Are we ready for this urban century?

Did you know that 2008 is the first year ever that the majority of human beings on planet earth have lived in urban, rather than rural areas? This is a real tipping point. By the end of this century as many as 80% of humans could be living in urban neighbourhoods.
Today 1 billion people live in urban slums (1 in 3 urban dwellers). This could be half the world’s population by 2030.
In fact a United Nations report says that urban poverty is the single greatest challenge of our time:

Urban poverty and its attendant human cost is perhaps the single greatest challenge of our time. The future of our towns and cities, which is where most of humanity will live in the 21st century, hinges on our tackling it successfully.

It is easy to see neighbours in need today, but walk away from them. It is easy to look at our neighbours in need, but walk past them.
Yet Jesus asks, who will ‘be neighbours’ for those in need today?
Are we ready for this new chapter in human history? As followers of Jesus, are we ready for this new urban century and its challenges to our relevance and faithfulness?