UNDERSTANDING CHURCH GROWTH: Mapping Your Church For Growth – A Spiritual Strategy For Church Revival

Although many Christian leaders and churches today are embracing teachings on church growth, we still do not see the kind of growth we expect in most congregations. Despite the books, seminars, and conferences on revival, renewal, and church vitality, the visible impact has been limited. One major reason for this is the neglect or ignorance of church mapping.

Church mapping is a spiritual tool that the Lord has made available to help restore health, increase fruitfulness, and ensure the vibrant growth of the church in these end times. It is a prophetic method God uses to diagnose what is spiritually wrong in a church, so it can align with His divine plan and fulfill the Great Commission.

1. WHY CHURCH MAPPING IS NECESSARY

There are several reasons church mapping is urgently needed:

Too many churches are stagnant, struggling, or spiritually sick.
There are frequent crises, divisions, and breakaways.
Some churches are under spiritual bondage—due to foundational issues, unrepented sins of founders, or lingering curses.
Many are unknowingly operating under a spiritual curse.
Pastors are overwhelmed, tired, discouraged, and many feel like quitting the ministry.
There is too much church activity (churchianity) without real transformation or Christlikeness.
Some churches appear lively outwardly, but are spiritually dead inside.
Occult and demonic activities are influencing and resisting the church’s progress.
There is a serious need for spiritual direction and divine focus.

2. WHAT IS CHURCH MAPPING?

Scriptural references: Joshua 2:1–2; Nehemiah 2:11–16; Numbers 13:1–17, 21; Matthew 4:1–17; Luke 14:31–32.

Church mapping is like creating a spiritual map of your church—examining it through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. It is asking God for a prophetic insight into the root causes of problems, hindrances to growth, and divine solutions.

It is a spiritual diagnosis, similar to an x-ray a doctor uses to see what’s wrong inside the body. In the same way, church mapping helps pastors and leaders discover what is spiritually blocking their church from growing and thriving.

In summary, church mapping is seeking God for a prophetic revelation about why your church is not growing—and what needs to be done for growth to begin.

3. WHY MAPPING YOUR CHURCH IS IMPORTANT

You must understand the past to interpret the present.
It helps you properly identify the roots of growth challenges.
It gives clarity of vision and direction.
You’ll achieve more results with less effort, by doing the right things.
It helps you deal with hidden enemies of progress.
Reduces crises and increases fruitfulness.
It brings about swift breakthroughs and sweet victories.
It makes prayers and church programs more result-oriented.

⚠️ Church mapping is not the goal; it is a means to a greater goal—revival, fruitfulness, and fulfilling the mission of Christ.

4. DANGERS OF NEGLECTING CHURCH MAPPING

When a church ignores spiritual mapping, the following problems may arise:

Lack of growth and persistent stagnation
Hard labour with little results
Confusing and baffling situations
Looking for solutions in the wrong places
Constant crises, infighting, and division
Failure to experience God’s promises
Discouraged leaders and abandoned callings
Plenty of prayer, but with few answers
Busy programs, but no spiritual transformation
Frequent breakaways, membership losses
Financial struggles and lack of provision
Members becoming bored and disengaged

5. REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF CHURCH MAPPING

A church that refused to grow until the pastor prayed and discovered demonic presence on the roof, which was cast out.
A church stuck at 50 members for 50 years, until mapping brought revelation and breakthrough.
A church where six pastors fell into adultery in a row. Church mapping exposed the spiritual root of the immorality.
A church bought land, mapped the area, and discovered and removed spiritual objects buried on the land that hindered growth.
A pastor discovered through mapping that he needed to make restitution with a former spiritual leader before progress could happen.
A man of God found out during mapping that his wife’s negative influence was the root of his ministerial struggles.
Another church found out that its foundation was faulty—it was not God’s will for the leader to start the church, and there was disobedience in the beginning.
A servant of God sent to evangelize a city discovered through spiritual mapping that a curse from a prophet had hindered the gospel from taking root there.

6. METHODS OF CHURCH MAPPING

(See: Deuteronomy 29:29; 2 Samuel 21:1–2; Proverbs 25:2)

Here are some ways to conduct church mapping:

Dedicated prayer and fasting to seek divine revelation.
Spiritual observation and waiting on the Holy Spirit for light.
Studying the church’s history to trace spiritual patterns.
Physically mapping the church building and surroundings.
Asking questions about the past—spiritual background, previous leaders, land history, etc.
Taking prophetic words seriously—do not despise prophecy.

7. HOW TO REMOVE HINDRANCES TO CHURCH GROWTH

Once the issues are identified through church mapping, these steps can bring healing and revival:

Seek the Lord for a clear spiritual battle plan.
Carry out corporate repentance and identification repentance (repenting for sins committed even before your time).
Take steps of restitution and restoration where necessary.
Establish a powerful prayer altar in the church.
Encourage leaders to pray together regularly.
Engage in warfare prayers strategically:
- Vicinity Warfare – praying over the environment.
- Street Warfare – prayer walks and evangelism.
- Community Praise – lifting up God’s name publicly to displace darkness.
- Anointing the Ground – prophetically claiming the land for God.

✅ As you follow the Holy Spirit’s direction and carry out the instructions He gives during church mapping, you will surely experience freedom, breakthrough, and lasting church growth.