THE CRITERIA USED FOR THIS WEB SITE.
THIS IS THE CRITERIA IN WHICH THE CHURCHES WERE MEASURED IN.
THIS WEB SITE BEGAN IN 2000 BUT IN 2002 I STARTED TO MEASURE SOME CHURCHES IN AREAS 19 TO 64.
1. NUMBER OF PEOPLE: .
2. NUMBER OF CHAIRS: .
3. Type of person: .
4. Socio-Economic Status: .
5. Amount of kids: .
6. Ages of people: .
7. % are men.
8. Weekly offering published: .
9. Lateness of people getting to church: .
10. Any other interesting information: .
11. TIME THERE AND DATE OF VISIT: .
12. Length of service: .
13. This and other service times: .
14. Preacher: .
15. Feeling of building: .
16. Estimate style of belief: .
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
18. How to get there: Travel
19. ACCEPTANCE IN CHURCH AS A VISITOR: .
20. People who talked to me after the service: .
21. Length of time they talked:
22. How soon do visitors get talked to after service?: .
23. HOW MUCH CHURCH IS OPEN TO WIDER CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: .
24. Unusual things about worship: .
25. EMPHASIS OF MINISTRY: .
26. Famous business people: .
27. Famous people: .
28. KNOWABLE SONGS: .
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: .
30. Quality of preaching generally: .
31. Meaningfulness/ depth of preaching:
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: .
33. Impact/ deepness/ enjoyment of worship:
34. Amount of home groups: .
35. How to access home groups:
36. Friendliness of home groups:
37. Intention to build: .
38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?:
39. Estimate age of building: .
40. Dowdiness of building outside: .
41. Inside?: .
42. Have sister churches where?
43. Sunday School availability:
44. Ages availability:
45. % kids attend: .
46. Noise of kids at back: .
47. Where is bible college?
48. Where do kids school?
49. How many missionaries do they support: .
50. What cost?
51. What is average they give to missions: .
52. What is average they give to local poor?
53. International poor?
54. Other emphasis on giving: .
55. Per head total giving: .
56. Extent of other church programs: .
57. Pastor receive stipend?
58. How much?
59. Qualifications of Pastor: .
60. Estimated of parishioners complaints.
61. Estimated ability to resolve parishioners complaints: .
*** WHY DID I MEASURE EACH OF THESE 18 AREAS?
*** 1. Number of people:
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Because when I started off merely counting numbers in churches as I wanted to
know if there were really 20% of church going people in Toowoomba etc...
*** 2. Number of chairs:
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Because I realised this sounded silly as in one situation there were 150 people
which sounds like a lot until you realise there's 2000 chairs which is why I
counted the chairs. Also to find out if revival hit, could Toowoomba support
everyone in church if there were 7 services on Sundays, 4 services Saturday,
2 services each Monday to Friday on each of the Charismatic and evangelical
churches.
*** 3. Type of person: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Because I measured this one for research purposes as I noticed definite "types"
of people were going to exactly the same church. Although I have not recorded
my detailed findings in this area, research in church growth has much to be
said in this area. It's to do with demographics and targeting specific groups
or REALISING your MISSING certain groups. For example a management consultant
would charge a church $5,000 to find a certain key demographic to aim toward.
For example, WHY BE ASHAMED OF AIMING A CHURCH TOWARDS BLUE COLLAR WORKERS WITH
NO SKILLS? Instead of aiming to white, middle class semi-professionals? Each
type appreciate different songs, styles of pastors even, worship, even in their
giving they express their devotion in each type of way. ("blue collar"
types like to physically build the building and physically bring people to church.)
* 4. Socio-Economic Status: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Because this again is to do with research and finding trends in matching demographics
and as such is a highly important area.
** 5. Amount of kids: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Obviously, the bulk of users of this information will be parents who have kids
who are looking for a church with kids.
* 6. Ages of people: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Pastors often say to me "Often people do not stay because there are few
people their age."
* 7. 50% are men.
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Because it has been loudly proclaimed that the majority in church are women.
(If 100 people are in church and 40 are men and there are 20 kids then that
means there are 40 women.)
* 8. Weekly offering published: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
This is merely another but important research tool or barometer in the life
of a church.
* 9. Lateness of people getting to church: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
I see this as a sign people are not deep down happy with their church. Especually
if there are large numbers proportionately. This area is quite unimportant and
is only for research purposes. The findings are too complicated to work out
but are merely for general interest. More research needs to be done here. However,
at a guess, I see this as the heart pulse of a congregation. It doesn't absolutely
mean the parishioners are unhappy, as strict churches can enforce this behaviour
so it doesn't happen. (Like the closed Bretheren.) But there seems to be some
correlation to those who come late and those who are sub-consciously unhappy.
However, I see this as the whole congregation (not necessarily individuals)
being sub- consciously unhappy. Which is why I say it's the heart pulse of the
congregation. A good heart rate doesn't absolutely mean you have a good and
healthy heart. But very high or very low blood pressure is rarely a GOOD sign.
*** 10. Any other interesting information: -.
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
***I recommend people use the "Find" button on your computer and just
look up this number in each church as you will learn a lot very quickly compared
to the 3 years and 92,000 words it took me to compile this work. For example,
if your looking for a Chinese church you can either attempt to visually find
something, which would take many hours. Or you could do these steps which takes
as much as an hour to set up and finding words like 'Chinese' takes one minute.
TRY DOING THIS- Cut and Paste and Save all the information from this web site
into ordinary Word documents on your own computer. Put it all in one folder.
Right click mouse on GREEN AREA of your desktop, to create a new folder on your
desktop. Name the folder. Then, Start > Programs > Accessories > Notepad
> highlight every page of this web site by left click at top corner of text
and drag down to bottom of document > Cntrl C (to save it in temporary memory)
> open Notepad or Word file > Start > Programs > Accessories >
Notepad > Cntrl V (to put saved information in your file) > Cntrl F S
(to save) > Save In: Desktop > File Name: (call it whatever) > Save
> go to Desktop (your Desktop is the first screen with all the icons) by
clicking minimize on all your Windows in top right corner (The left of the 2
rectangles at top right of screen) > drag saved file into the Folder you
have created. Repeat and Open and save a new file for each page of the web site.
*** TO FIND THE WORD "CHINESE" IS NOW VERY EASY. Start > Files or folders > Containing text (Chinese) > Advanced TAB > "Of Type" > Text Documents > Name and Location TAB > Browse to where you put the saved files. > Find now.
*** 11. Time there AND date of visit: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
Every time you see a date there, it always means that I personally was in that
church and I was there at that date and for that period of time. I did not use
anyone else to compile the data nor did anyone come with me.
* 12. Length of service: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
People often want to know how long a service goes for. One church I visited
went for 24 minutes. Another church went for 6 hours.
*** 13. This and other service times: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
The FIRST TIME given (Such as 9.30am) is the SERVICE time that the REPORT WAS
MADE FOR! It's the same time as the time given in the very beginning of each
report. The SUBSEQUENT TIMES are the REMAINDER of the services at that church.
* 14. Preacher: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
This is the name of the preacher on the day but I can often mention who is the
Senior Pastor as well.
* 15. Feeling of building: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
How I felt the PEOPLE in the building were feeling as well as myself. Sometimes
the feeling can be cold or it can be warm. There can be a militant feeling or
a Holy Spirit power packed 'feeling'.
*** 16. Estimate style of belief: .
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
This is probably the most important area. I have thoroughly spent thousands
of hours of questioning and FIGURING OUT with scores of professional clergy
THE DOCTRINE OF EACH CHURCH and their belief system and WHY they believe the
way they do.
All of this web site INTERCONNECTS. For example, only on one report in the entire
web site explains what "extreme Calvanism" is. On all other reports
it merely mentions this belief.
* 17. Dress code so as not to stand out: -.
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
I remember going to the closed Bretheren and getting turned away in the car
park. Why? I was wearing a coloured shirt with a tie and EVERY OTHER man there
was wearing a short sleeved, white shirt with an open collar! I was asked to
leave. Why? They recognised I was dressed differently.
* 18. How to get there.
WHY DID I MEASURE IN THE ABOVE AREA?
It saves you looking it up. It's also possible to print out the information.
NUMBERED CRITERIA
*** 19. (Note) Acceptance in church as a visitor: -. (Did you tell them you
were coming? (To confirm time and exact address of service? I highly recommend
people to call beforehand and say your coming.)
20. People who talked to me after the service:
21. Length of time they talked:
22. How soon do visitors get talked to after service?: .
*** 23. (Note) How much church is open to wider Christian community: .
24. Unusual things about worship: .
*** 25. (Note) Emphasis of ministry: .
26. Famous business people: .
27. Famous people: .
28. Knowable songs: .
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: .
30. Quality of preaching generally: .
31. Meaningfulness/ depth of preaching:
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: .
33. Impact/ deepness/ enjoyment of worship:
34. Amount of home groups: .
35. How to access home groups:
36. Friendliness of home groups:
37. Intention to build: .
38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?:
39. Estimate age of building: .
40. Dowdiness of building outside: .
41. Inside?: .
42. Have sister churches where?
43. Sunday School availability:
44. Ages availability:
45. % kids attend: .
46. Noise of kids at back: .
47. Where is bible college?
48. Where do kids school?
49. How many missionaries do they support: .
50. What cost?
51. What is average they give to missions: .
52. What is average they give to local poor?
53. International poor?
54. Other emphasis on giving: .
55. Per head total giving: .
56. Extent of other church programs: .
57. Pastor receive stipend?
58. How much?
59. Qualifications of Pastor: .
60. Estimated of parishioners complaints.
61. Estimated ability to resolve parishioners complaints: .
62. Email #'s of Pastor, office, other: .
63. Cost of visiting preachers paid: .
64. Things church is doing to be part of wider community:
IF THE REPORTS HAD TO BE PUT IN A MORE READABLE WAY, IT COULD BE WRITTEN LIKE THIS. EXAMPLE-
VISION is back at the City Golf Club after spending a few weeks a stones throw away from Toowoomba City Church's turf in downtown Toowoomba at the Powerhouse mid 2001 but I don't think Pastor Keith could quite twist the Toowoomba millionaire Jimbo Aspresmorgas. The numbers of Keith Pelicaan's church is growing at 148 with a seating limit of 233 but you could probably fit 700, however the 3 year lease didn't work. What type of person goes to Vision? Charismatic Pentecostals. Keith attended the Dutch Reformed church in Toowoomba before starting ministry. Kids? Plenty of kids there for all you family seekers. There's a wide selection of ages here except the 55 plus group, The last visit I was at Keith's church on the 13 May 2001 and have been there some 20 times over 2 years. Not many small groups here. The service goes for an hour and a half and there's a nice cup of tea and cookies at the end. Keith works closely with Ps Ian Shelton from TCC on things like Christian Leaders Network, combined churches, the bible college etc..
INSTEAD OF LIKE THIS-
Address: 1. # of people: 148 2. Available chairs: 233. Room for approx 750.
3. Type of person: 4. Class: 5. Kids: 6. Ages: 7. Men: 8. Offering: 9. Late
arrivals: 10. Interesting info: Thinking of getting a 3 year lease arrangement
at a permanent 7 days a week with Jim Aspromourgas. 11. Date & Time spent:
13/5/01 10.05am-11.55am. 12. When service finished. 1hr 30m 13. This & other
service times: -. 14. Preacher: 15. Feeling: 16. Their belief: 17. Dress code:
HOWEVER, IT MIGHT BE MORE READABLE BUT then it's much harder to find the numbers.
ALPHABETIC LIST OF CRITERIA.
(THIS IS HANDY WHEN YOUR TRYING TO FIND A CERTAIN CRITERIA.)
ALPHABETIC LIST OF CRITERIA FROM ONE TO 18 ONLY.
6. Ages of people: .
16. Belief, Estimate style of: .
15. Building, it's feeling: .
2. Chairs Number of: .
4. Class
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
16. Estimate style of belief: .
15. Feeling of building: .
8. Giving is in item 8
18. How to get there: Travel
10. Interesting information: .
5. Kids, amount of: .
9. Lateness of people getting to church: .
12. Length of service: .
7. Men percentage are.
1. Number of People #: .
8. Offering published : .
10. Other interesting information: .
1. People #: .
6. People and their ages: .
3. Type of person: .
14. Preacher: .
12. Service, length of: .
4. Socio-Economic Status: .
11. Time there AND date of visit: .
13. This and other service times: .
18. Travel, How to get there:
3. Type of person: .
ALPHABETIC LIST OF ALL OF CRITERIA -FROM ONE TO 64.
45. % kids attend: .
19. (Note) Acceptance in church as a visitor: -.
6. Ages of people: .
44. Ages availability:
34. Amount of home groups: .
16. Belief, Estimate style of: .
15. Building, it's feeling: .
2. Chairs Number of: .
4. Class
63. Cost of visiting preachers paid: .
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
40. Dowdiness of building outside: .
16. Estimate style of belief: .
25. (Note) Emphasis of ministry: .
32. Enjoyment/ lightness of preaching: .
38. Estimate percentage church owned / rented?:
39. Estimate age of building: .
60. Estimated of parishioners complaints.
61. Estimated ability to resolve parishioners complaints: .
62. Email #'s of Pastor, office, other: .
56. Extent of other church programs: .
26. Famous business people: .
27. Famous people: .
15. Feeling of building: .
36. Friendliness of home groups:
8. Giving is in item 8
42. Have sister churches where?
18. How to get there: Travel
23. (Note) How much church is open to wider Christian community: .
22. How soon do visitors get talked to after service?: .
35. How to access home groups:
49. How many missionaries do they support: .
58. How much? (Pastor's stipend)
33. Impact/ deepness/ enjoyment of worship:
37. Intention to build: .
10. Interesting information: .
53. International poor?
41. Inside?: .
5. Kids, amount of: .
28. Knowable songs: .
9. Lateness of people getting to church: .
12. Length of service: .
21. Length of time they talked:
31. Meaningfulness/ depth of preaching:
7. Men percentage are.
46. Noise of kids at back: .
1. Number of People #: .
8. Offering published : .
10. Other interesting information: .
54. Other emphasis on giving: .
57. Pastor receive stipend?
1. People #: .
6. People and their ages: .
20. People who talked to me after the service:
55. Per head total giving: .
45. % kids attend: .
29. Quality of sound system/ loudness: .
30. Quality of preaching generally: .
59. Qualifications of Pastor: .
3. Type of person: .
14. Preacher: .
12. Service, length of: .
4. Socio-Economic Status: .
43. Sunday School availability:
11. Time there AND date of visit: .
13. This and other service times: .
64. Things church is doing to be part of wider community:
18. Travel, How to get there:
3. Type of person: .
24. Unusual things about worship: .
50. What cost? (Of missionary support)
51. What is average they give to missions: .
52. What is average they give to local poor?
47. Where is bible college?
48. Where do kids school?
OFTEN YOU MAY BE SEARCHING FOR THE RIGHT CRITERIA SO TO HAVE THEM IN LEVELS
OF IMPORTANCE MAKES IT EASIER TO FIND THE RIGHT NUMBER.
IMPORTANT CRITERIA
1. Number of people: .
13. This and other service times: .
10. Any other interesting information: .
MODERATELY IMPORTANT CRITERIA
8. Weekly offering published: .
2. Number of chairs: .
16. Estimate style of belief: .
14. Preacher: .
AVERAGE IMPORTANT CRITERIA
5. Amount of kids: .
12. Length of service: .
6. Ages of people: .
LEAST IMPORTANT CRITERIA
11. Time there AND date of visit: .
4. Socio-Economic Status: .
18. How to get there: Travel
15. Feeling of building: .
3. Type of person: .
7. 50% are men.
17. Dress code so as not to stand out: Casual to smart.
9. Lateness of people getting to church: .