Get available information on your area.

• Recent census data can tell you the ethnic makeup of a neighborhood.
• A Chamber of Commerce may have valuable information, especially about the type of people who live in an area.
• Nothing takes the place of simply visiting, getting to know the people.

A formal survey may help; it can also give you a reason to stop and talk with people.

• Many churches fail because their leaders simply do not know the mentality of the people who live in the neighborhood. Find out why people do not go to church. And do not assume it is because they reject God or Christ.
• Ask the people what they think about the church, about their hopes and fears.
• Identify common felt needs.
• Grow to love them.
• Intercede for them passionately before God.

Find in John 4:35 one of Jesus' rules for beginning a new work.

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In a small, initial survey to get familiar with people and their opinions, prepare a small number of open-ended questions like those below: Think in advance about what kind of insight each question can help you gain. [For example...]

• How long have you lived in this neighborhood? [mobility]
• What to you like about it? [values]
• What kinds of changes would make this a better neighborhood? [needs]
• Where do you folks go to worship? [religion]
• What do you dislike about churches? [preferences]
• What has been you experience with _______________ church. [attitudes]
• Is there anything you would like some people to ask God to help you with? [spiritual thirst]

Try each question with a few people and change it if necessary, before you ask others to go use it.

Meet together after each outing to share your new insights and pray about how you can meet people's needs.