Whether you're starting a new church, expanding your ministry to another site, beginning afresh at a new church or needing a second wind in your current ministry, you will benefit from getting to know your community better. The Internet offers resources to acquaint you with the religious, economic, and ethnic makeup of your community. Some of the helps are fee-based and offer custom services, but much of the information is yours for the taking.
HELP FOR FREE

Would you like to know the country of origin of the people living in your community?
The site www.peoplegroups.info, powered by the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, is based on 2000 census data and offers national origin data regarding people living in the United States. You can identify the dominant groups, as well as niche groups in your community.

Would you benefit from a demographic profile of your community?
At the Association of Religious Data Archives site, you can build a profile of the social, educational, economic and religious characteristics of your community. Especially recommended are the community profiles it offers.

Want a cluster map of the members of your congregation without having to use a bulletin board and pins?
Your ideas . . .
Know more sites that help churches get better acquantied with their communities?

Drop us an e-mail.

. . . more of what we're looking for:
How to find the style of music most listened to in your town?
How to learn what people in the community are purchasing or reading?
Which are the fastest-growing communities near your church?
What websites show how to find the most spiritually receptive people in your community?
At www.frappr.com, Rising Concepts created frappr as a way to see where all their high school and college friends were living. Using this service, churches can get a visual of where members and prospects live.

Would you like to keep your fingers on the pulse of America?
You can perform keyword searches or browse by topic through the archives of The Barna Group. The site also offers books, short films and other resources.

Would you like a feel for the shifts and trends in U.S. religious life from one census to another?
Check the results of the 2000 Glenmary study on churches and religious bodies, funded by the Lilly Endowment.

Are you interested in the role religion plays in American public life?
The site www.pewforum.org, developed by the Pew Foundation, publishes findings from their studies and polls on the influence of religion in America.

Would you like to know how many adherents to a particular religion or denomination live in your area?
At www.adherents.com, you can find out what percentage of the world population is Muslim, how many Jehovah's Witnesses live in your state or how well your own denomination is doing.

HELP FOR A FEE

Do you live in Canada and want statistical information on your community?
Outreach Canada provides an in-depth look at your community's statistical information. The site covers all of Canada and is updated as Statistics Canada releases new information. (Price ranges from $99 to $175.)

Do you want to stay abreast of developing trends?
Get unlimited access to Gallup analyses and data. (Price: $95. Free 30-Day Trial)

Would you prefer to have experts do demographic studies for you?
Visions-Decisions will develop a narrative report that includes an unchurched/churched index, over 50 demographic variables and a religious preference index. (Price ranges from $214.50 to $239.50)

Percept offers four levels of studies to suit your needs and pocketbook. (Price ranges from $85 to $6,500)

ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING

An index of researches funded by the Lilly Endowment can be found at: www.resourcingchristianity.org.

American Demographics Magazine is primarily a business tool, but will also benefit church leaders.

Census Finder contains links to United States, Canadian and United Kingdom Census information. You can also access the 2000 U.S. census information directly at www.census.gov.

Census Scope, provided by Social Science Data Analysis Network at the University of Michigan, provides tools for studying United States demographic trends.

Dr. James L. Wilson is the Associate Director of the Doctor of Ministry and Theological Field Educational Programs at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, and the online editor of www.FreshMinistry.org.