Church Health and Mission in a West Coast Public University Neighborhood

by Yucan Lucas Chiu
June 1st, 2012
The purpose of this dissertation is to examine church health and mission in multinational university towns in the United States. University towns are distinct, geographical regions with unique populations that include a higher concentration of individuals in transition, emerging adults, Creative Class people, internationals, and progressives; extensive documentation is given to describe these global and specific
characteristics. Seven churches in one university town in San Diego, California are examined for their understanding and practice of effective contextualization in reaching the university town and its inhabitants. Interviews with church leaders, members, and unchurched residents are used for this end. Discoveries include the great need for friendship in the community, along with a high number of unchurched individuals within the community. Five different solutions are provided to address the unique characteristics and needs of the university town: 1) the development of Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic, Shepherd, and Teaching (APEST) leadership based on Ephesians 5:11; 2)
housing complex missional groups; 3) regional affinity-based gatherings centers; 4) missional development systems; and 5) greater working unity among all the churches. It is believed that greater work can be done with further research comparing and contrasting

various churches in university towns, both in the United States and abroad.