A Snapshot of Vineyard Columbus: And the Survey Says…
By Rich Nathan

In March 2006 we surveyed every adult attender at Vineyard Columbus (including Joshua House) at all of our weekend services. What did we learn from the survey?

1. Church membership makes a difference. Church members are much more likely to practice devotions than are non-members (60% of our church members have devotions at least three times a week compared to 40% of non-members). Church members give a substantially higher percentage of their income to the Vineyard than do non-members. In fact, 50% of church members tithe (give 10%) of their incomes to Vineyard. Only 17% of non-members tithe. And whereas just 6% of members report giving nothing to Vineyard, 32% of non-members give nothing. Church members are significantly more likely to attend small groups, volunteer, attend church, and report experiencing God more frequently in worship than do non-members.

   Church members also, interestingly, tend to be better educated and have higher incomes than do non-members. Our church members also tend to be significantly better educated than the average Franklin County or American citizen. 60% of our members are either college grads or have post-graduate education compared to 35% of Franklin County residents and 27% of US residents.

2. Vineyard Columbus is increasingly diverse. In 2002 only 12% of our church was non-Caucasian. Now 17% of our church is non-Caucasian. About half of the non-whites are blacks. By percentage, blacks are the newest members of Vineyard Columbus and are twice as likely as whites to have been part of our church for less than three years. Race doesn't seem to make a difference regarding people's experience of God in worship. Both blacks and whites report similar experiences of God in our worship and blacks and whites are equally positive about our preaching.

3. Vineyard Columbus is leading people to Christ. More than one-third of the people in our sanctuary (34%) on a typical weekend reported making a commitment to become followers of Christ at Vineyard Columbus. This number holds steady across ages, genders, and race.

4. People in our church are very positive about our preaching and worship. 97% strongly agree or agree that the preaching equips them for life. 93% strongly agree or agree that they experience God in worship. They also feel very comfortable in inviting friends to our church. 95% feel comfortable inviting a friend, with blacks feeling the most comfortable inviting friends to our church.

5. Vineyard Columbus tends to be young. On a typical weekend, 36% of the percent of the people in our sanctuary are 30 and under. 57% are 40 and under; and, 80% are 50 and under. Just 5% of our church is over 60.

6. Vineyard Columbus has high rates of volunteerism. 84% of our members serve in some capacity here at the church (at least a few times a year). 45% of our members serve at least once or twice a month in some capacity at VCC.

7. One troubling statistic is that attendance at small groups has gone down over the last several years. 70% of our members reported attending small groups in 2004. Only 64% of our members currently report attending a group. Two areas where we are seeing significant drops in attendance are attendance at coed groups and women who report attending both coed and women's groups. We have seen significant increases in people attending recovery, support or focus groups.

8. Men vs. Women: What's The Difference?

   Women and men at equal rates made commitments to Christ at Vineyard Columbus (34%), were baptized as believers (80%), consider Vineyard their church home (87%), and are Vineyard Columbus members (53%). They also attend small groups and give at similar rates. There are no differences in either the age or the racial make-up of men and women in our church.

   Where the differences appear:

   1. There are significantly higher percentages of single/divorced or separated women than men. Adult men in our church tend to be married. One of the toughest populations to reach for Christ is unmarried men.

   2. Women are better educated than men. Significantly more women have college degrees, although more men have post graduate education. This is consistent with local and national statistics. And men tend to have higher incomes than women.

   3. Women tend to have personal devotions more often than men and report experiencing God in worship more often than men do. Men and women are equally positive about the preaching at Vineyard.

   4. Men tend more often than women to attend coed small groups. Women tend to attend recovery and support groups more often than men.

9. Younger Adults (18-30) v. Older Adults (31+): Does Age Matter
   Young and old made commitments to Christ at Vineyard Columbus at equal rates (34%). 94% of young adults experience God in worship and feel comfortable in inviting friends to church (95%). A slightly higher percentage of older people agree or strongly agree that the preaching equips them for life (98% v. 96%).

   There are many differences between young and old. A higher percentage of young adults attend small groups than do older adults. But young adults tend to give less of their income (30% give nothing compared to 12% of older adults), attend church less often, and tend not to be church members. Young adults also volunteer less, and tend to be slightly less diverse. A significantly larger percentage of blacks who attend Vineyard are 31+. Asians are the youngest group in our church.