Reality
I see broken families, broken homes, broken lives, a people wasting away in drugs and alcohol. I see prostitution, homelessness, and what I see over all is a heartbreaking example which seems to be a separating of this place from God’s grace, what I see here in the city is simply put, horrible sinfulness.
I see often an Asian family who parties all night, and children that run the street without supervision. I saw the suicide of our neighbor, and gun shootings down the block. I have attended churches, and I see the faintest remnant of God’s people which seemingly is almost non existent, and all too often the glory of man exalted over the Glory of God.
I see graffiti, and theft, and robbery, and I see a sick and dying people who are killing themselves slowly willingly and unwillingly. I have seen gunshots and drugs and then so many when asked about God, honor God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.
I see a Godless culture over taking a people who have seemingly been forgotten by the Church.
It is in the inner city of Kansas City, where I live, that I see my own sinfulness. I see my own rebellion toward God. I see my own lostness, and absolute contempt for God. And it is in this place full of sin, and hate, and anger, and emptiness that I find my own total depravity. It is in this place that I have come to see the deceitfulness of my own heart, the tragedy of my own sinful pride, and the depth of my own sinful flesh. It is in my own abhorrence of holiness and goodness, my own rejection of grace and eager desire to follow the world that I have seen in the city. It is in so many ways a reflection of my own separation from God, my humanness or fallen sinfulness as compared to His Holy Goodness and perfection.
This psalm about David’s contrition, as he sinned against God, but one that I have ultimately began to pray for the urban core of Kansas City.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
It is also here in the city that I hope in Christ and God’s abundant undeserved mercy. I hope in His absolute and amazing grace. I hope in His matchless goodness and His separate, perfect Holiness. Just as I have been redeemed from my sinfulness and reconciled to the Father by the unparalleled grace of my heavenly Father, also the city and people of the city can be reconciled and set apart for His Glory.
I hope in Christ for these people that they are not too far gone, as it was so for so many in sodom, but that even some may be saved in the name of Christ Jesus. And even more that once again in the Urban area of Kansas City that begin to reflect the Glory of the Lord as this verse in Habakkuk states for the whole earth. “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
I believe that in this proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, and proclaiming the knowledge of God’s Glory in the city, that God will bring Glory to Himself by saving men, women and children for His name’s sake!
Please prayerfully consider involvement, there is a need for solid believers who desire to demonstrate the heart of Christ to the people of the city. So many need to see a true faith and without a disillusioned, unstable, worldly Christianity that many in the city believe they have attained already.
If after your time with the Lord asking him direction in this matter, if you then have a strong desire to bring the Gospel and the knowledge of the glory of the Lord to the City, in order that the Father be Glorified, please contact us.
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