A consistent theme among the nearly 100 formerly unchurched we contacted to help us with this project was that doctrine really matters. Churches that attempt to reach unchurched people by compromising or diluting the teachings of Scripture are counterproductive.

Hank D. of Virginia became a Christian at age 32. He found the watered-down teaching and preaching of many churches amusing at first, but them he changed his mind. "I was a true seeker," Hank told us. "I started looking around for a church just because I had this big empty place in my life that nothing was filling. No one invited me to a church. I just started doing it on my own."

Hank's experiences were often disappointing. "At first, I was kind of amused at the way churches dumbed down their preaching and teaching. And then it got disgusting. I'm not sure if they were trying to be seeker friendly or if they were just unprepared themselves."

To the surprise of some, doctrine was the number one issue of importance to unchurched people seeking a church. Over 91 percent of the formerly unchurched said that doctrine was important, the highest ranking of all issues.

The formerly unchurched, however, were not just interested in the facts of doctrine; they were insistent that the churches should be uncompromising in their stand. These facts fly in the face of an increasingly pluralistic and theologically tolerant culture. It seems as if, when one takes the step from being firmly unchurched, a U5, to at least being an inquirer, a U2 or U1, attitudes change.

The formerly unchurched were clear. They not only were interested in learning about doctrine, they were attracted to churches that were uncompromising in their beliefs.

Mandy L., a formerly unchurched woman from Montana, spoke softly but firmly. "When we were lost, we were looking for something that would not be like the world we were in. We were looking, even if we didn't realize it at the time, for the supernatural, for beliefs that transcend the unbelieving world around us. It was really sad to go to churches that thought they were being relevant when they were really just being worldly. I got out of those churches as quickly as I could."