COMMUNITY TAKING STRATEGIES: A Thriving Church In A Hostile Environment

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” – Mark 16:15

A certain young pastor once refused a transfer to a particular part of the city. When he was asked why, he responded, “Sir, that place is not easy for churches. Please take me to a place that is easier and not so difficult.” Sadly, this minister had forgotten the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ: “Go into all the world”—whether it is friendly or hostile territory (Mark 16:15).

A Thriving Church In A Hostile Environment

It is true that there are places—communities, inner cities, and neighbourhoods—where ministry is very tough. Such areas can feel like spiritual deserts or battlegrounds. But no matter how challenging the environment may be, we must never abandon these places. As soldiers of Christ, we are sent to reclaim territories for God.

This teaching focuses on how a local church can thrive and flourish even in hostile environments.

A. SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION AND DEFINITION

Text: Acts 8:5–10; Exodus 3:1–3

Some communities are spiritually resistant—places where planting and growing a church feels like sowing seeds on rocky ground. They are often labelled as the “graveyards of churches” because churches either struggle, shrink, or shut down. These are not merely difficult places—they are spiritually fortified against the Gospel. Yet, God’s power is not limited by environment.

Biblical Examples of Hostile Grounds:

Egypt (Exodus 3:1–3): Pharaoh afflicted Israel, but God preserved and multiplied His people.
Jerusalem (Acts 2): Religious spirits dominated the city.
Samaria (Acts 8:5–13): The city was bound by witchcraft until Philip preached Christ.
Ephesus (Acts 19): Stronghold of idol worship centered around Diana.
Athens: Filled with philosophy and superstition.
Antioch (2 Timothy 3:10–11): A hub of idol worship.
Philippi: Known for sorcery and opposition.
Thessalonica: A hotbed of Jewish resistance against the Gospel.

In each of these cities, the early church confronted opposition but also experienced revival because God was with them.

B. CHARACTERISTICS OF HOSTILE ENVIRONMENTS

Communities that resist the Gospel often show the following traits:

Dominance of occult and demonic powers.
Deep commitment to idol worship and traditional religion.
Worldly philosophies and carnal reasoning.
Strongholds of non-Christian sects or religions.
High influence of Islamic practices and ideologies.
Places where Christianity has become cultural and powerless.
Governmental or communal restrictions against church growth (e.g., no land for churches).
Open hostility and persecution against believers.
Legal prohibitions against street evangelism or crusades.
Past failures of churches leading to distrust in the community.
Physical confrontations and threats from opposing groups.
Slander campaigns and false accusations against ministers.
Intense spiritual attacks against church workers.
Much labour with very little fruit or results.

These realities have discouraged many pastors and led to abandonment of their God-given assignments. But stepping back is not God’s solution. The Lord never promised ease, but He did promise victory.

C. COMMUNITIES THAT SEEM LIKE GRAVEYARDS FOR CHURCHES

Some communities appear to be where churches go to die—despite years of prayer, preaching, and effort. Let’s look at some real-life accounts of such spiritual battlegrounds:

Sabo Community (1994): Churches planted before us all closed within 3 years, despite intense labour.
Community of ministerial failure: Pastors fall into sin, churches collapse, and ministries disappear.
Community of missionary deception: Visiting missionaries were bewitched and turned against each other, losing focus on evangelism.
Community of affliction: Pastors experienced relentless calamities until they fled.
Community of limitation: The strongest church had only 80 members after decades, with others barely surviving.
Community of compromise: All existing churches were spiritually neutralized by demonic infiltration.

These stories are not myths; they are facts that reveal the spiritual reality of territorial strongholds. But the church must never hand over territory to the devil. Instead, we are to be spiritually equipped to break every chain.

“The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.” – Matthew 16:18

Example of Spiritual Persistence:
A young pastor once wrote to John Wesley complaining about how difficult his assigned community was. Wesley replied: “Go there on your knees.”
Another missionary, sent as the final hope to a hostile village, knelt on a hill and prayed: “Lord, if You don’t give me this land, I will die praying here.” He prayed until God gave him a word—and when he went into the town, multitudes came to Christ. That’s the power of prevailing intercession.

D. HOW TO BUILD A THRIVING CHURCH IN A HOSTILE PLACE

Every location has its unique battles. To plant and grow a victorious church in a spiritually resistant land, here are practical and spiritual strategies:

Be sure of God’s calling.
You must know without doubt that God has sent you there. A divine assignment comes with divine backing.
Conduct spiritual mapping and surveys.
Assess the spiritual atmosphere. Identify the strongholds and demonic influences. Discover what spirits rule the land.
Engage in spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 4:3–4).
Use aggressive prayers, fasting, and intercession to bind principalities and loose captives.
Preach with signs and wonders (Luke 5:17).
Use Power Evangelism. Let the Holy Spirit confirm the Word with miracles and deliverances.
Start with community-based outreach.
Do practical things that bless the people—like food drives, medical outreaches, or school support. These soften hard hearts.
Be strategic and intentional in prayer.
Form intercessory groups. Pray over the land, its leaders, its landlords, and community influencers. Prayer prepares the harvest.
Build friendship bridges.
Make allies in the community. Connect with respected elders. Show Christ through kindness, generosity, and integrity. Live the Gospel visibly.

POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS

Father, no fire of the enemy will consume my ministry in Jesus’ name.
I refuse to run from demonic resistance in Jesus’ name.
Lord, grant me grace to prevail in any hostile environment in Jesus’ name.
Let the work of God in my hand prosper mightily in Jesus’ name.
I take spiritual authority over this community in Jesus’ name.
I pull down every opposition raised against this ministry in Jesus’ name.
Let every satanic strategy against my assignment be destroyed by fire in Jesus’ name.
I receive fresh anointing to overcome every spiritual battle in Jesus’ name.
I declare: My life and ministry shall flourish in every environment in Jesus’ name.
Lord, give me spiritual keys to unlock growth and harvest in this territory in Jesus’ name.

CONCLUSION:

Difficult territories do not mean defeated ministries. Hostile environments are not greater than our God. If we are ready to stand our ground, walk in obedience, fight spiritual battles, and love people genuinely, then the church can not only survive—but thrive—even in the heart of enemy territory.