J.R. Briggs

Missional [Q]: “How do I find out the needs of my community?”

July 22, 2009

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To be missional is to be able to both exegete the Scriptures and exegete the culture with incredible humility and clarity. There is a need for bilinguality, as Barth calls it: to be conversant with the Bible and with the context we live, work and play in. A missional pioneer’s most important lesson is to learn is that the most important part of the body to use is not one’s mouth, but one’s ears – and eventually one’s hands and feet.

In a previous post I ended by asking missional questions of engagement and involvement in the local community, There’s been a lot of positive conversations from that post. Of all the questions people have asked there is one that keeps getting asked over and over again: “I’m not sure I’m confident as to what the needs of my community are, but I want to learn more. Who should I talk to to know the needs of my community better?”

Ask yourself, “Who are the experts of my city?” and “Who would possibly know more than anybody else on what’s going on in my community?” Be a student of your context with an insatiable desire to learn. Dave Gibbons has a mantra at his church: “the locals always know more than you do.” This posture is one of humilty and teachability. With that posture, then seek out opportunities to connect with them, pick their brain, treat them to coffee and know the pulse of your community.

Here are a few suggestions of who you could talk to:*

1. Long-time business owners: they know a lot about your community and they’ve probably seen a lot of changes throughout the years. At restaurants, learn the names of the wait staff. Develop ongoing relationships with them and ask about their lives. They interact with a lot of different people in an average week.
2. School counselors: they work closely with families within the school systems. They (along with social workers) can tell you trends, changes, needs and issues that are unique to the area (all while remaining confidential when necessary).
3. Mayor and city council members: Call them and introduce yourself. Treat them to lunch and get to know them. Ask questions about the needs and what they’d like to see changed. Thank them for what they do (much of it going unnoticed in your community).
4. Police chief and fire chief: these two individuals probably know more about the needs of your community because they see everything. Most cities/towns/townships allow citizens to do a “ride-along” where you can ride with an on-duty police officer. I recommend doing a ride along shift starting around 11 pm and going until sunrise. I’ve done this and learned a ton about my community (much more goes on at night than you realize – and its not all good).
5. The director of the library: your library has many programs that run in an average week/month. Find how what those are. Find out why the director chose to sponsor/host those events at the library. Consider attending a few of these events (and maybe eventually hosting a few of them).
6. Real Estate agents: location and property value are the two things that agents can tell you (in certain settings, but not all). Housing prices can tell you a lot about who lives where and why.
7. Long-time pastors. Find a few pastors who have been serving in ministry longer than you’ve been a live. (They probably have socks that are older than you, too). They will know a lot about the spiritual temperature, the changes and the transitions throughout the years/decades.
8. Youth club directors: talk to the director of the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, Little League coaches, the director of the Parks & Rec department and other area youth clubs. They can tell you a lot about what they are seeing in the next generation. You’ll certainly be aware of some of the areas of need among youth – they will gladly and freely tell you what they are.
9. Immigrants and minorities: cities oftentimes have a hidden population of immigrant workers or minorities who are often ignored or remain unseen. Jesus cared about those on the fringes. So should your church.
10. Your neighbors: seems obvious, but many don’t utilize this resource.
11. The directors of food banks, soup kitchens and other organizations who work with the under-privileged and under-resourced: talk about needs. They could tell you stories all day long – and tell you practical and specific ways you can serve the community.
12. The elderly: there are many senior citizens who would love to share their wisdom and experience with you (it may mean more to them since many senior citizens struggle with loneliness and oft forgotten). Ask them about what they remember the most growing up there and have them articulate their biggest fears, disappointments or concerns for the future of the community.

When I meet with these people I like to ask questions like: If you could snap your fingers and have three things changed about this community what would they be? What is going on in the communty? What social events are happening that every should go to? And I end with: “Who else should I talk to?”

Who else would you recommend talking with to be able to exegete the culture you live in?

__________

*I’m indebted to Chris Backert, director of The Ecclesia Network, for some of these suggestions.

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