A Church Reforming to Reach the Lost for Christ

Christian Reformed Churches of Australia

The National Church Life Survey is a research project that has taken place every five years in Australia for more than twenty years: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. NCLS Research is a joint venture started by church mission agencies in the early 1990s. The vision of NCLS Research is to provide an evidence base to help churches to connect with the wider community. A number of CRCA churches have participated in this survey in the past. The mission of NCLS Research is to use credible research to identify signs of hope, to nurture life in both leadership and churches as well as to encourage the wider community to reflect upon its spiritual journey and the churches' place within it. Research aims include studying Australian spirituality, church health, effective and sustainable leadership, and the connections between church and community. The most recent survey took place from September to November 2011. Over 260 000 church attenders in more than 4500 churches and parishes from 23 Catholic, Anglican and Protestant denominations took part.

The next Australian wide survey will take place in 2016.  The 2016 NCLS will involve 400,000 church attenders across 3000 churches, 7,000 church leaders and surveys in 8 languages.    Synod 2015 “encouraged all CRCA congregations to participate in the NCLS survey in 2016.” As the CRCA seeks to advance the missional vision to reach the lost for Christ in Australia, participation in this survey will assist us as a denomination and individual churches in our commitment to see the impact of the gospel expand throughout Australia.

As a servant of the CRCA, and as Ministry Development Coach, I continue to work closely with NCLS as your NCLS Coordinator to see an effective roll-out of this survey in 2016.  To take part in the NCLS Church Life Survey 2016 involves six steps:  
  1. Sign up to take part and order your surveys by the end of June 2016.   Let This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.know by email the total number of surveys you will need.   All church members ages 15+ would require a survey.  You might also choose the option of completing the Children's Survey (ages 8-14).    No payment is required now, but you will be invoiced in the latter part of 2016 by Jack De Vries.
  2. Receive your survey pack by end of September 2016.
  3. Complete your surveys in October and November 2016.
  4. Return your completed surveys by end of December 2016.
  5. Receive your Church Life Profile of results along with a Pack of resources by March 2017.
  6. Use your results to have informed discussions and plan for ministry and mission.   Jack De Vries is available to assist you in processing your results and planning for ministry and mission.

Please refer to the documents below for more information and links for further details. Please note that you have Synod’s endorsement and encouragement. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me, Jack De Vries, and I will attempt to assist you in any way I can.

NCLS Brochure

NCLS March Update

NCLS Summary Proposal