Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

354 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

2. Importance: respect is absolutely critical.

3. Formal interviewing: (associations, groups, individuals) community survey

a. Descriptive questions – “Grand Tour questions”

b. Structural questions – seeking to determine what ethnic groups live where, and the differences between them

4. Informal interviewing: friendship and learning

5. The importance of recording and reflecting on all answers, and seeking to use information to better your ministry

6. The act of staying open to new information is as important as the interview process, formal or not.

7. Under all circumstances guard the dignity of the people you are researching; they are not bugs or microbes, but people for whom Christ died

F. Gleaning the field: spend time analyzing your data.

1. Never gather data without also scheduling some kind of feedback or evaluation setting.

2. Talk together as a team about what you are learning.

3. Constantly ask how your insights can serve your evangelism, compassion, and friend-making activities.

4. Make suggestions on how information can help your CPT efforts in ministering to the community.

G. Begin to walk circumspectly: become a good neighbor.

1. Appreciate the uniqueness of the community where you are.

2. Be discrete and respectful; do not become a tale-bearer.

3. Allow the Spirit to use your research to modify your methods and strategies of evangelism and justice.