Place Discovery Resource

Every church plant takes shape in a real place, and each place has its own history, needs and calling. The Place Discovery Resource is a guided set of eight questions. It helps you get to know your area in practical terms and in spiritual terms. It isn’t meant to produce a detailed report. It’s meant to get you to engage with your place in prayer, notice what God is highlighting, and see where your knowledge has gaps.

Who it’s for

• Church planters and planting teams discerning or starting a new church in a location
• Leaders of existing churches who want a fresh understanding of their neighbourhood
• Prayer teams and local Christians who want to pray for their area with more focus

What it covers

The workbook moves from the present, to the past, to a God-inspired future:

1. Area background: what your area is like today (neighbourhoods, communities, key places, reputation) and its current spiritual life, including churches, ministries, other faith communities and relationships with the council.
2. Current prayer needs: the key practical issues in the area, such as social, health and crime, alongside the spiritual needs and signs of growth.
3. A place with a past: how history, trauma, division and change still affect the area, and which negative narratives or “doors” need closing.
4. A God-inspired future: which doors of opportunity need opening or reopening, and what the area could become if it were as God intended, drawing on the community’s hopes and on scriptures spoken over the place.

It also gives you space to name and map your area, and it defines the key terms it uses (area, neighbourhood, sector and group).

How to use it

• Start with prayer. Talk to God about your area. Prayer walking is a great first step.
• Take your time. This won’t be done in one sitting. Come back to it over weeks or months.
• Answer the heart of each question. The bullet prompts are there to guide your thinking, not to be answered one by one.
• Be specific. Include as many local details and examples as you can, and note how things differ across the area.
• Involve others. Talk with local Christians, community members and leaders, and use sources like census data to fill gaps.
• Don’t worry about gaps. If a question shows you something you don’t know, that’s part of the value. Explore it where you can.