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Detroit Presbytery is using urban-suburban partnerships to stimulate missional activity. Allen Timm, Executive Presbyter, is a champion of mission involvement by congregations, but he recognizes that many churches have limited resources.“The congregation is the center of activity” in the presbytery, Timm declares, and so the presbytery must resource the local church to carry out its mission.
In Detroit Presbytery, that has led to creation of a team that looks for creative ventures in Christcentered service that churches can participate in together. The idea began in a conversation soon after Timm came to Detroit. “I hear you’re a mission guy,” an elder said to Timm. The elder described the positive effects that youth mission trips had in his own congregation, and he wanted the new Executive Presbyter to consider organizing the presbytery to foster adult mission trips. Four years later, a mission development team has formed and numerous mission trips launched, including 400 people heading south to help in Katrina recovery efforts.
An after school program at Calvin East Presbyterian Church in Detroit is a recent example of urban-suburban partnership. Mark Tippin, pastor of the multi-racial church, wanted to help his church “see” the desperation in the community.
“The only outreach was VBS,” Tippin says. “They were internally focused.”
Tippin hoped that by finding a way to serve the community, not only would many find practical and spiritual help, but the congregation would be reenergized as well. Almost half of Detroit residents are to some degree illiterate. Responding to this need, 11 members of the small congregation signed up to be tutors for children in grades K-5. They were joined by members of a nearby suburban congregation, Grosse Pointe Memorial. Soon after a Wednesday night dinner was offered to the children being tutored and their parents. Following dinner, all were invited to Bible study.
Will this outreach to neighboring families result in new disciples?
“It’s slow going,” Tippin says. “It’s about forming relationships.” In the meantime, this new mission venture “helps the congregation in their faith walk.” And for the children being assisted in reading, “We want these kids to have an experience of the Kingdom of God among us.”