11 Questions for (Not Just) Rural Church Leaders

Every place has a history. What is the story of your church’s community? Use these 11 questions to help you understand the culture of your community and how your church can be good news to the people in it.

1. How did the community come to be? What was the founding dream?


2. What is the town’s focal symbol? A courthouse square, a main street, a grain elevator?


3. What is/are the community’s chief economic function(s)? Farming, trade, industrial, government service, recreation/retirement, college, transportation, bedroom community?


4. Who are the town’s honored, the despised, the loveable characters, and the marginal people?


5. What cultural/racial/ethnic groups are present in the community?


7. What are the barriers that separate people groups? Race, religion, education, social status? Are they visible or invisible?


8. What are the sins or hurts of the community? The loss of an industry, a murder, a disastrous flood?


9  How do residents perceive their town? How do others perceive it?


10. What seems to be the future of the comunity? Who is responsible for implementing its dreams and vision?


11. In summary, what is the “story” of the community? To minister effectively in this place, you need to know and appreciate its story. Only then can you and your church become a part of it.

 

Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazinehttp://outreachmagazine.com

Outreach magazine publishes ideas, innovations, resources and stories to help church leaders reach their communities and change the world. Founded in January 2003 by church communications company Outreach Inc., Outreach is an award-winning, bimonthly periodical for church leadership and is available by subscription and on Amazon.com. Find out more at outreachmagazine.com

Grover Park Baptist Church: A Thread of Hope

At auction, the quilts go for hundreds or even thousands of dollars that directly help women and children in need, providing funds for baby and maternity items at the pregnancy resource center.

There’s No Contradiction Between God’s Empowerment and Our Efforts to Battle Sin

The Christian life is not a choice between loving and trusting Jesus, and making an effort to avoid temptation and sin. It is not either/or—it is both/and.

Worth the Cost: The Challenges and Joys of Church Multiplication

The joy of reproduction multiplies exponentially when we release leaders and see their kingdom impact ripple into new communities.