FIVE HIGHLIGHTS — SPRING 2016 SURVEY

1. Strong Core Belief in Christ�
• ~80% of students marked "Always" for believing Christ provides the only way to a relationship with God—this was the strongest single indicator of theological conviction within the entire survey.�
2. Struggle with Daily Quiet Time�
• Only ~22% were frequent or always practicing regular quiet times with Christ; many students were in the "occasional" category for personal spiritual disciplines. Students understood the “reasons” but may not have internalized these to personal convictions.�
3. Scripture as Life Guide�
• ~50% or less frequently used the Bible as a guide for thinking and acting. Though most students believed in the Bible’s authority, translating that belief into daily application was inconsistent.�
4. Prayer Life Gap�
• Daily private prayer was inconsistent: only ~47% frequently or always engaged in it. “Listening to God” was one of the weakest prayer indicators, suggesting a one-way prayer pattern.�
5. Sharing Faith Lags�
• Evangelism comfort was low: only ~22% frequently or always shared their faith with non-believers. Even fewer were prepared to disciple others after sharing their testimony.

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FIVE HIGHLIGHTS — SPRING 2025 SURVEY

1. Strengthened Theological Core�
• ~80% "Always" affirm Christ provides the only way to God, similar to 2016, showing continued strength in what would be considered a NCS core value.�
2. Improved Daily Quiet Time�
• ~45% frequent or always practiced quiet times—a significant improvement from 2016, suggesting stronger personal engagement with Christ.�
3. Growth in Bible Use�
• ~67% frequently or always used the Bible as a guide for thinking and acting, which shows notable growth in application of scripture to life decisions.�
4. Prayer Life Strengthened�
• ~75% frequently or always engage in daily private prayer—up from 47% in 2016. Prayer was an altogether more understood and practiced discipline: thanksgiving, dependence, impact, and listening indicators were all stronger.�
5. More Evangelism Preparedness, but Gap Remains�
• ~45% now feel prepared to share their testimony at any time, showing improvement, but actual evangelism actions (sharing faith with non-believers) remain around 30%.

FIVE COMPARATIVE INSIGHTS — 2016 VS 2025

1. Overall, Spiritual Maturity Has Increased�
• Across almost every category (Bible use, prayer life, fellowship practices), the 2025 survey shows higher “Frequent” and “Always” responses, suggesting the school's strategies are effectively fostering deeper spiritual formation.�
2. Quiet Time and Personal Prayer Are the Biggest Growth Areas�
• Personal disciplines have matured significantly: quiet time and private prayer increased by ~20-30 percentage points in the “frequent/always” range.�
3. Scripture Application to Daily Life Has Sharpened�
• Students are now more consistently using scripture to evaluate cultural ideas and life choices—a strong indicator of mission fulfillment.�
4. Fellowship and Community Practices More Consistent�
• Forgiveness, accountability, and patience in relationships saw solid gains in the 2025 survey compared to 2016—indicating stronger spiritual community. Impact groups and community groups have been a strong area of strategic focus.�
5. Evangelism Remains the Weakest Area�
• Despite gains in personal preparedness and prayer for non-believers, active evangelism (sharing faith with others) is still the least-practiced area—suggesting an opportunity for further growth in outward-focused faith.
• What is the cause? Lack of confidence in evangelical articulation? Failure to understand the priority? Or, is it a need to improve application of cultural apologetics?