Urban theology, discipleship, and community roots

This is the second episode from our Proximity Conference series. Abi Thomas interviews Cris Rogers, an urban theologian and church leader from East London. Cris shares his approach to urban ministry, and the importance of deep community engagement. In the conversation Cris delves into discipleship beyond social media, emphasising the need for relational, intentional faith practices and living so deeply within a community that your roots are intertwined. For Cris theology is best understood and practiced on the street, not in the classroom. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Check out more content from Cris below.

Connect with Cris: Website wearemakingdisciples.com Instagram @rabbirogers

Episode quotes:

“The evil one wants to keep us disconnected, if hells’ strategy is division and heaven’s strategy is relationship, the evil one wants to say ‘you don’t need that, you can be on your own’. Heaven’s strategy is weaving people in, lonely people being put into families.”

“I love the phrase moving in and living deep, it’s living your life with such depth in the community, your roots are so interwoven that if you were to leave it would turn up the soil, for me that depth means knowing every street in your neighbourhood and walking around your neighbourhood bumping into all these people that you know.“

Listen to more teaching by Cris Rogers: Proximity Conference 2025: Proximity to our communities