Protestant growth and desertion in Costa Rica : viewed in relation to churches with higher attrition rates, lower attrition rates, and more mobility as affected by evangelism (i.e. message and method) and discipleship practices (including church discipline and congregational life) / by Jorge Isaias Gomez Varela.

Typescript.

List of Tables

List of Tables continued

List of Illustrations

Part I. Overview

Chapter 1. The Problem Stated

Chapter 2. Precedent Research Base

Chapter 3. History and Ministerial Challenges of EVAF-AIINDEF

Part II. The Findings

Chapter 4. Research Methodology

Chapter 5. The Protestant Desertion in Costa Rica In Its Demographic Context

Chapter 5. Continued

Chapter 6. Evangelism and Discipleship: Protestant Beliefs and Practices

Chapter 7. Evangelization and Discipleship: Costa Rican Protestant Thinking and Practice

Part III. Recapitulation, Conclusions, Recommendations, and Appendixes

Chapter 8. Recapitulation, Conclusions, and Recommendations

Appendixes

1. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation, 1989-1994 (Percentages) -- 2. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation, by Location, 1989-1994 (Percentages) -- 3. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation, by Gender, 1989-1994 (Percentages) -- 4. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation, by Age Categories, 1994 (Percentages) -- 5. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation, by Location, 1989-1994 (Percentages) -- 6. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation, at Birth, 1989, 1991, 1994 (Percentages) -- 7. Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation by Region, 1994 (Percentages) -- 8. Time as Protestant, 1994, by Current Religion (Percentages) -- 9. Location, by Religion at Birth (Percentages) -- 10. Age Categoies, by Religion At Birth (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 11. Age Categories, by Time as Protestant (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 12. Time as Protestant, by Religious Preference (Percentages) -- 13. Number of Churches Attended, by Location of the People Interviewed (Percentages) -- 14. Number of Churches Attended, by Gender (Percentages) -- 15. Numbers of Churches Attended, by Age Categories (Percentages) -- 16. Number of Churches Attended, by Current Religion (Percentages) -- 17. Church Type Attended Last, by Location, Gender and Age Categories (Percentages) -- 18. Church Type Attended Last, by Time as Protestant (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 19. The Possible Correlation Between the Closed-ended Answers and the Open-ended Answers (Percentages) -- 20. Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church, by Age Categories (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 21. Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church, by Religion of Preference, and Time as a Protestant (Percentages) -- 22. Secondary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church, by Religion of Preference, and Time as a Protestant (Percentages) -- 23. Rank According to Most Frequent Answers Given as the Primary and Secondary Reasons for Deserting the Protestant Church (Percentages) -- 24. People Who Understood the Message of Salvation, by Region and Gender (Percentages) -- 25. The Understanding of the Salvation Message, by Age Categories, Current Religion, and Time as Protestant (Percentages) -- 26. Positive Issues Found in the Personal Relationships with Evangelicals, by Location, Gender, and Time as Protestant (Percentages) -- 27. Member's Profile: Churches with Lower Attrition, More Mobility, Higher Attrition Rate, and the Integrated Results from These Three Church Categories (The 1994 Church Survey) -- 28. Pastor's Profile: Churches with Lower Attrition, More Mobility, Higher Attrition Rate, and the Integrated Results from These Three Church Categories (The 1994 Church Survey) -- 29. Averages in Answers, by Church Categories -- 30. Comparison Between Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, Higher Attrition Rates, and More Mobility, Message in Evangelization (Percentages, n=981) -- 31. Comparison Between Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, Higher Attrition Rates, and More Mobility, Methodology in Evangelization (Percentages, n-981) -- 32. Comparison Between Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, Higher Attrition Rates, and More Mobility, Discipleship Practices (Percentages, n=981) -- 33. Comparison Between Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, Higher Attrition Rates, and More Mobility, Church Discipline (Percentages, n =981) -- 34. Comparison Between Churches with Lower Attrition, Higher Attrition, and More Mobility--Congregational Life (Percentages, n=981) -- 35. Comparison Between Pastors from Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, Higher Attrition Rates, and More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages and Absolute Numbers, n=71) -- 36. Members' Age Categories in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=483) -- 37. Members' Age Categories in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=177) -- 38. Members' Age Categories in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 39. Pastors' Age Categories in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 40. Pastors' Age Categories in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=21) -- 41. Pastors' Age Categories in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=21) -- 42. Members' Religion at Birth in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-36 (Percentages, n=483) -- 43. Members' Religion at Birth in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=177) -- 44. Members' Religion at Birth in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 45. Pastors' Religion at Birth in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 46. Pastors' Religion at Birth in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 47. Pastors' Religion at Birth in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (n=21) -- 48. Members' Time as Protestant in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=483) -- 49. Members' Time as Protestant in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (n=177).

-- 50. Members' Time as Protestant in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 51. Pastors' Time as Protestant in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 52. Pastors' Time as Protestant in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) --53. Pastors' Time as Protestant in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=21) -- 54. Members' Gender and Level of Education in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=483) -- 55. Members' Gender and Level of Education in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=177) -- 56. Members' Gender and Level of Education in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 57. Pastors' Level of Education in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 58. Pastors' Level of Education in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 59. Pastors' Level of Education in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=21) -- 60. Pastors' Formal Schooling at Seminary or Bible Institute in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 61. Pastors' Formal Schooling at Seminary or Bible Institute in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=25) -- 62. Pastors' Formal Schooling at Seminary or Bible Institute in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=21) -- 63. Members According to Church Attendance in Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=483) -- 64. Members According to Church Attendance in Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=177) -- 65. Members According to Church Attendance in Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 66. Members According to the Number of Protestant Churches They Have Been Member of, Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=483) -- 67. Members According to the Number of Protestant Churches They Have Been Member of, Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=177) -- 68. Members According to the Number of Protestant Churches They Have Been Member of, Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 69. Members According to the Number of Years as Member of a Particular Church, Churches with Lower Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=483) -- 70. Members According to the Number of Years as Member of a Particular Church, Churches with Higher Attrition Rates, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=177) -- 71. Members According to the Number of Years as Member of a Particular Church, Churches with More Mobility, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=321) -- 72. Factors which Caused Churches not to Grow According to Church Members, by Church Categories (Percentages) -- 73. Factors which Caused Churches not to Grow According to Pastors, by Church Categories (Absolute Numbers) -- 74. Reasons Given by Church Members of Why Some Evangelicals Had Deserted the Protestant Church, by Church Categories (Percentages)-- 75. Reasons Given by Pastors of Why Some Evangelicals Had Deserted the Protestant Church, by Church Categories (Absolute Numbers) -- 76. Suggestions Given by Church Members of What Can Be Done to Minimize Protestant Desertion, by Church Categories (Percentages) -- 77. Suggestions Given by Pastors of What Can Be Done to Minimize Protestant Desertion, by Church Categories (Absolute Numbers) --78. Aspects which Especially Help Evangelicals Remain Constant in Their Faith, by Church Categories (Percentages) -- 79. Why Evangelicals Transfer Churches According to Church Members, by Church Categories (Percentages) -- 80. Why Evangelicals Transfer Churches According to Pastors, by Church Categories (Absolute Numbers) -- 81. Message in Evangelization, by all Church Categories, by all Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 82. Methodology in Evangelization, by all Church Categories, by all Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 83. Discipleship Practices, by all Church Categories, by all Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 84. Church Discipline, by all Church Categories, by all Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 85. Congregational Life, by all Church Categories, by all Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 86. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Time as Protestant, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=981) -- 87. The 1994 Church Survey (Pastors), by Time as Protestant, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=71) -- 88. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Religion at Birth, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=981) -- 89. The 1994 Church Survey (Pastors), by Religion at Birth, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=71) -- 90. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Age Categories, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=981) -- 91. The 1994 Church Survey (Pastors), by Age Categories, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=71) --92. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Level of Education, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=981) -- 93. The 1994 Church Survey (Pastors), by Level of Education, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=71) -- 94. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Formal Schooling at Seminary or Bible Institute, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=71) -- 95. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Number of Protestant Churches They Have Been Members of, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=981) -- 96. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by Church Attendance, by Questions 10-53 (Percentages, n=981) -- 97. The 1994 Church Survey (Members), by the Number of Years as Member of a Particular Church, by Questions 10-36 (Percentages and Absolute Numbers, n=981) -- 98. Facts which Caused Churches not to Grow in the Last Five Years, by Church Members and Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 99. Reasons Given by Church Members and Pastors of Why Other Evangelicals Had Deserted the Evangelical Church (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 100. Suggestions Given by Church Members and Pastors of What Can be Done to Minimize Protestant Desertion (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 101. Aspects Which Specially Helped Evangelicals Remain in Their Faith, by Church Members and Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- 102. Why Protestants Transfer to Another Protestant Church, Mobility Facts, by Church Members and Pastors (Percentages and Absolute Numbers) -- Comparison Betwee Churches with Lower Attrition and Higher Attrition Rates within the Same Denomination, Questions 10-53, (Percentages) -- 103.1 -Movimiento Misionero Mundial (AICPCR) -- 103.2 -Iglesia Cristiana Reformada (ICR) -- 103.3 -Centro Evangelistico de la Cruzada de la Fe (ACECF) -- 103.4 -Asociacion Centro vida Nueva (ACVN) -- 103.5 -Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal de Costa Rica (AIDPCR) -- 103.6 -Comunidad Misionera Cristiana Puerta de Fe (CMCPF) -- 103.7 -Convencion Bautista de Costa Rica (CBCR) -- 103.8 -Asociacion Evangelica Centroamericana (AECA) -- 103.9 -Asociacion Concilio Iglesias Evangelicas Nacionales (ACIENA) -- 103.10 -Asosiacion de Iglesias Cristianas (AICC) -- 103.11 -Asociacion Iglesia Santidad Pentecostal (AISP) -- 103.12 -Asociacion Iglesia Evangelica Metodista (AIEMCR) -- 103.13 -Asociacion Iglesias Biblicas de Costa Rica (AIBC) -- 103.14 -Asociacion Cristiana Asambleas de Dios (ACAD).

1. A.C.A.D.'s Membership, 1953-1994 -- 2. I.D.E.C.'s Membership, 1956-1994 -- 3. A.I.C.P.C.R's (M.M.M.) Membership, 1978-1994) -- 4. A.I.D.P.C.R.'s Membership, 1978-1994 -- 5. A.I.S.P.'s Membership, 1952-1994 -- 6. A.C.E.C.F.'s Membership, 1978-1994 -- 7. A.C.V.N.'s Membership, 1986-1994 -- 8. A.I.C.C.'s Membership, 1983-1994 -- 9. A.C.I.E.N.A.'s Membership, 1978-1994 -- 11. A.I.E.M.C.R.'s Membership, 1920-1994 -- 12. I.C.R.'s Membership, 1986-1994 -- 13. I.N.C.R.'s Membership's, 1978-1993 -- 14. A.I.B.C.'s Membership, 1956-1994 -- 15. A.E.C.A's Membership, 1935-1994 -- 16. C.B.C.R.'s Membership, 1978-1994 -- 17.1 Protestant Growth in Costa Rica: National Random Surveys (Percentages) -- 17.2 Protestant Growth in Costa Rica, 1892-1994 Two Views: Church and Random Surveys (Percentages) -- 17.3 Protestant Growth in Costa Rica, 1892-1994: Combination of Church and Random Surveys (Percentages) -- 17.4 Protestant Growth in Costa Rica, 1892-1994: Combination of Church and Random Surveys (Absolute Numbers) -- 18. Religious Affiliation-July, 1989 -- 19. Where Do People Who Deserted the Evangelical Church Go?-1989 National Survey -- 20. Religious Affiliation-June, 1994 --- 21. Religion at Birth: June, 1994 -- 22. Religious Affiliation: June, 1994 Current Religion and Religion at Birth -- 23. Where Did People Who Had Deserted the Evangelical Church Go? SnowBall Survey, 1994 (N=304) -- 24. Current Religion, by Age Categories of People Who Deserted the Protestant Faith (N=304) -- 25. Religious Affiliation at Birth, 1994: Those who had Deserted the Evangelical Church (N=304) -- 26. Time as Protestant: People Who Deserted the Evangelical Church Snowball Survey, 1994 -- 27. Interviewees' Location, by Time as Protestant -- 28. Time as Protestant, by Gender -- 29. Number of Churches Interviewees Attended: People Who Deserted the Evangelical Church -- 30. Why did People Desert the Protestant Church? First Reason -- 31. First Reason for Deserting the Evangelical Church, by Location -- 32. First Reason for Deserting the Evangelical Church, by Gender -- 33. Why Did Former Evangelicals Desr the Evangelical Church? Second Reason -- 34. Second Reason for Deserting the Evangelical Church, by Location -- 35. Second Reason for Deserting the Evangelical Church, by Gender -- 36. Most Frequent Reasons for Deserting the Evangelical Church: A Combination of Reasons 1 and 2 -- 37. Was the Salvation Message Clear to Those Who Deserted the Evangelical Church? -- 38. The Positive Interpersonal Relations with Protestants: People Who Deserted the Evangelical Church -- 39. The Alajuela City Survey: August, 1994 Local Survey -- 40. Number of Interviewees Per Denomination -- 41. Protestants, by Age Categories: The 1994 Church Survey -- 42. Protestants' Level of Education; The 1994 Church Survey -- 43. Protestants, Religion at Birth: The 1994 Church Survey -- 44. Time as Protestant: The 1994 Church Survey -- 45. Liturgical Background of Costa Rican Protestants (1990).

Introduction -- Research Problem -- Research Questions -- Delimitation of the Problem -- Limitations of the Study -- Definition of Terms -- Importance of the Study.

Internal Perspectives About EVAF -- External Perspectives About EVAF -- The Evangelical Desertion in Costa Rica -- Discipleship Strategies -- Theology of Evangelism -- Summary.

Evangelism in Depth (EVAF) -- The First Challenge: Church Mobilization -- EVAF'S Ministry Philosophy -- Mobilization of Every Christian to Give Witness -- Mobilization within the Framework of the Church -- Mobilization by Local Leadership -- Mobilization with Global Objectives -- Pragmatic Expression -- Genesis and Augmentation of the Strategy -- Evaluations -- EVAF Viewed by Its Leaders -- EVAF Viewed by Observers of the Movement -- The Time of the Harvest -- Unity in the Context of the National Church -- A Long Debate: The Attitude in Evangelism -- Roots of AIINDEF -- From EVAF to AINDEF -- From AINDEF to AIINDEF -- Second Challenge: Defining The Social Gospel in Relation to Evangelization -- Ministry Philosophy in Response to the Second Challenge -- Third Challenge: Discipleship -- IndianaDEF's Ministry Philosophy in Response to the Third Challenge -- Ministry Philosophy in Response to the Challenges of the Last Twenty Three Years -- The First Decade: 1973-1982 -- The Last Thirteen Years: 1983-1995 -- Some Lessons from the History of EVAF-AIINDEF -- Centrality of Local Church -- Mobilization of all Resources -- Prayer a Vital Part -- Context of Christian Unity -- Context of Consolidation.

Statement of Research Type -- Overall Research Strategy -- Procedure for Selecting Respondents -- Procedure for Selecting the Survey Company -- The National Random Sample: 20-26 June 1994 -- The "Snowball" Sample: 20 June-5 July 1994 -- The Survey Instruments -- The Instruments Used by CID-GALLUP -- The Instrument Used from 20-26 June 1994 -- The Instrument Used from 27 June- 5 July 1994 -- The Congregational Members Interview Instrument -- The Pastor Interview Instrument -- Procedure for Selecting the Denominations -- The Sixteen Denominations -- The Five Non-Independent Pentecostal Denominations -- The Five Independent Pentecostal Denominations -- The Three Non-Independent Traditional Denominations -- The Three Independent Traditional Denominations -- Procedure for Selecting the Churches -- Data Collection -- The Pastors Personal-Interview -- The Congregational Personal-Interview -- Other Personal Interviews -- Data Interpretation -- Reporting the Findings.

Costa Rica: The Study Framework -- The Protestant Growth in the Last 130 years: 1864-1994 -- The Costa Rican Protestant Genesis -- Wilton Nelson's Statistical Figures -- Read, Monterroso and Johnson's Statistical Figures -- IINDEF's Statistical Figures -- Investigaciones Cientificas de Costa Rica Statistical Figures -- Puerto RicoOLADES Statistical Figures -- IMDELA Statistical Figures -- The Statistics from 1892-1990 -- CID-GALLUP Statistical Figures -- General Analysis -- The 1989 and 1991 National Random Surveys -- The 1989 National Random Survey -- The 1991 National Random Survey -- The National Random Survey: June 20-26, 1994 -- The First Question: Costa Ricans' Religious Affiliation -- Location of Persons Interviewed According to Their Current Religion -- Gender and Current Religion -- Religious Groups Categorized by Age -- The Second Question: Costa Ricans' Religion at Birth -- People's Location and Religion at Birth -- Gender and Religion at Birth -- Age Categories and Religion at Birth -- Deserting the Religion of Birth: Religion at Birth and Current Religion -- Current Religion and Religion at Birth -- The Third Question: Evangelical Desertion -- Those Who Have Never Been Evangelicals -- Location -- Gender -- Age Categories -- Religious Affiliation -- The Evangelicals.

-- The Base for the Snowball Survey -- Location -- Gender -- Age Categories -- Current Religion -- The Snowball Survey: Interviewing People Who Were No Longer Evangelical (June20-July 5, 1994) -- The People Interviewed -- The Procedure -- The First Question: Current Religion -- Location According to Current Religion -- Gender and Current Religion -- Age Categories and Current Religion -- Time as Protestant and Current Religion -- The Second Question: Religion at Birth -- Location According Their Religion at Birth -- Gender and Religion at Birth -- Age Categories and Religion at Birth -- Current Religion and Religion at Birth -- A Comparison Between Answers One and Two -- The Third Question: Time as Protestant -- Location and Time as Protestant -- Gender and Time as Protestant -- Age Categories and Time as Protestant -- Religion of Preference and Time as Protestant -- The Fourth Question: Number of Churches Attended -- Location and Number of Churches Attended -- Gender and Number of Churches Attended -- Age Categories and Number of Churches Attended -- Current Religion and Number of Churches Attended -- Time as Protestant and Number of Churches Attended -- The Fifth Question: Type of Church Attended Last -- Location and Type of Church Attended Last -- Gender and Type of Church Attended Last -- Age Categories and Type of Church Attended Last -- Time as Protestant and Type of Church Attended Last -- The Sixth Question: Main Reasons for Leaving the Evangelical/Protestant (Including Adventist) Church -- Location and Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Gender and Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Age Categories and Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Current Religion and Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Time as Protestant and Primary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Secondary Reason for Leaving the Protestant Church -- Location and Secondary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Gender and Secondary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Religion of Preference and Secondary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- Time as Protestant and Secondary Reason for Deserting the Protestant Church -- A Combination of and Comparison Between the Primary and Secondary Reasons -- The Seventh Question: Was the Salvation Message Clear to the People who Deserted de Protestant Church? -- The Eighth Question: Positive Personal Relations with Evangelicals -- Location and Gender -- Time as Protestant -- The Local Protestant Community and its Effect on Evangelical Desrtion: The April, 1994 Esparza Survey -- A Local Church Survey in Alajuela City August, 1994 -- Most People Who become Evangelical Want to be Born Again: The national Random Sample, April 7-14, 1994.

The Churches and Those Interviewed -- Profile of Churches with Lower Attrition -- Profile of Churches with Higher Attrition -- Profile of Churches with More Mobility -- The Delineation of the Three Church Categories -- Theological Basis in the Evangelization Message -- Churches with Lower Attrition -- Churches with Higher Attrition -- Churches with More Mobility -- Additonial Characteristics -- Age Categories -- Religion at Birth -- Education -- Methodology in Evangelism -- Churches with Lower Attrition -- Churches with Higher Attrition -- Churches with More Mobility -- Discipleship Practices -- Churches with Lower Attrition -- Churches with Higher Attrition -- Churches with More Mobility -- Church Discipline Practices -- Congregational Life Practices -- Churches with Lower Attrition -- Churches with Higher Attrition -- Churches with More Mobility -- The Views of Each Church Category -- Facts Which Restrained Potential Church Growth -- Why People Deserted the Protestant Church -- Suggestions to Minimize Desertion -- Aspects Which Helped Protestants Remain Constant in Their Faith -- Potential Causes for Desertion: The Mobility Factors.

The People Interviewed -- The Congregational Members -- Gender -- Age Categories -- Education -- Religion at Birth -- Time as Protestant -- Number of Times the People Interviewed Attended Church Per Month -- Number of Churches of Which the People Interviewed had been Members of -- Time of Membership at the Current Church -- The Pastors Interviewed -- The 1994 Church Survey -- Theological Basis in the Evangelization Message -- Eschatological Virgin Islandsew of Salvation (P10, P13) -- Sanctification and Perfectionism (P11, P14, P39) -- God's Initiative in Salvation (P12) -- Works Under Grace (P16) -- The Meaning of a Public Confession to Receive Christ as Lord and Savior (P17) -- The Message Which Must Never Be Avoided (P20) -- Is a New Believer Capable of Correctly Understnading the Whole Bible (P21)? -- The Role of a Personal Testimony in the Presentation of the Gospel (P22) -- Verbal Presentation of the Gospel, or a Godly Witnessing Without Words (P23)? -- The Centrality in the Message of the Cross (P37, P40) -- Other Variables -- Members, by Gender -- Members, by Age Categories -- Members, by Education -- Pastors, by Education -- Members, by Religion at Birth -- Members, by the Number of Protestant Churches of Which They Had Been a Member of -- Members, by the Number of Times They Attended Church Per Month -- The Evangelization Methodology -- The Holy Spirit's Role (P18) and Personal Persuasion -- (P15) while Presenting the Gospel -- Are the Miracles of Healing the Only Evidence which show God's Power in an Evangelistic Crusade (P19)? -- The Frequency with Which Churches Evangelize in Their Community (P24) -- The Level of Unity within Churches (P25) -- The Apologetic Protestant Training for the Evangelization Task (P26) -- The Interviewees Basic Definition of Evangelization (P41) -- Who is Responsible for Preaching the Gospel (P43)? -- Predominant Strategy Used in Evangelization by Costa Rican Protestants (P44) -- Other Variables -- Religion at Birth -- Age Categories -- Gender -- Education -- Number of Protestant Churches of Which the Interviewee Had Been a Member -- Number of Times Interviewees Attended Church Per Month -- Number of Years the Interviewee Had Been a Member of the Church Where the Survey Was Conducted -- Discipleship Practices -- The Strategies for New Believers (P27, P38, P42, P45) -- The Need for a Generational Discipleship Principle (P30) -- Pastoral Care (P28, P31, P51) -- The Role of Spiritual Authority in a Disciple/Discipler Relationship (P29) -- The Focus of a Disciple-Discipler Relationship (P46) -- The Quality of Relationship Between Pastors and Church Members (P47) -- Other Variables -- Religion at Birth -- Age Categories -- Education -- The Number of Times Interviewees Attended Church Per Month -- Church Discipline -- Congregational Life Practices -- Fellowship and Acceptance (P33, P34, P35) -- Is the Church's Praise and Worship More Motivating than the Preaching (P36)? -- How are Most Church Members Affirmed in their Faith for Spiritual Growth (P48)? -- What Makes People Choose a Particular Protestant Church (P49)? -- A Very Important Aspect in the Costa Rican -- Congregational Life (P50) -- Other Variables -- Religion at Birth -- Gender -- Education -- Other Suggestions from the 1994 Church Survey -- Facts Which Stopped Potential Protestant Growth in the Last Five Years (P54) -- Why Former Protestants Have Deserted This Church?: The Protestant View (P55) -- What Can Be Done to Minimize Desertion (P56)? What Has Helped Evangelicals Remain in Their Faith (P57) -- Evangelical Church Mobility (P58) -- The Leader's Perceptions.

Recapitulation of Chapters 1-7 -- The Need to Know, Chapter 1 -- The Previous Research, Chapter 2 -- The Historical Ministry Challenges, Chapter 3 -- The Methodology Used in the Study, Chapter 4 -- Chapter 5: Reasons for Former Protestants Leaving the Protestant Church -- Protestant Growth and Desertion -- The 1989 and 1991 National Random Surveys -- The National Random Survey, June 20-26 1994 -- Snowball Survey: The Findings on Protestant Desertion -- 1) Where Did Those who Deserted the Protestant Church Go? -- 2) What Was the Religion at Birth of Former Protestants Who Were Interviewed? -- 3) How Long did Former Protestants who Were Interviewed stay in the Protestant Church? -- 4) How Many Protestant Churches Did Former Protestants Interviewed Attend? -- 5) What Type of Church Did Interviewed Former Protestants Attended Last? -- 6) For What Reason Did nterviewed Former Protestants Desert the Protestant Church? -- 7) Did Former Protestants Understand the Salvation Message Presented to Them? -- 8) What Were the Positive Aspects in Interpersonal Relations with Protestants? -- The Esparza and Alajuela Surveys -- Groups with Higher Desertion Risk -- Age Categories -- Gender (Men) -- Religion at Birth (Those Born Protestant) -- Time as Protestant (New Believers) -- Chapter 6: The Findings to RQ:2-RQ:7, by Church Categories -- Profile by Church Categories -- The Evangelistic Message -- Methodology in Evangelism -- Discipleship Practices -- Church Discipline Practices -- Congregational Life Practices -- The Views of Each Church Category -- 1) What Facts Restrained Potential Church Growth? -- 2) Why People Deserted the Protestant Church? -- 3) How Can Desertion Be Minimized? -- 4) What Aspects Have Helped Protestants Remain Constant in Their Faith? -- 5) What Causes Church Members to Transfer from One Church to Another Church? -- Chapter 7: The 1994 Church Survey, Findings RQ:2-RQ:7 -- Facts Confirmed by the 1994 Church Survey -- The Evangelistic Message -- Age Categories -- Education -- Members, by Number of Protestant Churches of which They Had Been a Member -- Members, by the Number of Times They Attended Church Per Month -- The Methodology of Evangelism -- Discipleship Practices -- Church Discipline -- Congregational Life Practices -- Other Observations from the 1994 Church Survey -- Facts which Stopped Potential Protestant Growth in the Last Five Years (P54) -- Why Former Protestants Have Deserted: The Protestant View (P55)? -- What Can Be Done to Minimize Desertion (P56)? -- What Has Helped Protestants Remain in Their Faith (P57)? -- Why Protestants Transfer to Another Church: Church Mobility (P58)? -- Some General Conclusions -- Recommendations to the Costa Rican Church Leaders -- Recommendations for Ministry Practice -- Recommendations for Future Researchers.

1. Time Line - AIINDEF -- 2. The Congregational-Personal Interview Insturment -- 3. The Pastor Personal Interview Instrument -- 4. Classification of the Costa Rican Protestant Denominations -- 5. The National Random Survey, June 1994 -- 6. The Snowball Survey, June-July 1994 -- Tables 29-71; 81-103.

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