Spiritual things are notoriously difficult to measure. Whether we speak of individuals or communities, the core of spiritual life is the heart, which remains largely invisible to others.

We can, however, observe various behaviors that we know are largely influenced by one’s spiritual vitality: divorce rates, births to unwed mothers, violent crimes, abortions,truancy rates, performance in school, evidences of racism in business ownership and political rhetoric, and personal bankruptcy rates. We can also attempt to evaluate the presence and effectiveness of churches and parachurch organizations, as difficult as this might be.

The Shalom Project encourages all Shalom Project partners to take a critical look at each neighborhood they intend to serve and to answer questions like these:

What are the evidences of spiritual unhealth in
this community?
• What needs are the most pressing ones in this neighborhood?
• Who are the Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs) and parachurch organizations here?
• What needs is each one meeting?
• Are they well run?
• Who are the neighborhood churches?
• How would these churches be evaluated in the following areas?
- Preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ and the Bible
- Making and multiplying disciples
- Holding members accountable for walking with the Lord
- Serving the needs of the surrounding neighborhood
- Integrating word and deed inside the church and in the community
- Developing local leadership for church and community
- Praying diligently for the well-being of the neighborhood
- Including in its membership all ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the neighborhood
- Requiring its leaders to lead godly lives
- Cooperating with other churches, agencies and organizations