Before We Serve: Assess Your Community for Effective Outreach
Every church has a community around it, but how well do we really know the people God has placed around our churches? We may know the names of the surrounding streets. We may know the businesses. We may even know some of the families who have lived in the neighborhood for years. But knowing where our church is located is not the same as understanding the community God has called us to serve. Recognizing the people’s stories and experiences can help us feel more connected in our outreach. As we continue to live into our Connectional theme, “Christian Methodism: Open for God’s Business,” we must know the people outside our doors well enough to minister to them effectively.
In my book, Outreach Is the Architecture of Evangelism, I use the language of construction to describe how churches can build effective evangelism and outreach ministries. Before an architect begins construction, they must examine the site. The builder needs to understand the ground, the surroundings, the conditions, and what already exists before deciding what to build. The same principle applies to outreach. Before we build another program, schedule another event, or decide what our community needs, we should first take time to understand the mission field God has placed around us. That is where a community assessment begins.
Community Assessment Begins with Listening
A community assessment does not have to be complicated. It is simply an intentional process of learning about the people, needs, strengths, resources, and opportunities within the community surrounding the church. Oftentimes, churches begin outreach by asking, “What can we do?” or “What is another church doing?” But a better question is, “What does our community need, and how is God calling our church to respond?” There is a distinct difference.
We cannot become so eager to serve that we assume we already know what people need. We may organize a food drive and distribution when another nearby organization is already meeting that need, or when food insecurity is not among the community's most pressing concerns. We may plan activities for children when the greater need may be support for a growing population of senior adults, some of whom may be experiencing loneliness and isolation. We may continue a ministry that may have worked ten years ago without realizing how much the neighborhood has changed through gentrification, population shifts, new development, or economic decline. Effective outreach requires us to listen before we act.
Jesus Modeled the Importance of Listening
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus saw people who were overlooked. He listened. He asked questions. He recognized both physical and spiritual needs. Matthew 9:36 (NIV) says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus did not just see a crowd. He saw the people. Community assessment should help the church do the same as Jesus: see the people. The following steps can help your church assess its community:
Step 1: Pray Before You Assess. Always begin with prayer, as prayer is the foundation for how we move into community outreach. Before walking the neighborhood, studying demographic information, or conducting surveys, pray. Ask God to help your congregation see the community through the eyes of Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal people you may have overlooked, relationships that need to be developed, and opportunities for the Gospel that may already be present. Prayer keeps community assessment from becoming a research exercise. We are not just collecting data or information; we are seeking God's direction concerning the people He has called us to reach and serve.
Step 2: Observe Your Church Community. The simplest starting point may be right outside your church doors. Have a prayer walk around the neighborhood. Drive through the streets that surround the church. Don't just drive through; pay careful attention. What do you notice? Are there any schools nearby? Apartment complexes? Senior living facilities? Shelters? Parks? Businesses? Hospitals? College campuses? New housing developments? Vacant buildings? Are there areas where people regularly gather? Take note of the changes that have taken place over the years.
A church may have occupied the same corner for a hundred years while the community around it has become completely different. If the community has changed but the church's outreach has not, we may be answering questions the neighborhood is no longer asking.
Step 3: Listen to the People. Demographic information can tell us a great deal, but numbers cannot replace conversations. You must talk to people from diverse backgrounds: school leaders, business owners, nonprofit leaders, parents, seniors, young people, law enforcement, social workers, and others who know the community. Attend neighborhood association meetings to ensure all voices are heard. You can learn a lot about a community by asking simple questions such as:
What are the greatest challenges facing this community?
What resources are already available?
What do you believe is missing?
What could churches do to help strengthen this community?
Then listen without immediately trying to provide an answer or solve a problem. People who live and work in a community often understand its needs better than those who drive in only for Sunday morning or who enter the community only for an outreach event. Effective community engagement moves us beyond simply doing ministry for a community toward building relationships and doing ministry with the community.
