Strategy For City Transformation (Part 1)

City Transformation – What do we mean?
We are talking about winning souls, discipling them in the faith and seeing their lives transformed.
So the bottom line – City Transformation is simply the transformation of the lives of people in the city.

Different from Social Transformation, Economic Transformation, Cultural Transformation, etc.

• Social transformation – elevating the poor and needy, decreasing or even eliminating social ills, etc.
• Economic transformation – improving the standard of living, lowering cost of living, improving physical infrastructure, etc.
• Cultural transformation – change in culture (which happens for example when rural people move into an urban setting and begin to adapt, or due to media conservative Indian culture gives way to a more modern western lifestyle, practices etc.).

The unsaved person can achieve any and all of the above – social, economic, cultural, etc. transformation of the city. In fact it is happening all the time. Achieving positive social, economic or cultural transformation should not be seen as “city transformation” – the kind of transformation we are talking about.

Why Discuss and Engage in City Transformation?
This is part of fulfilling the Great Commission in our day.

Matthew 28:18-20

People dwell in cities and hence Cities are now an important “mission field”.

Just two hundred years ago only 3 percent of the world's population lived in cities. Today half does.

God cares about people – even people in cities. From the time of Abraham who stood before God to intercede for the cities of Sodom & Gomorrah, and God sending a reluctant prophet Jonah to prophesy to the city Ninevah – God cares about the city.

The Key To City Transformation is You!
Transformed people transform cities

Huge crusades themselves will not transform our city. We’ve had the greatest and best of evangelists come and go, but they have had negligible impact on the life of the city.
The key therefore are the believers who inhabitants of the city – becoming salt and light – and bringing about progressive transformation to the city.

Some insights on Developing A Strategy for City Transformation

This is a path we have not walked before and hence we are seeking God’s direction each step of the way. We want to develop a strategy through which we can effectively see our city transformed and then reproduce this in cities across our nation.

1, City transformation will take place when every believer is involved in City transformation
It will not happen through some large church, some powerful ministry, etc.

2, City transformation will take place when every believer is transformed, equipped and empowered to engage in city transformation

We must not stifle believers from engaging in active ministry in the marketplace.
We must equip and empower believers for the marketplace.

Luke 19:11-26
Vs 13 ‘Do business till I come’ – we need to engage with the world in all fronts till Jesus returns.

God's kingdom comes in and through many ministries, vocations, and locations - from university campuses to developing regions, in kitchens and boardrooms, through government, journalism, and the arts. All followers of Christ are needed to bring God's grace and truth to individuals, cultures and nations today and to do the works God prepared in advance for us to do.

3, City transformation will take place when every believer engages in city transformation starting with their circle of influence

Hence the 7 Mountain Assignment becomes important.
The people you interact the most on a regular basis in your circle of influence.


4, City transformation will take place when we combine efforts into a strategic movement that is planned and executed with divine wisdom and leading of the Spirit

Proverbs 21:22  A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.

Ecclesiastes 9:14,15
14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it.
15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.

Whether we are taking a city or protecting a city – we need wisdom, the wisdom of God.


5, City transformation is primarily a spiritual effort and hence we must begin by leveraging our spiritual resources given to us in Christ.

When God sees the wickedness, the corruption, the injustice in the land – He looks for an intercessor – someone who stands before God for the land.

Isaiah 59:14-16
14 Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter.
15 So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

Ezekiel 22:29,30
29 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.
30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

In addition, we know that the satan has held many in his bondage, and we must first enforce Christ’s triumph over the strongman and then plunder his goods (souls he holds captive).

2 Corinthians 4:3,4
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Matthew 12:28,29
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

God's truth not only breaks the spiritual bonds of sin and death but can free whole societies from deception and poverty.

Will continue next Sunday, as we unfold our strategy for our city.