+46 from 2024
242
respondents — growing each year
(196 in 2024, 231 in 2025)
(196 in 2024, 231 in 2025)
up from 81%
87%
say their relationship with God
has grown in the last year
has grown in the last year
94%
say preaching deepens their
understanding of the Bible
understanding of the Bible
95%
feel safe at One Church
three-year high
three-year high
up from 74%
81%
attend weekly in person
largest jump in three years
largest jump in three years
up from 30%
42%
are mentoring someone
in their faith journey
in their faith journey
01
Who Responded
Gender
Consistent across all three years
Age Groups
Relationship Status
Length of Attendance
Less than 1 year
11%
1–4 years
36%
5–9 years
16%
10–14 years
7%
15+ years
30%
02
Three-Year Trends: Faith & Spiritual Growth
% who agree or strongly agree, of those who answered each question.
| Question | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My relationship with God has grown | 81% | 83% | 87% | ↑ |
| My faith is connected to all of life | 89% | 91% | 89% | → |
| Dependent on the Holy Spirit daily | 75% | 79% | 78% | ↑ |
| Aware of my spiritual gifts | 78% | 82% | 78% | → |
| Confident to use my gifts | 67% | 72% | 72% | ↑ |
| Regular prayer & Bible time | 73% | 73% | 81% | ↑↑ |
| Living out God's calling on my life | 66% | 71% | 71% | ↑ |
2026 saw a broad recovery after a 2025 dip. Regular prayer and Bible time (+8pp) and mentoring (+12pp) are the biggest single-year movements in three years of data.
03
Three-Year Trends: Church Experience
| Question | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Church deepens my faith | 88% | 85% | 90% | ↑ |
| Worship connects me with God | 84% | 85% | 87% | ↑ |
| Preaching deepens Bible understanding | 93% | 92% | 94% | ↑ |
| I feel I belong at One Church | 79% | 77% | 82% | ↑ |
| I feel safe at One Church | 94% | 92% | 95% | ↑ |
| Well informed & communicated to | 89% | 93% | 93% | ↑ |
| Opportunities to serve | 87% | 85% | 93% | ↑↑ |
| Excited about the future of One Church | 87% | 83% | 89% | ↑ |
Preaching (94%), safety (95%) and opportunities to serve (93%) are the three highest-rated items across the entire survey. Belonging and excitement about the future are both at three-year highs.
04
Evangelism
A particular focus in 2026 through the Questioning Christianity series and growth in Alpha attendance.
| Question | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confident to share my faith | 67% | 66% | 75% | ↑↑ |
| Comfortable knowing how to lead someone to Christ | n/a | 64% | 63% | → |
| Actively pursue opportunities to share faith | 45% | 43% | 47% | ↑ |
| Mentoring someone in their faith journey | 30% | 31% | 42% | ↑↑ |
| Led someone to Christ in the last 12 months | n/a | 12% | 12% | → |
75% feel confident to share their faith — but only 47% actively pursue opportunities. The gap between confidence and action is the key challenge.
Gender difference: Women mentor significantly more than men (47% vs 34%). Men are slightly more confident sharing faith (78% vs 73%) but women are more likely to act on it in a mentoring relationship. The 12% who led someone to Christ represents approximately 28 people — a meaningful number.
05
Small Groups
2024 Participation
57%
111 of 196 respondents
2025 Participation
50%
115 of 231 respondents
2026 Participation
55%
133 of 242 — 107 not connected
% in a small group by age (2026)
% in a small group by tenure (2026)
Impact of small group membership (2026)
| Question | In SG | Not in SG | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship with God grown | 93% | 80% | +13% |
| Feel I belong | 87% | 76% | +11% |
| Faith connected to all of life | 95% | 83% | +12% |
| Mentoring someone | 47% | 35% | +12% |
| Confident to share faith | 79% | 71% | +8% |
Meeting frequency (of those in a small group)
30% weekly
58% fortnightly
8% monthly
Why people are not in a small group (68 responses, new 2026)
Time / evening timing
Can't find a group that fits
Information gap
Still settling in
Already connected elsewhere
"I'm on the waiting list but I'm very new."
"We haven't found one we meet the criteria for yet."
"3 young kids, no time during the week — more support for young families would be appreciated."
06
Service Attendance
In-person frequency
| Frequency | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 74% | 72% | 81% |
| Fortnightly | 16% | 17% | 12% |
| Monthly | 6% | 5% | 4% |
| Less than monthly | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Never | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Online frequency
| Frequency | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 4% | 4% | 5% |
| Fortnightly | 10% | 9% | 6% |
| Monthly | 8% | 10% | 8% |
| Less than monthly | 54% | 52% | 53% |
| Never | 20% | 22% | 28% |
The weekly in-person jump (74%→81%) likely reflects the new service time. The rise in 'never online' (20%→28%) confirms the in-person culture is strengthening, not eroding.
07
Volunteering & Giving
Volunteering
Volunteer at One Church
66%
159 of 242 respondents
Of those who volunteer, 94% say it helps them feel connected to the church — the highest connection rate of any activity measured. The belonging gap between volunteers (90%) and non-volunteers (68%) is 22 percentage points, the largest correlation in the entire dataset.
Giving (agree they give to One Church)
2024
79%
2025
77%
2026
77%
Giving engagement has been flat for three years — unchanged despite growth in almost every other metric. Worth deliberate attention if generosity is a discipleship priority.
08
Family & Relationships
Community support by relationship status
| Group | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage support | 77% | 80% | 72% ↓ |
| Single support | 59% | 64% | 64% → |
| Family support | 85% | 82% | 83% → |
Marriage support dropped from 80% to 72% — lowest in three years. Single support has been consistently 10–15 points below marriage support and has not improved.
Children's programs satisfaction (relevant parents only)
| Program | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creche & kinder (0–4) | 89% | 91% | 76% ↓ |
| One Kids (5–11) | 61% | 65% | 72% ↑ |
| One Youth (12–18) | 72% | 70% | 68% → |
Creche/kinder: sample is 21 parents — treat as directional. Recommend a direct conversation with the team before drawing conclusions.
09
Age Group Analysis
35–49 year olds are the largest group (30% of respondents) and consistently score lowest on personal spiritual health, belonging, and small group participation.
| Question | 18–24 | 25–34 | 35–49 | 50–64 | 65–74 | 75+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| God relationship grown | 100% | 94% | 74% | 92% | 89% | 93% |
| Regular prayer & Bible time | 87% | 83% | 64% | 85% | 93% | 93% |
| Feel I belong | 91% | 94% | 74% | 80% | 89% | 83% |
| In a small group | 76% | 63% | 43% | 56% | 64% | 50% |
18–24 figures based on 23–25 respondents — treat as directional.
35–49 year olds: in a small group vs not
In a small group (31 people)
| God relationship grown | 83% |
| Feel I belong | 83% |
| Mentoring someone | 47% |
Not in a small group (40 people)
| God relationship grown | 67% |
| Feel I belong | 68% |
| Mentoring someone | 31% |
35–49s in a small group score much closer to the congregational average. The problem is not this life stage — it's that only 43% are connected. Getting this cohort into groups would move every metric.
Year-on-year: how 35–49s changed from 2025 to 2026
Based on 79 respondents (2025) and 72 respondents (2026) in this age group. A striking paradox: this cohort became more active and engaged in 2026 — but felt less spiritually nourished at the same time.
Improving ↑
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly in-person attendance | 75% | 83% | +8pp |
| In a small group | 34% | 44% | +10pp |
| Confident to share faith | 57% | 69% | +12pp |
| Mentoring someone | 28% | 39% | +11pp |
| Regular prayer & Bible time | 58% | 64% | +6pp |
| Excited about the future | 85% | 91% | +6pp |
Declining ↓
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship with God grown | 81% | 74% | –7pp |
| Faith connected to all of life | 88% | 81% | –7pp |
| Feel I belong | 80% | 74% | –6pp |
| One Church deepens faith | 90% | 84% | –6pp |
| Worship connects with God | 89% | 84% | –5pp |
| Dependent on Holy Spirit | 72% | 67% | –5pp |
This cohort is showing up more, serving more, and giving more — but their inner spiritual experience is quietly eroding. They are giving more than they are receiving. The pastoral question for this group is not how to increase activity, but how to create space for depth, rest, and genuine replenishment.
10
Spiritual Practices
% of all respondents who engage regularly (choose all that apply). 2025 vs 2026.
Silence (+9pp) and Journaling (+8pp) are the standout rises — suggesting a growing appetite for contemplative, personal engagement with God alongside the growth in Prayer and Bible Reading.
11
Correlations: What Drives Engagement
Cross-tabulations comparing groups within 2026 data to identify which factors are most associated with stronger spiritual health and connection.
1. Volunteers vs non-volunteers
| Question | Volunteers (159) | Non-volunteers (76) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel I belong | 90% | 68% | +22% |
| Mentoring someone | 48% | 28% | +20% |
| Relationship with God grown | 92% | 79% | +14% |
| One Church deepens faith | 93% | 82% | +11% |
The +22pp belonging gap for volunteers is the largest correlation in the entire dataset. Serving is not just contribution — it is the primary way many people find their place in the community.
2. New members (1–4 yrs) vs established (15+ yrs)
| Question | 1–4 years (88) | 15+ years (72) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel I belong | 75% | 91% | –16% |
| Relationship with God grown | 83% | 97% | –14% |
| Mentoring someone | 42% | 52% | –10% |
| Excited about the future | 89% | 85% | +4% |
Newer members are less rooted but just as excited (+4%). The church is drawing in and energising new people, not just living off legacy loyalty.
3. Weekly vs less-than-weekly in-person attenders
| Question | Weekly (195) | Less frequent (42) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship with God grown | 89% | 80% | +10% |
| One Church deepens faith | 90% | 95% | –5% |
| Feel I belong | 83% | 80% | +3% |
| Excited about the future | 90% | 90% | 0% |
Less frequent attenders are not disengaged. They value what they receive when they come — pastoral care rather than attendance pressure is the right response.
12
Open-Ended Feedback
187 positive responses. 154 opportunity responses.
What People Value Most
1
Preaching & teaching — most frequently mentioned. Quality, depth, biblical grounding, variety across Tim, Linda & Darren.
2
Community & welcome — warmth, multi-generational culture, genuine friendships.
3
Worship — Spirit-led, musically excellent.
4
Youth & children's programs — consistently praised as life-changing for families.
5
Alpha & Deep Discipleship — specifically called out as highlights.
6
5:30 service growth — multiple expressions of excitement.
Where People Want More
1
Small groups — most mentioned. More groups, clearer join pathway, young adult options, childcare support.
2
Young adults — post-school transition, year 13 drop-off, need for community.
3
Pastoral care — "you can get lost" as the church grows.
4
Sermon length — a handful want under 30 minutes.
5
Singles / divorced / widowed — ages 40–65 feel the church assumes coupledom.
6
Two morning services — some feel less connected to the broader congregation.
In their own words: what people value
"Teaching — bible centric and practical, it evokes a response and moves me on my journey. I seek previous sermons online periodically and revisit messages when I need guidance in a particular area."
"I hear constantly from others who are newer to the church that they find us to be a really welcoming and warm community. I had the same experience when I first joined and is why I stayed."
"I'm brand new — just three months in — but am loving everything about One Church. I've been welcomed with open arms. I'm in my 70s and have been a Christian for all of that time, and I'm learning so much. What a refreshing and inspiring three months."
"Kids program from young age all the way to teenagers is one of the main things we love about the church. Everyone we speak to is so positive about the impact for their kids up to high school age."
"Feeling so encouraged about the amount of people who turned up to the latest Alpha Course. What started off as a small number of interested people turned out to be a huge amount of people turning up to hear more about Jesus."
"Loving the energy and vibe at the 5:30 service. Seeing the amount of young people that are turning up — particularly the amount of VCE kids that are there."
In their own words: where they want more
"Would love to see more small groups for young adults. So many people have been asking and there's not enough to meet the need. Would love clear direction on who to talk to, and a leader who knows the groups well so they can advise new people."
"Additional small groups are needed especially in a growing church. It is difficult for newcomers to plug into church friendship and fellowship without home group opportunities."
"Help people like me feel more connected. It's hard. I come to church, am effectively a spectator and then leave."
"Young adults need more support and activities aimed at them. I feel they fall through the cracks a bit, especially the year after leaving school."
"Now that we have moved to two services in the morning, connecting both congregations together so we don't feel separated."
"At times I feel like church can be a hard place for a single person when so much emphasis and people's identity is in their spouse and their children."
"I think more needs to be done to include singles, divorcees and widows who are aged between 40 and 65."
"We've been attending for almost two years and are overall very happy, but at times we've felt a bit unseen by the leaders. Greater consistency in fostering genuine, personal connection would make a meaningful difference."
"Small groups are hardly ever mentioned or made a priority. Even if there is a need for more leaders or pilot groups, this could be advertised."
13
Planning Implications for 2026–27
Priority 01
Small Group Supply & Access
The clearest resource signal in the data. Known barriers: evening timing, no childcare, waiting lists, poor join visibility. Invest in new daytime groups, childcare support for evening groups, more leaders, and a clearer public pathway to joining.
Priority 02
35–49 Year Olds
Largest cohort, quietly underserved. The correlation data shows getting them into small groups moves every metric. Priority is connection, not new programming. Consider proactive pastoral outreach and life-stage shaped groups.
Priority 03
Evangelism: From Confidence to Action
75% confident but only 47% actively sharing. Confidence is growing — what's needed is practical training in how to have conversations, not more inspiration about why evangelism matters.
Priority 04
Mentoring Momentum
The biggest mover in the dataset — up 12pp to 42%. There is real organic momentum worth formalising with a simple matching or training structure before the moment passes.
Priority 05
Singles & Life-Stage Gaps
A consistent voice across three years: singles 40–65, divorced, widowed, post-school year-13s. Low-cost to address with intentional programming and more inclusive language choices in Sunday services.
Also Note
Two items to monitor
Giving has been flat at 77% for three years — unchanged despite growth everywhere else. Worth deliberate focus if generosity is a discipleship goal.
Creche & kinder satisfaction dropped from 91% to 76% (21 parents). Recommend a direct conversation with the team before drawing conclusions.
Creche & kinder satisfaction dropped from 91% to 76% (21 parents). Recommend a direct conversation with the team before drawing conclusions.
Data: SurveyMonkey exports 2024–2026. | Report prepared May 2026. | For internal ministry team discussion. | To print as PDF: File → Print → Save as PDF.