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Welcome to a Survey from the Committee on Denominational Research.

You are invited to participate in a research study that explores the characteristics of our Free Will Baptist churches. You were selected as a possible participant because you are currently the Pastor or other leader of a church in the National Association of Free Will Baptists. Please read this form and ask any questions you may have before acting on this invitation to participate in the study. This study is being conducted by the Committee for Denominational Research. Committee members include Danny Baer (chair), Sarah Bracey, Timothy Eaton, Ron Hunter, Mark McPeak, Eddie Moody, and Eric Thomsen. 

Background Information:

The Committee for Denominational Research was formed in the summer of 2018 at the National Association held in Little Rock, Arkansas, for the purpose of conducting research to provide information about the pastors, churches, and denominational entities of the National Association of Free Will Baptists. It is the committee’s intention that the results of this survey be reported to our denomination through various leadership conferences, association meetings, and denomination publications. 

This study will explore various facets of the church’s makeup including discipleship, outreach, finances, safety, and the overall characteristics of our Free Will Baptist congregations. 

Procedures: 

If you agree to participate in this study, you will complete the electronic questionnaire available through Survey Monkey. The questionnaire should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Only one survey should be completed per church.

Voluntary Nature of the Study: 

Your participation in this study is strictly voluntary. Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your current or future relations with the committee or the National Association. If you initially decide to participate, you are still free to quit at any time without affecting those relationships. 

Risks and Benefits of Being in the Study:

There are no known risks associated with participating in this study and there are no known short or long-term benefits to participating in this study. You may refuse to answer any questions that are unknown or that you consider invasive. 

Compensation:

To thank you for your help, we will have a random drawing for 10 items from Randall House Publications (a book of your choice). At the end of the survey you will be asked if you would like to be eligible for the drawing and given the opportunity to do so voluntarily.

Confidentiality:

The records of this study will be kept private. The information you may give for the prize drawing will be in a separate survey that will not be linked with your answers to this survey. In any report of this study that might be published, the researcher will not include any information that will make it possible to identify you. There is no hidden agenda behind the research; only an attempt to find out more about our denomination that we may be able to serve each other better. 

Contacts and Questions:

If you have any questions, or if you have questions later, you may contact the committee’s chairman, Dr. Danny Baer at drdannybaer@gmail.com. Results of this and other research of the Committee for Denominational Research will be available at www.nafwb.org/research.

Please complete this survey no later than November 30th, 2019. 

PLEASE: ONLY ONE SURVEY SHOULD BE COMPLETED PER CHURCH!

Thank you for participating. 

Statement of Consent:

As a participant in this study, I am aware that all records will be kept confidential and my name will not be associated with
DEMOGRAPHICS /
CHURCH CHARACTERISTICS

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* 1. What is your role at the church?

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* 2. How would you characterize the geographical setting of your church?

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* 3. In what state/country is your church located?

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* 4. In what state/country is your church located?

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* 5. Check all the paid positions within your church:

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* 6. Estimate the percentage of each of the following age groups in your congregation.

  <10% 10-19% 20-29% 30-39% 40-49% 50-59% 60-69% 70-79% 80-89% 90% or more
0-5
6-14
15-24
25-45
46-65
66-up

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* 7. Approximately what percentage of your congregation has been divorced/remarried? (Approximation only; asked to help determine thee need for appropriate resources)

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* 8. Who handles hospital visitation and bereavement ministry at your church? (Check all that apply)

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* 9. What is the estimated average level of education in your congregation?

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* 10. How would you describe the racial makeup of your church?

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* 11. Approximately what percentage of your church membership grew up in your church as children?

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* 12. Approximately what percentage of your church members have come from converts who did not grow up in your church as children and did not transfer membership from another church.

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* 13. Approximately what percentage of your church members transferred from other churches in your immediate area?

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* 14. Approximately what percentage of your church members have come from other churches outside immediate area (folks who have moved in from out of town)?

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* 15. Approximately what percentage of your church attendees are also church members?

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* 16. Which of the following are required for new church members? (Check all that apply)

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* 17. Does your church offer a class for new/potential members?

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* 18. From what denomination are you most likely to receive transfer members? (Check all that apply)

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* 19. Which of the following best describes your church?

WORSHIP

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* 20. How would you describe the worship style of your church?

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* 21. How would you describe the music selection for your church's Sunday morning worship?

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* 22. Does your church primarily use a hymnal, video projection, or the church bulletin for music and song lyrics?

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* 23. If your church uses video projection, what software do you primarily use?

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* 24. Which of the following are part of your church worship services? (Check all that apply)

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* 25. Briefly list the instruments used in your church worship services:

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* 26. Do you regularly include a Scripture reading in your worship services?

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* 27. Which Bible version(s) is (are) most likely to be used for preaching and teaching? You can choose up to 3.

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* 28. How many weekend worship services does your church offer?

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* 29. What times are your morning worship service(s)? (Check all that apply)

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* 30. Please check the following for services/groups your church offers weekly:

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* 31. How often does your church have a Sunday night service?

DISCIPLESHIP

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* 32. Does your church have weekly Sunday School or LifeGroups?

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* 33. Into what groups are your Sunday School divided? (Check all that apply)

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* 34. Approximately what percentage of people who attend Sunday worship also attend Sunday School or small groups?

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* 35. What Sunday School curriculum publisher does your church use for each of the following age groups?

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* 36. How often does your church provide training for teachers and volunteers?

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* 37. Does your church offer training to parents and grandparents to help them disciple children away from church?

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* 38. Which of the following are you doing to reach college students and young adults? (Check all that apply)

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* 39. If your church has Wednesday or midweek meeting, what is your primary activity? (check all that apply)

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* 40. How often do you celebrate the Lord's Supper?

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* 41. How often does your church practice feet washing?

SAFETY & LEGAL

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* 42. Which of the following does your church have in place? (Check all that apply)

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* 43. How often does your church offer training and resources regarding sexual harassment/abuse?

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* 44. How often does your church offer training regarding child safety?

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* 45. Which of the following church safety measures does your church have in place? (Check all that apply)

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* 46. Does your church provide safety and security training (CPR, basic lifesaving, etc)?

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* 47. Does your church have Automated External Defibrillator (AED) resuscitation devices installed?

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* 48. To your knowledge, how often has your leadership enacted church discipline?

OUTREACH & INVOLVEMENT

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* 49. How many outreach activities does your church host for the community each year?

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* 50. Please briefly list the outreach activities in which your church is engaged:

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* 51. Which of the following types of technology does your church use for outreach? (Check all that apply)

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* 52. Which of the following congregational ministries does your church offer? (Check all that apply)

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* 53. Is there a particular ministry you would like to see added to your church?

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* 54. What percentage of church members are regularly involved in the work of the church?

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* 55. What would you describe as the strengths of your local church?

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* 56. What would you describe as the weaknesses of your local church?

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* 57. What would you describe as the opportunities your local church has?

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* 58. What do you believe to be the major threats to your local church?

FINANCIAL/ DENOMINATIONAL

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* 59. How does your church receive contributions? (Check all that apply)

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* 60. Does your church have a budget?

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* 61. Does your church have multiple individuals handling money for accountability purposes?

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* 62. On a 100-point scale where 1 is not at all valuable and 100 is very valuable, rank the value your congregation places on remaining within the Free Will Baptist denomination?

1 100
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 63. Does your church regularly send representatives to the Free Will Baptist National Convention?

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* 64. How does your church choose to participate in denominational giving?

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* 65. Which of the following does your church include in its budget: (Check all that apply)

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* 66. Please list other Free Will Baptist ministries included in your church's budgeted giving:

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* 67. How do you prefer to receive communication from denominational departments and ministries? (Check all that apply)

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* 68. Approximately what percentage of your congregation receives ONE Magazine?

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* 69. Which of the following would you like to speak at your church? (Check all that apply)

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* 70. How many ordained ministers are members of your church who are not the lead pastor?

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* 71. How many licensed ministers are members of your church who are not the lead pastor?

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* 72. How many men/boys are in your church who have answered the call to preach who are not licensed to preach or ordained?

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* 73. What do you see as the greatest need of churches like yours that might be addressed with help from denominational leadership?

0 of 73 answered
 

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