The Institute for Human Worth was founded to bring serious social research and cultural analysis to some of the most consequential questions of our time: the worth of human life, the health of the family, and the conditions under which both can flourish. We serve scholars, policymakers, and church leaders by producing work that is rigorous enough to withstand scrutiny, accessible enough to inform public understanding, and useful enough to guide real institutional decisions.
Our work is grounded in careful methodology, transparent sourcing, and conclusions proportionate to the evidence.
We translate complex findings into language that policymakers, pastors, and other leaders can understand and use.
We publish work that helps institutions make better decisions, frame better arguments, and respond more wisely to the issues they face.
Lauren McAfee is the Founder, Board Chair, and CEO of Life Collective, and serves as Director for Ministry Investments at Hobby Lobby. A thought leader and advocate for human dignity, she is the author of several books focused on missional living and the inherent worth of every person. Lauren has spoken to thousands at conferences, universities, and events across the country, equipping audiences to engage culture with conviction and compassion.
She holds M.A. and M.Th. degrees and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Ethics and Public Policy. Prior to her role at Hobby Lobby, Lauren served as Curator, Artifact Collection Manager, and Director of Community Engagement for the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.
Lauren serves on the Board of Directors for Christianity Today and for the National Association of Evangelicals. She and her husband, Michael, live in Oklahoma City with their three daughters whom they welcomed through adoption.
Alex Ward serves as Director of Research for the Institute for Human Worth. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of Mississippi, and holds degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, and Mississippi State University. His writing has appeared at Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Religion News Service, and The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.
Research worth trusting requires a process worth examining. IHW follows a consistent methodology across all of our publications, grounded in three commitments.
Where possible, we conduct our own surveys, interviews, and data collection rather than repackaging existing studies. When we do synthesize external research, we disclose our sources and our selection criteria.
Every research report and white paper we publish includes a methodology section that describes how the data was gathered, how the sample was constructed, and what the limitations are.
We report findings as they are, not as we wish they were. If the data complicates a popular narrative, we say so. If a study raises more questions than it answers, we say that too.
