Urban Church Planting, the SBC, and Tim Keller

My friend sent me this link, which tells about the influence Tim Keller is having on the move to plant churches in urban areas, even within the Southern Baptist Convention.

One of the changes I have seen in recent church revitalization and church planting is the move to the cities. Southern Baptist churches have predominantly been located in rural areas, although the megachurch movement eventually led churches to start in booming suburban populations. Yet it is a relatively new emphasis and change to see more and more Southern Baptist churches go back to urban population centers and plant their outpost in the heart of the city. Much of this new emphasis can be attributed to the efforts and writing of Tim Keller who pastors Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City.

Count me as one of those so influenced. It was this message by Keller that got me to thinking about planting a church in downtown Oklahoma City.