Editor's note: For research purposes, Dr. Thom Rainer classified unchurched people into five categories. U1, or unchurched category one, is the most receptive to the gospel. U5 is the least receptive.
Much has been written and said about the seeker movement, seekers and seeker services. I have yet to see a consistent definition for seeker. I do know, however, that this group of U2 unchurched persons are truly seeking something in their lives. And many of them are fully aware that they are seeking God himself.
The U2s are the second largest group of unchurched persons in America. We estimate that there are 57 million U3s, the largest group, and 43 million U2s. More than one out of four unchurched fit the description of the U2. Chances are that someone you know in your neighborhood, at work, at school or in the marketplace is a U2.
The U2s were the youngest of the unchurched groups. Nearly six out of 10 were under the age of 36. They are the unchurched with the most females - 62 percent of the total. The U2s' view of biblical authority is not significantly different from that of evangelical churchgoers. And 95 percent of them believe heaven exists, while eight out of 10 believe hell exists.
 Dr. Thom Rainer, "The Unchurched Next Door," Zondervan, 2003
