Thank You for Your Feedback
The Bible uses a number of different images to describe the church: a family (Eph. 2:19), a body (1 Cor. 12:27), a flock (Acts 20:28), a temple (2 Cor. 6:16-18), and more. Almost all of these different images highlight the reality that when we are joined to Christ we are also joined to one another, and we need each other. And yes, that means you.
To use the words of 1 Corinthians 12: “As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” … 24 God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” (v.20-21, 24-25)
To help us have “equal concern for each other” we recently conducted a churchwide survey. The goal of the survey was to provide an opportunity for you to have your say, to share your feedback, to provide insight into where things are going well, and to identify areas in which we could become healthier.
I’m thankful to report that we had over 150 people complete the survey, across all age groups and across all levels of experience; from those who have been part of our church family for only a short time to those who have been among us for a very long time. The results of the survey were encouraging and helpful, with positive feedback given in many areas of church life and some areas identified where we could grow.
We learned a number of valuable insights, including a high level of appreciation for our worship services, our preaching ministry, and a greater level of satisfaction in our outreach efforts as a church. This is particularly encouraging given some of the initiatives we have undertaken this year to strengthen our missional focus, and which we will continue to pursue into the future. We also recognise there are further opportunities to strengthen our engagement within our local community and with local issues, to refresh and update our facilities, and to devote ourselves more deeply to prayer.
It is heartening to note that almost 90% of people felt confident or strongly confident to invite a non-Christian to a BPCC service (an increase from last year), and almost 60% of people have experienced “much growth” in their faith in the last 12 months (also an increase from last year). I was also greatly encouraged by the many people who shared their desire to reach more people with the good news about Jesus, and who shared some suggestions about how we might be able to do this together.
These are just some of the initial highlights and lessons that came out of the recent survey. It was a helpful and worthwhile exercise and I’d like to offer my thanks to those who completed the survey. Thank you for offering your voice and your feedback, it really does matter and you really were heard. We are looking forward to continuing the journey together, as we seek to continually grow in our love for God, our love for one another, and as we seek to become the church that God has called us and equipped us to be.
With you on the journey,
Adam
