Living Missionally in the Suburbs

Ed Stetzer was asked, "How can we live more missionally in suburbia (any practical suggestions)?" He responded,

First, I think churches in the suburbs need to reconsider and discover again the nature of the biblical gospel. To many, the suburbs mean success. I live in such a place — people move to my area because it is where the other successful people are moving. It is no closer to downtown that 5 other suburbs I could list, but it is the go-to place on the north side of Nashville. Thus, it attracts people who value success. Obviously, a biblical gospel calls us to weakness and not strength. In the midst of the celebration of riches and opulence around us, we hold up a gospel of self-denial, poverty of spirit, and forgiveness of sin.

Second, we want to be counter cultural and push for community. Much of the suburban situation is built around keeping you away from people. I can have my dry cleaning picked up, my groceries delivered, and my lawn mowed every week — and I never have to leave my house. (I have neighbors that I never see unless I intentionally see them.)

But, for us, we see that the church and its believers are sent on a mission. So, my family can be stalkers. We being cookies to all the new neighbors (our neighborhood is new). We invite people over for barbecues. We blow off dangerous amounts of fireworks and invite everyone over. If the suburbs push against community, we push for it.

Children are also a great point of connection. We built the swing set in our yard that their kids want to play on. We have a zip line they can swing down and break their legs. We have the tire swing in our yard (and, it is quite a tire-swing if I do say so myself). So, if you are looking for the kids, they are at my house– and the parents follow.