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GMI Research Services
GMI offers a wide range of research services and products
to assist the Christian missions community better understand their ministry
environment and constituents, access the impact of their current approaches, and better
plan for new ministry opportunities and trends.
We provide full-service research
projects, independent research studies,
applied research training, online focus groups and surveys, and research consulting and assistance. Check out specific
services or programs below.
Full-Service Research
Have a research objective, but not sure how to get there? GMI
Research Services is available to design, execute, analyze and present research
projects for organizations and associations. Whether a study requires a quantitative
survey or a qualitative discussion; whether it requires directly posing questions
(primary research) or investigating published facts (secondary research),
whether it is conducted in person, via phone, mail, or on the Internet, GMI
offers a full complement of research services.
Missionary Personnel Examples |
| Engage |
cooperative survey of 1,800 full-time cross-cultural missionaries with 20 agencies designed to reveal key factors that impact missionary engagement, commissioned by the World
Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission |
| Impact |
study identifying key issues bearing on the effectiveness of the life and ministry of mission agency field leaders, with Barnabas International |
| FamilyLife |
study of over 3,000 field missionaries with 17 agencies, exploring the impact of marriage and family issues on international missionary life and ministry |
Impact Assessment Examples |
| Healing Waters International |
multinational study of spiritual and physical impact of church-based water distribution program in Latin America |
| Overseas Council |
survey of OC's partner theological institutions to evaluate and develop future plans for OC's Institutes for Excellence |
| Awana International |
pre-test/post-test to identify the impact of Awana's program on children in Christian schools in South Asia |
Strategic Planning Examples |
| Urbana |
three-phase research process conducted for the Urbana student mission convention to help better mobilize students for mission involvement |
| Strategic Resource Group |
compiling demographic, social, economic, and religious data collections needed by national ministry leaders for strategic planning |
| Josh McDowell Ministry |
developing country profiles, key data collections, and maps for the ministry's executive-level global strategic planning |
Independent Research Studies
GMI initiates and/or partners with others to conduct carefully selected research
projects, making results available to the mission community.
Examples |
| Churches' Response to AIDS |
a global research report prepared for the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies exploring how local congregations in India, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Honduras, and Peru are responding to the AIDS pandemic |
| FlightPlan |
collaborative study documenting the status and exploring the future of mission aviation ministry around the world |
| Fruitful Practices |
collaborative study to research best practices in church-planting among cross-cultural teams in unreached areas |
| Oxford Initiative |
a literature review and survey of international leaders analyzing opinions and attitudes among those sharing money in international mission partnership |
Applied Research Training
GMI mentors mission practitioners and students through the design and execution of small-scale field research projects, using the Breakthrough research manual, on-site seminars, and personal email coaching.
Breakthrough Research Training |
| Book |
Breakthrough! Steps to Research and Resolve the Mysteries in your Ministry is an on-field, on-the-job training manual designed for missionaries who want to better discern God's direction in the perplexities of their work. The unique and practical Breakthrough! method combines field research and prayer to help missionaries get fresh perspective and renewed hope on the seemingly unsolvable problems in their ministry. Insights gained allow workers to adjust their methods, greatly increasing the probability of a breakthrough in their area of concern. |
| Seminars |
Typically a week-long on-site seminar at various Christian colleges and mission training centers covering the fundamentals of the Breakthrough research process, usually followed by one-on-one email coaching. |
| Email Coaching |
Breakthrough Coaching is a 12-week email program that mentors field missionaries through
the steps needed to do primary field research on an issue or problem in their
own ministries, seeking God's will for what they are to do about it. The program
may be done as independent study or as part of an academic program such as
the MA in Organizational Leadership offered by Development
Associates International in partnership with selected universities. |
Online surveys and focus groups
The Internet enables you to gather and organize information
from large or small audiences online, quickly and inexpensively, without geographic
limitations. Need feedback from constituents about their level of interest
in a new idea? Want to have donors or churches compare new communication or
branding designs? Need feedback on your website from prospective missionaries?
Want to foster discussion with colleagues in an environment where participants
can be anonymous? All of these and more are possible with online surveys and
focus groups. GMI's online focus group facility is easy to use, even for those who don't often venture online. We can help
you plan or execute any aspects of a group, from recruiting and programming
to fieldwork, moderating, analysis and reporting.
Research Consulting
Some mission organizations want to conduct their own research,
and just need an idea or a "look over the shoulder." GMI Research
Services provides email and telephone consulting and feedback to mission groups
that are interested in designing their own project, collecting their own data
or conducting their own data analysis. We also participate in think tanks,
mission board or staff meetings, and on-site teams for research or evaluation.
Research Assistance
In keeping with GMI's emphasis on partnering with Christians
in the developing world, GMI provides research resources
to carefully selected mission research projects of benefit to the global Christian community.
Speaking and Teaching
GMI researchers are available to speak at mission conferences
and retreats.
Research Information Collections / Directories
In partnership with others, GMI develops and maintains mission research websites providing valuable mission information and links.
Websites |
| Mission InfoBank |
a collaborative website providing high-quality missions-related information -- databases, reports, graphics, audio and video files -- and interactive geographic mapping |
| MisLinks |
a web-based missions directory, in partnership with Dr. Scott Moreau of Wheaton College Graduate School |
| Operation World |
country profile, prayer points, and church and missions information for every country in the world, by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk |
| Other Websites |
a wide variety of other websites offering valuable missions-related information |
How may we help you?
GMI Research Services comes alongside missionaries, mission
agencies, churches, seminaries and associations in a variety of roles, depending
on the need. We are comfortable serving as:
- a service bureau, offering primary and secondary research
services
- an advisor/mentor, reviewing and providing feedback on research
plans
- a partner, joining with others to apply specific strengths
to complex projects
- a consultant, providing input and feedback on research instruments,
sampling plans and methodology
- an assessor, providing objective third-party feedback on
issues and situations
- a champion, encouraging the mission community to invest
in research
- a speaker or presenter at mission meetings, conferences, classes and workshops
- a trainer, building missionaries' and students' applied research skills
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