries Committee Chairman
Beyond Ourselves 2010 - Recap
Living Streams Devotional by Pastor Julian C. Russell
Who Does God Use?
August 2010
Immediately following the Tower of Babel story, we are introduced to Abraham, one of the most significant figures in the history of redemption. From Genesis 3-11, we see Adam and Eve and their posterity in open rebellion to their Creator and the consequences of that sinful and selfish act. The account of Abraham and his family marks a new beginning in the story of redemption. In Genesis 12:3, God concludes His promise of blessing to Abraham by stating that: “…and all families on earth will be blessed through you.” Abraham’s story ends at chapter 25, but before it is completed, we are introduced to an unlikely family that has been called by God to establish His blessings upon others.
The more one considers this story and read it through the lens of 21st-century lens, several questions come to mind: Why would the Bible give so many details about Abraham and Sarah? What was it that qualified them to be a blessing to others? Why would the Lord use such a family for such an important task?
What we do see in the Abraham’s story reveals several key truths about God’s relationship with His people:
- Like Abraham, God’s people are chosen by sovereign election. How does this affect our understanding of those whom we serve? Simply, everyone who has been, and is being saved has first been chosen by God–no matter their status, ethnicity, or locale.
- As Abraham and Sarah were directed out of Haran to Canaan by God’s voice, God’s people today are directed by His Word. I want to encourage all of the PCPC family to heed this reality. Seek to know and live God’s Word, beginning in your own home, and then serve His people throughout this city.
- God’s people today are blessed, just as Abraham was, to become a blessing to others around us. God is the One doing the work! Think about it. How can you and your family become a blessing to others? Do you constantly see those whom you serve as agents of God’s blessings to others? God does.
For starters, you can begin by praying boldly for 4 of our ministry partners who minister to families: ACT, DLF, DPRC, and Interfaith Housing. Also, pray boldly for your family to get more involved. While addressing the benefits of families serving together, Diana Garland notes: “We’ve tended to see service as an add-on to worship, with worship being the main focus. Families are saying we need to turn that around . . . Children who grow up serving alongside adults are more likely to attend church as young adults.[1]”
You can browse Urban Ministries’ Ministry Partners which are located on the right sidebar. May the Lord continue to bless you and yours, as you prayerfully consider how you and your family can become more involved in the good work of extending God’s Kingdom here in Dallas.
PCPC’s Urban Ministries staff thanks you for your invaluable partnership.
[1] Diana Garland, Dean of Baylor’s School of Social Work
Our Vision
We seek to lead our congregation in serving the poor and needy of Dallas. We seek to change the lives of the poor and needy of Dallas through spiritual, physical, and social assistance.
Our Values
We are covenantal. The Kingdom of Christ is
administered through a covenant with His people. This covenant is richly
attended with both spiritual and physical blessings (Genesis 12). The extension
of this Kingdom includes seeking to extend both the good news of the gospel
(Acts 1:8) and of mercy to those who are outside the covenant community (Psalm
67, Galatians 2:10, Luke 10:30-37), to the glory of God (Matthew 5:13-17). To
fail in this is to disobey the purposes and desires of God (Ezekiel 16:49, Daniel
4:27).
We are incarnation. As a localized body of
Christ, we are called to seek the welfare of and minister to the needs of the
city where God has planted us (Jeremiah 29:7, Nehemiah). Whereas, Jesus Christ
came not to be served but to serve, the follower of Christ does as an activity
but serves out of a Christ-like orientation. This service is carried out by our
physical presence and participation as a living sacrifice of obedience to
Christ (Romans 12:1-2).
We are
transformational. We seek to encourage our members to grow in their
knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and experience the fullness of
His blessings by ministering to others (Psalm 41, James 1, 1 Timothy 6:17-19).
We also pray that our ministry will be attended by the Holy Spirit, who will
use us as His instruments of change in the lives of those we minister to. In
this exchange, we pray that both the participant and recipient will be changed
by the work of Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
A Partial Biblical Basis
Deuteronomy 10:18
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing.
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release
from darkness for the prisoners.
Jeremiah 22:16
"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 29:7
And be working for the peace of the land to which I have had you taken
away prisoners, and make prayer to the Lord for it: for in its peace
you will have peace.
Micah 6:8
He has told you men what is good and what it is the LORD requires of
you: Only to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with
your God.
Luke 4:18
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.
Galatians 2:10
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to
look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself
from being polluted by the world.
1 John 3:17-18
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has
no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let
us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
