About Every Pew
Church surveys that lead to real decisions.
What is Every Pew?
Every Pew is an anonymous church survey and analysis service. We build a survey around your church's actual programs, collect input from across your congregation, and analyze the results by demographics and participation, so leaders can make confident decisions about pastoral transitions, strategic planning, programs, missions, budgets, and more.
Meet Lindsey Harju
For 17 years, I've helped companies make big decisions with data. I co-founded a consulting firm that specializes in data-driven marketing, where I advise CEOs and CMOs on strategic direction, and I speak at industry events about how to turn research into action. The surveys and analyses I've led have helped shape the direction of major companies in my field.
I'm also an active church member, and that is where Every Pew began. Years ago, I built a survey at my church that helped drive its strategy forward. More recently, I led one as my church searched for a new senior pastor. When the results came out, friends in ministry reached out to tell me they wished they had the same thing at their churches.
That is why I built Every Pew. I wanted to put the kind of strategic insight that companies hire firms like mine for within reach of churches, in a form they can afford and use.
Many church surveys produce interesting findings that never lead to changes in programs, hiring, or budgets. Every Pew is built to change that, so your leaders know what to do next and your church sees better outcomes for the kingdom.
Meet Russ Harju
Russ Harju | Advisor
Russ is a finance consultant and former CFO and controller who brings a practical, data-driven perspective to Every Pew. He also served as congregation president during a season of significant change, working alongside church leaders as they navigated major decisions about the congregation’s future.
During that time, Russ and Lindsey became passionate about pairing the wisdom of experienced ministry leaders with better data—helping churches test assumptions, understand their congregations, and make more informed decisions about where to go next.
How Every Pew compares
Hallway talks, homegrown polls, town halls, and national surveys each leave a gap. Here is how they compare.
| What you get | Every Pew | DIY survey | Hallway talks | Town halls | National surveys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymous, so people speak honestlyHonest input without the awkwardness | ✓ | ◐ | × | × | ✓ |
| Reaches quieter, less engaged membersNot just the loud or ever-present | ✓ | ◐ | × | × | ✓ |
| Plain language, no insider termsQuestions crafted for clarity | ✓ | × | – | – | ✓ |
| Built around your actual programsNot generic, not one-size-fits-all | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | × |
| Results crossed with demographicsSee who really wants what, by life stage | ✓ | ◐ | – | – | ◐ |
| Interest checked against participationWho wants it vs. who would show up | ✓ | × | × | × | × |
| Checks who actually respondedFlags bias against your real congregation | ✓ | × | × | × | ◐ |
| Clear direction, not just a scoreDouble down, hold back, or look closer | ✓ | × | × | × | × |
Frequently asked questions
How many responses does my church need for reliable, statistically significant results?
Less than most people expect. For a church of about 500, around 80 responses is enough to see clear, reliable patterns. In a recent survey at a church of about 500, 109 people responded, about 22% of the congregation, which is comfortably above that mark.
| Church size | Responses needed |
|---|---|
| 100 | 50 |
| 250 | 70 |
| 500 | 81 |
| 750 | 86 |
Based on a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±10 points, meaning a result of 60% could realistically fall anywhere between 50% and 70%. Church size means the number of people invited to respond, such as regular adult attenders. Results for smaller groups within your survey, such as young adults or one worship service, will be less precise.
Who responds matters as much as how many
The numbers above assume your respondents look like your whole congregation. That is not automatic. A survey can reach 20% of your church, which sounds like a strong response, and still be misleading if nearly everyone who answered is from the oldest age group. You would be hearing one generation, not your church.
That is why Every Pew checks who actually responded against the makeup of your congregation by age group, marital status, and whether there are children at home. If some groups are underrepresented, we flag it while the survey is still open so you can encourage more of them to take part, and so you know how much weight to give the results.
A smaller survey that reflects your whole congregation will tell you more than a larger one that does not.
Why not just look at each survey question on its own?
Looking at questions one at a time can point you in the wrong direction. The real insight comes from crossing questions with each other and with demographics. That shows you who is asking for something, who it would actually serve, and whether they plan to take part themselves.
What is the difference between interest in a program and participation in it?
People often say a program would be great for other people while having no plan to attend themselves. A choir is a good example. Everyone loves to hear a choir sing, so a survey may show that everybody wants one. But if no singers step forward, you call the first practice and no one shows up. Every Pew asks whether people would personally take part, so you can tell real demand from general enthusiasm.
What if the people asking for a program aren't the people it would serve?
This happens more than you would think. When we cross program requests with demographics, we sometimes find a mismatch between who is asking for a program and who it would actually help. Seeing that early helps you decide where to invest and where to look closer before you commit time and money.
How can survey wording leave people out?
Branded or insider terms are only familiar to your most engaged members. If a survey uses names that only insiders know, your less-engaged members may not understand the questions, and their voices don't get fully captured. Every Pew uses plain, everyday language so the whole congregation can answer.
Can Every Pew help with the LCMS call process and the CSET?
Yes. Every Pew is designed to help churches create a stronger CSET. A survey can't complete every part of a CSET, but where it can, we give you answers you can copy and paste right into it. That gives the people reviewing your CSET clearer, more useful information about your congregation.
Ready to hear the whole congregation?
Tell us about your church and the decision ahead. We'd love to hear what's on your mind.
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