Congregations who desire to transform often need to exegete their community context. They once knew what characterized it. Now they do not. They have lost touch. Their community context is no longer framed by the same set of rules they knew years–even decades–ago.
Statistics and maps describing their community context will only take them so far. In-depth sociological, ethnographic, and other types of research may increase their knowledge about their community context. However, these will not increase their experience with their community context. They must immerse themselves in their context. They must engage in a contextual baptism by immersion.