Effects of Ministry Space and Outlet Expansion

• Ministry Expansion Doesn't Automatically Lead to Attendance Growth Article
  Only two of seven types of ministry space expansion or outlet changes correspond to growth in church attendance.  Plus, pastors estimate the percentage of new attendees to their church who were unchurched, transferred from another church or were children born to attendees.  This study of 1000 Protestant pastors was sponsored by Cornerstone Knowledge Network.  Click here for high-res charts
   
• LifeWay Research Podcast Ministry Space Expansion and Outlet Changes
  Ed Stetzer and Scott McConnell of LifeWay Research and Jim Couchenour of the Cornerstone Knowledge Network discuss the findings and implications of this study.
   
• Effects of Ministry Space and Outlet Expansion PowerPoint
  View this PowerPoint to see details on each type of ministry space expansion and changes to ministry outlets.

Economy Challenges Churches but Provides Opportunities

• Bad Economy Challenges Churches but Provides Opportunities Article
  Research among 1,000 Protestant pastors reveals their perception of the affect of the economy on their church and what their church has done to respond. 
  Click here for high-res charts
   
• Bad Economy Challenges Churches but Provides Opportunities PowerPoint
  View this PowerPoint to see question text and responses to each.

Americans Open to Outreach From Churches

• Americans Open to Outreach From Churches Article
  This study of over 15,000 Americans reveals their willingness to receive information about a local congregation and how effective they believe each approach to inviting them to church would be.  Click here for graphs
   
• Americans Openness to Outreach from Churches PowerPoint
  View this PowerPoint to see how Americans responded to each outreach method tested.
   
• Response to Church Outreach Varies by Ethnic Group Article
  Ethnic group breakouts within a survey of over 15,000 Americans reveal that openness to different outreach methods varies by ethnic group.
   
• Ethnic Group Responses to Church Outreach Methods PowerPoint
  View this PowerPoint to see detailed responses by ethnic groups.

The Younger Unchurched

• Unchurched 20-Somethings More Open than Older Unchurched Article
  This study conducted for Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them reveals that young adults who don't attend church hold some more historically Christian views than older adults.
• Young Adults Consider Themselves Spiritual Article
  More findings from this study conducted for Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the Churches that Reach Them show that spiritual interest spills over to higher response to invitations to attend Bible studies and church if done in the right ways.

Parenting

• Parents Look Inward Not Upward for Guidance Article
  This study conducted for The Parent Adventure: Preparing Your Children For a Lifetime with God resources finds most parents use their own experiences growing up to guide their parenting and few look to the Bible for parenting advice.
• The Role of Faith in Parenting Article
  More of this research for The Parent Adventure reveals parents' definitions of parenting "success."  Also, it measures the influence parents' faith has on their parenting.

Protestant Pastors Split on Reality of Global Warming

• Global Warming Beliefs Among Protestant Pastors Article
  This research examines Protestant pastors' views on whether global warming is real and man-made.  It also indicates how often they speak to their church on the environment.
   
• Global Warming Beliefs Among Pastors PowerPoint
  View this PowerPoint to see overall and sub-group responses to each question.

America's Largest and Fastest Growing Churches

Learning from America's Largest and Fastest Growing Churches
Ed Stetzer shares insights gleaned from the interviews LifeWay Research conducted for Outreach Magazine for the OUTREACH 100 Largest and Fastest Growing Churches in America

 Views on the Presidential Election, Christian Involvement in Politics and Endorsements

• Protestant pastors support McCain but many undecided
  LifeWay Research asked 864 Protestant pastors which presidential candidate they plan to vote for. In addition the pastors were asked if they or their church had endorsed candidates for public office this year
• Americans wary of political endorsements from pastors and churches
  LifeWay Research asked Americans if they believe it is appropriate for pastors and churches to endorse political candidates.  Also, Americans shared their beliefs regarding whether churches should lose their tax exemption for publicly endorsing candidates.
• Level of American Concern about Christian Involvement in Politics PowerPoint
  Are Americans concerned that at times Christians are too involved in politics?  The majority are not.  Download this powerpoint to see the details with additional breakouts of Protestants, conservatives, and others. 
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer. MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)

Views on Universalism and Exclusivity of Christianity

• Are Evangelicals Really Universalists
  LifeWay Research found fewer universalists among evangelicals than a recent Pew Forum study.
• Protestant Views on the Exclusivity of Christianity PowerPoint
  Download this PowerPoint for detailed responses to this question on the exclusivity of Christianity from a large study to release this fall.
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer. MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)

American Views of Homosexuality; Impact on Outreach

• Survey Focuses on Views of Homosexualtiy; Impact on Outreach
  Americans hold differing opinions on whether homosexuality is sinful. The study also found that Americans' views of homosexuality impact their openness to participation in a church.
• American Beliefs about Same Sex Attraction PowerPoint
  Responses for each question are broken out by religious affiliation.
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer. MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)

Unchurched Study

• Unchurched Americans Turned Off by Church, Open to Christians
  LifeWay Research asked Adults who had not attended a religious service in the last six months to indicate their beliefs about God and their opinions about Christians and the Church.  Their openness to discussing beliefs with a Christian provides evangelistic insight to the church.
• Unchurched Podcast
  Listen to the "Inside LifeWay" podcast interview as Ed Stetzer and Scott McConnell discuss the findings.
• View a CNN interview with Ed Stetzer
  - Windows Media
  - QuickTime

Unchurched Views on Church Design

• Unchurched Prefer Cathedrals to Contemporary Church Designs
  In a study sponsored by Cornerstone Knowledge Network, LifeWay Research asked adults who had not attended a religious service in the last six months to indicate the importance of church design and their preferences for church design.   
• Unchurched Perspectives on Space to Interact and Church Building Design PowerPoint  
  Where do the unchurched typically get together with a friend?  What is it about this space that makes it conducive for these interactions?  Where do the unchurched feel close to God?  Answers to these questions and feedback on several aspects of church building design. 
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer. MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)
• Unchurched Perspectives on Church Building Design and "Third Place" Podcast Listen to an Inside LifeWay podcast with Ed Stetzer and Scott McConnell of LifeWay Research with Jim Couchenour of the Cornerstone Knowledge Network.

Church Dropout Study

• Reasons 18 to 22 Year Olds Drop Out of Church
  Results from a recent LifeWay Research study uncover reasons 70% of young adults stop attending church for at least a year between ages 18 to 22. 
• Parents, Churches Can Help Teens Stay in Church
  Comparisons of teens who stay in church and those who drop out reveal several things that parents and churches can do to encourage more teens to stay in church.
• Church Dropout Study Podcast Part 1
• Church Dropout Study Podcast Part 2
  Listen as Dr. Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, and Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research, discuss the study results.
• Church Dropouts How Many Leave Church and Why Powerpoint
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer.
  MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)
• Teen Influences on Church Dropouts Powerpoint
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer.
  MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)
• Church Dropouts Faces of Young Adults Ages 18_22 Powerpoint
  (PC users right-click on link and select Save Target As to download PowerPoint file to your computer.
  MAC users should control-click to save the PowerPoint file to their desktops.)

Viewpoints on the Church Dropout Study

• Podcast Interview with Youth Transition Network Executive Director Jeff Schadt
• Podcast Interview LifeWay Collegiate Ministries Director Linda Osborne
• Viewpoint Dropout Study Illustrates the Great Opportunity We Have
  Jim Johnston, director of young adult ministry at LifeWay, shares his opinion of the study results.
• Viewpoint Lost In Transition
  Mark Lydecker, Collegiate Evangelism Director at the North American Mission Board, reflects on the study.

Perceptions of Alcohol Study:

• Perceptions of Alcohol PowerPoint
  This study reveals the beliefs and attitudes of Protestant pastors and laity toward drinking alcohol as well as the percentage who personally drink alcohol.

Teen Views on Eternity Study:

• Teenagers' Views on Eternity
  Click Here to see results of this study that shows that many American teenagers are confused about what it takes to get to heaven.
• Viewpoint: Knockin' on Heaven's Door
  Scott Stevens, director of student ministries at LifeWay, shares his opinion of the study results.
• Teen Study Podcast
• Teen Study PowerPoint

Church Switcher Study:

• Study of Adults Who Switch Churches: Why They Flee
  LifeWay Research reveals the top ten reasons adults switch churches.
• Viewpoint: Adults Who Switch Churches
  Brad Waggoner shares his opinion of the Church Switcher Study results.
• Church Switchers: Major Decision Makers
• Church Switchers: Moving Impacts the Search
• Switcher Destination: Larger, More Contemporary Church
• Church Switcher Podcast
• Church Switcher PowerPoint

Formerly Churched Study:

• Can the Church Close the Back Door?
• Formerly Churched Indicate Openness to Return (Part 2 of 2)
• Formerly Churched Want to Remain Anonymous on Next Church Visit
• Formerly Churched Podcasts
• Formerly Churched PowerPoint Presentation

More LifeWay Research Articles:

• Young Adults Falling Away From Church
• Sunday Schools and Small Groups Have Similar Priorities
• One-third of All Evangelical Churches Offer Multiple Worship Services