When it comes to cities, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a challenge. Think about these numbers: Most of the world’s people now live in cities, and urban migration continues like a flood. Today more than 500 cities have populations of more than 1 million people, and these cities are social and economic powerhouses, generating more than 80 percent of global gross domestic product.
Now consider the Adventist populations in these cities. On average, there’s one Seventh-day Adventist congregation for every 89,000 people. Forty-five of these cities have fewer than 10 Adventists; 43 have no Adventist congregations.
There’s little doubt that cities are our biggest and most challenging mission field. But it’s a mission field that defies easy answers or quick fixes.