"To teach Christians to make disciples cross-culturally in an urban setting."

The School of Urban Ministry is an intense and intentional training for those interested in learning how to plan and organize outreach ministries in their community. It teaches about different cultures and how each responds to the Gospel message in their own cultural context. It teaches how to identify a community need and then how to develop a real functioning ministry to meet that need so that the power of the Gospel can work in the lives of all people.

SUM is a two-semester, 32-week program with classes meeting one night a week for 3 hours to discuss relevant readings, hear fascinating speakers and review course material. It is led by LINC's Executive Director Mark Junkans, with guest speakers that include local leaders and experts who know Houston and the unique challenges it faces through its influx of new immigrants. Although each of these immigrant groups is unique, almost universally they have not heard the Gospel.

The School of Urban Ministry is experiential. Students spend time in urban communities learning their nuances and seeing how the city operates as a whole. Field trips and out of the box experiences are an integral part of the learning process as they help shape an urban ministry mindset for the students. An emphasis is placed on building relationships with a new people group so that the Gospel can be proclaimed in word and action.

SUM is affordable - $100 per semester, and is the best investment you can make if you are interested in reaching our urban and ethnic communities.

You can get more information by emailing office@linchouston.org or call 713-426-2451.

In 1800, only 2.5% of the world's population lived in cities. In 1900, the number had grown to 10%. Today, half of the world's population lives in vast metro areas. By 2020, 75% of people will live in cities! How will we reach them with the Gospel? That question created the School of Urban Ministry (SUM). Houston is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States; adding nearly 3.6 million people over the next 25 years! How will we reach them with the Gospel?

Cities worldwide, including Houston, share the same problems: single generation families; poverty; chemical dependency; mental illness; housing and development issues; gangs, justice and prison systems, prostitution; HIV/AIDS and much more. These swirling, teeming cities are multi-cultural, and each sub-group will need to be approached with the Gospel within their own cultural milieu, in the midst of their own needs. To serve in the city, we need an understanding of what makes up a culture and how to cross cultural boundaries. We need to understand other world religions and where there are access points for the Gospel. We, as the church, have never faced a situation like this before. The books need to be re-written. We need to find new ways and new models to reach those who do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We need to teach entrepreneurial leaders to build the urban church here in Houston and worldwide!

Everyone, regardless of age or background, can benefit from attending SUM!

1. Suburban volunteers who wish to be equipped for involvement in the city
2. Urban leaders who desire to be more effective in entrepreneuring their ministries
3. Seminary, college, and Bible school students who wish to serve cross-culturally and gain additional experience
4. Missionaries and candidates for urban ministry worldwide

Houston has undergone a remarkable transformation over the recent years; being transformed from an oil-boom town to a culturally and ethnically area rich with diversity. Nearly 40% of the population is of Hispanic origin, 25% African American, and upwards of six percent Asian, with a growing number of new international immigrants from all corners of the world. Our level of immigration is unique, and so is the level of diversity! We have here a God-given laboratory, with all of the educational riches of our metro area, with committed Lutherans all around us, with the ability to train believers to reach almost any culture on earth! Let’s go!

Through LINC-Houston, churches in the greater Houston area can partner to plant, nurture and equip groups of new believers in the city. However, as much as we want to help, many of us just don’t know what to do, where to do it or how to do it. In SUM, you will learn about the city hands-on through speakers from a variety of city ministries and services and in field trips into the city with someone who knows it. In a small group, you will develop your own outreach ministry that serves an urban unreached people group (UPG) that you feel called to serve. You will leave your 2 semesters of training with an actual ministry plan that meets a need for that urban UPG, and you will know a LINC missionary who could use your ministry. Then it’s between you and your God!

We invite you to come and be trained at SUM. We need to warn you, though; a high percentage of our graduates end up sensing God’s call to make a difference in the city! The whole world now lives 20 minutes from your door. Who will reach them? Are you ready to make a difference? 2006-07 classes will begin in September. Tuition for each semester is just $100.

Over 10 years ago The School of Urban Ministry was created in Minneapolis, Minnesota at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, an urban church situated in the diverse Phillips Neighborhood, with the express purpose of training Christians to work in the city. Rev. Roland Wells, Jr. noticed that suburban volunteers who came to the church to work with their children's programs were instantly frustrated. That frustration led to 1-3 day workshops on the city. Later, at a pastor's prayer retreat in the late spring of 1994, Pastor Wells was sitting under a tree in the afternoon and the whole idea of a year-long program covering a variety of topics relevant to the city dropped into his head as a complete piece. With help from an elder in the church, together they took the idea and developed it into the comprehensive program know as SUM.

In the fall of 2005, The School of Urban Ministry opened its first satellite site in Houston, Texas! The School of Urban Ministry has partnered with LINC Houston to raise up and equip Christian leaders in the Houston area to reach the city for Christ! After the Spring Semester, we had 11 men and women complete the course. Praise God

Want more information about the class?
call Ruanne: 713-426-2451
or office@linchouston.org

SUM Houston Registration Form (WORD) or (PDF) format
SUM Houston Information Sheet