Our research into the unchurched involved interviews with more than 300 people and uncovered a number of surprises for our researchers. Among the key issues was the realization that the unchurched are not antichurch.
Indeed, one of our specific questions asked the unchurched to describe their own attitudes toward the church. The responses indicate the general positive perception the unchurched have about the church even if they have never attended.
Four out of 10 of the unchurched actually have a friendly or very friendly attitude about the church. And only 16 percent have negative attitudes.
These results confirm our earlier point: Most of the unchurched would welcome an invitation to church.
 Dr. Thom Rainer, excerpted from "The Unchurched Next Door," Zondervan, 2003
