Survey finds many unchurched would come to church if invited

[Blessedx4]

by Thom S. Rainer 16 Jul 2008

Over the past four years, I have been privileged to enter a world that I really did not know very well. It is the world of the unchurched. Now, like many Christians, I have interacted with the unchurched, worked with the unchurched, socialized with the unchurched, and witnessed to the unchurched. But I have been a Christian for more than 30 years. I really did not understand the hearts and the mind-sets of the unchurched until recently.

For the past two years, my research team and I have been involved in extensive and intensive interaction with the unchurched. We have come with our computers and pre-planned questions, but many times we would just sit back and listen for hours.

more................ http://www.churchcentral.com/nw/s/id/24697/template/Article.html

[walkbyfaith]

I don't mean to sound pessimistic, because I'm not. But, realistic I have to be. My husband and I regularly invite 'the unchurched' to church. Many of these are people we work with or have ongoing contact with, but we've had conversations with strangers that have allowed us to invite them to church. We aren't overbearing about it, are very friendly in answering questions, and share about our church like other people share about their kids. It's a big part of our lives, so that's what we talk about, as well as other topics of 'interest'.

Most people are very interested in hearing about our church, and I think actually would like to deep down, but in reality only about 1 in 10 that are invited do come.

People don't want to make a commitment today, and they see church as a commitment. :sad

This is not to discourage others from asking. Please keep asking! I'm one of those people who first went to church with someone because I was invited. This is to say don't get discouraged if people don't come. The majority say they will, but don't show. Keep inviting!! :nod

I guess, in a nutshell, I'm saying that most of them are fibbing to the surveyer. :lol

[barb43]

We have had neighbors, friends, acquaintances tell us they would come to church but they don't know how to do church - where do you sit, what do you do, they're afraid they'll offend some long time member, etc. We brought this up in our SS class and a few other folks chimed in with similar experiences. The pastor jumped up and went to his office, came back with a sample of teaching materials to 1) teach us how to get those people past their fears and 2) teach the unchurched about church. So we had a series of classes on those workbooks, but i didn't see any follow up of establishing a "newcomers' class", so to speak. We were disappointed in the church - lots of lipservice, not much action, and we couldn't do it ourselves (Sweetie 'n me and another couple).