"May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be … filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ." [ref]
'Big Questions'... In what ways can objective assessment... help stimulate & accelerate the Great Commission? Given that current data seems to reflect a largely-ineffective American model for doing 'church'... we now want to help explore and innovate... toward more-biblical models for carrying out the Great Commission.
Special New Report-- but with changed methodology and definition of 'Biblical Worldview'. Be careful to read Barna's special note near the end of the article.
"Readers are encouraged to realize that the figures described above regarding a biblical worldview are somewhat different than a similar measure reported by The Barna Group in prior years. The earlier measure included an additional component, which had to do with the source of their worldview. When that measure is included, it typically decreases the percentage of people with a biblical worldview by about half."
Our former entries here... Especially see their annual "Faith By Market" Study Report... (cost $$$)... purports to show tons of metrics per major metro areas. Here's at least one Barna report containing the national "4% Biblical Worldview" number which we refer to quite often. And here's a copy we've archived for posterity.] And apparently only half of Protestant pastors have a biblical worldview. Pastor/blogger Mark Roberts addresses this research extensively (in a 2004 blog-post & series). Here's Focus On The Family's 'Truth Project' aimed at biblical worldview. [albeit not necessarily sharing the same understanding of 'truth' as many others.] Note: Often researchers vary in their definition of 'evangelical'. Secular researchers tend to define 'evangelical' as... those who self-identify as 'evangelical' or 'born again'. Such a definition is a broad categorization often referred to as 'notional evangelicals'... vs. the tighter Barna definition based on actual core beliefs. The Barna definition tends to be more useful, because it more highly correlates to actual transformation and behaviors.
Annual "State of the Church At Indianapolis" Report... is a research project we would very much like to do in December 2007 to get a baseline for measuring 2008 impact.
"Indy 400" = 400 people in the Indianapolis metro area who die each week... 'between sermons'. Here's the math. Underlying stats came from the U.S. Census, as displayed at this Indiana.edu site (see Population tab).
The center is also collecting inputs re some "Big Questions", such as...
SAVI.org -- Social Assets & Vulnerabilities Inventory -- a GIS system for Central Indiana. (Someday the C4UI like to help train students and local pastors & other leaders how to use the SAVI system.)
(Here in the early going, please feel free to write your questions in here, which beg to be asked & answered. Or provide answers here... or links to great research already available perhaps. We do not wish to recreate the wheel... if the information is already in the works.)
Biblical basis for CityReaching research... [To be developed.... let's build a number of biblical reference-links... Here are some initial thoughts... "taking serious assessment of oneself"... "test everything and hold onto that which is good"... Nehemiah surveyed the needs... Jesus looked over the city, knowing the needs, knowing some would reject his provision, and wept... Paul absolutely was planning and assessing what he needed to be doing next. Proverbs... "Know the condition of your flocks, for a crown is not secure for all generations." Paul's comments to pastors/elders of what to do re their flock. The office of deacons arose from assessment and reporting of the needs caused by segregation in the early Church. And importantly, look at the compelling assessment of the 7 churches in Revelation -- are they not also implied commands for ALL of us to take stock and ensure we're not guilty of those assessments? Especially look at Thyratyria... using a time-based metric for change... ie, they're doing better over time. Btw, a simple story that all Sunday school children know... little David assessed the need to take out the giant, and he remember God's promises to the Israelites -- he seemingly didn't even pray, he just went, picked up what he believed to be an optimal amount of stones for his slingshot... and went and did the job. What other biblical references can you think of re 'assessment'... or 'investigating the needs or solutions'???]
Per Bill Hybels & Greg Hawkins (REVEAL) Video... "Facts are our friends."
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Some impromtu notes during Mission America Coalition's teleconference call with researcher/author Michael Lindsay (Oct 2007)...
Consider 'The Star' or Inquirer, etc. ...vs. the Indianapolis Star.
Consider the author, the potential 'agenda'...
Btw, Google News effectively filters sources.
But there's no replacement for reviewing the underlying data and credentials.
Is your source a blog, politically-motivated company or government source?
But the converse is also true sometimes... some bloggers tend to be fact-checkers and expose poor research or misuse of facts.... lying with percentages, for instance.
Does your research consider the methodology that may be impacted by various cultures.
Peer review of researchers? Christian researchers?
But New Media (bloggers) if astute, may be able to help change the world by challenging assumptions, and by fact-checking.
Hybels statement re good communicator needs to be responsible for truth! Likewise, us as 'new media'.
Erv's questions... What is that (ie, describe it further so I'm clear on what you're saying)? Where did you get that? (ie, how authoritative?) Why do you personally believe that's true? What if you're wrong?
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