In Part 1, we introduced our survey on the most effective evangelistic churches in America and the methods they deemed most effective. A potential problem with the results of our study relates to the individual respondents. More than 80 percent of the survey respondents are pastors and only 10 of the respondents are laypersons. This leads us to the possible conclusion that preaching is the most frequently mentioned factor because preachers make up the majority of the respondents. Recognizing a possible conflict of interest, we conducted extensive follow-ups by interviewing laypersons in the surveyed churches.

The results of the follow-up interviews are fascinating. Almost without exception, the laypersons indicated that, perhaps, pastors understated the role of preaching in the church's evangelistic growth. During onsite interviews with several laypersons at a church in Tupelo, Mississippi, the significance of the pastor's preaching was unmistakable. One deacon shared, "We could probably point to several factors that have helped our church grow and reach people for Christ, but all of those factors pale in comparison to what his preaching means to our church." Another woman commented that her pastor's preaching "is the main reason people are accepting Christ. You never have any doubt about his stand for the Word or how to become a Christian. I've heard many preachers, but his sermons just seem to be anointed by God."

These examples are typical of the hundreds of comments we received from laypersons. From these additional responses we conclude that the pastors' comments about preaching being primary are accurate and, perhaps, even understated.

The Overwhelming Response

While Preaching is identified as the most important factor in these churches' evangelistic effectiveness, respondents frequently mention seven additional methodologies. The second highest response (nearly 70 percent responding) is prayer ministries, followed by Sunday school at slightly more than 60 percent. Relational evangelism, weekly outreach, and youth ministry received responses of 50 percent or higher and music ministry is slightly below 50 percent.

But more than 90 percent of the respondents cited preaching as a methodology for effective evangelism! No other methodology came close. The size of the church, measured in average attendance, did not change the overwhelmingly positive response to preaching. In churches with an attendance above 1,500 or below 100, the two extremes in our study, 100 percent of the respondents call preaching the most important factor in their churches' growth. That response never fell below 85 percent for any size church.

Most studies on the growth of churches fail to look at conversion or evangelistic growth; instead they examine total growth. And even fewer studies, if any, relate preaching to the evangelistic growth of the church. We will continue to discuss this amazing finding in two upcoming articles.