D3: How to evaluate new housing engagement projects (Part 1)

Biblical/Practical Intro

Luke 19:1-10 Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house…’ Luke 19:8-9 NIVUK

Mark 10:17-31 Jesus’ encounter with the Rich Young Ruler

Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10:21-22 NIVUK

Luke 10:1-24 Jesus sending out the 72 and evaluating their experience

‘When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal those there who are ill and tell them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God has come near.”’ Luke 10:8-11 NIVUK

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’ He replied, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’ Luke 10:17-18 NIVUK

At a glance

Evaluating human interaction and behaviour is complex.
A Christlike perspective should underpin the evaluation of both the individuals engaging in new housing mission and the projects themselves.
Starting from biblical and theological reflection prevents working from a functionally atheistic perspective.
Functional atheism ignores the presence of God and the work of the Spirit and operates purely pragmatically.

Key Points

Evaluation and assessment in any area that involves human interaction is complex. Especially if this is linked to funding and resources. Christian mission is no exception and these short How to guides will not resolve all the issues or tensions surrounding this issue. The purpose of these two guides is to introduce the issue of evaluation and encourage an approach which fully integrates the spiritual and practical/legal. It would be useful to read this How to guide in conjunction with How to have a clear vision for outcomes. These two guides (D3 and D4) address firstly spiritual questions and then practical approaches.

Given that the underlying principle of these How to guides, as laid out in Section A, is being Christlike, it is helpful to consider Jesus’ missional engagement and the visible result. Jesus’ two encounters cited above – one with Zacchaeus and one with the Rich Young Ruler had very different responses. One man is transformed, one walks away. Did Jesus effectively communicate the good news in one instance and ineffectively in the other? Similarly, when Jesus sends out the 72 he instructs them on their attitude, that they must bless the town or village, heal and proclaim good news, but he expects that in some places their message and presence will be welcomed and in others rejected. Finally, it is interesting to note the feedback between Jesus and the 72 when they return.

Luke 10:17-18 makes it clear that the 72 have been involved in a spiritual activity beyond simply their actions.

It is useful for those evaluating and those being evaluated to have honest discussions about what they mean by ‘church’, ‘mission’ and ‘success’. These words can mean very different things to different people. (See also D4 – part 2 of this guide)

When seeking to assess those missionally engaging on new estates it is useful to consider from a theological perspective what we are seeking to measure:

Are we measuring the input of those missionally engaging or the output (response) of local people? Would Jesus have had his funding continued if he were assessed in relation to Zacchaeus and removed if in relation to the Rich Young Ruler? It is a truism that people can only be held accountable for their own actions.
The posture and practices of those missionally engaging can be evaluated to discern whether their attitude or gifts fit the missional calling to new housing (See Section A How to be Christlike.) However, it is also important to identify what is the work of the Spirit. It is unhelpful to impose targets or limitations on the Spirit as God may do something unexpected! (See How to join in with what God is doing.)

It is also helpful to question:

In the light of Luke 10 is walking away the right thing to do? Is this a place where the blessing and good news are simply not welcomed? As well as advising the 72 to ‘wipe the dust from their feet’ both Jesus and Paul walk away from unfruitful places (see Mark 6:1-6 and Acts 13 note v51).

Finally, it is helpful to honestly consider the below principles driving the evaluation:

Is the evaluation driven by a spiritual or a financial outcome? Signs of spiritual fruitfulness or the need for financial sustainability?
Is it driven by the need to save the institution of the church or save local people and communities through the good news of the kingdom?

Learning Points

Jesus’ response to the returning of the 72 reflects the theological nature of their mission, spiritual activity beyond their actions. Some pioneers and those missionally engaging in new housing have noted that both target-setting and evaluation can be undertaken from a functional perspective outside of a theological and spiritual framework which can feel disconnected from their experience of joining in with the mission of God on their estate.
Those evaluating have also noted the complexity of managing the legalities of funding, and the need for robust evaluation, alongside the desire to support missionary activity.
The relationship between those on the ground and funders can be fragile because of misunderstandings. Starting with theological reflection – perhaps using the passages above as a starting point – and some honest questions may help evaluate in both robust and Christlike ways.

Engaging With New Housing