Our Organization

Over the years, our organization has recognized three crucial elements that provide an effective environment for inductive learning. These are essential in a Q Place: (1) time-tested guidelines that keep discussions on track, (2) trained facilitators  who cultivate a welcoming environment for discussion and discovery, and (3) inductive resources filled with great questions.

People have been drawn to our groups because our inductive approach to learning allows them to interact with faith-related topics. This learning approach is especially important when people have doubts or major questions.  In our discussions, people can raise their questions and explore topics about God and the Bible inductively—discovering for themselves what the Bible says and evaluating topics about God after exploring a variety of viewpoints.  In the process, they have the opportunity to identify what they believe, and then clarify, explore, and evaluate what they are learning.

Q Place as an organization was founded in 1960 by Kay Schell and Marilyn Kunz under the name of Neighborhood Bible Studies.  Kay and Marilyn started the first group in Dobbs Ferry, NY.  Most of the participants were not part of a church and were not sure what they believed about God, but they were interested in studying the Bible together.  In its first fifty years, the organization spread organically, multiplying to thousands of groups all over the world and selling more than a million copies of inductive Bible discussion guides.

Our mission as an organization is to mobilize people to start groups, equipping them to become excellent facilitators.  We have found that the best place to find people to facilitate groups is within churches—churches that are interested in giving this opportunity to people in communities around them.

The people in our organization work with churches to help them become Equipping Centers so that more Q Places can form.  Our staff and volunteers serve as catalysts, getting the action started by working with a group of three committed leaders in each church.  We come alongside each church as advisors and coaches and enable them to create an effective, self-sustaining ministry.