Bold initiative for life transformation

Thanks to Steve K. at knightopia for alerting TS to the changes at George Barna's organization. For twenty years Barna has been a sort of polling arm for the church in the United States, doing research on all aspects of the Christian walk. This week Barna announced that his organization is changing its emphasis from strictly research to a wider range of services "to work with ministries to facilitate genuine life transformation." This is a significant change. Here's a portion of what Barna himself has to say on why it's happening:

. . . our research has shown that most of the influence on what people think and do comes from just seven sources: movies, television, music, family, books, law, and the Internet. That same body of research shows that the local church has virtually no discernible influence on people’s lives. Consequently, we are striving to understand, influence and operate within the spheres of greatest influence to help facilitate genuine spiritual transformation in people’s lives.

In addition to research intended to help the church implement life transformation, The Barna Group will now be offering "implementation functions," too. These new functions include book publishing, film production, training of youth for church leadership, and establishing the "Transformational Church Network."

It's an ambitious iniative based on a very bold premise: that The Barna Group can effect changes the local church cannot. The thought that the church isn't making a difference in Christians' lives is a discouraging concept (and, I believe, a false one). That said, I pray that in their new role Barna and company will be instruments of God for helping transform the church more and more into the image of Jesus Christ.