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You Are Invited to
Link Arms and Hearts
with Urban and
Suburban Churches
in Mission
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The landscapes and colorful textures of our
cities are rapidly changing. The United States is
becoming a network of metropolitan urban areas
due to global development and sprawl. “Big cities
are bumping into towns, stretching into rural
areas, gobbling up farmland, and merging
into big urban blobs: “MEGAPOLITAN AREAS.”
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM– USA TODAY, JULY 11, 2005
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What is Urban Ministry?
When you hear “urban” what comes to mind?
Vibrant cities full of diversity and potential?
Centers of blight and lack of resources
Metropolitan areas that have no connection to
the well-being of you and your family?
None of these images reflects the totality of what it means to be urban, yet all of these images are a part of the challenge and promise that makes urban ministry so unique. Whether we are in the city or the suburbs, our welfare is tied to the welfare of the urban centers in our midst. As Christians, we are called to embrace the city in its fullness as we bear witness to Jesus Christ:
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“But seek the welfare of the city... and pray to the LORD on its behalf,
for in its welfare you will find your welfare."MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMJEREMIAH 29:7
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What is the Philadelphia Urban Ministry Institute (PUMI)?
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Regardless of the size, strength, or demographics of your congregation, your church has particular gifts to give and receive in urban ministry. The purpose of the Philadelphia Urban Ministry Institute (PUMI) is to identify, maximize, and implement those gifts by:
• Presenting lectures and workshops from respected persons in the field of urban ministry.
• Providing pilgrimages (field trips) to witness successful and faithful ministries by congregations in selected cities.
• Offering opportunities to process learnings with Christians from other contexts and perspectives.
• Creating a forum for networking in order to share gifts and develop more effective ministry initiatives and partnerships.
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Being a part of PUMI provides the opportunity to link arms and hearts with other urban and suburban churches. If indeed, as theologian Emil Brunner says, “the church exists by mission as fire exists by burning,” then not to engage in ministry in our urban areas is tantamount to neglecting both our cities and our faith. PUMI provides the inspiration, tools, skills and resources to equip you for this necessary and vital ministry.
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“Do not be afraid; keep on speaking,
do not be silent. For I am with you,
and no one is going to harm you,
because I have many people
in this city.”
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM– ACTS 18:9B-10
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How can I get more
information about PUMI ?
Contact PUMI at:
The First Presbyterian Church in Germantown
35 West Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
Phone: (215) 843-8811
revnemuth@aol.com
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“For just as the body is one and
has many members, and all the
members of the body, though
many, are one body, so it is
with Christ.”
–MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM- I CORINTHIANS 12:12
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“Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world.
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM– MARGARET MEAD
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