Enlightening Today’s Church with Relevant Insights
Lifeway Research assists and equips church leaders with insight and advice that will lead to greater levels of church health and effectiveness. Frequent surveys on today’s church and culture demonstrate our knowledge of the dynamics of ministry today and our understanding of the realities of the culture we live in.
Why certain issues?
Occasionally, people ask why we choose to study certain topics. Generally speaking, it goes back to who we are: an evangelical research firm that specializes in surveys about faith in culture and matters that affect churches.
We pay attention to the conversations taking place within culture and the evangelical church and seek to provide relevant research that will contribute to the conversation.
Lifeway Research aims to provide insight and information on the realities of the culture in which we live. Hopefully, this enables church leaders to better understand their congregations and communities.
Custom Research
Lifeway Research has helped Christian ministries support churches by conducting custom research projects that accurately describe needs, beliefs, and ministry practices. We have conducted studies for dozens of ministries and more than 20 denominations. Sponsoring an objective study by Lifeway Research enables you to start conversations, better inform people’s thinking, and mobilize believers.
Assessments
Lifeway Research has created the Discipleship Pathway Assessment to help leaders measure how healthy a church is spiritually and provide church leaders with next steps to leverage strengths and address weaknesses. Lifeway Research also developed a tool with 11 church planting organizations to measure initial indicators of the readiness of a candidate to plant a church (Church Planter Candidate Assessment). Each assessment tool goes beyond good questions and has proven validity and reliability, so you can trust the results.
The Lifeway Research story
Launched in 2006, Lifeway Research is a leading evangelical research firm measuring needs in the church and culture. Lifeway Research has become a renowned and respected source for insights on pastoral leadership, church ministry, and the beliefs and faith practices of Americans.
This website is designed to help pastors navigate the issues and trends impacting the church by providing information, insights, and resources for effective ministry. In addition to the latest findings from Lifeway Research, you’ll find in-depth reporting on research projects, insightful commentary from pastors and church leaders, and practical resources you can use in your church.
We see the church as God’s missionary agent. Through the ministry of the church, the mission of Jesus is extended, for it is His body—called to make disciples of all nations. It is because of this call that we want to be a resource church leaders can use to help their congregation understand the mission field we’re called to reach.
Research Team
Scott McConnell – Executive Director
Scott McConnell has researched the needs and preferences of church leaders, laity, and the unchurched for Lifeway Christian Resources for over 25 years. His in-depth studies and national polls have generated relevant insights on today’s church and culture.
Scott received a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree in Marketing and Strategic Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He was mentored in sound survey methodology and actionable decision-focused research as an associate project manager at NAXION, a Philadelphia based research and consulting firm. This research included segmentation, satisfaction and product development research for Fortune 100 telecommunications and utilities companies.
For 15 years, Scott has led Lifeway Research’s national polling that regularly measures the views of Americans, churchgoers, and Protestant pastors. His team has conducted numerous in-depth research studies designed to help church leaders. These range from core functions of the church such as pastoral ministry, discipleship, church planting, and evangelism to helping leaders understand the experiences and perceptions of the unchurched, church dropouts and church switchers. Studies have also addressed needs within the church such as divorce, domestic violence, mental illness, women who have had an abortion, young adults, and parenting.
Scott has written the following books:
- Multi-Site Churches: Guidance for the Movement’s Next Generation (2009)
- The Parent Adventure: Preparing Your Children For a Lifetime with God (with Rodney and Selma Wilson, 2009)
- Together: The Power of Groups (free eBook, 2020)
Daniel Price – Statistician
Daniel Price is the statistician for Lifeway Research. In his career, he has been employed in numerous industries including higher education, nuclear manufacturing, and health care. He has worked on many research projects including discipleship, small groups, church planting, and numerous studies measuring the views of Americans and pastors on a variety of important subjects.
Daniel received both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Statistics from Virginia Tech. He has completed a Master of Arts in Theological Studies and is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Liberty University.
Kevin Walker – Research Associate
Kevin Walker is a research associate for Lifeway Research and has worked on projects on topics such as multi-ethnic church planting, mega church growth and attendance, church planting, and congregational metrics. He also provides customer support for Lifeway Research’s online assessments (Discipleship Pathway Assessment, and Church Planter Candidate Assessment).
Kevin earned both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also earned bachelor and master degrees in accounting from Louisiana Tech University. Kevin is married to Wendy and they have two children, Elizabeth and Davis.
Editorial Team
Senior Editor | Carol Pipes (@CarolPipes)
Senior Writer/Editor | Aaron Earls (@WardrobeDoor)
Managing Editor | Marissa Postell Sullivan (@MarissaPostell)
Contact Us
LifewayResearch.com
200 Powell Place, Suite 100
Brentwood, TN 37027
[email protected]
Advertise With Us
To place an ad on our website or in our e-newsletter, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
Media Contact
For any media request about a Lifeway Research study or to request an interview, contact Aaron Earls.
Republishing permission
Lifeway Research studies can be used and referenced in news articles freely. The news releases related to a research study can also be republished in their entirety on other websites and in other publications without obtaining permission.
All other articles, however, are exclusive to LifewayResearch.com and may only be republished with express written permission of Lifeway Research. If you would like to republish an article that is not a press release for a Lifeway Research study, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
