Exegeting your community - Replant Bootcamp

EP 231 – Listening to the Field will Lead you to the Future

Written on February 21, 2024.

Replant Bootcamp

EP 231 - Listening to the Field will Lead you to the Future

00:00 / 23:36

In the latest episode of Replant Bootcamp, we will address a significant change – the departure of co-host Bob Bickford. Bob is doing great work with Three One Three but will no longer be the official co-host of the Bootcamp. Learn more about what Bob Bickford is up to at Three One Three by clicking here.

We do hope to talk Bob Bickford into coming back on periodically as a guest host.

We are joined in this episode by another Bob, Bob Bumgarner, a good friend and mentor, to share insights on shaping the replant bootcamp moving forward.

Listening to the Field Will Lead You to the Future – Bob Bumgarner introduces a valuable principle: “If you listen to the field, it will lead you to the future.” This concept originated in his experiences consulting and coaching churches, realizing that coaching, rather than consulting, proved more effective. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the field’s needs and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the process.

Cultural Exegesis and Community Engagement – Bob Bumgarner delves into the significance of cultural exegesis, drawing parallels between understanding a community and the principles of foreign mission trips. He discusses the relevance of studying a community’s values, fears, and needs, emphasizing the role of pastors as cultural exegetes. The conversation highlights Acts 6, 17 and other biblical examples as models for engaging with culture.

Bob Bumgarner offers practical steps for exegeting your community
- pray with humility
- observe without judgment
- ask questions,
- join God in what He is already doing in the community

“You can’t exegete your community from your desk”

SUGGEST A GUEST – We would love to encourage you to participate in shaping the podcast’s future. Visit the Replant Bootcamp website and suggest guests or topics. Whether sharing personal experiences or recommending someone with valuable insights, the goal is to foster a community of learners.

Bob Bumgarner offers practical steps – pray with humility, observe without judgment, ask questions, and join God in what He is already doing in the community.

Episode #23 – Using the Fourfold Panorama with Keelan Cook

Written on February 26, 2020.

Replant Bootcamp

Episode #23 - Using the Fourfold Panorama with Keelan Cook

00:00 / 29:58

Keelan Cook, of the Union Baptist Association stopped by the bootcamp to give us some great insights on how to understand your church and its context.

It is important for Replants and Revitalizations to know themselves and their communities-one of the reasons why they are in decline is that they no longer understand themselves and their context.

Every church needs to understand

The Biblical Mission
The Congregation itself
The Context in which it exists

The church usually understands the Biblical mission, they may have blindspots in knowing themselves and knowing their community.

The Fourfold Panorama seeks to help churches understand themselves and their contexts from the view of the insiders and the outsiders.

A lot of churches are “nose blind” to their condition.

What is one reason why churches are in decline? They put their own preferences over cultural engagement.

An important question to ask: Do the activities of your church match the needs of the community?

A community is more than a geographical location-it is also a moment in time. Instead of a rock in the field-think a rock in the current of a moving stream.

If we struggle to gain traction-we may be aiming at the wrong target (meaning our understanding of the community)

What are some of the initial core actions we need to take in order to use the Panorama window?

Surveys
Community/Congregation Interviews
Data Discover (ACP, Demographics)

Churches often suffer from “aspiration bias” believing they are what they wish they were.

Can you do this assessment by yourself? What are my best next steps?

Most often it’s best to get someone outside the church to facilitate the process
Association staff, area pastors.
Build a team of influencers (a leadership team) inside the congregation.
Conduct the work and then unpack the information for the congregation in ever widening circles.

How do you handle the reality of people pushing back and disagreeing with the data of the discovery process?

Typically, if the church team is the one who presents the data their relational credibility and influence often help the rest of the church accept reality.
In some cases when you have someone on the team who disagrees or rejects the realities-discover the real reason behind their disagreement. It’s usually something related to control, preference or fear of change.
Treat this as a discipleship moment; “Help me understand…” asking why they are having a difficult time hearing the report.

Are there people who shouldn’t be on your Panorama Team?

You want the team to be diverse in perspectives and social circles
Use caution in choosing “gatekeepers” and “stakeholders” who may want to be guardians of the present and their preferences.
Consider saying; “If you are not able to consider ideas or opportunities outside of your preferences-this may not be the team for you.”

Often, fear mitigation is an important part of this discovery process. Communicating that the initial steps in this process are devoted to trying to understand the realities of the church and its condition and that recommendations will follow may help.

Call the congregation to understand the beauty of the Great Commission-help them rekindle a love for the mission of the church. When that happens fear often subsides.

Key Resource: Pick out a key third place ( a coffee shop, a restaurant etc.) and get to know the people in that space and learn about them and the community. Engage them through conversation and relationship.

Fourfold Panoramic Assessment by Keelan Cook

The Peoples Next Door blog by Keelan Cook

Brother’s Taco House

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