Gospel Infrastructure™

This page outlines the methodology by which locations are evaluated.
BASE Is there a healthy church or a strong CPer to join? Theologically, methodologically aligned according (e.g., meaningful membership and plurality of elders); a nourishing spiritual context 1 - No 2 - Not on the ground yet, but a like-minded work is being planned. 3 - On the ground, forming though not established and/or high level of scrutiny 4 - Yes - Some limits to capacity (including: lack of ability to integrate new people whether due to lack of people to care for them or lack of enough people to be ballast for the church) 5 - Yes, there is a strong church or team that can receive new ex-pats. BIBLE TRANSLATION Is the whole Bible available in the local language? 1 - None 2 - Portions available 3 - Books available 4 - NT available OR a translation exists but quality issues (e.g., only from English to local language, not from original languages) 5 - Yes, fully available, is understandable, and translation is from original languages EVANGELISM Is evangelism happening at scale? 1 - None, or very limited happening 2 - Yes, but not widely and not predominantly by local/long-term believers 3 - Yes, widely but not predominantly by local/long-term believers 4 - Yes, in local language predominantly by local/long-term believers, but not widely 5 - Yes, in local language, widely, and predominantly by local/long-term believers CHURCHES Is there sufficient coverage by healthy local churches? Note: health begins with commitment to Scripture including: meaningful membership, plurality of leadership, and commitment to define church and church activity by the Bible. 1 - No church 2 - One healthy church exists 3 - Multiple healthy churches exist and they have planted a healthy church (e.g., Lucknow) 4 - Multiple healthy churches being planted by multiple local churches, but dependent on outside resources (e.g., Dubai) 5 - Yes, a network of many churches is working together and there is sustainable reproduction (e.g., Washington, DC)		PASTOR TRAINING Is there a good way for local pastors to be trained? 1 - No, or training is not good 2 - There are good ways that local pastors are trained but these are more ad hoc or led by outsiders 3 - Yes, there is clearly defined and on-going training in partnership with local churches, but dependent on outside resources 4 - Yes, there are sufficient resources within local churches to train local pastors 5 - Yes, there is a network of local churches training multiple local pastors on an on-going basis, and it is reproducing. SEMINARY Is there a good local seminary for pastoral training? Note: ‘good’ begins with a commitment to biblical inerrancy. 1 - No or there is an evangelical-type seminary but there are serious concerns about commitment to gospel purity (e.g., prosperity, charismatic) 2 - There is an evangelical seminary that is aligned in view of the gospel but there are important theological differences. 3 - Yes, however the seminary professors are predominantly expats 4 - Yes, there is good training and predominantly by locals; however it is insufficient to train the leaders needed 5 - Yes, and the seminary professors are predominantly locals and it is sufficient to train the leaders needed; also it is financially sustainable WORSHIP MUSIC Is there local worship music available? Note: assumption for levels 3-5 is songs with good theology 1 - No, locals use songs from another culture (e.g., written by Westerners) in their own language but with poor theology 2 - No, locals use songs from another culture in their own language but with good theology 3 - Yes, local songs written by foreigners 4 - Yes, local songs written by local believers 5 - Yes, local songs written by local believers and they are being sung widely among the churches CHRISTIAN LITERATURE Is Christian literature available? 1 - None 2 - Yes, but not with good theology 3 - Yes, with aligned theology but with inadequate distribution 4 - Yes, with aligned theology and with adequate distribution 5 - Yes, with aligned theology and with adequate distribution AND consumption