Urban Imperative the Ultimate Imperative
Life is short. Don't waste it. Speaker Asserts
Sarah Cummings
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Missions Update
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McConnell presented the solemn reminder that "God is sovereign over our beginning and God is sovereign over our end. Everything in between is, at its best, brief and vapor-like."
Not only does McConnell say he lives his life with this motto in mind; McConnell said it also guides his ministry, Urban Imperative. According to its website, Urban Imperative "exists to motivate believers to magnify Jesus Christ by becoming disciple-makers and church-planters in the urban mission fields of America and throughout the world for the glory of God." The ministry has its own website at www.urbanimperative.com.
This ministry is committed to making much of the gospel; they seek to labor for God as He performs His miraculous works of grace in the mega-cities of the world.
On its website, the McConnell says that "God's big world is full of big cities. Every city has one great need, namely a need to see Jesus Christ as the greatest expression of God's glory and to savor Jesus Christ as their supreme treasure. This is what it means to be 'created for His glory.' This will only happen when the Holy Spirit makes effective the proclamation of the gospel in the lives of unbelievers, turning self-centered blasphemers into God-exalting worshipers."
With programs such as student internships, missions-trips or church planting opportunities, Urban Imperative desires to see the love of God and the beauty of Jesus Christ magnified in everything.
The leadership team focuses on programs and events that are God-exalting and self-examining to reach people with the gospel, both the saved and the unsaved.
Urban Imperative's newest ministry is a recent conference called "An Unwasted Day."
Youth pastor from Richmond, Virginia, Zac Collins, said the conference "was a welcome spiritual slap in the face for me and the students to whom I minister. It reminded us of the futility of life. It challenged a life of vain pursuits. It took us to the cross of Christ and the empty tomb. It called us to an undivided heart passionate about what matters most, the joyful display of God's glory."
Collins said that God used the Urban Imperative team and "An Unwasted Day" as instruments in His hand to graciously launch many into unwasted lives.
"I praise the Lord for Ian McConnell and UI," said Collins. "Their biblical desire to reach the world through urban ministry is both challenging and encouraging."
In his book, "Life As A Vapor," John Piper notes that "The Son of God is not a vapor. He is a solid reality, with no beginning and no ending. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday and today and forever. . . .
"But what about us?" Piper continues. "This life is a vapor. Two seconds, and we will be gone. . . . [What are you doing to] make the vapor of your life an everlasting aroma of praise to the glory of Christ?" (Piper, 11-12)
This was the challenge to the students at Clearwater this past week. McConnell challenged his audience to position ourselves to be a part of God's plan. Whether it is getting involved with Urban Imperative, ministering in a local church, or showing Christ's love to a co-worker, Piper said that God has called us all to live this vapor-like life through His gospel, for His glory.
As McConnell said, "Life is short. Are you wasting it?"
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