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Holy Sofas: Transformational Encounters between Evangelical Christians and Post-Christendom Urban Communities

Abstract This article is the account of a qualitative research project into the experiences of those involved in the incarnational urban youth and community ministry of the Eden Network. Eden team members’ experiences of relocation into urban communities suffering multiple deprivations, and the engagement of this with inherited theologies and traditions have created a unique contribution to youth work and urban ministry. Cross-cultural ministry and the reframing of mission and prophetic expectation have been pivotal challenges faced by the lay Christians of the Eden Network. This article asks what the contribution of these rich experiences might be to wider academic discourses within practical theology, and considers the Eden narrative as both an example of, and critical engagement with, post-modern theology, evangelical theology and ordinary theology.