Listening Really is Important
Recent Findings from Barna Group
Two years ago, I had to select a dissertation topic for my doctoral program. One of my mentors, Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, offered me this advice, “Pick a topic you won’t mind thinking about, writing about, and talking about over and over for the next three years.” Boy was she right.
Just this August I’ve…
Presented a series of workshops on The Listening Church at The School of Congregational Development, a United Methodist conference for church planters and those interested in revitalizing their churches.
Shared about The Listening Church in six locations across the East Ohio Conference of the UMC over three days.
Led a weekly cohort of Western NC UMC clergy through the listening plan as a part of my doctoral research.
Gave a shorter presentation to The Missional Collective of the Western NC Conference (with my two-year-old in my arms because my wife was feeling under the weather) in Morganton, NC.
Shared The Listening Church in a lunch and learn for fellow students and faculty at my doctoral intensive at United Theological Seminary.
Needless to say, I’ve been doing a lot of talking about listening. It feels a bit ironic and yet it's shown me that churches are hungry to learn how to listen better. The fact that I keep getting asked to train churches on listening to God, listening to their congregation, and listening to their neighbors makes me think we’re onto something here.
Barna on Engaging the Spiritually Open
At my doctoral intensive last week, Craig Springer, Senior Vice President of Strategic & Executive Partnerships at Barna Group, one of the leading Christian research organizations, gave a presentation on Engaging the Spiritually Open. In his presentation he highlighted several fascinating recent findings:
When U.S. teens and adults of no faith were asked, “Imagine a Christian you would be interested in learning from. Which of the following characteristics would you use to describe them? Select all that apply.”
The top selection by a long shot with 39% was “Listens without judgement.”
In another question of those teens and adults of no faith who had had a positive conversation with a Christian, the actions they most appreciated were:
Listened well to you.
Asked you questions.
Asked if they could pray with you.
Displayed curiosity.
Springer wrote in the Engaging the Spiritually Open Report (which I highly recommend), “If there was one tangible and applicable skill I could infuse more of into my life, every church and every effort of evangelism— including every sermon and curriculum on evangelism training—it would be listening.”
Whoa!
Listening is an essential skill for the church of today and tomorrow. With your help and support we’re putting together a vital resource for the church in this critical moment. I couldn’t do it without y’all. I may be talking a lot about listening these days, but I’m also listening to you. Every piece of feedback y’all have given me online and in-person has made this resource stronger. This is important work and I’m grateful for your companionship as we journey towards becoming a listening church!