It’s time to make data-informed decisions for intentional church care. A healthy culture cares for its people. Data provides proof of the services and programming a church needs to create and continuously improve for its community. People attend church for more than sermons and worship. They’re coming for community, connection, resources, and more.
Assumptions and infrequent requests are not key indicators of personal and spiritual needs. If the Church wants to make a Christ-powered difference in lives, then the Church has to embrace the demographic data of its population.
Demographic data is the collection of statistical human information about a population. Demographic data uncovers root causes which allows a church to tailor its services and programming for intentional impact. It sharpens discernment.
Humanity first
The prophets in the Bible addressed individuals’ humanity first then the power of their insurmountable need being met addressed their spirituality. For example, Elijah and the Widow found in 1 Kings 17:7-15. Elijah acknowledged her humanity and dire home situation, first. God’s indefinite supply of flour and oil addressed her spirituality, second. It’s important to acknowledge a person’s humanity before their spirituality.
Demographic data on a church’s population can be used to establish partnerships with human resource agencies for sustainable solutions. This path creates a healthy and trusted pipeline of vetted services to professionally meet needs.
The demographic survey could ask about:
Zip code Identify the percentage living in food deserts or food insecure communities, high-crime and low-crime zones, zones with known environmental issues, accessible healthcare neighborhoods, low-rated and high-rated school districts
Household income level Identify the percentage below, at, or above the state and national poverty lines
Ability to purchase adequate nutritious food on a regular basis Establish partnerships with local food pantries, or create one
Reliance on public transportation Use data to leverage discounted passes and rates
Level of education Offer educational and career advancement services
With this data, a church can pinpoint government agencies, local nonprofits, and professional organizations to establish intentional partnerships. A church is simply a conduit. A caring church knows where and how to connect people to the answer.
Individuals should have easy, direct access to partners without a church’s input, or a middle person. This requires the information to be up-to-date and accessible. A church cannot decide, or limit, the people’s access to public resources.
There’s more subject matter expertise and sustainability success in partnering than in developing a ministry to offer these services. A church has to be in position to provide adequate, long-term support to the ministry, or it will eventually dissolve abandoning the people. Move forward with a partner program to nurture relationships and build new ones.
Spirituality second
People are coming from various faith backgrounds and teachings. It’s important for a church to routinely level set its beliefs and teachings with members, newcomers, and guests.
In the demographic survey pose these topics:
Faith background
Theology preferences
Church experience
Membership to an organization (e.g. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God, Church of God in Christ)
Use the demographic data to develop curriculum with beginner, intermediate, and advance tracks. Teach the curriculum in small groups, roundtable discussions, and supplemental materials. This provides intentional care for discipleship to meet individuals where they are and build them up with the teachings of Jesus as outlined in The Great Commission.
By acknowledging and meeting the spiritual needs of the people, a church can fine tune its discipleship efforts to ensure Christ is represented well.
Why does data in church matter?
The base word of intention is ‘intent’ which means purpose. Data drives the intentions of a church forward. It’s time to turn churches’ mission and vision statements from a collection of words to intentional acts of care.
Tying ‘The Why’ back to the source of truth which is the Word.
1 Samuel 16:7 NIV The optics of a church doesn't matter, its heart does
Philippians 2:4 NIV People-first cultureIt’s beautiful to have a space for communal worship, however, people are coming to church with hungry bellies, living in deplorable housing, in need of healthcare, and more. They’re in need of personal and spiritual care.
Addressing the personal and spiritual needs of God’s people reduces the distractions in gathered worship. A church isn’t just a building, or a community. A church is a needs-are-met-here space.