Converge Great Lakes Ethnic and Urban Ministries
Led by Minister Richard Brown
Below is a summary of my report for the ministry of The Captive Project. The Captive Project is a specific strategy that Converge Great Lakes has embraced as one means to penetrate marginalized communities within our region with the Gospel. This Project is set up not as a separate ministry, but an evangelistic outreach of the local church, in a particular area. It exists to strengthen the church’s impact on individuals who have been marginalized by society.
Program Areas Served: Greater Milwaukee—metro area, beginning in the high crime areas of the city; Southeastern Wisconsin, eventually spreading to other mid-size cities throughout Wisconsin; and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Problem/Need Addressed: Seeks to solve the problems of urban crime in Milwaukee; i.e. prostitution and drug dealers through the application of Romans 12:1-2 through the process of Matthew 28:16-19.
Specific Goals: Change the city for the kingdom of God by getting people into a relationship with Jesus Christ through concentrated discipleship. We believe that this will allow for a transformation within the person that will help in their decision process in the urban community, i.e. choosing non-violence over violence. It will also help and teach them the importance of making disciples which in turn, will change their community and city.
How Does The Captive Project Work: We target high crime areas in the city of Milwaukee by going into their local parks through a 6-hour community cookout where the use of the urban arts engaging the community with the preaching of the Gospel and an invitation of discipleship. The Captive Project started in 2007 with the intent to be an ongoing aid to local church’s efforts to reach the fragmented youth in the city of Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin.
Effective Ministry Techniques:
Deliberate targeting of parks in the high crime areas of the city of Milwaukee
Concentrated discipleship that enables a new believer to understand the Word of God for themselves, teaching them the important subjects that new believers need understand
24-hour availability to new believers
Consistent cooperation with partnering churches
Overall consistency of the ministry to go into the community year after year
Past Successes of The Captive Project: The Captive Project has ministered to more than 12,000 people with more than 80% being urban youth in the areas of Milwaukee. A great success was being able to get the Gospel Message into the hands of 5,000 youth through the distribution of a Gospel tract CD which included urban Christian music, a gospel message and a 24/7 contact number. Another key success from the onset was that the leadership let these youth know they cared about them by being available around the clock for crisis intervention, questions, etc.
Factors to Help Ensure Success: We continue to be consistent the components that brought past success. This consistency has allowed us to be able to reach more young people willing to learn about God. We have opened up a direct ministry to prostitution and drug dealers. Although in the beginning the partnership with local churches was difficult, we now have momentum with churches coming on board to support the follow-up aspect of The Captive Project Ministry. And more over with the implementation of “The Heart of the City—The Captive Project”, we will be able to network with tens of thousands of young people throughout the city of Milwaukee to develop a community of Christian young people supporting one another.
Future: We thank God for our partnership with Converge Great Lakes (Great Lakes Baptist Conference). In my new role, as Coordinator of Urban Ethnic Ministries, I am excited about reproducing what we are doing in Milwaukee throughout the churches of Converge Great Lakes. Thanks so much for your prayers and financial support!
Minister Richard Brown
Jesus4ramaa@aol.com
414.213.9367
