THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF URBAN MISSION

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CHAPTER 3 URBANIZATION

INTRODUCTION

This chapter focuses on urbanization which is a serious process whereby the church should seriously be aware of and engage herself vigorously in urban mission. Firstly, the researcher pays attention to urban growth and also discusses its causes. The causes of urban growth vary from one to the other. The reality concerning urban growth is that the more rapid urban growth occurs, the more the problems in urban areas increases as  well. The researcher ends the chapter by highlighting the problems that are encountered in urban areas due to urban growth, for example, prostitution, urban poverty, street people, crime, HIV/AIDS, etc.

URBAN GROWTH

One of the salient features of our times is the rapid growth of cities in all six continents. “Developing countries are facing an urbanization explosion which has yet not been experienced” (Crowther 1991:24). This rapid urban growth was confirmed by Monsma (1989:108) who says: “The cities are growing rapidly and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future”. Linthicum added to the idea of Monsma when he says that “cities  all over the world are facing an unprecedented growth explosion. Sometime close to  the turn of the century there will be more people living in cities than will be living in towns or villages, on farms, in tribes, or in any other human habitation” (Linthicum 1991a:17). This implies that the world is becoming more and more urban (Conn 1987:15). Donald A. McGavran also indicated that “the importance of cities for church growth increases when we see that larger proportions of the earth’s population are living in them. The rush to the cities is on, and within the next few decades perhaps three- fourths of the human race will be born, live, and die in urban rather than rural areas” (McGavran 1970:314). Aylward Shorter for example indicated that:
Every day over 500 people are added to the population of Nairobi City, the capital of Kenya in East Africa, and most of these are new arrivals from the rural areas. This statistic is an indication of the scale and rapidity of urban growth in Africa today. Africa is the one continent undergoing the most rapid urbanization. By the end of the first quarter of the next century more than half of Africa’s population will be town dwelling. During the next thirty or so years we shall continue to witness the extraordinary sight of Africa’s town populations doubling and redoubling in each decade, and the townships multiplying in almost every part of the continent (Shorter 1991:1).
As was the case in many countries during the past century, urbanization arrived in South Africa with full force. The percentage of people living in urban areas in South Africa rose from 25% in 1921, to a full 50% in 1980. An interesting feature of urbanization in the country is the degree to which the different population groups have made a home for themselves in the cities. Whereas the Asian and White sections of the population may already be said to have reached an urbanization ceiling of 91% and 89% respectively in 1980, only 37% of the Black population was at that stage urbanized. The Coloured population occupied an intermediate position, with 78% urbanized in 1980. Already, more than a decade ago, more than half the total population of South Africa (53%) were confirmed city dwellers (Meiring 1994:589-590).
According to Statistics South Africa (2006:8), in figure 3.1 below the provincial estimates show that Kwazulu-Natal has the largest share of the population, followed by Gauteng and Eastern Cape in 2006. Ten percent of the population lives in the Western Cape. The Northern Cape has the smallest population. Free State has the second smallest share of the South African population, with about 6% of the total population residing in this province.

BLOEMFONTEIN (FREE STATE PROVINCE)

She is the capital city of the Free State Province. The Free State Province has a population of 2 958 800. According to Johnstone et al (2001:576), Bloemfontein has a population of 325,000. The principal languages of this province are: Sesotho 64, 4%; Afrikaans 11, 9% and IsiXhoza 9, 1%. She falls under Mangaung local municipality (Graffney 2007/08:512). She has a well-established institutional, educational and administrative infrastructure, and houses the Supreme Court of Appeal. She is referred to as the “City of Roses”, is home to some of the province’s many tertiary educational institutions, including the University of Free State and the Central University of Technology (Burger 2006/07:15). There is a continuous influx of unskilled people into Bloemfontein from rural areas. The unemployment rate is 40% (Graffney 2007/08:512).

KIMBERLEY (NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE)

She is the capital city of the Northern Cape Province.   The province has a population of 1 094 500. The principal languages of this province are: Afrikaans (68, 0 %) and Setswana (20, 8%). Other spoken languages are isiXhosa and English (Burger 2006/07:14). The Northern Cape is rich in minerals. Kimberley falls under Sol Plaatje Municipality. She has a rich and colorful history. She is famous for her diamonds which were discovered in 1870 in the walls of a farmhouse and on adjacent farmland.  The discovery of diamonds sparked a diamond rush that saw tens of thousands of diggers from all over the world rush to the area to stake their claims on Colesburg Kopje(Graffney 2007/08: 873). The country’s chief diamond pipes are found in the Kimberley district. In 1888, the diamond industry was formally established with the creation of De Beers Consolidated Mines. Alluvial diamonds are also extended from the beaches and the sea between Alexander Bay and Port Nolloth (Burger 2006/07:15)

CAPE TOWN (WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE)

She is the capital city of the Western Cape Province. The province has a population of 4 745 500. According to Johnstone et al (2001:576), Cape Town has a population of 2,6 million. The principal languages of this province are: Afrikaans (55, 3 %), IsiXhosa (23, 7%) and English (19, 3%) (Burger 2006/07:08). Cape Town falls under City of Cape Town Municipality. She is the “Mother City” of South Africa. She remains the economic hub of the Western Cape Province encompassing industrial areas such as Epping, Montagu Gardens, Parow and Retreat. Along the west coast, the Saldanha Steel Project has led to increased economic activity. The majority of the country’s petroleum companies and the largest segment of the printing and publishing industries are located in Cape Town. Visitors to the Western Cape can disembark at Cape Town International Airport, George Airport or all the parts of Cape Town, Mossel Bay or Saldanha (Burger 2006/07:8). The surrounding towns are growing towards Cape Town (Graffney 2007/08:987). The city’s unique environmental areas, including her beaches, the Cape Town Peninsula National Park and Roben Island (a World Heritage site) are important visitor attractions that generate economic activity and promote job creation (Graffney 2007/08:988).

EAST LONDON (EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE)

The population of the province is 6 894 300. The principal languages of Eastern Cape are isiXhosa 83, 4 %; Afrikaans 9, 3% and English 3, 6%. Africans, Coloureds, Indians, Asians and Whites are also sited at this province (Graffney 2007/08:395). East London falls under Buffalo City Municipality. The sectors within East London with the highest growth potential are manufacturing, trade and accommodations, transport and communication and financial and business services (Graffney 2007/08:396). The metropolitan economics of Port Elizabeth and East London are based primary on manufacturing. The province is the hub of South Africa’s automotive industry. Several  of the world’s biggest motor manufactures, such as Volkswagen, Ford (Samcor), General Motors (Delta) and DaimlerChrysler, have plants in the Eastern Cape (Burger 2006/07:10).

PORT ELIZABETH (EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE)

The population and languages of the Easten Cape Province are those indicated above (see East London). According to Johnstone et al (2001:576), Port Elizabeth has a population of 1,2 million. She falls under Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.  In 1993  Port Elizabeth became the first city in South Africa with a fully democratic, non-racial  city council (Graffney 2007/08:452). She is the largest city in the metro, and the fifth largest in South Africa. She has a well developed infrastructure: Public transport is adequate and it is possible to move around by city bus shuttle, taxi or on foot. The city  is an important centre for the automobile industry and is a major transport hub. Her well-equipped modern airport and habour link Southern Africa with other national and international destinations (Graffney 2007/08:452). The graceful curve of Algoa Bay provides an ideal setting for the port of Port Elizabeth. East London offers equally favorable harbor facilities. The province is serviced by three airports situated in Port Elizabeth, East London and Mthatha (Burger 2006/07:10).

DURBAN (KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE)

Kwazulu Natal Province has more than 9, 9 million people (9 924 000). According to Johnstone et al (2001:576), Duraban has a population of 2,8 million. The principal languages are: ixiZulu 80, 9%; English 13, 6%; and Afrikaans 1, 5%. The remnants of British colonialism, together with Zulu, Indians, and Afrikaans traditions make for an interesting cultural mix in the province (Burger 2006/07:13). Durban falls under Ethekwini Municipality. She is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world. Her port is the 10-largest in the world (Burger 2006/07:12). Visitors to Kwazulu-Natal can either disembark at Durban International Airport, which handles more than 2, 5 million passengers a year, or at Durban harbor. Alternatively, they can use of the extensive national road network (Burger 2006/07:12).  She is South Africa’s major port city and  the second largest industrial hub after Gauteng. She is the major entry and exit port for both imports and exports, with access to important trading areas to the East, and proximity to the Gauteng mineral-industrial complex (Graffney 2007/08:623). According to E. Luther Copeland, because the world’s society is rapidly becoming urbanized, it means that people have on their hands an urban world (Copeland 1979:60). What does this rapid urban growth mean for Christian missions? This question is a fundamental question which should be clearly understood and answered. There are many authors who have noticed the importance of rapid urban growth for Christian missions. In order to answer the above question, the researcher pays attention to different authors’ perspectives concerning what the rapid urban growth means for Christian missions:

•  According to Maluga (1999:172), the South African cities are places where God is actively at work changing lives. This is happening through urban churches that have embraced God’s call to the city. The more people move into South African cities, the potential for Kingdom impact grows greater and greater.
•  Roger S. Greenway is of the opinion that when Christians encounter the rapidity of urban growth, it clearly means that “the harvest field is larger than ever before. More people need to be reached with the Gospel. More workers need to respond to the Lord’s call, prepare themselves, and begin gathering the harvest (Greenway 1999:3-4). Dietrich Bonhoeffer is of the opinion that Jesus in Matthew 9:35- 38 is portrayed as the Lord who reached out to the multitudes. His divine pity went out to that erring flock, the thousands who surged around Him. From a human point of view everything looked hopeless, but Jesus saw things with different eyes. Instead seeing  the people maltreated, wretched and poor, He saw the ripe harvest field of God. “The harvest is great”. It is ripe enough to be gathered, the wretched folk to be fetched home to the Kingdom of God. Jesus beholds the promise of God descending on the  multitudes where the scribes and zealots saw only a field trampled down, burnt and ravaged. Jesus saw the field waving with corn and ripe for the Kingdom of God. The harvest was great, but only Jesus saw it (Bonhoeffer 2001:144).
• Aylward Shorter on the other hand says, “It is quite clear that urbanization is the most important social reality in Africa today, and that Christian evangelization must take full account of it” ( Shorter 1991:1) and he further indicated that “Urbanization must be taken seriously by the church and given a priority that is absolute. Personnel have to be deployed in the towns and urban church structures created, if the Gospel is to continue to make an impact in Africa” (Shorter 1991:1-2).
• Greenway and Monsma indicated that the urbanization of Christian missions is an urgent and serious need. Cities determine the destiny of nations, and their influence on the everyday affairs of individuals is incalculable. As cities grow in number, size, and influence, it is incumbent on those responsible for world evangelization, which includes the tasks of teaching, planning, and recruitment of missionaries, to focus on these cities (1999:xi).
• According to Donald A. McGavran, the Church faces huge city populations continually growing.  Her task is to disciple, baptize, and teach these urban multitudes.  It was urban multitudes that the Lord would have gathered as a hen gathers her brood under her wings; and His church, indwelt by Him, longs to do the same (1970:316).

It is incumbent upon Christians today to recognize and enthusiastically enter into the challenge of the new, emerging world. God is calling the church into the city. The world is becoming an urban world – and this is an inevitable and irreversible trend. Only Jesus’ return or humanity’s destruction of itself in a mushroom cloud will prevent the urbanization of the world. But people are not only faced with the mind boggling growth of the world’s existing cities – even the most rural and isolated areas of the world will be exposed to urbanization (Linthicum 1991d:19).

Epigraphy 
Dedication 
Acknowledgements 
Summary 
Key terms 
List of figures 
Abbreviations 
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Relevance of study
1.2 Problem statement
1.3 Aim and objectives
1.4 Hypothesis
1.5 Central theoretical argument
1.6 Why study urban church planting?
1.7 Research methodology
1.7.1 Literature study
1.7.1.1 A preliminary literature study
1.7.1.2 A full literature study
1.7.2 Empirical method
1.7.2.1 Interviews
1.7.2.2 Questionnaires
1.7.2.3 Participant observer
1.8 Explanation of concepts
1.8.1 Local church
1.8.2 Urbanization
1.8.3 Urban areas
1.8.4 Urban ministry
1.8.5 Urban Church planting
1.8.6 Theology of urban mission
1.9 Preliminary outline
2. THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF URBAN MISSION
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Biblical theology of mission
2.2.1 What mission entails
2.2.2 The Triune God as involved in the sending
2.2.2.1 God the Father as the Sender
2.2.2.2 God the Son as the Sender
2.2.2.3 God the Holy Spirit as the Sender
2.3 Different views concerning the Biblical theology of the city
2.3.1 The negative image of the city
2.3.1.1 The city of Satan
2.3.1.2 The symbol of evil
2.3.2 The positive image of the city
2.3.2.1 The city of God
2.3.2.2 A symbol of good
2.4 Urban mission from the Old Testament perspective
2.4.1 God’s concern for the city of Nineveh
2.4.2 God’s concern for the city of Sodom
2.4.3 God’s concern for the city of Jerusalem
2.5 Urban mission from the New Testament perspective
2.5.1 Jesus’ concern for urban mission from the Gospel’s perspectives
2.5.1.1 He preached in cities
2.5.1.2 His concern for the city of Jerusalem
2.5.1.3 He sent His disciples to preach in cities
2.5.2 Jesus’ concern for urban mission from the Acts’ perspective
2.5.2.1 Jerusalem
2.5.2.2 Judea
2.5.2.3 Samaria
2.5.2.4 Antioch
2.5.3 Jesus’ concern for the Seven Churches cited in Seven cities of Asia Minor
2.5.3.1 Ephesus
2.5.3.1.1 Destination
2.5.3.1.2 Commendation
2.5.3.1.3 Rebuke
2.5.3.1.4 Exhortation
2.5.3.1.5 Promise
2.5.3.2 Smyrna
2.5.3.2.1 Destination
2.5.3.2.2 Commendation
2.5.3.2.3 Rebuke
2.5.3.2.4 Exhortation
2.5.3.2.5 Promise
2.5.3.3 Pergamum
2.5.3.3.1 Destination
2.5.3.3.2 Commendation
2.6 Cities in the history of the church
2.6.1 City as the place of rebellion against God
2.6.2 City as the place where God is worshipped
2.6.3 Strategic value of cities, where many people are reached
2.7 Conclusion
3. URBANIZATION
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Urban growth
3.3 Causes of urban growth
3.4 Problems in urban areas
3.5 Conclusion
4. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE DEFINITION OF MISSION IN AN URBAN SETTING
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The comprehensive definition of mission of the church in an urban setting
4.3 Martyria
4.4 The Leitourgia dimension: “Mission as an act of worship”
4.5 The relationship between the five dimensions of mission
4.6 Conclusion
5. MISSION WORK OF THE REFORMED CHURCH TSHIAWELO IN AN URBAN SETTING
5.1 Introduction 168
5.2 Reformed Church Tshiawelo
5.3 The challenges of the Reformed Church Tshiawelo
5.4 The future plan of the church
5.5 Evaluation of the urban mission of the Reformed Church Tshiawelo
5.6 Conclusion
6. STRATEGIES THAT THE REFORMED CHURCH TSHIAWELO CAN UTILISE TO PLANT CHURCHES IN METROPOLITAN CITIES OUTSIDE GAUTENG PROVINCE
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Strategies for planting daughter churches in urban areas
6.3 Principles of urban church planting
6.4 Church planting methods
6.5 Conclusion
7. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Hypothesis
7.3 Main conclusions
7.4 Recommendations
7.5 Areas for future research
7.6 Conclusion
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
8.1 Books
8.2 Journals, tracts, etc.
8.3 Church publications
8.4 Electronic sources
8.5 News papers
8.6 Bible Versions
APPENDIXES
APPENDIX A: Questionnaires given to church leaders of the RCT
APPENDIX B: Questionnaires given to church members of the RCT
APPENDIX C: Pictures of the victims of xenophobia violence in South Africa
APPENDIX D: A pictures and story of the South African prostitutes
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