Posts Tagged ‘cities’

2.0 // The where of community planting

September 26th, 2008

So how do you pick your where? How do you pick your spot to plant a community?

I think I am made it clear that I think the where is really important but how do you figure out WHERE you want to land and plant? I think that’s a good question.

I also think this is a hard question. Initially (this was a couple years ago) as Todd and I talked about planting a community together Todd was pretty sold on Illinois and there were a lot of good reason for that. It was our home for 18+ years and to give back to that place, to the people who have been a community of Christ to us sounded like a good idea. I think putting your hometown or area into the mix of where is a good idea. But not the only idea. And obviously Todd hasn’t ended up in IL just yet.

And a brief disclaimer is this :: I am not forgetting about the God factor. I believe that God could miraculously direct, I HOPE HE DOES! I could pin a map to the wall, close my eye and play pin the tale on the right place BUT I think until God does speak miraculously the intelligent, planned, intellectual approach is wise.
So far that’s my approach when thinking about this. Trusting that when it’s time God will speak clearly and / or give a solid assurance.

So here are a few more questions I think will help me figure out my where.

Where is there a need?
Where is there a desire?
Where is there openness?
Where is there opportunity?
Where is there a team?
Where is there resources?

These all seem to be good question…

(this according to http://www.citymayors.com/gratis/uscities_growth.html )

Another report give these as the 10 fastest growing cities ::
#1. New Orleans, LA #2. Victorville, CA #3. McKinney, TX #4. N. Las Vegas #5. Cary, NC #6 Killeen Texas #7 Port St. Lucie, FL #8. Gilbert, AZ #9. Clarksville, TN #10 Denton, TX
(This according to an article on CNN.com)

Another source lists these as the top 10 fastest growing cities.

I give you these lists of the fastest growing cities (you can also check out the 100 largest cities here) because I think population growth and in some instances size in general is a good indicator of opportunity and of a developing community. And personally i am much more drawn to a larger city with urban potential. So I pay attention to these kinds of things.

FIND YOUR SPOT [dot] COM
I also filled out this little survey. It’s kinda interesting, you fill out a list of questions and they give you the top 10 cities that would fit you (according to your answers.)

My List

I filled out this survey another time and after filling it out the second time i found my first results… they were different?

FIRST RESULTS :: #1. Knoxville, TN  #2. Cincinnati, OH  #3. Nashville, TN  #4. Oklahoma City, OK  #5. Little Rock, AK

Most of the top 10 were the same just mixed up a bit. 
But these are my results. Hmmm… 

 

 

So these are all just some of the things I am thinking about as I trying to decipher my where.

What are some other means of figure out this very important question?
If you are a church planter, how did you figure out your where? We would love to know!

Looking for those wide open fields
Erik

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