The simple answer is get to know the area where you are considering planting. First of all, get to know the wider area. A good way to start would be by going and spending a few days in the area. A good way to get a feel for a city is to get on public transport such as buses or trams (not underground systems though, you need to be above the surface). Sit on the top deck of a bus route that orbits or traverses the city. Look out, take photos etc. If you can do the route with someone who knows the city as your tour guide, all the better. Here in Birmingham, that would mean the no 11 bus route which goes all around the city and takes you through all kinds of neighbourhoods, prosperous, student, white working class, mutli-cultural.
Another way to get to know the city (or rural area) is to get to know other church leaders in the area. If there are Gospel partnerships or church planting movements in that area be sure to connect with them. Here in the West Midlands that would mean connecting in with the Birmingham Collective, incidentally, there’s a Vision evening coming up on Zoom soon. Let me know if you’d like to come along to that.
Then I’d start to go a bit more local. Home in on a specific area. There are online tools such as Datashine which will give you lots of information from the census about economics demographics, social context, ethnicity, religious beliefs etc. This is worth a look but remember, such data becomes out of date very quickly.
So, the best thing you can do is to visit the area, again, if you can spend a few days there, all the better. Do this separately to the previous visit. Just take time to walk the streets, pop in to shops, sit in cafes, watch the world go by and talk to people. Keep your eyes open, look out for what the landmarks are, where the centres of the community are, what the signs of religious life are including evidence of idolatry. This is pretty much what Paul did in Athens. Start to think about what it would mean to engage the people who live in that area.
I’d encourage you to go up to people directly and ask them questions. You might start with “Do you know if there are any churches around here?” They may respond with a yes or a no. If they say that they do, then ask them if they’ve attended there, ask them about their perception of the church. You can at this stage explain that you are thinking of starting a new church in the area -be ready to explain why. This can lead to questions about whether they would consider attending a church and what they would be looking for. On a really good day, this might lead into a gospel conversation and who knows, you may have your first potential convert and church member!
Take time to write up your observations and reflections. Then take time to pray through them. Share these observations with others and pray with them. If there is a sense between you that there might be the possibility of planting there, then you can start to get ready for the next stage.
Two final comments, first this may seem to assume that you are new to the area. I’d still go through all of this if you have lived in the area previously or currently do and have done for some time. Try to look at things with a fresh pair of eyes. In fact, that may also be a good opportunity to invite someone who doesn’t know the area along and for you to act as their tour guide.
Secondly, if you are contemplating church planting in the West Midlands and would like someone to do the bus route and walk a neighbourhood with you, then give me a shout and I’d be very happy to do this.
Faithroots 