HEALTHY CHURCHES KNOW HOW TO connect people

Group, Mar/Apr 2005 by Lindsay, D Michael

People are drawn to friendly places. From the greeters at Wal-Mart to the smiling barista at your local coffee shop, businesses have learned to appreciate the value of creating a friendly first impression. Friendliness is the first step in building community. Places like Barnes & Noble and Starbucks know that ultimately it's not about books and coffee-it's about building community among people who happen to like books and lattes.

The church obviously has something much more valuable (and eternal) to offer than romance novels and Java. But few will open God's gift to the world unless God's people purposefully connect in genuine friendships in the church.

Until now no hard data existed that could confirm or deny the value of creating people-friendly churches-congregations that create a culture of connectivity and spiritual growth. Now, however, the results are in on the nation's first and most comprehensive examination of the subject, and the church in America ought to heed what people in the pews have to say.

In a national survey of American adults who are members of various Christian churches across the country, The Gallup Organization asked a representative sample how satisfied they are with their churches and with their spiritual lives, as well as the factors that contribute to a healthy church. The respondents also talked about why they join and sometimes leave particular congregations, along with a host of other important findings.

Conducted in the fall of 2004 under the sponsorship of Group Publishing, Inc., the study uncovers the effect of church friendliness on a range of outcomes such as church attendance patterns and active volunteerism, revealing several intriguing results.

* The most satisfied church members in America worship at places where they feel like they belong, are valued and appreciated, and where friendships flourish.

* About three-quarters (78 percent) of U.S. church members say they're "very satisfied" with their current church.

* Members of large congregations (over 1,000 members) report higher levels of satisfaction-85 percent of them say they're "very satisfied" with their church. Two probable causes of this satisfaction emerge: a range of ministry offerings that a larger congregation can offer such as targeted, age-specific ministries, and exemplary church staff members.

* This study demonstrates a tight connection between a church's friendliness and its members reporting high levels of satisfaction with their church. Among those who describe their church as "very friendly," a full 86 percent say they are "very satisfied" with their church and an additional 12 percent report being "some what satisfied."

* Respondents who have deep, church-based friendships that extend outside the weekly worship services-either in small groups, through informal gatherings, or other settings-report exceptionally high levels of satisfaction (98 percent say they are either "very" or "somewhat satisfied").

* About nine in 10 church members who say they "feel like they belong" at their churches also convey very high levels of satisfaction, and equal levels of satisfaction can be found among those who say they "feel loved and accepted" at their churches.

* Among those who say their best friend (not defined as their spouse) attends their church, 87 percent say they are very satisfied with their local church, and an additional 11 percent say they're somewhat satisfied.

* In addition to a sense of belonging, members satisfied with their church also report high measures of feeling loved, accepted, valued, and respected. Almost nine in 10 (89 percent) church members who feel loved and accepted by their church report that they and their family feel very satisfied. By an even higher margin, members who feel valued and respected for what they bring to a church are highly satisfied with the congregation.

* The data in this study suggests that those who volunteer at their church on a weekly basis are much more likely than non-volunteers to be satisfied with their churches, with their spiritual lives, and in their relationship with God. Indeed, regular volunteering in the church may be the means through which spiritual commitment begins and matures.

* Four out of five respondents (84 percent) who are very satisfied with their churches report "the spiritual leaders of my congregation seem to care for rne as a person." This figure plummets to 36 percent among those who are only "somewhat satisfied."

* Highly satisfied members report that their church leaders care for one another a great deal. Among very satisfied church members, nearly nine in 10 say "the spiritual leaders of my congregation seem to care for each other," a number that drops in half among "somewhat satisfied" members.

Dig Deeper!

Get insider ideas and proven strategies for building a friendship culture in your group. Join D. Michael Lindsay and Thorn and Joani Schultz at the Creating a Culture of Connectivity In Your Church Summit April 5-7, 2005, at Group Publishing, Inc., in Loveland, Colorado. For more information or to register, go to www .group.com/summits or call 800-888-5991.