Most churches with which I've worked could not answer the question that forms the title of this post. They simply have no target group. Some of them would insist they are called to reach all people; their records would probably show they are reaching no one. Such churches take a scattergun approach to ministry thinking they will surely hit something with such an approach. It reminds me of the first time a covey of quail flew up in front of me. Since I had a shotgun I assumed if I fired in their direction I would hit something. Nothing fell. I learned the importance of focusing on a specific target if I wanted to hit the target. The same is true of churches. Churches that aim at nothing in particular are likely to accomplish little.
Saddleback Church has identified their target. They call him Saddleback Sam. He is representative of the people in southern California that this church targets for outreach. They have developed a very clear profile of this person and gear much of what they do around this profile. From the music used in their worship services, to their sermons, to the small groups and everything else they do, it is all developed to reach the person who fits their profile. The same is true for Willow Creek Community Church. They have developed a profile for their target audience which they have named Unchurched Harry and Unchurched Mary. Again, everything they do is geared towards that target audience. These two churches of over 20,000 in attendance each weekend understand that no one church can appeal to everyone. They focus their ministry outreach on a specific audience, and they have been very successful doing so. Why do many of our churches of under 100 people think we are to reach all people?
One thing I always admired about Robert Schuller was how he went into the community to determine how to structure his church. He began his ministry in southern California preaching from the top of the concession stand in a drive-in theatre. During those early years he visited hundreds of homes asking the same questions. Do you attend church? If not, what would you look for in a church? Many times the people would want something Schuller's church did not provide. He would honestly tell them this and add that if our church does begin this ministry, I will let you know. Schuller later wrote, "Their needs determine our programs. Their hangups determine our strategy. Their culture determines our style. Their population determines our goals."
These three ministers did not compromise the gospel message. They may not have proclaimed it in a style preferred by many of our seminaries, but many of our seminaries and denominations are still stuck in a 1950s methodology that has long ceased being effective. I have listened to sermons from these men and have their books in my library, and their theology is sound. That doesn't mean I agree on every point, but any disagreement I may have does not dilute any of my core biblical beliefs.
Many churches have found the value in identifying a target group for their church to reach. That does not mean that if someone from outside that target group receives Christ that you'll tell him or her that since he or she doesn't fit the target that they need to go elsewhere! What it does mean is that much of your efforts, your ministries, your finances and all you do will focus specifically on this target group.
I encourage you to begin to pray about who God would have you specifically reach out to during 2024.
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