Paul set the standard in Romans 1:14-16:

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.   NIV

At some time a church planter will have to deal with the subject of targets. Who am I going to try to reach? Sometimes missions and missionaries spend a disproportionate amount of time trying to determine the proper target, but a serious church planter will have to include this in his thinking. At one time our mission organization became very preoccupied with targets. In meeting after meeting, in large and small groups, this was the topic of discussion. It dawned on me one day that we could spend hours talking about who we should target and leave the meeting, walking past multitudes of people without thinking seriously about their lost condition. Not knowing which target to shoot for is not our problem. Sometimes our problem is being motivated enough to aim for the obvious nearby targets—those within our sight, our voice, our touch, who are still untouched with the Gospel because we have been so preoccupied with discussing who to target.

Some say to go after the rich so they can provide support for future work. This line of thinking includes financial support as well as leadership. I have not personally met any missionary who thinks like this who is effective in any kind of church planting. Part of the fallacy is the idea that if the rich are reached, they will have a great influence on society at their level and downward. Seldom will the rich be able or willing to reach the poor people. Another fallacy is the idea that the rich will be more effective in changing history. Great movements in history—revolutions which have made a difference—did not come from a movement among the rich. If we want to change society and the course of history, we must be aware of that sector of society which has within it the greatest capacity to think and effect revolution. The rich and elite are not the ones; they have it made and would rather things not change. They do not want their status and security threatened. They like history; it has dealt them a good life. These people also tend to be fixed in their way, their web of friends and lifestyle. Arrogance and pride are common to this class. They have the answers and do not need help. These are the reasons they are so closed to the Gospel. Does this mean that we are never to target them in church planting? No, we should never ignore them; but we must realize that human nature has not changed from the days of Christ. Unless our motivation goes beyond reaching them for what they can do for us, we will be void of the Spirit of Christ who is the secret of our success. They need to be reached because they are lost and God loves them.

What about targeting the very poor in church planting? As is true with targeting only the rich, we must be aware of the leadership of the Holy Spirit and go where He directs. To target the very poor and forget and ignore the middle and upper classes may be just as calloused as targeting only the rich.

Some people feel more at ease working with poorer people and are therefore more effective with them. God may lead a person to concentrate his work among poorer people, but no one with Christ in him can be blind to the spiritual poverty of any sector of a Christless society.

Which socio-economic group will have the greatest potential of changing history? The poorest of society are not the ones. Often the poor are too deep in a fatalistic rut to dream dreams. They are not able to see the prospects of revolutions which will change history. They see themselves as lacking education and opportunities. They tend to give up, just living out life as they find it. Discipline is not usually a strong characteristic of the very poor. Disciplined people change history. This does not mean we should ignore the slums and squatters. If they are not born again, they are doomed just as anyone else without Christ.

Who has the greatest potential for changing the course of history? What class of people are most apt to make a difference in a nation? It is the lower-middle and middle class. These tend to dream dreams of what they can become and do. These, not being rich, have little to lose and much to gain. They live at a level of flux. They are out of the cellar of poverty, yet do not feel they have all the answers or all out of life that they want. Generally, it is this sector which is most responsive to the Gospel. They have not only the capacity to be visionaries, they have the necessary discipline to pursue dreams.

Many church planters tend to spend more time with this level of society, just as Jesus and His disciples did. This is the level I have found best to concentrate on, without eliminating the other levels as potential targets for church planting. I feel very comfortable having a church planting Bible study with the rich on one night, the middle class on another night, and slum dwellers on another night, hoping to plant churches among each.

Some people are able to reach one level of society more effectively than others. It is difficult to imagine Christ deciding that He will concentrate on only one level of society and ignore the others. The Lord may lead one person to concentrate on the rich and someone else to concentrate on the poor, but neither can forget nor ignore the masses in various levels of society. I believe it is best to move at the leading of the Holy Spirit, without predetermined boundaries.

Submitted by Charles Brock