Author: Administrador

By Bob Smietana America’s got problems and needs to talk. But few Americans agree on who can best lead a conversation about the nation’s woes, according to a new report from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. Less than a quarter (23 percent) would turn to the office of the U.S. president. About 1 in 10 would turn … Continue reading “Few Americans Look to the President or Preachers to Solve the Nation’s Challenges”

By Aaron Earls For churches that have Sunday night activities, most pastors say it’s still “game on” despite the big game next weekend. According to a new study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, 68 percent of Protestant pastors say their church typically has some activity on Sunday night. And among those pastors, almost 6 in 10 … Continue reading “Most Churches Hold Sunday Services, Super Bowl or Not”

http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/keepasking/EP1_KEEPASKING.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window – Download Summary Meet the podcast team from Lifeway Research: Scott McConnell, executive director Lizette Beard, qualitative director Casey Oliver, statistician Why Research Matters: Research helps us make better decisions. We can make better decisions if we understand what’s happening around us and why it’s happening and that’s what … Continue reading “Episode 01: Research Matters”

http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/keepasking/EP2_KEEPASKING.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window – Download Summary Meet the podcast team from Lifeway Research: Scott McConnell, executive director Lizette Beard, qualitative director Casey Oliver, statistician Rant of the Day: Misuse of Convenience Sampling (02:10) Too many times a survey is done with people who were the most convenient to ask. Your friends aren’t … Continue reading “Episode 02: The Problem of Bad Stats and a Closer Look at Pastor Attrition”

http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/keepasking/EP4%20-%20KEEP%20ASKING.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window – Download Summary Daniel Im, director of church multiplication for NewChurches.com, joins the podcast to discuss developing disciples and measuring progress. It’s key for churches to communicate “input goals” regarding discipleship: behaviors, input goals, or things that you can do that are going to continue to move you toward … Continue reading “Episode 03: Daniel Im & Discipleship Inputs and Outputs”

http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/keepasking/EP6%20-%20KEEP%20ASKING.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window – Download Summary We discuss Super Bowl memories, what churches do on Super Bowl Sunday evening, the popularity of sports analytics, and using data in your church or non-profit organization. Three thoughts on learning from data in your organization The first thing to do is identify somebody in your … Continue reading “Episode 04: SuperBowl, Sports Analytics, and Measuring What Matters”

http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/keepasking/EP5%20-%20KEEP%20ASKING.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window – Download Summary Study was sponsored by the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College. Find out more about the upcoming 2017 Amplify Conference in the Chicago area. Good data brings perspective Often when people go to describe something they’re making it up or their most recent experience … Continue reading “Episode 05: Data Surprises From Our Study on the Unreached”

http://ministrysites.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/keepasking/EP3%20-%20KEEP%20ASKING.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window – Download Summary Most statistics are just percentages–not complicated in and of themselves. But when you are comparing two studies that appear to say two different things, take a closer look at the survey questions. The exact wording of that question is going to be your best ammunition because … Continue reading “Episode 06: Keep Asking (Good) Questions and Tricks to Writing Surveys On Theology”

By Bob Smietana During the season of Lent, some Americans give up chocolate or another favorite food. Others dump guilty pleasures like social media or binge-watching television. But most give up Lent. Three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) say they don’t typically observe Lent, according to a new survey from Nashville-based Lifeway Research. Unlike other Christian … Continue reading “Giving up Lent for Lent”

By Bob Smietana When it comes to domestic violence, Protestant pastors want to be helpful but often don’t know where to start. Most say their church would be a safe haven for victims of domestic violence. But many don’t know if anyone in their church has been a victim of domestic violence. And only half … Continue reading “Good Intentions, Lack of Plans Mark Church Response to Domestic Violence”