Decision-making Tools for Ministry Professionals. "Often, understanding the results is the most difficult part of conducting a survey." Since 1994 - assisting ministry professionals make informed decisions through surveys, tuition assistance assessment, and other evaluative instruments.  more about us...

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Frequently Asked Questions How long does it take to do a survey? Can I customize my survey? What is the best time to survey? Can I talk with someone who has used your surveys before? Do you come to us and set up the survey? How is it actually done? "If you don't see your question in our list, drop us an email." Don't surveys create more problems than they solve? Aren't surveys just for big churches where there's just so much to manage? Do you provide help in understanding the survey data? Do you provide help in facilitating our planning session? Why would DTS know any more about my survey than what we would know?

1. How long does it take to do a survey?

If you are using one of our many standard survey formats, you can usually begin your survey within two weeks of when you commit to survey. From the time we receive the survey cards back from you until you see your written report is usually another two weeks. So, the shortest time span could possibly be 4 or 5 weeks. However, we do like to help you do some PR ahead of time to make the best use of the process. So, a typical time frame would be more like 6-8 weeks.

2. Can I customize my survey?

Yes, we do customization for about 20% of our clients. The minimum customization is $50 plus any special printing. Typically, customization costs $250 or more. We can also do entirely customized surveys for very specific applications. We'd be glad to discuss your needs.

3. What is the best time to survey?

The most typical use for a Ministry Management survey is when a church is ready to do strategic planning, or when a church is looking for a new pastor. Therefore, it's best to schedule a survey 2-3 months before a board planning retreat.

So far as the actual timing of the survey, any time that you will have strong attendance is good for a church survey. It's good, too, to get the opinions of lots of visitors.

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4. Can I talk with someone who has used your surveys before?

Sure, just give us a call or a letter or email. We're always glad to share the names of clients who are willing to talk about their survey.

5. Do you come to us and set up the survey? How is it actually done?

We try to keep the process as simple as possible. Usually, we provide the cards and the instructions. You pass the cards out and collect them. We do all the rest.

6. Don't surveys create more problems than they solve?

We have found that often this is true of do-it-yourself surveys. This is usually because of the way in which questions are worded and because it is difficult to conceal internal agendas. Our surveys are designed specifically to be non-indicting and non-threatening. We don't ask questions in a way that will put you in a corner.

7. Aren't surveys just for big churches where there's just so much to manage?

Maybe it's the question of the chicken or the egg. Are they big because they assess and evaluate everything they have to manage? Or do they assess and evaluate because they are big?

Either way, if your church is not large, a third-party survey will enable you to 1) cut through individual agendas that try to force their way into the forefront; 2) know for certain which issues are truly issues and which are not; 3) objectively decide which priorities are best to address first.

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8. Do you provide help in understanding the survey data?

Yes. In fact, we feel that is our specialty. Our goal is to provide decision-making tools for ministry professionals.

So, first, we give you all that data in color graphs. It is much easier to understand a color graph than a page full of numbers.

Secondly, with each survey we provide a custom-written evaluation that takes you though the charts and explains what's important, and often gives advice on what to do with the information.

To see more clearly just how we provide information you can use, visit "Information I Cannot Do Without."

9. Do you provide help in using the survey data?

Yes. we have access to the best consultants specializing in church ministry management and planning, as well as facilities planning -- specialists who can come on-site and work with your leaders to develop a detailed plan for dealing with the information you just gathered.

In addition to this, We are more than willing to work with you on the phone to help you design the best approach to dealing with the data with your leaders.

10. Why would DTS know any more about my survey than what we would know?

After eight years of analyzing surveys from hundreds of churches, schools and non-profits, and after tabulating data from literally tens and tens of thousands of congregants, parents, employees, students, alumni and donors, we have a pretty good feel for what is ordinary or unusual. Our experience with surveys and churches benefits you through our written analysis, phone consulting and on-site consulting.

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