One Million Voices, One Living Pulse

The historic millionth Disciple Maker Index (DMI) survey completed in early 2026 is more than a collection of data — it’s a living pulse.

One million voices, young and old. Lifelong Catholics and new converts. Deeply engaged parishioners and those still searching for connections. They come from parishes of every size, in every region, across diverse cultures and communities.

They are you, me, and everyone in-between.
They are the Church.

And we learn from them.

These voices give Church leaders real, tangible insights and facts that serve as a foundation for planning and spiritual growth efforts. We don’t have to deduce the strengths and opportunities of our communities or guess the impact our welcome or pastoral presence has on its members. They tell us, and we respond.

The pulse of the Disciple Maker Index gives us the sound of the Church that is alive and wanting to grow. Let’s take a closer look at “who” is behind these 1 million+ surveys:

“The scale itself is remarkable!”

The Disciple Maker Index has been administered four times at Christ the King Church in the Diocese of Tulsa, with the first survey taking place in 2014 and the most recent in 2025. The pastor, Fr. Elkin González, discusses the impact:

The DMI provided us with a clear, honest, and hopeful snapshot of our parish life. It confirmed what we experience daily, a vibrant faith community with strong sacramental participation and deeply engaged families, while also revealing areas where greater intentionality was needed, particularly in belonging, relationships, and pathways of discipleship.

One million surveys represent far more than data; they represent a moment of ecclesial listening. It is the faithful speaking, not in abstraction, but from lived experience: their hopes, wounds, desires, and faith. In a time when the Church is called to deeper communion and mission, this collective voice becomes a form of discernment. It allows pastors and leaders to respond not reactively, but pastorally and intelligently. The scale itself is remarkable; it reflects a Church willing to listen at a national level yet act locally with creativity and care. At Christ the King, we have experienced this firsthand.

The DMI did not give us a program; it gave us a pathway. It has helped us steward the grace already present in our community: vibrant faith, strong families, growing unity between parish and school, and a renewed commitment to form intentional disciples of Jesus Christ.

Christ the King Parish is a leading example of how listening bears fruit, particularly in the form of Eucharistic Revival. Read more in this Case Study published for ongoing learning.