All of the church growth books and our own instincts tell us that we must understand the community that we seek to serve and confront with the gospel. This means that, more and more, we seek out and rely upon the statistics that present a picture of our area.
Demographic statistics are a great resource in our task, as where people live and with whom they interact is not accidental. God has placed everyone where they are, so that they may reach out and find salvation (Acts 17:26-27). Since it is God who draws people to salvation, it falls to us to ensure that we do not cause those He has called to be hindered in responding. That’s why Paul says "he has become all things to all men so that by all means some might be saved". Statistics can be a great help in removing hindrances.
But in an age where we can easily become besotted by technology and overwhelmed by information, there are some warnings that we must heed when using statistics.
1. Data can control you
The old saying that "what you measure, you treasure" is just as true for statistics. The things you collect data on shape what you become.
Let me illustrate. Ed Stetzer, the American missiologist says that churches must be incarnational, indigenous and intentional. He is calling for churches to cease establishing cookie cutter ministries wherever they may be, and shape their church life to fit in with their community. In fact he says that our goal should be that when people look at the church it should be like they are looking at themselves.
While there is truth in this, there is also great peril. The danger is that we shape our churches to accommodate our community, and so become no different to that community. We can begin to think of the people we seek to reach as fitting a particular demographic rather than as sinners in desperate need of salvation. The way we think of those outside the church is a real warning sign in our use of data.
Secondly, armed with data we can assume that we have the technology, methodology and technique to win people. It is so easy to forget that salvation is a supernatural activity of no one less than God himself. Doing so can result in us diminishing or neglecting prayer, and overlooking where the real power lies. The way that God promises to work in salvation is by His Word being proclaimed and received.
Thirdly, we usually examine the data of those in our area to see the character of those outside the church. We seldom look at the data of those within the church, except to bemoan that we are not like the culture. So we set about becoming like the area. In doing this we forget that God has brought us together as a church, and we need to start with what God has given us. One of our greatest resources is each other. We need to begin by reaching those we can reach because God has given us the people to do that, rather than changing direction and going for the culture, even though we are not well prepared to reach it.
2. Data can't talk
Another problem arises from the data itself. All data is a summary of a group. This means that it always presents the "grossest" statement of the group under investigation. It is not generally good in helping us understand the variety of people that make up an area. This variety can be even more important than the gross data. There are some areas of Sydney where one side of the street contains an almost homogeneous culture, and the other side of the street also has a homogeneous culture, but the two cultures are very different to each other. Statistics do not often tell you this.
Demographic data tells you only a little about those in your area, and sometimes misses the most important things. It usually informs about ethnic background, educational background, wealth and family structures. But some very distinct areas are defined by none of these factors. For example, an interview survey (as opposed to statistics) of Marrickville showed that those recent arrivals were not of any particular ethnic, wealth, family grouping or educational background. What they had in common was their face was set towards Newtown. They wanted the Newtown lifestyle, but could not afford to live there. What makes an area unique is sometimes not answered by statistics.
Having raised these warnings I am a great advocate of using statistics to understand the people we are trying to reach. So how do we go about it?
Firstly, think theologically. We must determine what is negotiable and changeable in the way we conduct our ministry and what must be unchanged. We need to remember that it is God who has given the people, both inside and outside the church, and we need to look in both directions as we seek to minister faithfully. And we need to remember that conversion is a spiritual transaction, so our primary task is to pray and proclaim.
Secondly, interrogate the data. Knowing what our community is like will help us to determine the shape of our ministry and when showing flexibility is appropriate. This is particularly important because minority groups, no matter how much of a minority they are, always feel alienated unless special concern is shown towards them.
Recognise that in God's providence we normally make contact with people who have something in common with those in church. So if the demographic data indicates that there is a large group of a particular culture in your area, and God should bring someone of that culture into your ministry, we need to see that this may well be a doorway into that culture, and so we will pour resources into that person in order to help them help others into the Kingdom.
The statistical data may give you some sort of guidance about what to look for in understanding what makes your area "tick". The only way to find this out is to walk around with eyes open and talk to people.
Thirdly, know what to do when the data for your area just doesn't seem to fit with your experience. The data probably isn't wrong but your sampling is limited. That is not necessarily a problem. It just means that you may have tapped into a micro-culture and there are other micro-cultures present. That you haven't noticed the other micro-cultures is a wake up call to observe more closely.
What happens if there is a big gap between those who comprise your congregation and the area in which you minister? Praise God for the people you are reaching. Then set about ensuring no unnecessary hindrances exist in the way you minister, and pray and look out for people with whom God brings you into contact of the same demographic as your area, and seek to engage them with you in ministry to their area.
Archie Poulos is a lecturer at Moore Theological College and heads the Moore College Missions Committee
