I’m loving my study of the book by Stan Nussbaum, entitled, “Breakthrough: Prayerful Productive Field Research in Your Place of Ministry” (published by GMI). In this 2nd edition, Nussbaum outlines how to get into position for insight, frame your concern, brainstorm and guess, get strategy right, prepare great questions, hunt & gather, draws insights from information, convert all the above into conclusions and recommendations, take inspired action, and watch God’s glory break through. You can learn more at…
http://www.gmi.org/services/research/breakthrough/
Stan and company will even come and help you “live and in person” on sight. This is a great idea for workers that are having trouble adapting, but didn’t want to admit it. Hats off to GMI for creative problem-solving, which has generated a new realm of information-sharing.
While working on my M.A. in Evangelism & Leadership at Wheaton, I had the opportunity to take a class from an external tutor for my qualitative research methods requirement. Consequently, Wheaton contracted Dr. Stan Nussbaum, and via distance learning (weekly meetings over Skype and email) he coached me through his manual, “Breakthrough! Prayerful, Productive Field Research in Your Place of Ministry.”
In short, Qualitative Research Methods was the course I originally least looked forward to, but turned out to be one of my favorites (as well as perhaps the most practical!). The level of Stan’s involvement and engagement with me from start to finish was outstanding, and the research project has not only significantly influenced the ministry initiatives I am currently engaged in, but has also impacted the thinking and direction of our whole team here in Hungary.
Far from being a sterile academic research project, this material engages your heart as well as your mind. Consequently, I am convinced that anyone currently or soon to be involved in ministry will find this process not only worth the time and expense, but ultimately transformative on a variety of levels. I cannot recommend this process highly enough.
With a thankful heart,
John D. Wilson
M.A. student and missionary serving in Hungary