This useful tool will help churches identify and connect areas with a view to creating new worshipping communities, particularly highlighting where there are people and areas not currently served by a church community.
By Bishop Ric ThorpeJune 2018
Mapping exercises are an energising, engaging, fun and empowering way for churches and deaneries to identify people groups and places that exist in their communities with a view to reaching them with the gospel. Many deaneries within the Church of England host one-off evenings with their clergy to draw a large map of the deanery together and explore how to reach new people in new places and new ways.
Jesus has called his church to make disciples of all nations but many churches today find it a challenge to be continually outward looking and to connect with their communities in an increasingly individualistic society and with limited staff resources. By exploring the local area through mapping exercises we can identify people groups and areas who are not currently served by a local church community.
This can then form the heart of developing a priority list of potential new worshipping communities and become a great tool for prayer and planning.
