Movements and Urbanization

All ambitious missionary movements are, or soon become, urban. If the goal is to make disciples of all nations, missionaries need to go where there are many potential converts, which is precisely what Paul did. His missionary journeys took him to major cities such as Antioch, Corinth, and Athens, with only occasional visits to small communities such as Iconium and Laodicea. No mention is made of him preaching in the countryside. . . Any study of how Christians converted the empire is really a study of how they Christianized the cities. –Rodney Stark in his latest book, Cities of God: The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome