Questions to Discover the World of Christian Resources (adapted from paper by James Slack)

Note: This list is most helpful AFTER you have worked through the ethnographic and demographic question lists.

1. Overall resource survey
1. What is the number of Christians, or denominations, and of organizations trying to reach your people group?
2. What is the status of Scripture translation?
3. What is the status of radio broadcasting?
4. How many cross-cultural missionaries are reaching out to this people?
5. What media ministries, such as tracts, video, and audio cassettes are available?
6. What is the overall level of evangelization of this group?
7. What are the major barriers to evangelization?

2. Churches and Organizations
1. What are the churches and denominations in the target country of your people group who are trying to or may be interested in reaching your people group.
2. What are the mission agencies working among your people group or population segment.
3. What is the effectiveness of each Christian organization trying to reach your people?
4. Who are the individuals in these churches or agencies who are specifically burdened to reach your people?
5. What are the current sources of finances to evangelise this people?
6. What specific prayer resources are currently being used to evangelise this people?
7. What are the names of individuals with personal experience in evangelizing this people?

3. List of resources that can help you reach this group for Christ
1. What are five prayer networks that you might use to ask the Holy Spirit’s power in the evangelization of this people?
2. What are three potential resources for Scripture translation?
3. What are three potential resources for Scripture printing?
4. What are five potential resources for Scripture distribution?
5. What are three potential resources for radio programming or production?
6. What are two potential resources for radio broadcasting to your group?
7. What are three potential resources for video or audio cassette ministry to your group?
8. What are three potential resources for a relief/development ministry to your group?
9. What are five Christian organizations that specialize in your type of people (e.g. Muslim, tribal)?
10. What is one parallel evangelization model among a related people or city which might be used among your people?
11. What are three Bible correspondence course programs that could be used in discipling?
12. What are seven potential sources of funding for the evangelism and ministry projects among this people?

4. .What needs and corresponding opportunities have you identified in this area?
1. Economic needs?
2. Social needs?
3. Literacy needs?
4. Educational needs?
5. Vocational needs?
6. Athletic needs?
7. Medical needs?
8. Agricultural needs?
9. Nutritional needs?
10. Disaster needs?
11. What Christian group or agency is prepared to meet the above needs?
12. What orientation or training is needed to meet the above needs?
13. What political or religious restrictions would inhibit meeting the above needs?
14. What racial or nationality group would be most acceptable to meet the above needs?

5. What opportunities for evangelism are there outside the normal resident pattern for this people?
1. Where are these people located outside their normal residency area?
2. Are they transient/refugees/students/immigrants/residing illegally?
3. Do any Christians regularly come into contact with them?
4. How can new opportunities be created?
5. What training is required?

6. How much Christian literature is available?
1. Is Scripture translation adequate?
2. Is printed Scripture available?
3. Is there other Christian literature in the language of the people?
4. Can these people be legally provided with Scripture in their own country?
5. Is any agency already involved in Scripture translation?
6. Is any agency already delivering Christian literature to these people?

7. Are there any radio broadcasts?
1. Are they in the heart language?
2. What has been the response to the broadcasts?
3. Are these broadcasts recorded by native speakers?
4. Has radio reception been field tested in the area of your people?

8. Does this people group use audio cassettes?
1. Are audio cassettes of Christian material available?
2. Are cassette tapes used to develop leaders?

9. What can be done to strengthen existing Christian leaders?
1. Are leaders receiving adequate training?
2. Do leaders have adequate Christian literature?
3. Are there significant divisions between local leaders?
4. Are local Christians endangered by contact with foreigners?

10. What other Christians in the same country can be encouraged to evangelise this people?
1. Are there indigenous missions organizations?
2. Are there any itinerant evangelists?
3. Do any Christians share a trade language?
4. Are there any racial or linguistic barriers between these people and existing Christians in the same country?
5. Do existing Christians need financial resources to evangelise this group?

11. What avenues of direct evangelism are appropriate?
1. What opportunities are there for tentmakers?
2. What opportunities are there for national believers to begin employment in the same area?
3. What are the political restrictions on evangelism?
4. What are the cultural and religious barriers to direct evangelism?
5. What materials are needed to train foreigners in direct evangelism?
6. What specific apologetic material is needed?
7. How effective are the different tentmaking jobs in giving exposure to the target people, in providing opportunity to build relationships, in allowing sufficient free time for evangelism, in providing contact with the most responsive element of the population, and in providing long-term (2 years or more) contact?
8. What plans will be needed to encourage tentmakers?
9. How will the spiritual needs of tentmakers be met?
10. How often will tentmakers need to leave the country?
11. What level of language proficiency will tentmakers need to be effective?
12. What is the boundary between legal and illegal evangelism in this country?
13. If many people become Christians, what will be the likely reaction of the government and the dominant religion?
14. What is the risk factor for each tentmaker?

12. What coordinating efforts must you undertake in order to implement your plans?
1. Which plans have the highest priority?
2. Which plans require outside funding?
3. Which plans require outside personnel?
4. Which personnel require specialized training?
5. How will you evaluate your plans?

13. What personal efforts must you undertake?
1. How will you develop your network?
2. What key individuals are decision makers in other Christian agencies involved?
3. How will you maintain contact with local Christian leaders?