Understanding the Value of Mapping a Community: 
An Introduction to Missional Mapping
by M. Rodney Webb, DMin

In the Missional Culturescape, demographic data, geography, and mapping are all related to create a comprehensive picture of the different types of people in the community including generational, educational, economic, lifestyle and lifestage groups within the community.

Some people question the need to map the community around their church.  They think they know their community since they have lived their for a long period of time.  However, often even the most alert fail to see a gradual change in the neighborhood until they suddenly major changes such as new signs in a different language, different lifestyles, types of stores, or eating establishments to name just a few.  Then the comment often is when, how, and why did this happen.

The Missional Culturescape enables churches to view their community from many different perspectives.  The following brief explanation will give you better understanding why mapping is important in understanding the mission field you and your people are called to serve.

Why is Missional Mapping Important and Necessary?

• Mapping identifies different kinds of people that live around your church facility

• Mapping provides a visual picture of where different types of people are concentrated

• Mapping exposes various types of needs that exist in your community

• Mapping provides a visual picture of the extent to which your community is unreached

• Mapping identifies ways in which to build relationships with people who live in specific neighborhoods

• Mapping identifies types of outreach ministries that are needed in your community

• Mapping identifies underlying motivations that will need to be considered in communicating the gospel and ministering to others.

• Mapping exposes various types of disabilities that exist in your community.

How Does Missional Mapping Help You and Your Church?

• It enables you and your church to better understand how and where to reach the different types of people in your community

• It will strengthen your assimilation process into your congregation

• You will discover the need for ministry partners to effectively reach those who you cannot reach at this time

• Your church will grow in its missional understanding locally which will empower them to have a better missional understanding in their daily lives

• You and your members will be better able to understand the different cultures and how to relate to them

• It will enable your church to see the different people groups who need to be reached with the gospel and contextualize your efforts to effectively communicate with people in the different lifestyle segments