PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS.
Chapter 7: ANALYZING AN AREA.
An area is a specific portion of a country determined by either geographical, linguistic, cultural or political lines.
-Geographic area – boundaries of a geographic area are set by natural elements, eg mountains.
-Linguistic area – all the territory within a nation where the people speak the same language.
-Cultural area – territory within a country where all the people groups are similar. Eg tribal groups.
-Political area – a township, city, country, province or state within a nation. Its boundaries are set by the government.
When you do an area analysis, you analyze in details a specific area within a nation to determine the political, geographic, linguistic and cultural factors that make it a separate area. The purpose of analyzing an area is to reach a specific area of a country with the gospel. It is a research for the purpose of evangelism. You analyze an area to answer these questions:
-What people groups are within this area?
-What do these groups have in common?
-What is this area like?
-Who should reach this area?
-How should this area be reached?
You can gather information by prayer, study of written materials, observation and interview. Use what you’ve learned about the area.