Researching the Harvest Force

by Carl Townsend

Harvest Force: All organizations actively involved in the Great Commission enterprise and their activities: i.e., denominations, agencies, and parachurch organizations having ministry in the target area. (Bob Waymire) Harvest forces can be external or internal to the church or churches involved in the ministry. External Harvest Forces Here are a few basic research questions: How many churches are in the area? Evangelical churches? What is thier size (attendance)? Membership? Ethnic makup? Are these churches growing or declining? Why? What parachurch agencies and spiritual resources exist? What spiritual gifts and leadership do you see available? What visions exist in the area by the churches? Are their invidividual visions that need help birthing? Where is reconciliation taking place? Where is networking taking place?   Internal Harvest Foces You survey or "map" your church no so much to see what it wants to do, but what resources it has in terms of the vision to which it is called by God. What is your average attendance? How has this varied with time? What is the membership? How has this changed? What is the financial giving? How has this varied with time? Is there unity? Is forgiveness and reconciliation needed? Where? How does your church history compare with the denominational h istory? state history? city history? Other area churches? What are the significan events in the history of the church? What is the vision statement for the church? Is it valid, or does it need to change? Is there commitment to the vision? What programs and ministries currently exist? How should these change to support the vision? How should the organizational structure change? What is the role of the pastor in terms of this vision? What is the deomographic profile of the church? What are the internal needs of the church? What are the spiritual gifts of the church membership? talents?   Sources of Information Here are some primary sources of information in the Portland area: Your church Neighborhood Association Other churches in area (and their histories) Church historians Oregon Historical Society Strategic Resources Ministry State Corporation Division (all non-proifits register with them!) Libraries Church denomination offices Newspapers Mission Portland Denominational publications Percepts Ecumenical Council of Oregon