Sub*Text Forum

I just got back form the Sub*Text forum in St. Charles, IL. Al Hsu who is the author of The Suburban Christian was the keynote speaker. I also had the privilege of meeting Steve McCoy and Joe Thorn, whose blogs that I follow.

Anyway, here are a few of the things that Al shared which stuck out to me as we thought about and discussed missional living in Suburbia.

Suburbia

• Multi-faceted and complex
• Suburbia is a significant mission field
• USA is third largest mission field in the world.
• 150,000,000 live in Suburbia (This is equivalent to the size of 7th largest country in the world)
• Suburbia is now the center of technology, factories and major employment companies
  
• More people in the USA live and shop in the suburbs than in the cities.
• Reverse commuting is very common phenomenon.
• The suburbs are rapidly diversifying.
• The world is coming to Suburbia.
• The suburban life is a spiritual quest. People move to Suburbia for the promise of what will be.

Some questions for Churches to ask themselves

• How can you church be a gift to your community?
• When we practice hospitality what does that look like?
• What is our church called to do in our community? What is our niche?
• What first drew members to this church?