When we engage in service, it’s important to recognize that true, lasting change happens best when the community is involved in every step of the process. Whether you’re planning a local service project, outreach event, or long-term community initiative, understanding how different groups and perspectives play a role can help ensure your efforts are impactful and sustainable. This guide will help your group think through, design, plan, and implement community service and comp

Introduction As we seek to live out our faith through missional engagement, it is important to remember that we do not serve in isolation. God has already been at work in every community long before we arrive, and many individuals and groups carry wisdom, experience, and insight that can guide our efforts. These individuals and groups—often referred to as stakeholders —include community members, local leaders, churches, organizations, and others who are directly affected by o

Overview As followers of Christ, we are called to care for creation, love our neighbors, and think wisely about the long-term impact of our actions. When planning missional or community-oriented work, it can be helpful to use practical tools that help us reflect carefully and faithfully on the challenges and opportunities before us. One such tool is the sustainability SWOT (sSWOT) , adapted from the familiar SWOT framework (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).

Description A social map is a simple, participatory way for community members to share what life looks like in their neighborhood or area. Rather than being created by outsiders, the map is drawn by the people who live there. It reflects not only physical spaces, but also relationships, social structures, institutions, and patterns of everyday life. For Christian groups engaged in mission, social mapping can be a meaningful practice of listening. It helps us slow down, obser

Community Asset Mapping, A Faithful Practice of Seeing Gifts and Calling (Adapted from the ABCD Institute) Introduction In Christian mission, it can be tempting to begin by asking, What is missing? or What problems need to be fixed? While understanding needs can be important, this approach invites us to begin somewhere different—by noticing and celebrating the gifts God has already placed within people and communities. Community Asset Mapping focuses on the skills, passion

Introduction As a Christian small group engaged in mission, it is helpful to pause regularly and reflect on why we do what we do and how our actions align with God’s calling. Clarifying our purpose is not about striving for efficiency or control, but about faithfulness—seeking to serve with intention, humility, and care. The following elements offer a simple framework to help groups articulate their sense of calling, the work they are undertaking, and the impact they hope t