I had the privilege recently of participating in an installation service for my friend Kevin Casillas as the interim pastor of the First Latin American Baptist Church in southwest Detroit, a couple of miles from here.
It was a joy to see a number of churches represented as Kevin was installed as the pastor there.
Ministry in urban areas is always difficult. While I have never been the pastor in any other kind of urban context, I would imagine that this southwest Detroit/upper downriver area is perhaps as difficult as any. It is racially mixed, dangerous, and drug and gang-infested. There are a lot of empty houses. There is a lot of unemployment and poverty. The upside that is not many people can use the excuse that they are working on Sundays.
Pray for Kevin and this little group of believers. It is a bilingual church so Kevin preaches in both languages (in essence, translating for himself). There are a number of issues that need to be addressed, so pray for wisdom and a teachable spirit about some important biblical issues.
And pray for the gospel in our cities. Poor, racially diverse, urban areas need Jesus too.
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