Finally, consider briefly what such a city-church paradigm of ministry could look like for Spokane. A unity-based paradigm of ministry to the city would, above all, seek God's vision for this city as a whole and would develop a missionary strategy true to the gospel while at the same time encompassing all elements of the true church - "reaching the whole city with the whole gospel through the whole church." Following might be several points of affirmation which could be used as a point of departure for the development of such a ministry by the Church of Spokane.

Studies by George Barna indicate that "only 3 percent of the churches in this country consistently work in cooperation with nearby churches that have similar missions or strategies toward jointly accomplishing their goals." What might be the impact upon the Church of Spokane and the city as a whole if we were able to see functional unity between a significant majority of the congregations in this city as a result of a mobilization effort led by the spiritual leaders of the city?

With over 80 percent (340,000+ residents) of Spokane County's population not in church on a given Sunday, there is certainly sufficient compelling reason for the church to give serious attention to its corporate witness in the community. If the Great Commission is to become reality in our city, it will require far more than any one church or denomination can possibly address.

Other cities in the United States and abroad have made great strides towards entering into an ongoing, mission-driven, gospel-oriented city-church approach to their communities. Though many of these city-church ministry efforts are relatively young, there impact has been significant.

For instance, in Colorado Springs, Colorado nearly one hundred congregations are actively and regularly working together to blanket their community with the gospel. Church attendance has risen by almost one percentage point every year (3,500 people) and the number of growing, vital congregations has increased from 10 per cent to 50 per cent of the congregations.

At regular intervals the pastors of these congregations gather to strategize and make assignments for such city-reaching spiritual enterprises as praying for and evangelizing every school, every neighborhood, every household, business, etc. No longer is church growth happening primarily through transfer of existing sheep; dozens of congregations are growing through new spiritual births, some 3500 active, new believers a year.

Conclusion:

While the pastors of Spokane are not the only shepherds of God's church here, we are key influencers in the church. Many will follow our leadership. As fellow pastors we appeal to each of you to seek the mind and heart of God regarding the unity of His church in Spokane. Then we invite you to take the necessary steps personally and with your congregations in order that together we might see the fulfillment of God's ultimate purpose (to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory, Hab. 2:14) and His immediate vision (to establish the fullest expression of the presence of Christ everywhere) throughout the world.

We believe it is time for the whole city to be transformed by the whole gospel through whole church. Let us together call upon the Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, to make this a reality in our day, in our lives… right here in Spokane.

Prepared for A Transformed Spokane (Mission Spokane) by Pastor John S. Repsold, Fourth Memorial Church, Spokane, WA

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