2. The American Christian Bible Study Market Research undertaken by Phil Prior on the behalf of Focus Radio, publishers of Facing the Challenge Bible Studies, as part of MA Marketing Management course at Southampton Solent University. Current titles in the Facing the Challenge range include: Facing the Challenge of Other Faiths (New June 2007) Facing the Challenge of Television Facing the Challenge of Our Times Teaching the Bible in Challenging Times All studies are available from: www.facingthechallenge.org

3. Results Summary This presentation summarises the results of the survey undertaken with American churches during April and May 2007. The survey was emailed directly to 1323 addresses obtained from church websites. 95 responses were obtained, a 7.18% success rate and included some responses from existing Facing the Challenge customers in other parts of the world. A $50 Amazon voucher was offered as an incentive, the winner of which has been drawn at random and notified. All contact details of respondents have been removed from this presentation.

4. Results Summary Age range of respondents

5. Results Summary What best describes your involvement in church? Pastor/Minister 51.58% Church Member 12.63% Leader (eg. Children’s Worker, Musician, Service Leader) 11.58% Regular Attender 10.53%

6. Results Summary Roughly how many people attend your services during the week?

7. Results Summary In regard to church growth, is your congregation… Is formal membership at your church

8. Results Summary Purchasing Bible Study Material 68% of Respondents purchase Bible study material from a third party. Many respondents noted that they specifically purchase studies that include CDs, DVDs, mp3 files. These studies are used for a range of purposes, such as personal study, home/cell groups and adult Bible study classes.

9. Results Summary What MOST influences your decision to purchase material?

10. Results Summary Which of the following statements apply to you? answer optionsYesNo Rating Average Response Count I only buy Bible studies that have been tested by others and come recommended. 27611.6988 I would only buy a study based on a book of the Bible, never a topic series. 5791.9484 I write my own Bible studies.55321.3787 I have purchased a study because of an advert on Christian Radio/TV. 28591.6887 I have purchased a study because of an advert in a Christian publication. 46421.4888 My church does not use Bible study material. 7761.9283 I only buy Bible studies from a bookshop. 1831.9984 I would never use the internet to purchase a Bible study. 7751.9182 I would not be interested in a Bible study that has not been approved by the Christian organisation we belong to. 6771.9383

11. Results Summary In regard to the quality of Facing the Challenge studies, existing customers rated the studies in the following ways. answer options Completely Disagree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Agree Completely AgreeN/A Rating Average Response Count I found Facing the Challenge study useful 002303.65 I have recommended Facing the Challenge to other people 003303.56 I would buy another Facing the Challenge study 001303.754 I think that Facing the Challenge studies offer value for money 001413.86 I would prefer to buy Facing the Challenge studies from my local Christian bookstore 022102.85 I would prefer to buy Facing the Challenge studies from mail order 023002.65 I found buying Facing the Challenge on- line easy to do 002123.335 I was happy with the quality of the study I received 001503.836

12. Results Summary Regarding internet use, in the past 12 months respondents… answer optionsYesNoN/A Rating Average Response Count Used the internet for social purposes (eg E-mail/YouTube/Secondlife. 771401.1591 Used the internet for religious purposes.89401.0493 Read a church website.90311.0394 Read a Christian blog.672401.2691 Posted a comment on a Christian blog.365411.691 Created my own blog.246321.7289 Purchased a product on-line.811011.1192 Researched a product on-line before purchasing from a store. 80921.191 Read the Bible on-line.603101.3491 Used the internet to prepare a Christian talk or study. 692101.2390

13. Results Summary What type of internet connection do you use?

14. Results Summary For what purposes do you use the internet?

15. Results Summary Summary of other findings… 37.5% of responses were received from people in the 46-55 age group. This remained the largest age group for ‘reading blogs’ (41.8%) and ‘posting a comment on a blog’ (32.1%). However, when asked ‘In the past 12 months I have… Created my own blog’, the biggest age group became the 26- 35 year olds (42.1%).

16. Results Summary Summary of other findings… Key to purchase intentions, ‘Previous experience (a trusted author)’ (56.5%) ‘Recommendations from other church leaders’ (45.2%) Internet communication does suggest some link with church growth. Those who posted a comment on a blog site (28 respondents), or who have created a blog of their own (19 respondents), are more likely to be associated with a growing church congregation (85.2% and 89.5% respectively)

17. Results Summary Summary of other findings… Growing churches are more likely to be made up of congregations in excess of 250 people. Churches with a growing formal membership were more likely to be part of the Southern Baptist Convention, followed by the Evangelical Free Church of America.

18. Thank You Thank you for your time and taking part in the survey. You should also be able to obtain the Excel file containing the full survey results from the Facing the Challenge website, as well as further information about David Couchman, the author of the studies. Available to you there are also free downloadable chapters from each of the studies for you to try out. If you have any questions about the survey results or would like to find out more about Focus Radio, I can be contacted at philip.prior@solent.ac.uk, or through the Facing the Challenge group on Facebook (www.facebook.com) philip.prior@solent.ac.ukwww.facebook.com