The article links to the original post on David Fitch’s blog. Tim Keller replied in the comments, and I think his reply is significant. According to him, Redeemer attracted virtually all non-churched people in its early years, before the wave of gentrification. That being the case, I don’t see how Redeemer-modeled church plants will struggle in a supposedly “post-Christian” environment. Several other church planters responded saying that their experience matched Redeemer’s. It is fair to say that some of these urban plants are riding gentrification, but my conclusion is that they would still be successful plants even without the additional Christian influx.
I am in agreement with Charlie. Fitch seemed to be half right about Keller’s and Driscoll’s churches.
What was even more telling was Bradley’s points about the suburbanization of poverty and suburbanization of different ethnic groups. Because of gentrification, the poor have moved into older suburban neighborhoods and there is also a movement of different ethnic groups towards these suburbs. I’ve done consultation with just as many suburban churches as inner-city churches in reaching out to at-risk youth as well as the reaching out to the poor because these suburban churches are facing the same problems as their inner-city counterparts…….
Discussion
NewWow. Very interesting.
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NewTim Keller's Response
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NewI am in agreement with
What was even more telling was Bradley’s points about the suburbanization of poverty and suburbanization of different ethnic groups. Because of gentrification, the poor have moved into older suburban neighborhoods and there is also a movement of different ethnic groups towards these suburbs. I’ve done consultation with just as many suburban churches as inner-city churches in reaching out to at-risk youth as well as the reaching out to the poor because these suburban churches are facing the same problems as their inner-city counterparts…….