Day 40: Lesslie Newbigin - "City on a Hill"
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Introduction
Lesslie Newbigin’s life was devoted to missions. In fact, he spent much of his life in India as a minister for an Indian church. He also served in several different missions organizations throughout his lifetime. A prevailing thought he held throughout his various missions and ministries was the concept of a “City on a Hill”. He strongly believed and urged for the church to step into the public sphere to be a visible community of believers for those who do not know Christ.
City on a Hill
Newbigin had a big heart for the revival of Christianity especially in the west. And one of the ways he believed this could be achieved was for the church to be more present in the public space. The local church had to be a shining example of showing God’s love to those around them. He urged churches and Christians to be vocal in these public spaces as they shared God’s truth and love.
This idea was not about being the loudest voice in the room but simply not shying away from the job of the Christian to show Christ-like love to a world and society that desperately needed it. This idea also echoes in our modern times.
Reflection
As our church finishes up the 2026 season of lent, we begin to prepare for our summer missions. Missions can be a great way for not only our church, but for us, as individual Christians, to become a “City on a Hill”. But even if we, ourselves, may not be called to missions this year, let us pray for Grace Church and ourselves as we seek to be shining examples of Christ’s love to those around us.