On the Goal of Field Research

When sharing about the One Challenge’s use of field research, it is often helpful to bring an easy-to-overlook biblical passage into the discussion that illustrates what we intend to achieve.

“…from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—
200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command.…” (1 Chronicles 12:32 NIV)

Perhaps the first reading of this passage has you wondering “What great insight lays here?” But a closer look reveals that the chronicler highlights two distinctive characteristics of the leaders from the tribe of Issachar: first they understood the times; second they knew what Israel should do. This double description illustrates how One Challenge utilizes field research.

First, we assist the Body of Christ to understand the times. This often involves gathering and analyzing data about the church, or as we refer to it, the Harvest Force, and also the church’s context or the Harvest Field, which may be an entire country, a community or a specific people group.

Second, we help Christian leaders to understand what God’s people should do. This involves developing effective ministry strategies based on both the understanding times and what God wants to do in that particular context.

So our goal is to help Christian leaders become like the leaders of Issachar, to understand the times and to know what God’s people should do.

The Research Wiki tab on this website features with many practical tips on how field research can assist the Body of Christ to understand the times and assist Christian leaders to understand what God’s people should do. Enjoy exploring!