Transforming a City From the Inside

Historical Place of the City

Provide safety and security Provide a place for sacred activity Provide economic opportunities far

greater then in a village.

Place of Cities in Today’s World 2010 population of urban cities

surpassed population in rural areas 2015 70% of the world will be living in

cities of over one million Today 200 are such cities 2015 there will be over 1450 such cities 2/3 be in what’s called developing world

Why Need Cities Have transforming effect on people Form a creative center for connections,

conversations and transactions Create fertile ground for thinking and

receptivity Help people live more efficiently and

productively Valued by God Early Christian movement began in

cities

Village Definition of Community

A geographical place where people live

Hold many things in common Have a sense of belonging, my

place Know each other

How Cities are Different then a Village

People from all over, generally temporary

No sense of community built on knowing and trusting each other

More isolated, dependent on professionals

No safety net when people need help City is not a community, too big

therefore must break into neighborhoods

Build a Village Where

We know each other Surrounded by social network, not

necessarily kin People like me with intrinsic value We are story tellers who tell each

other our stories and listen to your

Build a Village Where

All have wisdom, skills and assets Have discovered a way not to be

lonely We know how to do without and

make ends meet and help each other do this

We take care of each other

What Causes Poverty

Cause By A Combination of Different Things

Poverty as ….. Entanglement (Chambers)

MaterialPoverty

PhysicalWeakness

Isolation

Vulnerability

Powerlessness

Lack of assets

Lack of strengthToo many dependents

Lack of assetsLack of educationExcluded from system

Lack of reservesLack of choicesEasy to coerce

Lack of influenceLack of social powerExploited by powers

Poverty as lack of Access to Social Power (Friedman)

LIFE SPACETerritory

Shrinkingdomain of the

STATE

Expandingdomain of the

ECONOMY

CIVILSOCIETY

POLITICALCOMMUNITY

Legal systembiased againstthe poor

Outside the political process

Economic systemnot responsive tohuman andenvironmental costs

Outside the economic system, not part of civil society institutions

GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM

Poverty as Broken Relationships (Myers)

Self

God

Environment

Others Community

= broken, unjust relationships

Social System: political, economic,

religious, local/global

Individual: marred identity, diminished vocation,

poverty of being

Other gods Domesticate God

Overused land Poor land No land

Violence Racism

Playing God Domination

Oppression Lack of access Moral Poverty

Web of lies

Poverty is…

Captivity to God-Complexes

Of Non-Poor

Inadequacy in World View

Deception by Principalities and Powers

Weak MindAnd Body

MarredIdentity

BiophysicalSystem

Personal System

Cultural System

Social System

Spiritual System

Differences in Urban CHE

(Neighborhood Transformation)

Change in Name for USA

To Neighborhood Transformation CHE not known in USA Name had wrong connotations Use Urban CHE internationally

Focus on Transforming City

Start by transforming individual neighborhoods around city

Network neighborhoods implementing into a collaborative which will begin to do things on wider city scale

Start collaboration about 18 months into process instead of at the beginning

Transform Neighborhoods

Identifiable by neighborhood not city as whole

Small in geographic size 8 square blocks

Build around elementary school catchment area since most kids still walk to school.

Parents more involved with kids at this age which can use to connect parent for other things

Finding Out About People

Since most people don’t even know neighbor’s names we need way to find out about people, groups and organizations in the neighborhood.

Use Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) to identify assets found in individuals and groups in the neighborhood.

Asset mapping been done for 25 years in USA

Why Focus on Assets

Everyone has assets (skills, knowledge, passions) which may be unknown

All people want to be of value to others and not just be a receivers

Builds on what’s in neighborhood already, work can be on-going by people in it.

Why Focus on Assets?

Needs Focus

Assets Focus

Do Things For People

Empowers People To Do For Themselves & to Multiply it to

Others

Seeks To Fix Current Problems

According To a One-size-fits-all Blueprint

Seeks What The Lord Has Intended

For This Place

Focuses On What Is Missing

Builds On What Is Already Present

Why Focus on Assets? (2)

Needs Focus Assets FocusProvides Services to

Meet NeedsProvides

Connections and Contributions of

Neighbors

Programs are the Answer

People are God’s Answer

Fosters Dependency on Outsiders and

Professional

Builds Interdependence

Between Neighbors

Reinstitute Neighbor Helping Neighbor

Since people do not know each other Nor have relationships and they have

lost their safety net, they are dependent on professionals.

This makes them consumers Help people meet and know about

their neighbor through fun activities

River Crossing Drama

Ways to Help

Relief Ministries - Provide temporary help using outside resources. Relief does not address long term issues nor increase the effectiveness of local people & organizations.

Betterment Ministries (aka Rehabilitation) Rehabilitation programs can help people grow past one issue but often give only temporary or partial improvement.

Development Ministries – Help participants & their communities to develop their abilities, knowledge, and conditions. Improvement should be recognizable & lasting.

Gaining Peoples Engagement and Ownership

People so consumed with themselves little or no time to become engaged in activities

Need way to get everybody into the game Begin with the willing Start with easy entry opportunities to do

something. Things that require no long term commitment nor experience

Do simple short teaching to understand what and why they are doing something.

Once get them started help move them to deeper commitment.

EXPOSE

ENGAGE

OWN

EXPOSEEasy EntryOne TimeNo Commitment

ENGAGESeveral TimesHeart is ChangingSome Commitment

OWNContinuing EngagementRecruiting OthersHigh Commitment

Giving Everyone the Opportunity to Participate

From Mariner’s Church

Neighborhood Transformation is About Creating new sub-communities or villages It is not entering an existing community

like in a rural village. Finding assets and interests of people in

neighborhood, and equipping them to accomplish activities built on their self interest

Once have small interest groups functioning then connect them around one of their neighborhood interests.

Training Volunteer Facilitators

Facilitators are volunteers therefore only have short time each week

Train in 6 Saturday segments over 24 months.

Learn to do a step and apply it for next 4 to 6 months in their neighborhood

Train multiple churches together each applying in their neighborhood.

Training Materials & Approach

Learner Center LePSAS participatory teaching style

Lean and apply as soon as possible Over 1500 lesson plans to draw

from All lessons can be taught by lay

people. You don’t need to be a professional to do so.

Outcomes

Shared vision: The community sees a better future and has hope that it can be achieved.

Leadership: Godly Christian leaders are positioned and equipped to lead the community toward the accomplishment of its vision for transformation.

OwnershipOwnership: People are taking responsibility : People are taking responsibility for their own and neighborhoods wellbeing.for their own and neighborhoods wellbeing.

Outcomes (2)

Cooperation: People are united and working together for the common good.

Volunteers: Significant numbers of people are taking initiative and acting sacrificially to meet the legitimate needs of others.

Dignity: People have recovered their identity as made in the image of God and their vocation as stewards of creation; instead of being controlled or victimized by their environment, they are stewards of.

Expectations

Neighborhoods transformed from the inside. People know neighbors and helping each other. People knowing and growing in Christ. People taking responsibility for their own lives. Healthy growing churches. Improvement in employment and living

conditions. Reduction in disease, crime, drug and alcohol

addiction. Other Neighborhoods throughout the city

begin to implement Neighborhood Transformation.

Transformed Cities

Neighborhoods throughout city using the urban ministry are networked together to learn from and encourage each other.

As the teams come together they find common interests which begin to transform the city as a whole thereby changing it from the inside out.

Check the Web

Web Page: www.neighborhoodtransformation.net

Face Book: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Neighborhood-Transformation/178206349129

Blog: http://urbancheguy.wordpress.com/

6420 W. Beverly Lane Glendale AZ 85306 stan@neighborhoodtransformation.net

A Ministry of Alliance for Transformational Ministry

Help Bring Neighborhoods Out Of Poverty And People To Maturity In Christ