City Vision

City Vision is the urban ministry platform that all of the Youth & Discipleship department’s urban efforts synergize under. Our strategy is empowered by the following Urban Ministries Initiatives: the Missionary Journey Experience (MJ), Stateside Expeditions (STEP); Urban Training Centers, the MISSION Discipleship Centers, Block Parties; and Inner-city Equippers Conferences.

“MJ Experience” / “Missionary Journeys”: The only way to bring a city out of darkness is to infuse more light.  The new “MJ Experience” will bring light to New York City by strategically placing young adults in a structured, urban internship that will allow them to learn, experience, and participate in a plethora of city ministry settings.  This program is designed to give young adults (post-high school and/or post-college) the opportunity to live in, learn in, and labor in perhaps the world’s most amazing city, New York.  MJ Internships will be 9 months to two years in length and will immerse mature disciples who sense a lifetime call to the city or simply a desire to do life changing ministry for a short season in the urban Harvest. Clink the link below to learn more about the MJ Experience and to review application information.

Urban Training Centers: An urban ministry headquarters for holistic ministry, partnering with others, to strengthen churches, communities, and the city for Christ. By focusing resources, people, and efforts in places like New York City, we can see effective and lasting ministry results.  The Urban Training Center in New York is at the heart of this initiative.  There we will engage in ministries like tutoring, substance abuse rehab, tutoring, and food and clothing distribution. Young adults can serve and minister at the UTC in New York City for 1-2 year journeys where the can be “hands on” in ministry every day.

The MISSION Discipleship Centers: THE MISSION Discipleship Centers are full-time, residential, discipleship and ministry training programs. The original goal was to establish a model in major cities in the United States so that young adults could be disciple and trained for ministry, particularly in an urban environment. THE MISSION program adopts a holistic approach to discipleship, creatively blending emphasis on Knowledge (formal education), Being (informal education), and Doing (non-formal education models). Students strive to know God, be men and women of holiness and character, and do the work of the Kingdom.  The MISSION centers are often located in or near major urban centers like Baltimore, Dallas/Fort Worth, or Atlanta.  Click the link below to learn more about THE MISSION Discipleship Centers: THE MISSION

Block Parties: CITY VISION sponsors block parties in major cities. These events focus on meeting the physical and spiritual needs of communities through creating a huge party atmosphere that includes food distribution; free toys and inflatable rides for children; and a creative means for sharing the gospel through drama, music and personal evangelism. The goals are to reach the lost and strengthen the local churches by partnering with them to impact their community.  These events usually take place in the cities where Stateside Expedition Teams are sharing in ministry.

Inner-City Ministry Equippers Conferences: These conferences focus on equipping inner-city Pastors and Lay leaders. Topics for these conferences are chosen by inner-city Pastors as they strive to better equip their leaders to impact their city.  Our department would be glad to help you host a conference like this to open up the eyes and hearts of people and churches to effective ministry in an Urban environment.

Urban Ministries/Leadership Development Coordinator
B. Randall Parris – rparris@churchofgod.org
Assistant: Katie House – khouse@churchofgod.org