This is a well-done, balanced look at survey results of America's spirituality.

Beginning with what is spirituality, this work consistently brings forth the "up and down" side to each point. The opportunities along with the obstacles are well documented and discussed using many angles and viewpoints.

There are many nuggets to be mined and prayed over with Biblical discernment. A random sample: "Americans face constant temptations to pass over the wisdom of the ancients in favor of the guru of the month." "The interest in spirituality in itself, ... is not an unalloyed cuase for rejoicing. But it provides a starting place for conversation." "God may be bringing a faitful remant into deeper levels of discipleship that will enable them to endure in a culture that for all its spirituality seems to become post- or even anti-Christian." "More is needed than urgent words; postmoderns insist on authenticity; faith sharing must grow out of a larger life and witness. Its claims to truth must be buttressed with a changed life, with an experienced and personally felt faith."

I found this read to be an important one is the continuing look at trends and movements. Gives one much to ponder and pray and discuss.

An insightful look into the future of spiritually (not just religion) in America. Facts and figures come alive with meaningful interviews and quotes.

The layout of the book with shaded quotes for key ideas make for easy reference.

I'm an associate pastor in a large, growing church in the Kansas City area. Many of the people coming to our church fit the descriptions in this book...i.e. they are looking for experiences with living, powerful God.

I believe Gallup and Jones have written a book that may impact churches in the same way that Tom Peter's book on excellence impacted the business community years ago.

This is an awesome sorce for understanding the desires and needs of teens in todays society, and an invaluable source for creating structure that kids need and actually want.

I don't know why I was expecting more from this book. It has 10 very good surveys that can be used by the reader to poll inside or outside a church or other faith-based organization. But somehow with all their data, none of them fit what we needed. I got much more out of "Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them" by Thom S. Rainer. It also has several polls in the back, but they are targeted toward what we are trying to do: find out where our congregation is at in their faith journey and where need to grow to reach the unchurched.

This book does shine in the opening and closing chapters on how to conduct a poll and analyze the results. Invaluable information here. If you are planning to poll outside your church or synagogue then there are several surveys that may interest you. If you are preparing for a new pastor, there is an excellent survey to derive the current needs of the church. But overall, this one didn't fit us or the need to pulse our congregation as it is now.

The Gallup Guide is informative and gives one all the tools they need to successfully survey the congregation. The chapter on the Lay of the Land is packed full of details about individual spirituality and people's perceptions and needs of the church. The data points that the church of the future will be shaped by the laity taking and increase role in discerning the will of God for the church and their lives. In the chapters that follow all the details to completing and analyzing a survey is concisely laid out in an easy to follow manner. This book even contains ten reproducible surveys. After reading this book I had everything I needed to successfully survey my congregation. In addition it is great to read a book written by Michael Lindsay and George Gallup because they are leaders in their churches and realize that this book is only a tool in discerning God's will for the church. I highly recommend this book to any church leader.

One of the most difficult tasks a minister faces is discerning the true spiritual landscape of the local congregation. However, this exegesis of the congregation is essential if one is committed to moving the church forward in their lives of discipleship. D. Michael Lindsay and George Gallup, Jr. have provided a valuable tool that will eliminate hunches, guesswork, and wishful thinking with solid, objective information. Such information can then, in turn, be utilized to answer such questions as "What are the strengths upon which a church should build? What are the major challenges? What specific steps can be undertaken to deepen the faith of the congregants? Are the people growing in their faith..." (p. 21)
For decades, churches serious about accurately understanding the religious beliefs and opinions of its members and surrounding community have utilized Gallup's expertise, and now the valuable survey process is explained in this detailed yet concise book.
I highly recommend The Gallup Guide for both churches that are interested in conducting surveys with integrity (several reproducible surveys are included) and for those readers who have always wondered what goes on behind the scenes at the Gallup organization.

This was the first book I read about postmodern ministry. As such, it was very useful. It is simple and pretty accurate in its descriptions. I would recommend it to someone with little knowledge about postmodernism and postmodern ministry. If you already have experience in the field and knowledge of the generation, then don't waste your time. You already know the stuff here. I would move on to Leonard Sweet's books. This book is good, just not too meaty. Accept what it is and use it accordingly.

Unlike most writers on the subject of "GenXers" and their (our) relationship to God and the church, Kevin Ford refrains from the condescending tone that characterizes so many books on the subject. He even suggests (gasp!) that some of the perspectives and strengths of this generation may have something to offer the church. Although the extensive narrative in each chapter was probably intended to illustrate one of Ford's points -- that personal narrative is the medium which will be most effective in communicating with Xer's -- I found the stories, particularly the dialogue, rather artificial at points. While it is important to remember that this is a generation that has had its share of neglect and abuse, resulting in subsequent dysfunctions of our own, we don't want ministry "to" us that doesn't also call us to ministry for others. We know the world is a messed-up place, and that we share in those faults. Give us hope. Give us a place and a purpose, and all the statistics will fade in contrast to remarkable narratives of our own