Alvin Sanders, a church leader, planted a church in a violent neighborhood after a police shooting. He served with the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America) and is now President of World Impact. Alvin has authored books on diversity and poverty and believes every church needs an urban ministry. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living. Pastors and church leaders, jump into a 40-day discipleship challenge this Fall. In a politically divisive time, the wisest decision you can make is to focus on what brings unity. No one and nothing brings unity like Jesus. Our 40-Day Jesus-Centered Challenges will ensure you not only stay united on what’s most important, but they will grow your small groups like crazy, provide much-needed done-for-you materials, and create greater disciples. Literally, this Fall may be the most strategic time in our nation’s history to get a 40-day challenge going at your church.To get your custom quote with an extra coupon take 2 minutes to fill out the form here: www.redletterchallenge.com/quote.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

World Impact: Transforming Communities Together

Alvin Sanders Books

Custom Quote for 40-Day Challenge

Key insights from the episode:

If you read the New Testament, you are talking about urban ministry. – Alvin Sanders

Whether you like it or not, the things that come out of the urban space will affect you. – Alvin Sanders

If you want to know what suburban churches will be dealing with ten years from now, look at what urban churches are dealing with now. – Alvin Sanders

There are suburban churches today that still don’t think that gender identity, political divisiveness, poverty, and homelessness are a problem in their community. – Alvin Sanders

You can kinda pretend there is nothing wrong in the suburbs. – Alvin Sanders

There’s a giant search for authenticity. The term ‘micro church’ is cropping up more and more. – Alvin Sanders

The urban church can help the suburban church with its struggle with identity. – Alvin Sanders

If suburban churches try to do evangelism in their neighborhood, it will automatically set them on a journey of diversity. – Alvin Sanders

75% of folks at our church had never been to church before, and it was simply due to relationships. – Alvin Sanders

The lowest hanging fruit in church is responding to cards filled out by guests. – Zach Zehnder

Do you want to be counter-cultural? I’ve got two kids with one woman. What’s more counter-cultural than that? – Alvin Sanders

Do you have enough evidence in your life that if you went to court, you’d be convicted of being a Christian? - Pastor Percy Carter

The church is still providing a necessary moral compass for culture. – Alvin Sanders

The community is waiting for the church to take a seat at your table. – Alvin Sanders

There’s no political ideology that can contain Matthew 5-7. – Alvin Sanders

Alvin Sanders’ Challenge: Commit to improving the lives of those living in poverty through your time, treasure, and talents.

Are you following Jesus?

Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.

In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.

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53: Mindset Evolution: Developing the Try Life On Mindset