7 Steps to Creating a Spiritual Survey

A survey could help introduce someone to Christ.

Jennifer Abegg

University of South Florida Cru ministry. Lea is going over witnessing ideas she has used on campus with Cory Miller, a cru staff from Tampa (I think).

With the help of a questionnaire or survey, Christians are creating ways to engage people in conversations, often leading to gospel presentations.

Questionnaires can be created or adapted to apply to any audience. To share your faith using a survey:

1. Consider your audience

Determine who you’d like to strike up a spiritual conversation with: Golfers, shoppers, students, another group? What kind of questions best suit your audience? Do you want a general survey, or one tailored to specific interests or topics? If you're interviewing people at the airport, you could start by inquiring about their feelings on flying, for example.

2. Keep it short

Short is best if you plan to interview people in random situations, such as in a park or on a beach. In light of this, consider multiple choice questions, leaving room for "other." This standardization will also help you tally the results later.

3. Move the conversation to Jesus

Ask at least one question that might lead to a conversation about Jesus and knowing Him personally. There are many ways to transition into that. For instance: "On a scale from one to 10, how sure are you that you'll go to heaven when you die?" Or, "Rate your desire to know God."

4. Be prepared to explain the good news of Jesus Christ

Familiarize yourself with the gospel. “Would You Like to Know God Personally?” is an article that provides a great example of how to present Jesus’ good news. Another easy-to-follow written and visual aid for sharing the gospel is the free GodTools app. The app teaches you how to share your faith and includes lessons and conversation questions.

5. Don't bait and switch

Be honest. When approaching people on the beach, after work, in a place you volunteer, at a coffee shop or in your neighborhood, tell them you're conducting a spiritual survey. Or consider saying, "I'm with a local Christian group." That way people won't feel deceived when the questionnaire turns spiritual.

6. Take "no" for an answer.

If someone does not want to answer the questionnaire, simply thank them for their time and move on. You do your part and let God do His. "Success in evangelism," according to Bill Bright, co-founder of Cru, "is taking the initiative to share Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God."

7. Tally the results.

If you say you're conducting a survey, that implies you are interested in the results, not just conversation.

Publish results in your church bulletin.
Mail results. One local church asked neighbors about how they could best meet their needs and then offered to mail the tallied answers back.

If you don't intend to analyze all collected answers, call it a questionnaire, not a survey.

hand holding white pencil filling out survey

Where do I go from here?

Now that you know how to create a survey, check out how to prepare yourself for using it in spiritual conversations.

Check out this article to help you share the gospel after completing your survey with someone.

Explore the GodTools phone app for survey questions, lessons and ways to share the gospel.

Pray for those who have yet to know Jesus and look for opportunities to talk about His good news.

Honor Restored

In honor-shame cultures the main existential problem is shame: this is where the need for the gospel is most keenly felt, and where the good news of the gospel is experienced as truly good news. While many gospel tracts focus on a person’s guilt before a righteous God, this one centers on our shame before a holy God.