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Finishers Project
P.O. Box 926
Brookfield, CT 06804
(203) 740-7278

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Complete Survey Results:

There are a total of 882 surveys completed of 6110 solicited.

This is 14.4 percent. A total of 487 (55%) left comments.
The comments are summarized for easy review.


Finishers Project Ministry Survey

Evaluate The Finishers Initiative


What features of the Finishers Project are most valuable to you?
91 10 % Conferences
213 24 % Web Matching Service
297 34 % Information from/about mission agencies
192 22 % Mission agency contacts
33 6 % Information for my church
54 6 % Not applicable

What features of the Finishers Project are least valuable to you?
212 24 % Conferences
52 6 % Web Matching Service
14 2 % Information from/about mission agencies
27 3 % Mission agency contacts
278 32 % Information for my church
297 34 % Not applicable

How satisfied are you with your experience with the Finishers Project?
263 30 % Extremely satisfied
286 33 % Somewhat satisfied
234 27 % About as expected
82 9 % Somewhat dissatisfied
15 2 % Very dissatisfied

How do you view the Finishers Project? (Check all that apply)
499 57% As a tool to facilitate my missions interest (as an individual from the marketplace)
437 49% As a tool to facilitate my missions interest (as an individual in ministry)
183 21% As a tool to facilitate missions interest for my church
213 24% As a mobilzation organization I would like to know more about
224 25% As an organization I would like to work for or assist in some way
232 26% As an organization I might support in prayer
68 8% As an organization I might be willing to support financially

By submitting my Personal Profile on the Finishers Project website and/or attending a Finishers Forum ...
149 17% I have discovered one or more roles that I am actively pursuing
184 21% I have discovered one or more roles that I am interested in pursuing at some point in the next year or two
150 17% I have discovered one or more roles of interest, but so far none fit as I hoped
289 33% The time is not yet right for me/us to actively pursue a role in missions
194 22% No answer above is applicable to me/us
 
Below are a few more services that Finishers Project could provide to serve you and others better.

How important is each feature to you?
 Extremely usefulProbably usefulSomewhat usefulNot very importantNot at all importantNo opinion
Clarify the process of serving in missions. 351
40%		 266
30%		 161
18%		 35
4%		 23
3%		 44
5%
 
Access to career coaching during this transition 280
32%		 286
33%		 152
17%		 61
7%		 41
5%		 60
7%
 
More information regarding steps to missions involvement 355
40%		 312
35%		 119
14%		 28
3%		 26
3%		 40
5%
 
More information regarding finances as to how serve given my situation 350
40%		 266
30%		 140
16%		 56
6%		 25
3%		 43
5%
 
Remind me more of area events and mission news 217
25%		 272
31%		 219
25%		 91
10%		 31
4%		 50
6%
 
Recommend new mission resources 288
33%		 328
37%		 178
20%		 26
3%		 18
2%		 42
5%
 
Learn of educational/training opportunties locally or of interest to me 337
38%		 297
34%		 137
16%		 43
5%		 29
3%		 37
4%
 
Learn of short-term opportunities in my field 356
32%		 291
33%		 102
17%		 53
7%		 27
5%		 51
7%
 
Post audio files of mission speakers 91
10%		 206
23%		 247
28%		 165
19%		 77
9%		 94
11%
 
A national conference/ networking event 97
11%		 218
25%		 255
29%		 152
17%		 66
8%		 92
10%
 
A regional conference/ networking event 190
22%		 269
31%		 206
23%		 93
11%		 41
5%		 81
9%
 


Your ministry/marketplace experience (Check all that apply)
70 8% Have served in a missions position full time and now in a marketplace career
71 8% Have served in a ministry position full time and now in a marketplace career
340 39% Currently full time in a marketplace career
93 11% Now serving full time with a local church or local ministry
40 5% Now serving full time in missions primarily in the US
38 4% Now serving full time in missions primarily overseas
153 17% Now serving part time or part of the year in missions
291 33% In a career transition
205 23% Separated or retired from my primary career
0 0% None of the above apply

Short-Term Experience (Check all that apply)
347 39% Have taken a short-term missions trip in the last 5 years
349 40% Have taken a short-term missions trip in the last 2 years
351 40% Planning a short-term missions trip this year or next year
270 31% None of the above apply
 
125 14% Took trip in the last 3 - 5 years and none planned
95 11% Took trip in the last 2 years and none planned
102 12% Did not take a trip, but one is planned
 
39 4% Took trip in the last 2 and the last 3-5 years
34 4% Took trip in last 5 years and this or next year
67 8% Took trip in last 2 years and this or next year
148 17% Took trip in last 5 years, 2 years and this or next year
298 34% Took a trip within last 5 years and/or one is planned
611 69% Any trip past or planned this year or next

If taken or planning short-term trip(s), the sponsor(s) are:
(Check all that apply)
408 46% My church
54 6% A church I do not attend
230 26% A missions agency
312 35% None of the above apply

Below are some hindrances for many to transition into missions.

Rank each from a large hindrance to not a hindrance at all.
 Hindrance Rating
 LargeMediumSmallNo hindrance
No sense of calling to serve in missions 107
13%		 110
13%		 131
15%		 503
59%
 
Willingness to move in the US 151
18%		 218
25%		 199
23%		 291
34%
 
Willingness to move overseas 233
27%		 204
24%		 164
19%		 259
30%
 
Adapting to a new culture and language 139
16%		 218
25%		 268
31%		 235
27%
 
Providing my own financial support 353
41%		 220
25%		 168
19%		 122
14%
 
Raising my own financial support 341
40%		 249
29%		 159
18%		 114
13%
 
Finding adaquate medical care in a new location 128
15%		 299
35%		 277
32%		 157
18%
 
Separation from friends and family 118
17%		 275
25%		 319
23%		 152
34%
 
Not feeling close to God 65
8%		 59
7%		 176
21%		 553
65%
 
My spouse's feelings about serving in missions 117
14%		 109
13%		 145
17%		 474
56%
 
Giving up/Changing my current career 67
8%		 119
14%		 195
23%		 479
56%
 
Giving up comforts and convenience of living in North America 46
6%		 140
20%		 244
34%		 283
40%
 
 
 
A barrier to serving is often finances. Most mission positions require raising funds or otherwise providing for your support.

Evaluate your current financial situation
If not sure, just take a best guess.
115 13%   Self supporting including travel and overhead?
146 17%   Self supporting, but will need to raise travel and overhead funds
124 14%   Must raise funds to serve in missions, but retirement is funded
184 21%   Must raise funds and provide for retirement
95 11%   I am not willing to raise funds. Will only consider paid position
91 10%   I/We need to get out of debt

Indicate when you plan to retire or separate from your current career, providing no compelling opportunities appear.
257 30%   Already retired/separated from my first career(s)
38 4%   Will retire within the next 12 months
66 8%   Will retire in the next 1-3 years
114 13%   Will retire in the next 4-6 years
393 45%   Conventional retirement is a long way off

If a compelling opportunity were to be presented to you, indicate when you could separate from your current career.
308 40%   Can retire/separate now from my first career(s)
110 14%   Would retire within the next 12 months
103 13%   Would retire in the next 1-3 years
88 11%   Would retire in the next 4-6 years
159 21%   Conventional retirement is a long way off

If a compelling opportunity were presented ...
(This is a summary showing how each category would move earlier if a compelling service option were presented.)
55 7%   Would retire earlier than within the next 12 months
96 13%   Would retire earlier than in the next 1-3 years
88 11%   Would retire earlier than in the next 4-6 years
142 18%   Conventional retirement would be earlier than "a long way off"
381 50%   that answered these questions would move to serve earlier
381 43%   is the total that would move earlier that responded to the survey.

Current involvements (Check all that apply)
465 53%   At our church several times a week
622 70%   Attend a church each Sunday
37 4%   Attend a church about 1-2 times a month
526 60%   In a small group (bible study or accountability group)
448 51%   Serve in my church in a ministry
328 37%   Serve in my church in multiple ministries
381 43%   Serve in a ministry outside my church
24 3%   None of the above apply
 
 

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