Church in traditional neighborhoods that seek to reach out to those in the areas around them find that there are subtle, yet significant boundaries that inhibit their effectiveness in ministering to their neighbors. They find that, as much as they may want to reach out to these neighbors, they still "do church" their own way, and that message comes across.
J. Timathy Ahlen and J.V. Thomas decided to explore what might be done to help churches overcome these obstacles and truly minister to their communities. The answer they found has come to be known as the kay Church Strategy. At the heart of this strategy is the belief that a church can be comprised of many congregations, meeting separately yet ministering together, in a variety of different settings. The key Church Strategy recognizes the cultural differences evident within North American society and presents the Christian message in a way that respects and communicates to the indigenous concerns of different cultural groups.