341
people took time to write
a response to one or both questions
a response to one or both questions
6
major positive themes
identified across Q45
identified across Q45
9
opportunity themes
identified across Q46
identified across Q46
3
themes appear consistently
across all three years of surveys
across all three years of surveys
01
What People Value Most — Q45 Themes
Ranked by frequency of mention across 187 responses. Representative quotes selected for each theme.
1
Preaching & Teaching
The dominant theme by a significant margin. People consistently praise the biblical depth, practical application, and variety across the teaching team. Words like "sophisticated," "challenging," and "inspiring" appear repeatedly. Specific series are named as highlights. A handful note they would love more of Darren and Linda alongside Tim.
"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. Breadth of ministry. A multigenerational church. Relational community."
"Love that we dig deep into scripture e.g. spending 8 weeks on Romans 8 or 7 weeks on The Lord's Prayer. Really helps people to move from the milk required as a young Christian to the more solid bread mature Christians need to keep growing."
"Extraordinary blend of teaching that's accessible, relatable, and divinely directed. I love being challenged by the teaching — not felt as rebuke but felt as being present to deep learning."
"What I find most positive about my church is that the sermons are delivered with genuine passion, and Tim has a real gift for communicating in a way that consistently challenges me to reflect and grow in my faith."
"I love the preaching and the worship. I think we get a wonderful variety of preaching styles between Tim, Darren and Linda."
2
Community, Welcome & Warmth
The second most prominent theme. Genuine friendliness, multi-generational culture, and feeling safe to invite friends are mentioned constantly. Newer members describe being welcomed with open arms. The culture is frequently described as distinctive compared to other churches people have attended.
"I hear constantly from others who are newer to the church that they find us to be a really welcoming and warm community. I resonate with this because 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 at One Church. What a refreshing and inspiring 3 months I've had."
"I feel that the community at One Church is the most welcoming I have ever experienced! This is the overwhelming reason we have chosen to call One home, because we feel we can find other like-minded families to 'do life with.'"
"People at all stages of life are present. Not just all youth or all young families or all oldies."
3
Worship
Consistently praised for quality, Spirit-led atmosphere, and the balance of Word and Spirit. The 5:30 service is specifically named multiple times as an exciting, growing expression. The in-house songwriting and musical talent receive particular mention.
"Loving the energy and vibe at 5:30 service. Seeing the amount of young people that are turning up. Particularly the amount of VCE kids that are there."
"I really enjoy the worship and teaching at OC. It has lifted my faith and brought me ever closer to God. I was totally uplifted by the video of the three worship songs written, performed and produced in-house. I am blown away by the talent in our church family."
"I love what is happening at the 5:30 at the moment — the strength of the Holy Spirit, and that is then supported with prayer."
4
Youth & Children's Programs
Mentioned positively by a significant number of parents. Kids Church, One Youth, and the young adult community are described as life-changing and a key reason families stay. Alpha is specifically called out as a highlight and faith entry point for many.
"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."
"Amazing kids church helps my kids feel excited and connected to church."
"My daughter aged 8 wants to get baptized. My kids always want to invite friends to bring a friend day."
5
Growth, Energy & Momentum
Many respondents sense something building. New faces, the 5:30 service growth, young adults engaging, and a general sense of excitement about the future run through numerous responses. Several note they have been part of the church for many years and feel a particular momentum right now.
"It feels alive and growing, there's still so many people that I haven't met yet."
"I've been coming here 20 years and it's always been great but I get the feeling something is really building — it is so great to see so many young faces!"
"Seeing so many young people being mentored by others, passionate about Jesus is a real positive."
6
Discipleship Pathways: Alpha, LI & Deep Discipleship
Alpha, the Leadership Institute, and the Deep Discipleship Course are all called out by name. These structured pathways are clearly valued as more than Sunday programming. Respondents also praise the midweek ministries and the natural evangelism they enable in the community.
"Loving the new discipleship course. So good."
"Quality, depth and consistency of Preaching and teaching from the Bible. Word and Spirit. Alpha. People coming to know and follow Jesus and baptisms. Thank you for your faithful leadership."
"Playgroup was where I initially met the community of One and I was really blown away by the midweek ministries and how you sow into the lives of others without any strings attached or pressure. It's a natural evangelism and way of sharing the love of Jesus."
02
Where People Want More — Q46 Themes
Ranked by frequency and urgency of mention across 154 responses. Several of these themes appear consistently across all three years of survey data.
1
Small Groups: Supply, Visibility & Access
By far the most mentioned opportunity theme, appearing in roughly one in three responses. The core issues are consistent: not enough groups to meet demand, waiting lists without follow-up, poor visibility of how to join, small groups rarely promoted from the front, no daytime options, and no childcare support for evening groups. The word "hard" appears repeatedly in connection with joining or finding a group.
"Would love to see more small groups in 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 that knows the groups well so they can advise new people."
"Would love to see small groups promoted more as I feel they are hardly ever mentioned or are a priority. Even if there is a need for more leaders or pilot groups, this could be advertised."
"Additional cell groups are needed especially in such a growing church. It is difficult for newcomers to plug into church friendship and fellowship without homegroup opportunities."
"It is difficult to feel connected to the church particularly with two morning services. Small groups — the need for more leaders are never advertised. This needs to gain far more focus."
"We find it somewhat hard to connect with people at a similar life stage without a small group available."
2
Young Adults & Post-School Transition
The year after leaving school is named explicitly and repeatedly as a drop-off point. More events, more community infrastructure, and more intentional support for this age group is consistently requested. Respondents include both young adults themselves and parents who are watching it happen with concern.
"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."
"I just want to make sure we're being super intentional with our year 13 options and not making it easy for them to drop away once out of youth group."
"More YA connection and community — through more small groups and events."
3
Connection & Pastoral Care
Recurring in many forms: "you can get lost," "I come and leave as a spectator," "at times we've felt unseen by leaders," "pastoral care is lacking." The core concern is that in a growing church, people can attend for months or years without being genuinely known. Several note that the Welcome Lounge is helpful but requires a newcomer to make every step themselves.
"If you are not connected in some way you could get lost."
"Help people like me feel more connected. It's hard. I come to church, am effectively a spectator and then leave."
"While we've been attending for almost two years and are overall very happy, at times we've felt a bit unseen by the leaders. Greater consistency in fostering genuine, personal connection would make a meaningful difference."
"More active engagement with people to be part of the community, welcoming, open and regular connection. Leadership needs to take a more active role in this. Pastoral care needs to be available to everyone."
"The Welcome Lounge is great, but requires a newcomer to actively make their way there. One is a large community and it is easy for people to remain anonymous."
4
Singles, Divorced & Widowed (especially 40–65)
A consistent voice across all three years of the survey. Respondents in this category feel the church is oriented toward couples and families, and that their life stage is rarely addressed directly. Several note this is not an intentional exclusion, but the effect is real and persistent.
"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 don't believe the church or leaders are doing it intentionally but it feels like single professional adults don't always have a particular place to belong."
"I think more needs to be done to include singles, divorcees and widows who are aged between 40 and 65."
"It would be great if we catered more for those who aren't young adults, married, married with children, or of retirement age. As someone who is divorced and widowed, it would be good to hear how the church supports those who have encountered big challenges such as this."
5
Connecting the Two Morning Services
Multiple respondents feel the move to two services has created a sense of separation between congregations. The concern is not about the decision itself (many express the move went well) but about the secondary effect of people feeling less connected to the broader One Church community.
"Now that we have moved to two services in the morning, connecting both congregations together so we don't feel separated."
"There needs to be more effort from the leadership (including elders) to connect people across both services."
"More connectivity between the morning and evening services."
6
Sermon Length
A handful of respondents ask for a 30-minute maximum. A smaller number note that certain series felt long or that more preaching variety would help during extended runs. This is a minority voice but a consistent one across all three years.
"The sermons have so much great content and so much to take in, that I find personally over 30 minutes, I've reached my capacity to absorb."
"Sermons less than 30 minutes. Fewer sermons from Tim — he goes on for too long and is on too much."
"During the Questioning Christianity it was too many in a row. I loved the topic but it was a very long series and I felt like perhaps it could have benefited from more variety."
7
Evangelism Training: Practical, Not Just Inspirational
Several respondents note that the Questioning Christianity series built confidence but left them wanting practical tools for how to actually have conversations. The ask is specific: training in the how of evangelism, not more inspiration about the why.
"I'd love to see us do some teaching about evangelism and how to talk to people about Jesus. Questioning Christianity was a great series but I'd like to see us do more practical teaching on how to have these conversations."
"I think One could really launch into more apologetics off the back of our recent apologetics course."
8
Worship Volume & Quality Consistency
Several respondents note the music is too loud, particularly the bass, and specifically mention older members and those with tinnitus or sensory sensitivity. A smaller number note inconsistency in quality across services and venues. These are pastoral concerns as much as aesthetic ones.
"Consider consistently lowering bass music so all can worship comfortably. Older people and those on the spectrum can find the loud bass hard to cope with."
"Worship excellence is inconsistent from day to night and week to week. The main auditorium is echoing badly and requires sound treatment."
"My primary aged child can find the start of the kids church confronting with the loud music."
9
Other Recurring Voices
Each of these themes was raised by a smaller but consistent number of respondents: more corporate and Spirit-led prayer, deeper community outreach and local presence, men's ministry variety, inter-generational connection beyond Sunday, more discipleship courses and short study programs, and church planting into the outer east.
"Build the prayer room ministry. Bewilderingly, it just hasn't taken off."
"An opportunity for One Church is to deepen its connection with the local community by becoming a visible and trusted presence for families and schools in the area."
"Opportunity to develop men's ministry. How can we actively engage with men and give them opportunities to connect and grow in their faith."
"More discipleship and teaching outside of Sunday services. Maybe short (4-6 session) courses in a variety of topics to help members grow."
03
Three-Year Patterns
Themes that have appeared consistently across 2024, 2025 and 2026 warrant particular attention. Persistent qualitative themes alongside flat quantitative data are the clearest signals in the dataset.
Appears all three years
- Small groups: supply and join pathway
- Singles, divorced and widowed 40–65
- Young adult post-school transition
- Sermon length (minority voice, consistent)
- Pastoral care and connection in a growing church
Strengthening this year
- Preaching and teaching praise: higher frequency and more specific
- 5:30 service energy: enthusiasm growing year on year
- Alpha: more mentions, more specific praise
- Mentoring: spontaneously raised as a positive by multiple respondents
- Connecting the two morning services: new in 2026
The qualitative data mirrors the quantitative: the strengths (teaching, community, worship) are consolidating, while the persistent gaps (small groups, life-stage support, connection for the unconnected) have not been closed by three years of general growth. Growth does not solve connection problems — it often makes them harder.
04
Voices Worth Reading in Full
A selection of responses that are either unusually articulate, represent a less-heard perspective, or capture something the quantitative data cannot. Recommended reading for the full team.
"I feel that we should return to having communion every week. I believe that it is important both as a time to reflect and intentionally come before God about our sin and redemption. I also believe that it is a powerful spiritual practice. I think that we are too focused on time and length of the service and as a result I believe that we run the risk of cutting across what the Holy Spirit may be wanting to do."
"Most people and youth stay only in their little bubble — no effort made to connect with other regulars that aren't in their circles. This also applies to the youth — if you go to the same school then you are ok because you know lots of youth — if you don't go to the same school then it's hard because you are left alone even if you try to join in."
"The general focus on and importance of mid-week ministry, mission and life as a long-term committed Christian could be stronger, and more in balance with the current focus on Sunday services and newcomers and visitors."
"There is no serious thinking together leading into partaking together, as a family, of what Christ has done for us. Communion feels like something to be got over as quickly as possible."
"Cultivate the small church warmth and connectedness without the corporate feel whilst we grow and mature as a church which offers a positive loving alternative to our community."
"An opportunity for One Church is to deepen its connection with the local community by becoming a visible and trusted presence for families and schools in the area. With many people experiencing isolation or spiritual uncertainty, there is a real opening to offer relational ministry through chaplaincy partnerships, family support initiatives, and accessible faith conversations."
"When entering the building on a Sunday the building is well presented and the greeting team is very friendly. However, as a new person to the church, it feels to me that many church attendees avoid eye contact or avoid noticing others. This feels at odds with the efforts the church is making trying to build a family atmosphere. A friendly smile or hello by more people in the congregation would make many new people feel more welcome."
05
What the Qualitative Data Is Asking For
The central tension
A church people love that some are struggling to belong to
The positive data is strong and genuine. People love the teaching, feel safe, praise the community. But running alongside this is a quieter, persistent voice: people who come every week and feel invisible, people who have tried to join a small group and hit a wall, people whose life stage is never spoken to. These are not the same people giving the glowing reviews. The challenge is that the congregation doing well can make it hard to see those who are not.
Priority 01
Make Small Groups Findable
The single clearest ask across three years. Not just more groups — a visible, easy pathway to joining one. A named person to contact. Regular mention from the front. Clear information about what's available. The data suggests many people want to join but don't know how.
Priority 02
Name the Unnamed Life Stages
Singles 40–65, divorced, widowed, post-school young adults. These groups have asked to be seen for three consecutive years. Low-cost to address: naming them from the front, occasional programming, language choices in services. The ask is to be noticed, not just accommodated.
Priority 03
Proactive Connection, Not Passive Welcome
The Welcome Lounge is valued but requires effort from the newcomer. The feedback consistently asks for initiative from the congregation, not just infrastructure. This is a culture question as much as a process question: are we training the whole congregation to look outward on a Sunday?
Priority 04
Year 13 Intentionality
Multiple respondents raise the post-school year as a specific drop-off point. The ask is for something planned and deliberate — not another general young adult event, but a transition-aware pathway for students leaving Year 12. This is a small cohort with a large long-term impact.
Also Note
Two things to hold lightly
Sermon length and Tim's frequency are raised by a consistent minority. The majority are enthusiastic and specific in their praise. These are worth noting but not over-weighting. Worship volume is a pastoral care issue for a specific group — older members and those with sensory sensitivity — and is worth a practical conversation with the worship team.
Source: Q45 and Q46, Community Health Survey 2026. | 341 written responses. | Report prepared May 2026. | For internal ministry team use. | To print as PDF: File → Print → Save as PDF.