-
Where We Are
- We are with 1 billion people in the world's urban slums
Thailand’s sprawling capitol city of Bangkok is one of the most influential cities in Southeast Asia. Home to over 7 million people, Bangkok is a wealthy city, but also one with roughly 2,000 slums hidden away down back alleys, on unwanted swamps, and along sewage-filled canals. Migrants of various cultures and languages make the journey from border areas to look for work in the city, frequently visiting family members in their home villages. Reaching city-dwellers with the Gospel has the potential to impact people all over the country. Here, Servant Partners staff members are working in two different communities planting churches, working with youth, and helping run a micro-enterprise development foundation.
While the technology boom has revolutionized the landscape of India, millions still live in the slums of its mega-cities. Among these slum communities, there is a tremendous need for sustainable and reproducible approaches to alleviate poverty. We seek to address this need through empowerment that is practical and culturally relevant.
Johannesburg, South Africa is a city of contrasts. While there is a rich diversity of tribes, races and cultures, it also bears the scars of apartheid. Africa’s most advanced city, it is the seat of commerce, including the gold and diamond trade. With a 37% city unemployment rate, 91% of the unemployed are black. Our team in the heart of Johannesburg is working for racial and economic reconciliation, and building leadership of urban poor communities.
Lincoln Heights in East L.A. is one of the oldest and most distinct Latino neighborhoods in the U.S., with a rich history and culture that has shaped all of Los Angeles. The recent spike in housing costs has put a huge strain on this inner city community, resulting in further overcrowded living. Our team in the Lincoln Heights community leads two organic churches, each with a strong high school ministry. We have also just launched a non-profit organization, IntheCity, Inc. IntheCity's focus is to identify and develop leaders from within the city, through formal training and focused, specific projects. We are currently seeking funding for this new non-profit.
Mexico City is one of the biggest cities in the world, with 25 million people. Half of these live in poverty, and half are under the age of 20. 0nly 3% of the city’s population is involved in evangelical congregations. Our team in Mexico City has planted its first house church, is training and accompanying local pastors in holistic ministry, leading evangelistic Bible studies, training emerging youth leaders and facilitating the growth of a new organization of residents who are organizing around community issues. In addition, we are building a retreat and training center for local pastors and community leaders.
The urban poor in the Arab Middle East comprise the most unreached people group within one of the most unreached regions of the world. However, only a handful of missionaries are focused on reaching out to the world’s urban poor Muslims. Our Middle East team is pioneering a church planting effort in this region, with the hope of seeing communities of Muslim followers of Christ birthed in the heart of the Islamic world.
Our team works on the edges of one of the fastest growing cities in Africa in an ethnically-mixed community of economic refugees from the countryside. Ethnic tensions run deep in this nearly 100% Muslim environment, especially between Arab speaking and non-Arab speaking peoples. We’ve launched a community business and education center where using Gospel-based ethics lessons we teach the urban poor to start their own small businesses, conduct health education, and work with children.
Learn More about the North Africa Team En Español
The new site in San Antonio, Texas is located in a historically African-American neighborhood known as the East Side, which has undergone profound socioeconomic and ethnic changes over the years. Today, the neighborhood is racially mixed- 60% Latino and 40% African-American, with a third of the people living below poverty level. Our newly formed Servant Partners team will work with a local African-American congregation, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, to reach out to their neighborhood and be a source of light and hope.
Barnabas Ventures Partnerships
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Oakland, California, U.S.
Manila, the Philippines
