Contact: Jon Hirst, Global Mapping International, 719-531-3599

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Feb. 18, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- GMI released a study sharing findings of how leaders in India make decisions. The report is a result of over 50 in person interviews, four focus groups and two unique Decision Symposia designed to engage a broad range of ministry leadership throughout India at all levels of responsibility.

The study reveals three clear profiles of decision makers in India: the Influencer, Initiator and Implementer. These profiles provide powerful insights for both Indian leaders and their global partners as ministries strive to make complex decisions about how to engage India with the Gospel message.

The study also sets out nine key factors that drive Indian decision making and ten major challenges that Indian respondents identified as areas where courageous decisions must be made to move the Indian Church forward.

"As our team conducted this study, we were so honored that Indian leaders would share their decision making process and challenges. Our hope is that this study will serve the Indian Church as they face challenging decisions ahead and will allow their global partners to better engage with them in the work," said Jon Hirst, CEO of GMI.

Some examples of key findings include:

• The flattening of leadership in India and the rise of the Initiator as a key decision maker
   
• The prominence of prayer in decision making
   
• The challenges that Indian families are facing in a fast-changing society
   
• The role of in-person, grassroots data collection and reporting in making decisions; even with expanding technology

To find out more about the GMI Ministry Decision Research: India results visit www.gmi.org/decisionresearch. The suite of resources includes a free GMI Ministry Decision Research: India Executive Summary, GMI Ministry Decision Research: India Full Report and Engaging with Indian Decision Makers: A Monograph for Western Leaders Desiring Insight into Ministry in India.

GMI is an international team of evangelical professionals in research, mapping and technology who are passionate about informing, equipping and connecting the Church and Kingdom leaders with timely information. Founded 30 years ago on the campus of the U.S. Center for World Mission, GMI has a rich history of facilitating strategic mission research and mapping for international Christian churches and ministries. GMI is a member of Missio Nexus and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, and subscribes to the Lausanne Covenant.