Being a researcher means being one part listener and one part sleuth. The nearly thirty thousand interviews we conduct each year at Barna Group give our team ample opportunity to hear what is happening in people’s lives. Our listening done, we then put on our sleuthing hats and piece together the trends that shape our collective lives and faith communities. A big piece of the dropout puzzle fell into place for me back in 2003. One blustery autumn day while visiting Grand Rapids,