NID Urban Linkage

Are you interested as an individual or a congregation in having a linkage with an urban church, but not sure where to begin?

Good linkages have begun in literally dozens of ways in Missouri Synod churches in Northern Illinois. Here are some suggestions on the basis of past experience. But don’t be limited by these; a world of opportunity is limited only by your ability to dream it.

1. Good linkages often grow out of previous connections:
   • Former members of an urban congregation want to help the struggling church or school in which they grew up.
   • Leaders want to do something for specific urban communities with which they have had previous connections.
   • Strong friendships between pastors, teachers or other church members result in a linkage between congregations.
2. Congregational committees seek linkages that fit their particular area of ministry:
   • Human care committees gather food and clothing for urban congregations to distribute among the poor and homeless.
   • Adult Bible study groups have exchanged a series of Bible classes between their two congregations.
   • Christian growth committees have developed linkages for the sake of their own congregation’s spiritual growth.
   • Pastors have exchanged pulpits.
   • Schools have had pupil exchanges between their schools – for a day, or a week, etc.
   •  Youth groups have initiated servant events in city churches.
3. Some linkages have grown out of calls for help from the urban church:
   • A special need develops in the urban church or school, and it asks a sister church for financial, technical or other kinds of assistance.
   • An urban church wants to do a new ministry, but lacks resources.

The Northern Illinois District Urban Linkage coordinator can give you additional information about how to find a linkage to fit your specific interests.

Contact Rev. Don Becker by email.