GALLUP POLL REVEALS SECRET TO SUCCESSFUL CHURCHES
'Culture of Friendship' Findings Featured in Gallup Survey And New Book
 

By Michael Ireland

In what may be the first research of its kind, a groundbreaking new survey indicates that friendships are the key to church growth and success and could be the factor that leads to invigorating the church in America.

"The connections we've discovered between human friendships, spiritual maturity, church satisfaction and even feelings of intimacy with God are absolutely remarkable," pollster George Gallup, Jr., said.

Both Gallup and one of his research specialists, Michael Lindsey, confirmed the groundbreaking nature of the study. "This study asked church members important faith questions that have never been asked before," Gallup said.

"The study also showed that no other demographic variable -- age, sex, marital status, level of education, race and ethnicity, region of the country, or religious tradition -- demonstrated as high a level of satisfaction as variables measuring church-based friendships," Lindsey reported.

"This is 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," Lindsey added.

"Deep lasting friendships borne out of faith and nurtured in the church may be the single most effective strategy in reinvigorating the American church today."

"The most satisfied church members in America worship at places where they feel like they belong, where they are valued and appreciated, and where friendships flourish," Lindsey said. "The data compel church leaders to help these kinds of meaningful relationships to take root and grow."

The study was commissioned by Group Publishing, Inc., a Loveland, Colorado-based interdenominational church resource company headed by Thom and Joani Schultz.

The Schultzes had observed a correlation between those churches that seemed to focus on developing friendships among the members and those that seemed to be experiencing the most growth. Group partnered with Gallup to fund the study and see if these observations could be quantified. The study was released this week on the Gallup Web site and its Tuesday briefing.

"The results not only confirmed our suspicions, but showed the connection was even stronger than we had anticipated," Mr. Schultz said.

"Based on the study's findings, Group has developed a new resource to help churches enhance that culture of connectivity -- Friendship First is designed to help get people in small group settings talking and thinking about friendship," he said.

"And that one single activity -- nurturing friendships -- should be the A #1 priority in churches today," Lindsey concluded.

Some of the study's key findings:

-- church friendliness was correlated with both church attendance and volunteerism;

-- members with best friends at church are more satisfied and engaged with their churches;

-- friendships with other church members was a leading reason individuals joined a specific church;

-- and those who worship with a best friend are more likely to say their faith is involved in every area of their lives.

 

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