City Core Initiative targets four Texas cities_92203

Posted: 9/19/03

City Core Initiative targets four Texas cities

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

The Baptist General Convention of Texas City Core Initiative will focus on spiritually and economically reviving the historic hearts of Tyler, San Antonio, Dallas and Abilene.

Local Baptist association leaders in all four locations agreed to partner with the BGCT in gathering information about the people, population shifts and ministries in the city cores of their respective areas. Local leaders also will help connect initiative organizers with existing ministries and networks.

The cities were chosen because they offer variety in how the city cores have changed as well as bringing geographical variations, according to Tommy Goode, BGCT City Core Initiative consultant.

With this mix of cultural diversity, he said, “whatever we learn can be applied to all cities.”

The cities also were chosen because of their locations near major interstates. I-20 runs through Tyler, Dallas and Abilene, I-35 through San Antonio and Dallas

“Change and population shifts tend to occur more rapidly along Interstate corridors,” Goode explained

The initiative also includes collaboration with community, church, network and denominational leaders in hopes of finding a way to build on the strengths of ongoing ministry and develop new ministries where needed.

Goode said he hopes to do at least one model project in each of the four cities. Projects would be designed to bring local groups together to unite and impact their communities.

An interdenominational dialogue of Dallas-area leaders has started between the BGCT, the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The BGCT and the North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church have committed to surveying the Dallas city core for on-going ministry and ministry needs.

Goode cautions that it takes more than excitement and an effective strategy to spiritually revive city cores. It takes Christians acting out of their faith.

“There is a spiritual warfare in place for us to reach our world for Christ,” he said. “We're wise to keep in mind that to reach the city is more than a good strategy. It's to do spiritual battle with Satan and evil.”