Fight Truth Decay. Brush Up on your Bible Every Day: Challenges to Researchers Studying Faith-Based Initiatives Darrell Irwin, Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Wilmington Research Methodology Presentation Research Methodology Presentation

Percent of those rating importance of God in their lives on a scale of ’10’

The American Believer 90 percent of Americans believe in a higher power. 90 percent of Americans believe in a higher power. Most, 60 percent, are certain that God exists. Most, 60 percent, are certain that God exists. In 1963, 2 of 3 of us believed the bible was the literal Word of God. Today it is 1 of 3. Still, 4 of 5 of us believe that the bible is the inspired word of God. In 1963, 2 of 3 of us believed the bible was the literal Word of God. Today it is 1 of 3. Still, 4 of 5 of us believe that the bible is the inspired word of God.

Religion Becomes Identity Affirming that the bible is the inspired Word of God serves in part to identify oneself as part of the community of Bible believing Christians. In doing this, knowledge of the bible is not as important as establishing a group identity. Affirming that the bible is the inspired Word of God serves in part to identify oneself as part of the community of Bible believing Christians. In doing this, knowledge of the bible is not as important as establishing a group identity. Trend is increasing variety of denominations. Trend is increasing variety of denominations.

Steps for Studying Faith Based Initiatives 1.Approaching Faith Community 2. Being Effective 3. Meeting the Needs

Approaching the Faith Based Community Initiating contact Initiating contact Give positive reason for partnering with faith organization. Give positive reason for partnering with faith organization. Agree to terms – Agree to terms – –Access –Boundaries –Who owns information.

Being Effective in the Faith Community Respect Church or Organization. Respect Church or Organization. Religious Service may be a priority over Social Service provision. Religious Service may be a priority over Social Service provision. Cultural Relativism Cultural Relativism –Know ABCs (American Born Chinese) from AMEs (African Methodist Episcopal).

Meeting the Needs of the Faith- Based Community Give of your time Give of your time Make media contacts Make media contacts Be entrepreneurial Be entrepreneurial Discover spiritual meaning of services Discover spiritual meaning of services Hold governments and churches accountable Hold governments and churches accountable

The truth – in Teen Challenge, Blue Nile and all Faith-Based initiatives – is universal and makes the prevention of delinquency and drug dependence possible.

BLUE NILE - Harlem’s Alternative to Delinquency

The Cross, Switchblade and Christmas Tree Long Island’s Teen Challenge

Pray Ball Ministries - Arizona

Long Beach Faith-Based Organizations Father Leo Booth Father Leo Booth Spiritual Concepts Spiritual Concepts Asian Pacific Family Asian Pacific Family Center, Pacific Clinics Dr. Ven’ble Kong Chhean, Long Beach Dr. Ven’ble Kong Chhean, Long Beach Asian Pacific Mental Health Program

The Wealth of Faith HHS RESEARCH GRANTS Caliber Associates VA $ 236,633 Florida International University FL $210,622 University of Pennsylvania PA $ 193,456 University of Maryland, College Park MD $ 218,098 TOTAL $ 858,809

Comparisons with Standard Research Standard Faith-Based Statement of problem Statement of problem Ethical Neutrality Ethical Neutrality Outreach Outreach Logic and Rational Logic and Rational Goal Oriented Goal Oriented Positive Viewpoint Positive Viewpoint Committed Action Committed Action Outreach/Spiritual Inreach Outreach/Spiritual Inreach Faithful and Spiritual Faithful and Spiritual Means to Transformation Means to Transformation

Published Research on Faith-Based Programs /dec/ irwin.html /dec/ irwin.html

Thank you for listening To share further: Darrell Irwin Dept. of Sociology and C. Justice UNCW 601 S. College Road Wilmington, NC