Frequently Asked Questions
My church has (many, few, nobody, etc.) in the demographic you are studying. Should We Apply?
Since we are nearing the end of our 5-year journey of innovation, discovery, and research, we invite you to explore the distillation of our project found on this website. Other opportunities may materialize as our work and that of other innovation hubs around the country inspire new movements in various regions, denominations, and Christian traditions.
Did I hear something about grants to individual congregations?
Correct. The 12 congregations that were chosen acted as laboratories for innovative ministries to our target demographic. We awarded $10,000 each year for three years starting summer/fall 2018 (so years 3, 4, and 5). To learn more about how the money was awarded and what it did or didn't facilitate in the different congregations, stay tuned to our website, blog, social media, and/or give those churches a ring.
If my church wasn't chosen to participate, how can we benefit from the project?
The project is open source. Our hope is that churches outside the project will be able to benefit from both the formal and anecdotal information gathered. We will offer our interpretations of the information, but we also invite you to interpret the data as you see fit and to make use of it as is appropriate in your contexts.
Can you say more about the design of your research?
The best way to survey our research and its design is to follow our various social media accounts and/or subscribe to our email list so we can alert you to new content. If you have questions at any time, feel free to contact us by email to schedule a time to talk through our conclusions: martinjimenez@spu.edu
My church doesn't seem to match any of the churches you are studying. Can you do a personal evaluation of our capacity for a reimagined outreach to young adults?
As mentioned above, part of our hope with this project is to hone a set of tools for self-evaluation by congregations or groups of congregations. The application is not just a method for creating a robust and diverse set of congregational laboratories to work in, but also the first step of self-evaluation for any who are looking to make a change in their culture. We are excited about the prospect of distributing the other tools we develop and seeing how they perform “outside the lab,” but at this time we can't promise any personal follow-up beyond the 12 core congregations. Please keep in touch to stay abreast of opportunities for town halls, lectures, and other ways of learning about our process where we might be able to connect informally. And feel free to connect with us about your interest or parallel efforts.
What other ways can we engage with this project?
We hope that some of the 12 participating congregations will become mentors to others in their community, denomination, or to congregations that have similar ministry goals and cultures. We will do our best to connect those willing to mentor to those wanting such a relationship.
How long will the study run?
Our initial research and consultations will run from 2017 to 2022, but our hope is to continue working with faith communities long after the initial study is completed.
Whom should I contact with questions?
Contact Martin Jimenez, Program Manager for PivotNW. He will be able to connect you with other team members and consultants as needed: martinjimenez@spu.edu