The survey results for the “I Am Calvary” have been compiled. The responses provide a good representative sample of the congregation. We received 162 full surveys on-line and in hard copy. (Several hard copy surveys were not entered because they were incomplete or because more than one answer was entered for a question). The results are very informative and encouraging. The survey consists of primarily four categories: demographic data; congregational identity; spiritual vitality and missional readiness. Below is a summary of results under each of these categories.
Demographic Data:
The survey provides a good cross-section of the congregation in many aspects. The larger portion of survey participants represent those members who have been in Calvary less than 9 years, mostly those who attend the first two services, those who are teenagers, middle adults and individuals who drive between 11-19 minutes to Calvary.
The bulk of the responses came from Calvary members with a few who are attending non-members. Of the 162 completing the surveys, 139 are members of Calvary, 17 non-members who attend regularly and 5 are non-members who attend occasionally.
The surveys were filled by individuals in all age categories, providing for a good cross section of the congregation, but with greater participation from teenagers and middle adults. A significant response came from those ages 12-18 (26%), while the response of those ages 36-55 consisted of 39%. The lowest response came from those ages 19-25 (2%) and those ages 80 and above (2%).
In terms of how long they have been members of Calvary, the responses for the survey come largely from those who have been members less than 9 years. The category of 3 to 9 years consisted of 38% of respondents. Similarly, 35% have been members for less than 3 years. Those with less than 3 years represent a much bigger percentage in Spanish responses (80% of Spanish response and 28% of English responses). Those who have been members 10-20 years make up 23%. Only 6% came from those who have been members over 20 years.
The largest participation in the survey came from those who attend the earlier two services. Forty-two percent of the responses came from the 9:45 service and twenty-four percent came from the 8:15 service. The lowest participation was from the 12:45 service with only 15% of responses.
A large portion of those responding live at a driving distance between 11-19 minutes from the church building while the lowest number of respondents drive less than 5 minutes. Forty-four percent of responders drive between 11 and 19 minutes to get to the church building, while thirty one percent drive between 6 and 10 minutes and seventeen percent drive more than 20 minutes. Only 7% of responders drive less than 5 minutes to the church building.
Congregational Identity:
A large majority of respondents feel strongly connected to Calvary and see either McAllen or the entire Rio Grande Valley as Calvary’s primary mission field, while a significant portion feel like there is not a evidence of real unity among the diverse parts of the church.
While individuals may feel mostly connected to Calvary, they may also perceive a greater need for unity. A large number of responders feel like they are an important part of Calvary and that they share much in common with others. Seventy-four percent of responders agree or strongly agree that they are an important part of Calvary and sixty-nine percent of responders agree or strongly agree that they have much in common with most members of Calvary. While a significant number of responders feel like there is evidence of unity among the diverse parts of the church., thirty-three percent of responders are neutral or disagree on whether Calvary evidences real unity among the diverse parts of the church.
According to participants our primary mission field may be as large as the Upper, Middle and Lower Valley inclusive of the cities south of our border and as small as the city of McAllen. There is also evidence for the continuation of cooperative program giving with a priority on direct Calvary involvement. A large number of responders would like to see more resources and emphasis given to reaching McAllen (69%), the Upper Valley (66%) and Northern Mexico (59%). In general more responders (52%) would like to increase the amount of resources and emphasis to direct Calvary involvement than to cooperative missions (37%). In terms of identifying Calvary’s primary mission field, the larger amount of responses (35%) indicated the “upper, middle and lower valley,” followed by 30% who indicated McAllen should be the primary mission field.
Spiritual Vitality:
There is a strong sense in the respondents of personal fellowship with God, although the active sharing of their faith is not as frequent as their prayer time. A large portion of respondents frequently feel God’s presence (70%), feel a personal intimacy with God (75%) and communicate with God in prayer (90%). The number of individuals who frequently share their faith with others consists of 25% of responders.
Missional Readiness
Survey participants indicated a high degree of missional understanding and readiness. A significant percentage identified the role of missions in the church and that of individuals as greater than a department or a job for professionals. A large majority identified the reason Calvary exists as that of equipping and mobilizing members for Christ’s mission. Interest in increased emphasis on evangelism and ministries into the community was also evidenced.
At least a majority of the respondents have an understanding of missions that is consistent with the missional paradigm. A significant portion of respondents do not agree that missions is only a department of the church (52%), neither that the call to missions is a spiritual gift (52%) nor that mission should only be done by professional ministers (86%). Rather they view themselves as missionaries sent by Jesus Christ (65% of respondents agreed and strongly agreed on this item). In terms of the primary reasons Calvary exists, while a significant portion of respondents (28%) marked teach/preach the Word of God, a greater number (49%) indicated that making disciples (equipping and mobilizing member for Christ’s mission).
Survey participants rated most ministries of the church as strengths but indicated an interest in seeing more emphases in some of them. Respondents identified worship (83%), Spanish ministry (72%) and diversity (73%) as being strengths of the church, and evangelism (38%) and ministries into the community (40%) as needing more emphasis. Furthermore, 46% of respondents would like to see more emphasis placed on deacon ministry and more than 31% feel there needs to be more attention in utilization of and effectively benefitting from the gifts of pastoral staff.
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