Dr. Thom Rainer will be compiling more statistics for church leaders and Christians concerned about the state of their faith and its institutions. According to Agape Press, one of the first initiatives Rainer announced as LifeWay's new president is the creation of a new entity for research. Rainer said LifeWay's ambitious objective is to become the "go-to organization" for people who want to "find out what is happening in the Church in America, what's happening in culture, and what's happening in the unchurched world."

For anyone who knew Rainer’s work at Church Central, or the research of his books, this is hardly a new direction for him. Transferring his vision to Lifeway will be the task. Already the group’s Top 10 lists have surfaced. Last year’s Top 10 Issues Facing Today’s Church revealed a No. 1 interest in prayer and No. 2 interest in discipleship—quite a different picture than the front page politicizing of abortion and homosexuality that appear to be the Church’s main concerns. This year Lifeway has begun a survey revealing the Top 10 Issues Facing Today’s Families. So far: materialism, and balancing work and family time have made the list.

Here are some more numbers. Christianity Today published an article last week based on a happiness survey given to evangelical Christians that indicates these are the "happiest people in America."

The skinny is that evangelicals are 26 percent more likely to describe themselves as "very happy" than Americans as a whole, according to a Pew Research Center survey released last month. Almost half—43 percent—of evangelical Protestants described themselves that way, compared to only 34 percent of Americans.

The experts debate what these numbers actually mean. Perhaps evangelicals’ theology gives them more joy. Perhaps it only informs them that they should have more joy and so they report being happy because they should be. Perhaps attending church makes you happy because you are with people and singing. Perhaps being happy isn’t the point.

Might make an interesting sermon series. Are Christians supposed to be happy? What do you think? Blog here.