Contact: Al Lopus, President, Best Christian Workplaces Institute, 206-230-8111, alopus@bcwinstitute.org 

MERCER ISLAND, Wash., July 30, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- The 2014 Best Christian Workplaces rely on inspirational work and effective communication to create a flourishing culture that meets the needs of those they serve.  Best Christian Workplaces Institute announces that 76 distinguished organizations have earned Certification as Best Christian Workplaces for 2014.  Each year since 2003, BCWI has identified the list of Certified Best Christian Workplaces.  This year is the largest participation level since the inception of the program.

Certified Best Christian Workplaces are global and represent all facets of ministries from churches, schools to universities, parachurch missions to product and services, book publishers to radio stations.  These Certified organizations exceed the percentage of engaged employees vs. norms.

The BCWI survey, now in its twelfth year, has surveyed over 140,000 employees from 630 organizations in the US, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.  In the past year, 158 organizations participated in the survey with 76 achieving Certification.  Attaining BCWI certification is not easy, many organizations survey multiple times before receiving this distinction.

121 Community Church – Grapevine, TX
2|42 Community Church – Brighton, MI
American Bible Society – New York, NY
Anonymous
Antioch Community Church – Waco, TX
Apartment Life – Hurst, TX
Arizona Shine Radio Station – Prescott, AZ
Association of Christian Schools International – Colorado Springs, CO
Blue Ridge Community Church – Forest, VA
Briarcrest Christian School – Memphis, TN
Bridgeway Community Church – Forest, VA
Canadian Council of Christian Charities – Elmira, ON Canada
CapinCrouse LLP – Greenwood, IL
Care Net – Lansdowne, VA
CedarCreek Church – Perrysburg, OH
Central Christian Church – Mesa, AZ
Cherry Hills Christian School – Highlands Ranch, CO
Christ Community Church – Elgin, IL
Christ the King Community Church – Bellingham, WA
Christian Brothers Automotive – Houston, TX
Christian Care Ministry – Melbourne, FL
Christian Family Care – Phoenix, AZ
Christian Leadership Alliance – San Clemente, CA
Church of the King – Mandeville, LA
Coalition for Christian Outreach – Pittsburgh, PA
College of Biblical Studies – Houston – Houston, TX
College Wesleyan Church – Marion, IN
Compassion Canada – London, ON
Denver Rescue Mission – Denver, CO
Desert Vineyard – Lancaster, CA
English language Institute/China – Ft. Collins, CO
Evangelical Christian School – Cordova, TN
Experience Life Church – Lubbock, TX
Focus on the Family Canada – Langley, BC Canada
Frederick Christian Fellowship Church – Frederick, MD
Garland Heart –Wylie, TX
Gateway Church – Southlake, TX
Grace Brethren Christian School – Clinton, MD
Grace Chapel – Englewood, CO
Grace Community Church – Fulton, MD
Grace Family Church – Durban, South Africa
Grace Fellowship UMC – Katy, TX
Hales Corners Lutheran Schools – Hales Corners, WI
Heritage Christian Academy – Overland Park, KS
Hillcrest Baptist Church – Pensacola, FL
HOPE International – Lancaster, PA
Jill's House – Vienna, VA
Joni and Friends – Agoura Hills, CA
Joy El – Greencastle, PA
Knox Area Rescue Ministries – Knoxville, TN
Lancaster Bible College – Lancaster, PA
Logos Bible Software – Bellingham, WA
Mission India – Grand Rapids, MI
Mountain Christian Church – Joppa, MD
Next Level Church – Ft. Myers, FL
Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, IL
Pantano Christian Church – Tucson, AZ
Phoenix Seminary – Phoenix, AZ
Real Life Christian Church – Valencia, CA
Samaritan Ministries International – Peoria, IL
Santa Fe Christian Schools – Solana Beach, CA
Southland Christian Church – Lexington, KY
Southridge Community Church – St. Catharines, ON Canada
Sparks Christian Fellowship – Sparks, NV
Sunnybrook Community Church – Sioux City, IA
Syndal Baptist Church – Glen Waverley, VIC Australia
Union Gospel Mission of Salem – Salem, OR
United Methodist Church of the Resurrection – Leawood, KS
Upward Sports – Spartanburg, SC
Vineyard Church – Kansas City, MO
Welch College – Nashville, TN
The Wesleyan Church – Fishers, IN
Wheaton Academy -  West Chicago, IL
White River Christian Church – Noblesville, IN
Willow Creek Community Church – South Barrington, IL
WorldServe Ministries (Canada) – White Rock, BC

For employees in Christian organizations, working in a flourishing culture energizes their calling and passion for service to others.  Employees in Christian organizations are also encouraged to see continuous improvement in engagement levels among their coworkers.  Engagement levels improved to 53.7% vs. 51% a year ago, and 47% two years ago according to Al Lopus, President of Best Christian Workplaces.  As a result, the gap between the engagement levels of Christian and secular workplaces continues to grow.

There is a lot of buzz about workplace culture in Christian organizations.  Last August at the Global Leadership Summit, Bill Hybels boldly shared the transformational journey Willow Creek Community Church had been on during the previous five years and the impact it has had on their church.  After moving from a nearly toxic culture to a flourishing culture, Hybels says the payoff is, "You will simply not believe how much better a healthy culture performs.  Get ready for outcomes you never thought were possible by your organization."  To develop a flourishing culture, leaders at these organizations focus on activities such as defining values, hiring for cultural fit, holding more frequent performance discussions and integrating culture with strategy.

To earn the distinction as a Best Christian Workplace, organizations participate in the Best Christian Workplace Institute's employee engagement survey and meet predetermined standards of excellence.  The survey covers issues such as job satisfaction, commitment, Christian witness, supervisory effectiveness, work satisfaction, personal growth and development, management effectiveness, customer/supporter satisfaction, teamwork, communication and pay and benefits.  Employees confidentially respond to more than 50 questions addressing these topics.

Best Christian Workplaces Institute's purpose is to serve faith-based organizations by creating processes of discovery, facilitating leadership and organizational health and encouraging behaviors that build flourishing organizations.  BCWI is a non-profit research based organizational development and human resources consulting firm based on Mercer Island, WA. 

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