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Rating: 
Summary: Good polling, but didn't suit...
Review: I don't know why I was expecting more from this book. It has 10 very good surveys that can be used by the reader to poll inside or outside a church or other faith-based organization. But somehow with all their data, none of them fit what we needed. I got much more out of "Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them" by Thom S. Rainer. It also has several polls in the back, but they are targeted toward what we are trying to do: find out where our congregation is at in their faith journey and where need to grow to reach the unchurched. This book does shine in the opening and closing chapters on how to conduct a poll and analyze the results. Invaluable information here. If you are planning to poll outside your church or synagogue then there are several surveys that may interest you. If you are preparing for a new pastor, there is an excellent survey to derive the current needs of the church. But overall, this one didn't fit us or the need to pulse our congregation as it is now.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Resource
Review: One of the most difficult tasks a minister faces is discerning the true spiritual landscape of the local congregation. However, this exegesis of the congregation is essential if one is committed to moving the church forward in their lives of discipleship. D. Michael Lindsay and George Gallup, Jr. have provided a valuable tool that will eliminate hunches, guesswork, and wishful thinking with solid, objective information. Such information can then, in turn, be utilized to answer such questions as "What are the strengths upon which a church should build? What are the major challenges? What specific steps can be undertaken to deepen the faith of the congregants? Are the people growing in their faith..." (p. 21)
For decades, churches serious about accurately understanding the religious beliefs and opinions of its members and surrounding community have utilized Gallup's expertise, and now the valuable survey process is explained in this detailed yet concise book.
I highly recommend The Gallup Guide for both churches that are interested in conducting surveys with integrity (several reproducible surveys are included) and for those readers who have always wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Gallup organization.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for church leaders considering a survey
Review: The Gallup Guide is informative and gives one all the tools they need to successfully survey the congregation. The chapter on the Lay of the Land is packed full of details about individual spirituality and people's perceptions and needs of the church. The data points that the church of the future will be shaped by the laity taking and increase role in discerning the will of God for the church and their lives. In the chapters that follow all the details to completing and analyzing a survey is concisely laid out in an easy to follow manner. This book even contains ten reproducible surveys. After reading this book I had everything I needed to successfully survey my congregation. In addition it is great to read a book written by Michael Lindsay and George Gallup because they are leaders in their churches and realize that this book is only a tool in discerning God's will for the church. I highly recommend this book to any church leader.
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