Church Neighborhood Vision Ventures

by Carl Townsend

Vision Venture: Putting the church leaders and their laypersons on site in their church neighborhood to gain insight. (Donna Johnson) Introduction Vision ventures are designed to build vision so churches can come to know God's plans for their church neighborhood and how they can join Him in these plans. Getting the academic data on the area is only one step (howbeit a key one) in researching and planning strategic evengelism. The next step is to actually take this information into the neighborhood and test it to see if it really reflects the territory. This step is intentionally relational and enables the church members, together, to gain a vision of what God is doing and can do through them. This step can take many forms. Here are a few: Knocking on doors, asking for prayer requests and simply getting to know the people. Building an identity in the marketplace - such as hanging out with other Christians at a local coffeehouse. Develop strategies for taking the church into the market (neighborhood). Host block parties. Identify your house as a house of prayer in the neighborhood with a simple sign in the window. Schedule regular meetings at your house, then use these as a launching point to meet real neighborhood needs. Start simple ministries, such as a summer drama group for the neighborhood kids. Take regular weekly walks with one or more church members. Identify needs by learning to discern these as you walk - lawns that need mowed, painting jobs, a despressed resident, etc. Your basic goal is to get a vision of what needs to be done, then bring the Gospel in terms of meeting these needs. The needs can be spiritual, physical, or emotional.