Does it make sense to participate?

In a practical theological research project called ‘Does it make sense to participate?’ a new research model has been developed with the name ‘Compass of Meaning’. This model is designed to map, compare and qualify the experiences of participants in new faith communities, in order to find new ways for contextualizing the Gospel in a secular society. The research model is based on modern perspectives on sensemaking in social sciences and spiritual healthcare and a holistic interpretation of salvation and combines a qualitative and quantitative research method. In this paper the authors introduce the model, the first research results about participants in six pioneering communities in the Netherlands, and questions for theological reflection.