The City

I often struggle to articulate why I live in what many Richmonders consider a “bad part of town.” The real answer is that it was the area that provided the most bang for my buck when Jeromy and I originally began apartment searching. More space, less money. The apartments in that particular neighborhood afforded space to sit and eat dinner at a table, enough space to invite others to sit at our table too! Enough said. Beyond that, I briefly cite my desire to live in a different part of the city than where I grew up. Nothing fancy, nothing noble.

The reason I decided to stay another year doesn’t discount the reasons above, but certainly has a little more meat to it. My block is not “rough” by any stroke of the imagination. It’s friendly, often loud and occasionally dirty, but I’ve discovered the value in living within the confines of the city for a few reasons.

First, lack of personal space ironically creates space for residents to know neighbors in a raw way. I can’t put on much of a face when it’s 6:30 in the morning and I’m standing outside in my pajamas, waiting for my dog to pee. Nor can I hide my poor parallel parking skills when the neighbors are standing four feet away from the ever elusive curb. My neighbors have seen me unguarded and real. My anonymity has been laid at the altar. Communication theory teaches that space equals power. Think of who has the largest office in a typical corporate environment; it’s the ones who possess the most power. Since Jesus suggests we relinquish power by giving ourselves away, it’s not a large leap to surmise that sacrificing space, and therefore power, is a step towards the life for which we were designed (a way contrary to the current of society). Of course, moving from acquaintances to friends takes time, but opportunities to know your neighbor and love your neighbor abound in the city. You could have very little in common with them, but you share common space and consequently share life, albeit unintentionally.


Secondly, Tim Keller of Redeemer Pres (NYC) notes that changes in law, art, science, policy, style, thought and ultimately culture always flow from cities into the rest of the world. It’s true. Our lawmakers, artists and stoics are primarily found working and/or living in between bustling city streets. Coined “center city ministry,” Keller sees reaching the world’s culture shapers as a first step in influencing culture and welcoming others into Christian community. It follows that Christians who desire to partake in this missional effort are better equipped to do so by physically moving to the epicenter of cultural tremors. This approach positions Christian witness to the creative class as an innovative yet essential priority. If you’re not familiar, see a few center city ministry examples below:


http://www.namb.net/send-cities/

http://thewellbrussels.wordpress.com/

http://www.redeemer.com/

Lastly, in direct obedience to Scripture’s call and Jesus’ example of serving the poor, cities provide a plethora of opportunities to minister in this way. In reality, most of the United States’ poor reside in rural environments, but many impoverished find asylum in the city as well. The below World Magazine article praises a Kentucky ministry called Challenge House, Inc. which draws local missionaries to reside in poor neighborhoods. A growing trend in inner city ministry, Church Hill Activities and Tutoring of Richmond follows a similar model. Four tutoring sites offer a space for kids to come, rest, and learn almost every day of the week. These sites aren’t instructional buildings, they are homes of CHAT staff, homes where kids celebrate at birthday parties and adults host friends for Saturday cookouts. These are normal people living in normal homes, but not in what we would consider a normal neighborhood. These folks don’t just run programs, but love their neighbors, the poor, as they live beside them day in and day out. One of the Challenge House, Inc. participants explains the heart of this ministry method by citing Dr. John Perkins, author of multiple books on inner city ministry. He says “Jesus came to earth, a rough neighborhood, to be with those who needed Him. His message to some affluent people: Relocate to poor areas.” Challenging, for sure. Read more here:


http://www.worldmag.com/articles/18138

http://www.chatrichmond.org/

These realities and movements speak more fully to why I am staying in the city and why I love the city. Goal for year two will be to grow from simply loving the idea to living the idea with authenticity. In the end, no matter what the land looks like around your house, that’s what matters.