NW Valley Times

It’s an early February morning in Nashville as Dr. George Barna settles in to discuss his latest research on worldview in America. Across the table is Roger Marsh, host of The Bottom Line, a daily national conservative Christian radio show.

This conversation on the decline of biblical worldview among preteens marks the beginning of a demanding schedule for Dr. Barna, who has two dozen interviews lined up over the next few days at the annual National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention.

The NRB convention is a significant event for Christian communicators, drawing influential media members interested in Barna's research. As Director of Research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, Barna conducts over 200 media interviews annually and participates in numerous in-person appearances while writing articles and op-eds.

Barna is often identified as “the most quoted person in the Christian Church today” and has been a leading authority on biblical worldview and trends in American churches for nearly four decades. However, he did not initially aim to be a national voice in worldview research. An introvert by nature, he prefers numbers and data sets over public speaking.

His interest in statistics began with baseball cards during his childhood, focusing on the numerical data rather than player pictures or narratives. “The numbers spoke to me,” Barna recalls. This affinity for numbers led him to combine statistical analysis with narrative writing into books, articles, and reports based on data.

While attending graduate school at Rutgers University, Barna's intellectual curiosity was sparked during premarital counseling when he questioned theological aspects with a priest who reacted negatively. This experience led him and his wife Nancy to search for a church aligned with their beliefs.

Barna started his career with a traditional marketing research firm serving clients like Chevrolet and Proctor & Gamble but gradually shifted focus after working on projects for Christian ministries. He eventually became Director of Marketing Research for a faith-based client and moved to Chicago.

In 1984, after moving back to California, Barna founded the Barna Research Group from his garage. An unexpected call from Disney’s Vice President of Research led to lucrative contracts that funded faith-related studies which were then provided free to churches and ministries.

For 25 years, Barna Research Group set industry standards for religious research before he sold it in 2009. His work includes studies for presidential campaigns, TV shows, military leadership changes, among others.

Significant projects include an early worldview project for Charles Colson leading to "How Now Shall We Live" (1998), studies resulting in "Maximum Faith: Live Like Jesus" (2011), political research identifying SAGE-Cons—a group influential in American politics—and recent work like Student Worldview Inventory at Arizona Christian University and ministry-focused children's research shared in "Raising Spiritual Champions" (2023).

With more than 60 books authored so far, Barna emphasizes writing as it allows detailed exploration beyond what articles can achieve: “Books allow a contextualized presentation of facts...”

Currently serving as Director of Research at Arizona Christian University's Cultural Research Center (CRC), co-founded by him along with ACU President Len Munsil and others around 2019-2020; CRC focuses on cultural transformation through unique research disseminated widely.

Despite extensive commitments such as those at NRB conferences where he promotes embracing biblical worldviews amid perceived national spiritual decline over past decades—Barna remains dedicated: “I’m determined to finish well...committed...to make [a] difference—biblical worldview [and] effective discipleship.”

Balancing professional life while enjoying personal interests like watching Yankees games or spending time with family—including mentoring successors or continuing impactful projects—retirement isn’t part of his plan: “I don’t believe ‘retirement’ is a biblical concept…so I expect...[to] do more significant research.”