Field Selection Criteria Definitions

1. Unchurchedness: An area which contains a permanent Christian presence of 20% or less.

2. Receptivity: The openness of an area or people to change, specifically change towards acceptance of the Christian gospel, either demonstrated through reports or reviews or diagnosed through receptivity instrument.

3. Area of Influence: The sphere over which a city has the ability to affect change directly (through the presence of governmental or organizational headquarters) or indirectly (through education, trade and politics). The city functions as a communication center for the interaction of information; the ability of which is greatly enhanced by the greater number of transients.

4. Total Population: The number of people resident in an area.

5. Population Density: The proportion of people living in an area as compared with the size of the area, stated in population/sq. mile.

6. Stemming the Muslim Tide: Muslim evangelism is steadily making inroads (south of the Sahara and along the East African coast), gaining more converts from African Traditional Religion. Planting churches along this non-homogeneous front will help to impede the approach of Islam.

7. Denominational Protectionism: The aggressiveness displayed by previously existing religious groups (especially older mainline Protestant churches) and their missionary societies against newer missionaries (especially in upholding old territorial comity agreements).

8. Homogeneity: An area composed of peoples with cultural and linguistic similarity. Dayton & Fraser define peoples: "A human population with a common language, shared ethnicity, and significant pattern of social interaction," (Planning Strategies for World Evangelization, 1990, p. 102). people groups: "a significantly large sociological grouping of individuals who perceive themselves to have a common affinity for one another. From the viewpoint of evangelization this is the largest group within which the gospel can spread without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance," (Dayton & Fraser, p. 102).

9. Mobility: The degree of permanence the people of an area displays with regards to their place of living.

10. Availability of Scriptures: The Bible, the New Testament, or portions thereof are available in the vernacular, trade or national language. People are able to access copies through purchasing, libraries, and churches.

11. Expectations of Government: The role in which the central government expects expatriate missionaries to function in outlays of money and personnel regarding social and cultural programs.