Editor's note: For research purposes, Dr. Thom S. Rainer classified unchurched people into five categories. U1, or unchurched category one, is the most receptive to the gospel. U5 is the least receptive.
If these U1s have some level of church background, the obvious question asks why they left.
Jonathan R., for example, not only has a church background; more specifically, he has a Baptist church background. His best memories of church took place in his childhood. He speaks warmly of attending Sunday school as a child in the Baptist church. Such memories tend to engender in U1s a desire to return to church.
The U1s like the church, and they like the ministers of these churches. Many have positive memories of attending church in their past. And many others are seeking to understand the truth of the gospel. With all of these positive dispositions toward the church and Christians, why are these U1s not attending church?
When we asked the U1s the open-ended question, "Why do you think many people do not attend church?" these receptive unchurched persons tended to answer for themselves.
