Heidi Unruh Resources

This survey provides your church with a tool to gather information about your neighborhood and community. Conducting a survey can be invaluable if your church is unfamiliar with the community whether you are planning Faith in Action projects, considering ongoing ministry opportunities, or simply looking for ways to get to know your neighbors better.

Surveys are best conducted door-to-door by pairs of church members. This creates opportunities for your congregation to develop relationships and name recognition in the process. A survey can make a lasting impression–on those who conduct the survey and on those they visit. If most church members are not from the neighborhood, considering pairing a church member with a local resident who knows the people in the community. This helps to build trust and credibility.

You also can adapt surveys for use with those served by Faith in Action projects. For example, if your church helps serve a meal at a soup kitchen, invite (don’t require) participation from those who partake in the meal, as well as from regular soup kitchen volunteers. Not only do you get the benefit of the information, you also communicate a message of caring: “Your opinions and ideas matter to us!”

Although the primary purpose of the survey is not evangelistic, you can be sensitive to the spiritual and personal needs of the people you contact. If people have immediate needs, you can ask how the church might be able to help. If you offer prayer or aid, however, be sure you follow up and keep your promises! Enlist volunteers to pray for the needs revealed through the survey.

After finishing each survey, you can give participants an invitation card to join upcoming Faith in Action events. While the purpose of conducting the survey is to gather information, not to attract people to your church, survey participants may ask about your church. To help answer these questions, be sure to have a brochure or flyer that features your church programs and worship services that you can share with them. After each survey is completed, follow up with a thank-you note to residents who completed the survey to show your appreciation for their time. This gives you another opportunity to invite people’s participation in Faith in Action.

On the next page is a sample survey. The questions are open-ended, with space for survey-takers to write in people’s responses. You can adapt or add questions as appropriate. For example, you can list several possible initiatives that are being considered by the church and ask people which ones they think are best suited to their current needs. If you already have a service project in mind, you can change question #3 to ask: “Our church is considering doing …… in this neighborhood. Do you have any suggestions for how you’d like to see us do this?”

Adapted with permission from Becoming a Church That Makes a Difference CD-ROM, by Heidi Unruh and Phil Olson (Word & Deed Network, 2006), www.esa-online.org.

Your church is on a Faith in Action journey to "BE the church" in ministry to neighbors near and far. There are many potential paths you could pursue toward that goal. Which of the following action areas would most help your church expand its involvement in effective outreach? Take into consideration the current status of your church's external ministry (see the tool "Assessing Your Church's Community Involvement"), Try to identify two or three key priorities. Then follow up on the next page.

External orientation: embrace a commitment to outreach mission as part of the church's DNA, integral to the church's organizational structure

Spiritual foundation: help the congregation deepen their grasp of the biblical calling to faith in action and renew their spiritual commitment

Expand awareness: enlarge the congregation's understanding of the needs in our nation and world, the principles of transformational development, and stories of effective ministry models

Seed ministry: motivate the congregation through first-step service projects or mission trips that expose people to needs and to the experience of serving others

Transformational approach: reorient current ministries to move beyond giving material aid to nurture relationships with people in need; beyond individual needs to community-wide dimensions of social problems; and beyond "band-aid" relief to long-term development

Spiritual nurture: take steps to enrich the spiritual life of outreach staff and volunteers, and to provide spiritual care for those served by compassion ministries

Community connections: research needs and assets in the community to better come alongside the church's neighbors; network and build bridges of caring and solidarity

Ministry vision: move strategically toward practical ministry goals grounded in the desires of community stakeholders, the church's capacity and the Spirit's leading

Program development: organize plans for new outreach programs; expand knowledge and skills related to effective ministry strategies, activities and administration

Ministry partnerships: identify and build relationships with individuals, institutions and other churches with common kingdom goals

Ministry resources: develop a base of funds, volunteers, and other resources needed to implement a ministry vision

Volunteer mobilization: equip and energize the congregation to participate actively in the ministry vision

Invitational outreach: encourage the congregation to draw in unchurched friends and neighbors through the church's community ministry

Leadership development: equip current and emerging leaders to guide the church's ministry journey and effectively manage ministry programs

Best-practice mentoring: Seek to learn from other churches more experienced in holistic, transformational ministry

Other: (You describe here.)

Follow up:

What specific actions or resources can help you take the steps you have identified?

(contacts, curriculum, training programs, models, partners, consultants, conferences, volunteer resources, books, websites, retreat, prayer summit, ministry exposure trips, vision team, etc.)

See the list of "Resources on Church-Based Community Ministry."

Adapted with permission from Ministry Inventory Guide: Assess Your Church’s Ministry Capacity and Identity by Heidi Unruh (2007), www.urbanministry.org.