Saint Joseph (Hebrew ??????, Arabic ???? also known as Joseph of the House of David, Joseph the Betrothed, Joseph of Nazareth, or Joseph the Worker) is known from the New Testament as the husband of Mary, mother of Jesus.^[

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Liberation theology is a school of theology within Christianity, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church. It emphasizes the Christian mission to bring justice to the poor and oppressed, particularly through political activism. Its theologians consider sin the root source of poverty, the sin in question being exploitative capitalism and class war by the rich against the poor.

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URBAN MINISTRY RESOURCES

See also our

Urban Youth Ministry Resource Center.

 

POWERPOINT

"Urban Systems Research" by Tamecia Jones, neXus of Boston (View using your internet browser or download here as a

PPT or 

 

PDF)

 

 

ORGANIZATIONS

 

 

DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative
Proven training for emerging urban leaders across the US based out of Grand Rapids, MI. Capacity building for reaching young people, believing that "Jesus Christ is the foundation for sustainable change in a young person's life." National conferences and local workshops. 616.643.4700

Emmanuel Gospel Center
EGS is an interesting and significant long-time urban organization. You will find much to study and learn from this site. Note particularly their Newsletters and

Research Reviews

 

.

 

Urban Youth Workers Institute

 

Perhaps the largest and most dynamic network and association of urban youth ministries these days. It’s national conferences and city-wide, one-day Reload sessions are inspiring, encouraging, and challenging many youth workers to higher excellence and spiritual vitality.

 

UrbNet

 

Collaborates and sponsors large events, links and resources.

 

VisionYouth

 

From the respected World Vision.

 

YLO Urban Membership
This new annual membership gives the urban youth worker two shipments (one in March and one in September) of great urban music! In one year you’ll receive 8-10, urban youth-oriented CD's,  2 full length videos, 10 Complete music-based youth group sessions written by long-term youthworkers with leader's guide and reproducible student worksheets, 2 updated music comparison charts, 2-4 artist posters and 120 songs indexed with themes and scriptures.

 

 

 

Youth Partners

 

 
Dean Cowles heads up this network which came out of Compassion Works and still sponsors an event with that name. A network of child and youth workers.

 

ARTICLES

 

 

Smith, Ephraim. "Multiethnic and Urban Influence on Today’s Youth Culture," Ginger Sinsabaugh MacDonald’s "Logos in the ‘Hood," Jimmy M. Dorrell’s "Urban Youth and the Church," and Tommy Carrington’s "Developing an Urban Youth Ministry" in a special issue of Youthworker, on Urbanization, May/June, 2002.

"

What U Got 4 Me? Issues that Urban Leaders Want You to Know About

 

," (2005) Center for Youth and Family Ministry, Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA. Online Article. CYFM got some Urban Youth Workers together recently for a talk about the state of Urban Youth Ministry today and what could be done to help shape the next generation of ministers. Here's what we found...and what we plan to do about it.

 

 

BOOKS

Bakke, Ray. (1997) A Theology As Big As the City

 

. InterVarsity Press, 240 pp.

Bakke, Ray.(1987) The Urban Christian: Effective Ministry in Today's Urban World.

 

InterVarsity Press, 200 pp.

 

Borgman, Dean (1997)

 

When Kumbaya Is Not Enough: A Practical Theology for Youth Ministry, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson’s Publishing, 241 pp. Although written for youth ministry generally, many urban leaders have found this relevant to their situation and helpful in understanding the spirit of and theology behind relational youth ministry.

 

Borgman, Dean (2003)

 

Hear My Story: Understanding the Cries of Troubled Youth, Peabody, MA: Hendrickson's Publishers, 418 pp. One chapter is an important analysis of external, systemic and community factors behind urban violence. But chapters on how Jesus dealt with a difficult individual along with chapters on theologies of suffering, violence, forgiveness, healing and reconciliation should be helpful in urban ministry.

 

Campola, Bart (2001)

 

Kingdom Works: True Stories about God and His People in Inner City America, Vine Books, 146 pp. Here are true, heart-touching stories that inspire us to live with Jesus among the poor of our cities—and to make a difference in our world.

 

Carney, Glandion (1984)

 

Creative Urban Youth Ministry: A Resource for Leaders of Young People, Eldin, IL: David C. Cook Publishers, 74 pp. This is one of the first books written specifically on urban youth ministry. Honest reflections—on struggles and success—and practical advice for creating a fellowship of Christians in the inner-city.

Conn, Harvey M.l & Manuel Ortiz (2001) Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City & the People of God

 

, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 527 pp. Two urban scholars provide an important volume on the history and significance of the city, theological reflections on the city and the challenges that poverty, racism, human exploitation and government corruption pose to the church today. Some references to youth and youth ministry.

 

Copeland, Nelson E. (1995)

 

The Heroic Revolution: A new agenda for urban youth work, Nashville, TN: James C. Winston Publishing Co., 250 pp. The founder of the Christian Education Coalition for African-American Leadership in Philadelphia has written this book as "a much-needed basic resource in ‘urbocentric’ rather than ‘suburbocentric’ youth ministry. Chapters on culture, gangs, discipline, education, social action, entrepreneurship, urban religions, and much more."

Foster, Herbert L. (1986, 1990) Ribbin’, Jivin’ & Playin’ the Dozens: The Persistent Dilemma in our Schools

 

, New York: Ballinger Publishing Co., 359 pp. This secular book about urban education and need for discipline and control can help urban youth workers understand the games that street youth are bound to be playing on them. The author, with ample experience and success as a public school teacher and educational consultant argues that "there are three primary factors that severely limit our efforts to better educated minority students: institutionalized white racism, fear of those who exhibit unfamiliar and different lifestyles, and a rigid adherence to a wrong set of rules in playing the game of teaching and learning in inner-city schools." A very important book—not just for teachers.

 

Kumjufu, Jawanza (1993)

 

Hip-Hop vs. MAAT: A Psycho-Social Analysis of Values, Chicago, IL: African American Images, 151 pp. Kumjufu is especially known for his three volumes, Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys. At-risk behavior in a social environment made dangerous by external, systemic forces as well as factors within the community must be countered by building into young boys positive values. "MAAT is expressed in the seven cardinal virtues of righteousness, truth, justice, harmony, balance, reciprocity, and order." These values began in Africa and safe our youth from the negative values of the hip-hop and new jack city values.

 

Larson, Scott & Karen Free, eds. (2003)

 

City Lights: Ministry Essentials for Reaching Urban Youth, Loveland, CO: Group,175 pp. Nineteen leaders with urban experience share principles and models of youth ministry. Hispanic, Asian-American, Native American and girls,’ kids living on streets, and juvenile offenders’ ministries are not neglected. You’ll hear from Black leaders such as Alvin Bibbs, Marvin Daniels, Chris Hill, Rudy Howard, Efrem Smith, Dean Trulear, Karen Walls and more. An important book to consult.

Lupton, Robert D. (1989) Theirs Is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America

 

. San Francisco, CA: HarperSanFrancisco, 144 pp.

 

Ortiz, Manuel (1996)

 

One New People: Models for Developing a Multiethnic Church, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 158 pp. This book is based on research conducted by the author in the mid-1990s. It is loaded with actual church models from which we can learn. As Harvie Conn puts it in the Foreword, "Into a world where class, power and ancestry divided rich from poor, free from slave, men from women, came a society that welcomed all who bore the name of Jesus (1 Cor. 1: 26-29)…. Yet, today, Black, White, and Asian Christians still watch each other pour out of their church buildings on street intersections that are often their only common meeting ground…."

 

McCray, Walter Arthur (1992)

 

Black Young Adults: How to Reach Them, What to Teach Them, Chicago, IL: Black Light Fellowship, 143 pp. The focus of this book is on strengthening the Black church and community by educating Black young adults, ages 17-24. Its three parts cover: "Understanding, Reaching, and Teaching Black Young Adults."

 

 

Milliken, Bill with Char Meredith (1968) Tough Love: A realistic Christian love is changing young lives in the ghettos of New York, Old Tappan, NJ, 160 pp. Two white middle-class leaders from the suburbs struggle and learn as much as they give, living, worshipping, while in engaged in social work for which they’ve never been trained, and began sharing the Gospel of Jesus with youth of different ethnicities. This is the story of Harv Oostdyk, Bill Milliken and Dean Borgman pioneering Young Life’s urban ministry on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Bill’s honesty and vulnerability are refreshing and encouraging.

Perkins, John. (1993) Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development

 

. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 192 pp.

Perkins, John, ed. (1995) Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right

 

. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 266 pp.

 

 

Roehlkepartain, Eurgene C. (1989) Youth Ministry in Urban Churches: Proven tips from over 40 youth ministry veterans, Loveland, CO: Group, 251 pp. The author is a careful researcher, working for years with SEARCH Institute, who has here brought together insights from seasoned practitioners. Issues such as self-esteem, ethnic identity, racism, pregnancy, street gangs, poverty, violence and more are dealt with. You will find tools for community research/survey, specific guidelines for dealing with black, white, Asian and Hispanic families, and many proven methods for youth ministry here.

 

Rogers, Donald B. ed. (1989)

 

Urban Church Education, Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press, 213 pp. Fine analysis from 15 scholars, yet very readable. Deals honestly with the complexities and possibilities of Christian education in the urban setting.

 

Sherman, Amy L. (1997)

 

Restorers of Hope: Reaching the Poor in your Community with Church-based Ministries that Work, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 254 pp. This book not only tells the stories but analyzes the keys to success that have made some church programs among the poor of their cities work. It provides principles effective in rural as well as urban settings.

 

Sinsabaugh, Ginger, Linda Bannan, Dave Urbanski eds. (2001)

 

Help! I’m an Urban Youth Worker! YouthSpecialities/Zondervan, 160 pp. "Starting your own urban youth ministry--even if resources are few; Helping your ministry thrive alongside the influences and dangers of the streets; Grappling with the greater intensity of challenges city kids face (poverty, violence, pregnancy and STDs, crumbling schools, low self-esteem, lack of male role models, limited futures); Seeing beyond colors, nationalities, and behaviors . . . until you see Jesus in every one of your kids—and much, much more!"

 

Villafañe, Eldin (1995)

 

Seek the Peace of the City: Reflections on Urban Ministry, Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 146 pp. This nationally known theologian, educator and founder of Gordon-Conwell’s Boston Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME), provides a "ringing summons to today’s churches to give primacy to urban ministry…. This book will assist professors, students, pastors and youth leaders to serve multicultural ministries with theological depth and sociological relevance."

Villafañe, Eldin (2001) A Prayer for the City: Further Reflections on Urban Ministry

 

, Austin, TX: AETH, Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana, 150 pp. What this book adds to his previous book is a consideration of the uniqueness of Latino and African-American churches along with an appreciation of the Pentecostal tradition, "the politics of the Spirit."

 

Yancey, George (2003)

 

One Body, One Spirit: Principles of Successful Multiracial Churches, Downers Grove, IL: 180 pp. Sociologist George Yancey used data from a Lilly Endowment study of U. S. multiracial churches to find key principles for churches that really want to welcome people of all heritages and bring them into the life of a church. It deals insightfull and practically with issues of church leadership, worship styles, conflict resolution and much more.

 

FILMS

THE WALK. "Set in urban America, The Walk follows the life of a young woman named Sydney and her struggle to overcome the sudden death of her father. "Starring Grammy Award winning singer Regina Belle and Teck Holmes of MTVs Real World and introducing Eva Pigford. Featured at the American Black Film Festival 2004 in Miami, Florida. You can also get a discussion kit for the video. Available from http://

urbanministries.com

 

Dean Borgman and Christen B. Yates cCYS

Gil, R.M. & Vazquez, C.I. (1996). The Maria paradox. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Son.

OVERVIEW

Latina women often experience a profound clash between values and culture and the opportunities and expectations they find in America. The Maria Paradox, written by two Hispanic American women—a psychotherapist and a psychologist—addresses this issue, seeking to help Latinas "merge old world traditions with new world self-esteem." At the heart of the book is the concept of " ‘marianismo,’ " the Latina equivalent of what machismo is for Latino men. The authors state that just as the role of the man is determined by the rules of machismo, so is the woman’s determined by those of marianismo. In their home country, this social role provides women protection as wives and mothers. It also offers women respect and a life free from loneliness and wants. However, in the new country, marianismo binds Latinas in a no-win situation, as it insists that they live in a world that no longer exists and it perpetuates a value system that equates perfection with submission.

Marianismo is the ideal role for Hispanic women, viewing the Virgin Mary as the role model. The authors number the ten rules of marianismo. Among the list is the following:

• Do not forget a woman’s place.
• Do not be single, self-supporting, or independent-minded.
• Do not put your own needs first.
• Do not be unhappy with your man, no matter what he does to you.
• Do not forget that sex is for making babies, not for pleasure.
• Do not ask for help.
• Do not discuss personal problems outside the home.
• Do not change.

Using exercises and case studies, the authors thoroughly consider the marianismo’s impact for Latinas in the United States. They present avenues for change and acculturation by integrating the good of the home culture with the good of the new one, encouraging Latinas therefore to become " ‘new marianistas.’ "The Maria Paradox is a great book that all Latinas, those working with them, or those married to them should read. It sheds light into those dark, fussy areas and exposes the "invisible yoke" (marianismo), thus opening a window of hope.

QUOTATIONS

 

 

…if machismo is the sum total of what a man should be, marianismo defines the ideal role of woman…taking as its model of perfection the Virgin Mary herself. Marianismo is about sacred duty, self-sacrifice, and chastity. About dispensing care and pleasure, not receiving them. About living in the shadows, literally and figuratively, of your man-father, boyfriend, husband, son-your kids, and your family.

Traditional marianismo says that women are spiritually superior to men and capable of enduring all suffering.

Veneration may be the reward tendered to ‘la mujer buena’, but in actuality you end up feeling more like a servant than a subject of adoration. Indeed, the noble sacrifice of self (the ultimate expression of marianismo) is the force which has for generations prevented Hispanic women from even entertaining the notion of personal validation.

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Do you think that marianismo is compatible with life in America? Why or why not?
2. After looking at some of the rules of marianismo, how would any one of these create a conflict in the life of a Latina in America?
3. Do you see the effects of marianismo within any Latina teens in your youth group?
4. Since the concept is so inbred within the culture, can Hispanic American mothers prevent the future pain of their growing daughters? If so, how?

IMPLICATIONS

• If mothers, teachers, counselors, youth workers, etc, become aware and understand the concept of marianismo and how it plays to various degrees in the life of Latinas, it would greatly aid in the difficult process of acculturation and moving toward self-esteem.
• Latinas can use this book as a launching board toward freedom and wholeness.

Ana Reid cCYS