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The Value and Relevance of Community Research
By Rudy Mitchell, Senior Researcher
Why research our communities when we can simply talk to people or make casual observations?
In-depth research helps us go below the surface. There we discover the root causes of problems, hidden needs, or little-known assets and resources.
Research provides a broader understanding of the various trends or forces impacting our communities. With this greater awareness, Christians can more effectively minister in their communities or start new ministries.
Community research lays a foundation for community transformation and effective witness.
This presentation is part of the larger series, Community Research and the Church. For earlier segments, click here.
This guide showcases organizations addressing some of the most pressing social issues. Their endeavors range from supporting vulnerable children and families to promoting environmental stewardship.
A Christian church or ministry functions in the context of a particular community. To effectively minister in that community, it’s important to understand it.
From population trends to social needs, this illustrated guide lists the factors to consider when learning more about a local neighborhood or community.
This guide includes Boston-area Christian campus ministries and a sample of churches serving college students.
Are you looking to get a better understanding of the city of Boston with all its history, neighborhoods, and eccentricities? Rudy Mitchell, researcher of Boston's neighborhoods and churches for over 30 years, gives his top 5 recommendations for books about Boston.
Want to know where to plant a church in Boston? You might consider Boston’s newest or soon-to-be-built residential growth sites. We’ll take a look at eight neighborhoods where growth is—or soon will be—taking place, based on public and private development plans.
The Church has a critical role in prevention, intervention, and healing from gender-based violence (GBV). These resources can help.
The City of Boston has released “Imagine Boston 2030,” a comprehensive vision to prepare for an expected population surge by the city’s 400th anniversary in 2030. Can the church articulate a similar vision for what the Kingdom of God could look like in Boston 13 years from now?
Starting a new church, but short on leaders? A few years ago, we interviewed a number of Greater Boston’s church planters to ask how they were developing new leaders for their churches. Here are some of their tips for raising new leaders.
A frank look at the sources, accuracy, limitations, and weaknesses of some commonly used church statistics in Boston. As convenient and convincing as statistics are, they can be misunderstood, misapplied, and generate misinformation.