What does it really mean to flourish — not just as individuals, but as communities, cultures and societies? In this episode of Today’s Conversation, Byron Johnson, distinguished professor of social sciences at Baylor University and co–director of the Global Flourishing Study, expands our vision of human flourishing to a global scale.

Byron Johnson joins NAE President Walter Kim to unpack surprising and hopeful findings emergingfrom the Global Flourishing Study, a groundbreaking international research project he leads in collaboration with Harvard University and others. Together, they explore how flourishing is being measured across the world and why it matters now more than ever — for people of faith, for the Church and for the future of society. 

In their conversation, they explore: 

• What makes the Global Flourishing Study a truly unprecedented effort;  
• Why flourishing is about more than just health and wealth — it’s also about purpose, relationships and faith; 
• How the Church plays a vital role in shaping holistic well-being; and 
• How the Bible offers a compelling vision of what it means to thrive. 

Resources

• Full conversation with Byron Johnson on YouTube  
• For further study, see Ezekiel 47, John 7 and Revelation 22 
• Global Flourishing Study 
• “More God, Less Crime: Why Faith Matters and How it Could Matter More,” by Byron Johnson 
• “The Faith Factor and Social Welfare: Evidence, Practice, Policy,” by Byron Johnson (coming in December 2025) 
• Moving Society From “Me” to “We,” NAE podcast with Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett  
• “Faith That Flourishes,” by Walter Kim in Evangelicals magazine