Global Cities Guide

DUBAI | LONDON | KUALA LUMPUR | SHANGHAI | MUMBAI

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From the IMB Brook Hills Faith Family, I want to personally let you know how thrilled I am that Brook Hills is leading out in IMB’s Global Cities Pilot project. God is opening up unprecedented opportunities for Christians to spread the gospel in global cities all around the world. Having a church like Brook Hills take a leading role in praying for, mobilizing, and sending students, professionals, and retirees is so encouraging to me on a personal level and so practically helpful as this initiative develops. We have the opportunity together to shape the future of missions so that multitudes more men and women are glorifying God among the nations. Thank you for your love for God’s glory in the world and for co-laboring with us at the IMB to help launch this project. Know that I pray for you constantly, and I count it pure joy to continue partnering together with you (simply in a different capacity!) in spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth, particularly among people who have never even heard His name. Love in Christ, David Platt President, IMB

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 / Intro to the Global Cities Initiative 4 / Kuala Lumpur: The Most Strategic City You’ve Never Heard Of 9 / Overview of Other Global Cities 13 / Who Can Go? 1

14 / Next Steps

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A N IN TR ODU CT I O N TO T H E

KUALA LUMPUR

Global Cities Initiative

The Most Strategic City You’ve Never Heard Of

WHAT IS GLOBAL CITIES INITIATIVE (GCI)? The Global Cities initiative is a pilot partnership between local churches and the International Mission Board (IMB) to mobilize Christians to use their marketable skills to join church planting teams in five major world cities. The goal is to integrate students, professionals, and retirees into the work of making disciples and multiplying churches among unreached people groups in these cities. The Church at Brook Hills is the point-church for this work in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

WHY IS GCI IMPORTANT? The magnitude of the Great Commission task, to make disciples of all nations, is overwhelming with 7 billion people and over 11,000 unreached people groups. Yet, there is unlimited potential if we can open up multiple pathways for mobilized Christians to join the mission force. The current scope of GCI is to create avenues for students to study abroad, professionals to take jobs, and retirees to use some of their retirement to intentionally advance the gospel where it is not known.

DUBAI

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The world has a rapidly growing urban population. Since 2008, more than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities. A hundred years ago there were only a handful of cities with a population of over 1 million. Now there are over 400. The current focus of GCI is on five global cities: Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, London, Mumbai, and Shanghai. All of these cities are dynamic marketplaces that are open to Westerners and where English is used as a trade language.

KUALA LUMPUR

LONDON

In this world of rapid urbanization, unreached people groups, who were formerly difficult to access due to geography and political realities, are now pouring into these cities. Opportunities abound for the gospel to travel from the cities back to the peoples and places where the gospel was previously unknown. Just as the gospel spread from urban centers across the Roman Empire in the first century we pray that the gospel will also travel across the known world of our day.

MUMBAI

SHANGHAI

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KUALA LUMPUR AT A GLANCE

Positioned at the intersection of the Gombak and Klang rivers in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur (KL) is literally translated as “muddy estuary.” But even though KL might’ve started out as a sleepy, sludgy river town in its tin mining days, it isn’t one anymore. These days, rather than mud, you’ll find sleek skyscrapers, manicured parks and busy expressways rising up around its rivers. KL also happens to be both the capital and the most populous city in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur tends to be overlooked for other Southeast Asia powerhouse cities such as Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta. But that doesn’t mean it should be. KL has nearby beaches, mountains, culture, and delicious food. In fact, KL is often called Southeast Asia’s hidden gem, in part for its affordability, as well as for its beautiful landscape, warm weather, and delectable food scene.

LIFESTYLE Kuala Lumpur is a very diverse city with a blend of Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures along with a large expat community from all over the world. That said, there is a substantial Western influence in Malaysia — and in Kuala Lumpur in particular. A good portion of Malaysian students study abroad in the UK, Australia or the U.S., and Western TV shows and movies are commonly watched in Malaysia. Almost anyplace a person goes or situations one encounters, he or she can find someone who speaks English. Many Western expats who move to KL say that there was surprisingly little culture shock. From Auntie Anne’s pretzels to huge shopping malls with brands like Banana Republic and Converse, KL offers many Western amenities. When it comes

to outdoors excursions, KL has you covered with opportunities to hike the nearby Cameron Highlands or laze on the beach at Port Dickinson, which is located a short drive from KL. You might also choose to get up close with elephants at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, explore the historical port town and Unesco World Heritage Site of Malacca or tour the famous Batu Caves just north of KL. Plus, there are cultural attractions galore, ranging from camel races to museums. You’re also just a quick flight from many of Asia’s most exciting cities, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Once you get the swing of things, you might even find (as others have before you) that Kuala Lumpur has a more laid-back and easygoing ambience than most major American cities. KL does have a long-hours work culture and crazy traffic, but compared with its neighbors Singapore or Hong Kong, it’s still slower-paced.

COST OF LIVING KL is one of the more affordable large cities within Southeast Asia. Housing is relatively cheap in comparison to other large global cities. In general, food prices are also much lower than in the States, especially if you are buying local products. Some products, such as milk, can be more expensive. For example, milk is about $6.50 USD per gallon, but a loaf of bread costs the equivalent of about $1 USD and a dozen eggs costs around $1.50 USD. Restaurant meals will seldom cost more than $15 USD per person. However, certain services, such as house cleaners, live-in nannies and drivers, are typically much cheaper in KL than in the States.

HOUSING Many Western expats tend to rent out condominiums (what Americans refer to as apartments — in Malaysia, the word “apartment” is used for lower-cost dwellings) rather than rent or buy houses. Some larger families will live in houses; row houses are in the same price range as condominiums/apartments and are a good alternative to condos/apartments. Single expats tend to share a condominium with roommates to help mitigate the cost of rent. It’s also a great way to make closer friends after arrival. Although houses offer more privacy and more space, they’re usually very costly. In KL, rent is typically paid on a monthly basis, with two or three months’ deposit paid upfront.

TOP FIVE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN KUALA LUMPUR 1. DRIVING: This may be the biggest challenge of moving to KL. The traffic jams can be extremely bad and, if you’re coming from the U.S., you also will have to learn how to drive on the left side of the road. 2. C  ONFUSING ROAD SYSTEMS: The road systems are very complicated, so having good GPS on your phone (Google Maps works well) or a navigation system will be very important. 3. C  ULTURE SHOCK: Language barriers typically aren’t a problem because many people speak English, but there are some cultural differences with Malay, Chinese and Indian culture where a Western expat might not pick up on non-verbal cues and “unwritten rules.” There’s also a relatively small American population, so you’ll need to be willing to integrate with other cultures. 4. G  OVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY AND INEFFICIENCY: Government agencies are very slow and bureaucratic, and they tend to require a lot of confusing paperwork. In some cases, government employees may even ask for bribes. 5. D  ISTANCE FROM THE U.S.: You can’t get much further away from the U.S. than Malaysia. Almost all flights to Malaysia are more than 24 hours total duration for one-way, which makes trips to and fro difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

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There are many good international schools in Kuala Lumpur, but only two accredited American international schools: International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) and Mont’Kiara International School (MKIS). These are two of the most expensive schools in KL, so a lot of Americans tend to send their children to the less expensive British, Australian or Canadian schools. It is possible for expats to send their kids to Malaysian public schools, which are essentially free with a very small admission fee. But because of the different schedule, large class sizes, and the language barrier, very few expats in KL choose this option for their children.Low-cost options include local private schools and homeschooling supplemented with classes at local “tuition centers” (essentially learning centers where you can pay per class).

SAFETY Members of international churches in KL report that while most areas of the city are quite safe, other parts of the city with less of an expat presence experience some petty theft and pickpockets. These crimes tend to happen more at night. Some people also have had their cars broken into or car windows smashed. However, there is little to no gun violence, as guns are highly restricted in KL.

cooler, though still hot (80s). But when it rains, it can really pour. Floods are not uncommon during the initial weeks of the rainy seasons since many of the drains haven’t been cleared of debris.

HEALTH CARE Quality health care in Malaysia is affordable for locals and expats alike, and it’s typically comparable to the quality of care given in the States. The health care system is divided into public and private sectors; the private hospitals, especially, provide high-quality medical services, with modern technology and highly skilled staff who often have been trained overseas. Likewise, almost all doctors speak fluent English. Although expats can use Malaysian public hospitals, most still choose to use private facilities because the public health care can often have long wait lines and not as high of quality for certain types of specialty care.

WEATHER

MISSIONAL DISTINCTIVES

Local private schools in Malaysia teach in the English language. They also set normal hours, have smaller class sizes, and their curriculum typically focuses more on science and mathematics. Private schools are typically a good option for expats as their kids are less likely to struggle with culture shock than in the public schools. The quality of education is better, and they are considerably cheaper than most international schools.

KL is located near the equator and experiences a hot, tropical climate that gives life to palm trees in the city and jungles right outside of it. Given its tropical climate, KL is hot year-round. And you’ll find that afternoon showers are a near daily occurrence. There are also two rainy seasons per year: one from April to May and the other from October to November, when it rains very hard typically in the afternoons for a relatively short time and brings a cooling atmosphere to the city.

KL is a regional hub for trade, finance, energy, and tourism. People from all over the world come to KL to shop, study, and work. There are an especially high number of people who come from countries where the gospel is restricted. Add to that the high number of unreached people groups indigenous to Malaysia, and you have an extremely strategic city for the advancement of the gospel.

TRANSPORTATION

No matter the season, you’ll find that KL experiences temperatures hovering somewhere between the upper 70s to the mid-90s Fahrenheit. On an average day, KLites will enjoy mornings in the upper 70s or low 80s that steadily rise through the day. During the dry and hazy months, between May and July, the temperatures can reach beyond 100 degrees, and the high humidity makes it feel even hotter.

While KL does have an integrated rail network and one of the longest automated driverless metro systems in the world, the majority of residents still travel by car or taxi. However, if you live near the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, or near an LRT station, you will be able to get around fairly well on the metro via the Kuala Lumpur Sentral transportation hub. But you will likely still require a car or taxi to reach many of the churches, church members, as well as suburban restaurants and shopping malls.

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Many expat families feel the need for two cars, while others try and make do with just one. Those with just one vehicle might rely on taxis to get around, but due to cost should not be considered.

In the two rainy seasons of the year (April through May and October through November), the weather is typically

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EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS

As we consider the challenges for mobilized Christians joining church planting teams, we see the sustainability of KL as a benefit. KL is more relaxed, family friendly, and “livable” than most major metropolitan areas. You can set up, get around, and do life, in English, in a relatively quick and straightforward way. KL also has a fairly “southern” feel to it. The pace of life, friendliness of the people, family atmosphere, and dispersed metro area all share similarities with cities in the southern United States. In fact, it feels more like Atlanta than New York City. Plus many of those already serving on the team there have ties to Birmingham. Kuala Lumpur is strategic, sustainable, and southern, but even more importantly, we believe the Spirit has led The Church at Brook Hills to be the point-church for KL. Is He now leading you to join our team?

LIVING AS A FAMILY IN KUALA LUMPUR While families are generally extremely busy with school, work and other activities, KL is very family friendly and the culture places a high value on family. Most parents work full-time and rely on the help of the very affordable childcare centers and nannies. Most condominium buildings have their own playgrounds and swimming pools for kids as well as the adults. And similar to most other Asian countries, both elders and families are highly regarded and respected.

LIVING AS A SINGLE WOMAN IN KUALA LUMPUR KL is a fairly cosmopolitan and multi-cultural city with relatively low instances of gender discrimination. However, single Western women might find that men stare at them from time to time, which can be uncomfortable. Single women should also use their discretion when walking around alone at night; they might also choose to avoid certain parts of the city that are known for pickpockets and other petty crimes. That said, there is a very active social scene in KL for singles. And though there are not a lot of expat singles in KL, there are many Malaysian singles in the gospel-preaching churches in KL.

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Mumbai, the “Gateway to India,” is a city of vibrant colors and massive energy. “Over the past 10 years, Mumbai has exploded with development and transformed from an inconsequential backwater into a major international metropolis,” reports expatarrivals.com. “Mumbai is a city where IT millionaires, chic hotels and boutique restaurants exist in close proximity to shanty towns, beggars and open sewage; where luxurious German sedans are gridlocked into chaotic traffic jams alongside wooden carts and impassive cows.” Mumbai boasts a population of nearly 18 million people. While there is an established church presence in the city, the vast majority of people have never heard the gospel. Yet since it is the economic center of India, Mumbai offers ample opportunity to not only reach its citizens for Christ, but through their travel and connections elsewhere, to reach the rest of India, and even South Asia, as well.

“In 1978 I was a college student in Pune, Maharashtra — ‘The Oxford of India.’ My calling to India reaches back to that experience. I envisioned my return would have something to do with business and education. My life choices from 1978 often centered on preparing myself for overseas business-as-mission, including my CPA and CGMA credentials, my ministry credentials, work experiences, continuing my language study and so on. However, it took two to three years to land my current position in Mumbai.” Matt Greyston* | CPA and President of a top-100 CPA firm *name changed

Why Mumbai? 1. Western-friendly: Mumbai offers professionals the ability to do life and ministry with only English language ability. 2. Expat jobs: International companies are drawn to the city — widely considered the financial capital and business center of India — relocating expat managers to join an educated, English-speaking Indian workforce. 3. Gospel-centered churches: Strong expat churches and ministry teams can simultaneously serve as a community to build up expat Christians and act as a place to plug them into active ministry. 4. Unreached people and places: The vast majority of the unreached people groups found in India live in Mumbai. Christian workers can literally reach the unreached people groups of India from Mumbai. 5. Regional hub: Mumbai is the economic hub of India, and it’s a strategic center from which other cities in South Asia can be reached.

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DUBAI

Dubai is a city of superlatives. It boasts the world’s tallest skyscraper, the world’s largest mall and the world’s biggest manmade islands. And even though Dubai is in the center of the United Arab Emirates, it offers many Western amenities along with its Middle Eastern charms. You can eat nearly every cuisine imaginable here. You can go to the beach in Dubai, but you can also ski or take a camel ride across the desert. You can stay the night in the world’s only seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, and you can wonder at the world’s largest choreographed fountain. Several decades ago, Dubai was a quaint destination for pearl divers. However, with the discovery of oil in the last half of the 20th century, it’s since become one of the fastest-growing cities in the world with over 2 million people from more than 200 different nationalities. In fact, less than 20 percent of the city’s population are even citizens of the UAE; more than 80 percent hail from different corners of the world.

“I wanted to move to Dubai to be a part of a gospel preaching international church in Dubai, so I began job searching for a teaching job in late 2013. After several months of searching online and talking with friends in Dubai, I attended a job fair of Dubai schools looking for American teachers in Boston in February 2014. I had applied online with a school in Dubai before the job fair, and they invited me to interview in person. After the interview, the head of the school ended up offering me the job on the spot, and the next week I accepted. The school year didn’t start until the following August, so we had plenty of time to say goodbye and prepare for the big move from Washington, D.C., to Dubai.” James Thomas* | Teacher, Emirati K-12 school in Dubai Member of an international church in Dubai *name changed

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LMspencer / Shutterstock.com

MUMBAI

Why Dubai? 1. Western-friendly: Dubai offers professionals the ability to do life and ministry with only English language ability. 2. Expat jobs: The city’s vibrant economy is growing with a strong demand for expat talent. 3. Gospel-centered churches: There are strong expat churches and ministry teams that can simultaneously serve as a community to build up expat Christians as well as act as a place to plug them into active ministry. 4. Unreached people and places: There is a low concentration of Christians among people groups in the city. 5. Regional hub: Dubai is an economic hub of the Middle East, and it’s a strategic center from which other cities in the region can be reached.

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China’s largest city is also the world’s most populous city: More than 24 million people — and upwards of 200,000 expats — call this buzzing place home. And it’s no wonder why. Shanghai is the commercial and financial center of China; it is home to the world’s busiest port. Retail, real estate and financial services are all big businesses here, as is manufacturing. The population of Shanghai is just over 24 million, and less than one percent of them are not native Chinese. Approximately ten percent of the population are actually Christian. However, nearly all of them are from the majority Han people, who historically have not been successful at reaching out to other groups with the gospel. This provides opportunity for not only personal ministry but also for discipleship of local believers to become disciple-makers themselves.

“We wish God had called us when we were younger, but He did not, probably because we were not ready. Now we are free to totally focus on the work that God has prepared for us to do. We have never worked harder, had fewer personal material possessions and loved life more. Serving God is truly the abundant life.” Walter and Juliet Norton* | Retirees, age 71, serving as university English teachers in Asia *name changed

London proclaims itself the “capital of the world” — and for good reason. With a population of some 8.6 million people, London is the largest city in Western Europe. Much of the world’s high-powered finance flows through its gleaming office towers and great investment houses.

Why Shanghai? 1. Western-friendly: Most professionals in Shanghai speak English, which makes it easier for expats to do life and ministry there. 2. Expat jobs: Shanghai is the financial capital of China’s booming economy, and it has a high demand for Western talent in many industries, including education, oil and gas, and technology. 3. Gospel-centered churches: There are a handful of English-speaking international churches and Chinese-speaking church plants that preach and follow the Bible faithfully. Expats will find community and ministry opportunities through these congregations. 4. Unreached people and places: While there are many Christians in Shanghai, there is a greatneed for discipleship, biblical theology training for pastors and more Bible-preaching churches. There are also unreached people and places, including the Muslim Uyghur minority. 5. Regional hub: Shanghai is China’s largest city and, arguably, as one of its largest economic and industrial hubs, the heart of Asia. It could also be a center for planting churches, leading to reaching other cities in the region.

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LONDON

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Brian Kinney / Shutterstock.com

SHANGHAI

Population numbers and dollars, however, don’t tell the true tale of London’s global reach. The Guardian newspaper confirmed London has become “a world in one city,” finding major and minor ethnic/language communities throughout the city: Algerians, Bangladeshis, Chinese, Indians, Iranians, Jamaicans, Nigerians, Pakistanis, Poles, Russians, Somalis, Sri Lankans, Turks, Vietnamese — to name only a few groups. “Altogether, more than 300 languages are spoken by the people of London, and the city has at least 50 non-indigenous communities with populations of 10,000 or more,” wrote Guardian reporter Leo Benedictus. “Virtually every race, nation, culture and religion in the world can claim at least a handful of Londoners.”

“As we walked the streets of London, I bet I heard 65 languages,” recalled the IMB missionary. “When I got back home, I was waking up at night hearing those voices and seeing those faces from all over the world. It was as if God said, ‘You don’t have to go to the world; the world has come to you. The world is in London, and that is where I want you to be.’” Patrick Simms* | Worker living in London *name changed

Why London? 1. Western-friendly: Even with more than 300 different spoken languages, most London residents speak English. 2. Expat jobs: London’s “Square Mile” is home to more than 80 million square feet of office floor space and 5 million square feet of retail space. It boasts 17,000 businesses. 3. Gospel-centered churches: There is a missional churchplanting movement that has begun to take shape across the city that desperately needs gospel-centered participants. These churches and missional communities can simultaneously serve as a community for expats to fit into and also offer them opportunities to serve in active ministry. 4. Unreached people and places: While nearly half of Londoners claim Christianity, a vast majority of them do not attend church or pray. 5. Regional hub: In 2014, 73.4 million passengers passed through Heathrow Airport, with traffic of more than 200,000 people each day. About 93 percent were international travelers.cities in the region can be reached.

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Who Can Go?

Next Steps

The Global Cities Initiative is set-up in partnership with the IMB to help believers find ways to plant their lives in major world cities as part of a broader Church Planting team. Through this initiative, multigenerational teams of students, professionals, and retirees will be mobilized to work among various levels of society in some of the most influential cities in the world. These three pathways are there to mobilize and send a limitless missionary force that includes more than just fully-funded IMB employees.

GLOBAL CITIES INITIATIVE STEP-BY-STEP MOBILIZATION PROCESS

THE 3 PATHWAYS:

CONNECT: Visit brookhills.org/globalcities and give us your information. From here, one of our Global Team members will contact you and connect you to the network of International Mission Board GCI candidates.

PROFESSIONALS – What is your job? Where do you work? What is it you get paid to do? Now think, can I do this in a Global City somewhere? Does my company have an office in one of these 5 cities where I can transfer? What industry can I get a job in? The Global Cities Initiative will help professionals think through and get connected to a network that can be a resource for finding job opportunities in these 5 cities. STUDENTS – The doors are wide open for college students to make an impact in these cities. What are you studying in college? Is there a degree program in these 5 cities that offers what you need? Opportunities may include study abroad for a semester or one year; four-year undergraduate university programs; graduate school abroad; or studying foreign languages at a local university. Students have many opportunities and can even find internships to work and launch their career. RETIREES – There are unique opportunities for retirees to make an impact for God’s kingdom in these strategic cities, many of which have government programs that provide excellent incentives for retirees to move there. What if you spent the first 2 years of your retirement serving in one of these cities? What if you spent a few months every year living in one of these strategic cities sharing the gospel and making disciples? Experience and wisdom are greatly valued in these cultures that make up these cities. Professional expertise coupled with overall life experience will gain access to many in similar fields seeking knowledge and experience from one who understands their field of interest. Retirees are a key resource to access these various cultural communities, develop relationships and establish churches that will later multiply themselves.

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PRAY: Now that you have read the guide, we encourage you to pray and ask God if He is leading you to move overseas to work, study, or retire. We also encourage you to start conversations with your family, friends, or small group to have them pray for you.

ASSESSMENT: Once it is determined you want to move forward, you will meet with our Pastor of Global Disciple-Making about your preparedness for missions. If you are encouraged to move forward, the pastor will provide an assessment to the International Mission Board (IMB) and you will begin a formal application with the IMB. DEVELOPMENT: After the application process is complete, the IMB will connect you with an access coach – essentially a Christian professional, student, or retiree – willing to help other Christians interested in living in a Global City to find a job, answer questions about study abroad programs or explain how to retire there. TRAINING: Partnered with the church, you will walk through cross-cultural training to help prepare you for a fruitful life and ministry in one of these Global Cities. GO: Be sent by The Church at Brook Hills, move to a Global City and get plugged into a local church and ministry team. We will continue to partner with you and the IMB to provide continued support as you participate with a church planting team.

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brookhills.org/globalcities