Exploring Your City

By Tim Svoboda

Have you ever noticed the uniquemake up of different cities? Chicago isnot San Francisco and Kolkata(Calcutta) is not Mumbai. Every city hasa unique personality that expresses itself in the daily routine of life. Thatpersonality is made from the history,culture, events and people that havelived in that place over a long period of time that make each city uniquelydifferent. Antioch had a different ﬂavor fromCorinth and Philippi was uniquelydifferent from Rome itself. Paulpreached the same message wherever hewent but the way in which he preachedthe message kept on changing. Ourdelivery changes as we understand thecontext in which we are living.So how does one go aboutunderstanding their local context? First,take the big picture view. Start withsome background and history. Readbooks about the origins of your city.Learn about key historical people, howthe city started, why it started and thepurpose that was behind it, if any. Getup on some high places and pray over your city not just once but several times.In San Francisco we have 44 hills andthis gives us the opportunity to see thecity and how it is laid out from manydifferent vantage points. Buy yourself agood map of your city and get to knowthe neighborhoods, highways and theway the city has been planned. What aresome of the repeating patternsthroughout history? San Francisco is abirth place for movements and ideas. Wehave had the gold rush, silver rush, shipbuilding rush and most recently the techrush. We have given birth to the beatnik,gay and hippie movements. It’s a smallcity with a big voice that goes aroundthe world.Once you study the big picture thenstart looking at the parts of the city. Arethere unique neighborhoods? What arethe demographics of your city? Howmany different ethnic groups are thereand where are they living?There are 5 P’s that I use tounderstand the smaller parts of my citywhen I read the newspaper, listen to thenews, attend my police station meetingsor talk to people on the street.They are:The PAINS of the City. These arethe things that manifest in society due torejection. It could be addictions,domestic violence, divorce, suicide ormany other social ills.The PROBLEMS of the city. Theseare the things that are created due to alack of infrastructure or attention fromthe government. It can be homelessness,corruption, trafﬁc, lack of water,housing, unemployment etc.The PEOPLE of the city. Whatkind of ethnic, linguistic, religiousgroups are there? Where are theimmigrants? Is it a blue collar or whitecollar city? Information technology orindustrial?The POWERS of the city. Who isthe Mayor, Police Chief and key judges? What are their political persuasions and view on the city? Who are the businesspeople and what businesses aredominant? What is the spirit of the city?The POTENTIAL of the city. Howmany churches are in your city? Whatpercentage of the population goes tochurch on Sunday morning and howdoes that relate with the nationalaverage? What is the redemptive gift of your city?The more you understand your city,the more you will love it. The more youlove it, the more God can begin to give you strategies for sharing His gospel withthose around you.

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What would you do if you were a homeless alcoholicresponsible for taking another person’s life? What if youbelieved your sins were impossible to forgive? Would youcry out to anyone who would hear? Jose did just that. Infact, he shared his story with a young lady who wasworking with Mission Adventures here at YWA M SanFrancisco.Maria approached Jose on a beautiful sunny day inDolores Park of San Francisco. She was looking forsomeone to share lunch with. Little did she know, he wasabout to share a powerful story. One that has caused him atremendous amount of pain and sorrow.“Hello, would you like to have some lunch with me?”Maria asked the stranger. This alone was enough to cause aflood of hot tears to begin streaming down Jose’s face.Maria knew in her heart that this was not going to be alight conversation. “Why would someone like you want tosit and eat with me?” Jose mumbled through his crackedlips. “I am here with a small group of fellow Christianswho are pursuing relationships with the people on thestreets of this city,” came her reply. “And I was hoping toget to know you better by just sitting and listening to yourstory over a sandwich and some chips.” As Jose began to unfold the details of his life, Mariacould feel her heart pounding in her chest because of nervousness. She prayed quietly under her breath andasked God for courage. After all, she was only fifteen yearsold. What could she possibly have to say to this older manwho was living on the streets and living the life of acriminal and an alcoholic?“ I have taken a man’s life and feel as though my sinscan never be forgiven,” Jose said in a somber voice. Hecontinued to unfold the details of the darkness thatconsumed his life.Maria listened and waited patiently for Jose toconclude his confession.“Jesus does forgive murderers, Jose. There is alwayshope,” explained Maria. “Can I pray with you for a littlewhile?” “Yes,” Jose quietly responded, with tears welling upin his eyes again. Maria gently placed her hand on hisshoulder and prayed the best she could.Maria walked away from that encounter not knowing what impact she had made on this man’s life, or if hewould ever receive Christ as his Savior. But this was herfirst time witnessing to anyone about God and Hiscompassion for all of us. As Maria returned to the YWAMbase, she realized had she never come to Mission Adventures, she might have missed the opportunity toshare the Hope that lives in her for all mankind…. That allmight come to know God, and make him known.

Unexpected Guests

Hearts for the misunderstood & downtrodden

Story from Mission Adventures

“Why wouldsomeone like youwant to sit and eatwith me?”