Analysis AnalysisCareful analysis of the area is undertaken in order to assess the best and most suitable ways of reaching the most people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The aim is to saturate the area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and give people at least one opportunity of hearing the message and responding to it.
Each area is different with its unique geography, characteristics, social needs and people. If we are going to effectively reach the people of an area we must analyse these factors and then seek the best ways to reach them where they are. This will result in a variety of methods of outreach.
THE COMMUNITY
It is important that a church establishes the exact area it feels it is considering for evangelism, and then look at:
Who lives in the
area
What industry is
in the area
Where children and
teenagers attend school
Where people find
recreation eg. sports, shopping, pubs, societies etc
Then we need to see what social needs are in the area:
Mums requiring
help with young children.
Children and
youth.
Unemployment,
single mums, racial tension, homelessness, drug addiction, older
people.
Over all we must see the spiritual needs of the people in the area.
We then look at the best ways of reaching each group. of people
Prayerfully, together with the churches of the area, we put into place a variety of methods to effectively communicate the Gospel and the love of Jesus where the people are. Outreach - Community (Click here for more information)
THE CHURCH
We ask that a list be made of all the activities put on by the churches, and together with leaders of each congregation, seek to ascertain whom each group is touching. We then see if they are, or could be, places where neighbours and friends, who do not normally attend church, could be invited. During the mission period we seek to utilise some of these events making them into "specials" for people to bring unchurched and fringe people. Other events are also created. Each age-group and background is thought about and catered for. Outreach - Church (Click here for more information)
Questions to be asked are:
What new things
can be developed or existing activities utilised in order to
reach new people?
What evangelistic
methods have been used and which do you think would be most
effective?
Can vital
information regarding the locality of church members, fringe
people, youth and children as well as schools, industry and
leisure in the area be drawn up to help with strategic planning?
Are there
specialists in the area who can help with, and train others in
your church in, reaching people in your locality in specific
areas?
Do church members
have key positions in the community?
There is often a need to help Church members to befriend people, and then to know how to share the Gospel with them. See Training (Click here for more information
With all this information it is possible to prayerfully create a realistic strategy to reach the area in an effective and ongoing way.
