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15 proven ways to reach the unchurched

by: Thom S. Rainer

Christina, 34, is expecting her second child. Her husband, Tom, is one year older. Unlike many of the 353 formerly unchurched we interviewed, the couple has never faced a major crisis in their lives or marriage. They obviously love each other deeply.

Christina and Tom had been Christians for only seven months at the time of our interview. When they moved to a mid-sized city in North Carolina, they decided to visit a Southern Baptist church. I asked them what prompted them to visit a church.

"I honestly don't know," Christina responded. "I can't even remember Tom and I having much discussion about it."

Tom agreed, "Me either. Neither one of us had much of a church background. I guess we just decided it was the right thing to do."

Christina, Tom and Amy, their three-year-old daughter, visited Cross Springs Church. "We thought we'd start there," Christina commented, "because the building and grounds looked real neat from the car."

"What was your first impression?" I asked.

"I was driving," Tom said, "and I was impressed by how well all the parking was marked. We went to a guest-parking place. When we got out of the car, we were met by a man in a red coat who identified himself as a greeter for the church. He asked if he could take us to the preschool area."

Christina and Tom both began to speak about the worship service, but Christina paused to allow Tom to speak. "The people were incredibly friendly. The music was great — a blend of traditional hymns and contemporary songs. The first time I heard Richard [the pastor] preach, I was hooked. He communicated extremely well, and I found myself learning a lot about the Bible in just 30 minutes. And remember, I was totally ignorant of the Bible."

The family returned every Sunday. They were invited to and got involved in a couples' Sunday school class. When a couple from the class visited them at home and shared how they could become Christians, both Tom and Christina were ready.

But the story does not end there. Tom, Christina and Amy had moved to North Carolina so that Tom could join the family company. Tom and Christina's lives were radically changed when they became Christians. Then Tom's parents started visiting the Baptist church, if for no other reason, to see what had happened to the young couple. Within two months, Tom's parents became Christians. Now Tom's older brother and his family are visiting the church.

I'd love to have that kind of story repeated thousands of times in years to come — to be repeated in your church as well. Therefore, in the following articles, I will summarize 15 characteristics of churches that are effective in reaching the unchurched. See how your church measures up.

1. Major on majors

Though I remain an obnoxious optimist about the future of the American church, I admit that I have my concerns. In my roles, past and present, as pastor, interim pastor, and church consultant, I have seen church members focus their energies on some of the most insignificant issues.

Some members demand their brand of music. Others get irritated when the order of worship is changed. Some members will complain when a minister does not make every telephone call he is expected to make. Others fuss when the sermon goes five minutes too long. Some members seem to worship their buildings and location. Others seem to have forgotten how to worship God. And in the meantime, tens of thousands die to face a Christless eternity, and so few church members seem to care.

The experience of listening to the formerly unchurched and of studying churches that reach the unchurched was a joy, because these churches tend to major on majors. Other issues are treated, as they should be, as minor. Churches that reach the unchurched keep their priorities in order and their goals in clear view.

2. Be biblical, conservative and convictional

In my denomination we have been involved in a quarter-of-a-century "battle for the Bible." When Southern Baptists talk theology among themselves, the discussion is often perceived to be political. But it must be said without hesitation that churches that reach the unchurched are theologically conservative. They have a high view of Scripture. And their convictions about their beliefs are obvious.

A church can attempt many good contextual efforts to reach the unchurched, but if it does not have the foundations of a high view of Scripture, the efforts are either futile or transient. I have yet to discover a church that consistently reaches the unchurched over a several-year period that is not conservative in its theology.

3. Give evangelism priority and passion

To be honest, I thought only rarely of the need to tell others about Christ two decades ago. Even though God had called me to ministry, and even though I had left my lofty successful position in the business world, I only had passing thoughts of the need to share Christ. But in 1983 my priorities were turned upside down.

One of the first courses I took as a seminary student was Personal Evangelism with Dr. Lewis Drummond. Two aspects of the course changed my life. First, Dr. Drummond had a passion for evangelism. We students were particularly mesmerized by his stories of M. L. Oneal, a layman of a church where Dr. Drummond had once served as pastor. "Oneal," as our professor called him, would not let a day pass without sharing Christ. Even as Oneal was being taken to surgery where he would die, he was telling the medical attendants about Jesus. What a passion Oneal and Dr. Drummond had for Christ!

Dr. Drummond did not limit our studies to his lectures. Every week he required us to share the gospel with a lost person. I wrote letters to lost family members. I witnessed on the streets of Louisville, Kentucky. I told my barber about Jesus. I intentionally developed relationships with unchurched persons. I developed a priority for evangelism that changed my life!

What do vibrant churches such as: Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, Calif.), Prestonwood Baptist Church (Dallas), Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, Ky.), First Baptist Church (Jacksonville, Fla.), Parkway Wesleyan Church (Roanoke, Va.), and Xenos Christian Fellowship (Columbus, Ohio) all have in common? They all make evangelism a priority.

I have visited all of these churches. Though they all agree on the key doctrines of the Christian faith, they do have theological differences. Their worship styles range from traditional to blended to contemporary. Their common bonds, however, include a conviction of the authority of God's Word and a passion for evangelism.

Too many church leaders seek to copy the methodologies of growing churches without emulating their hearts. Never expect to be a church for the unchurched unless you have a passion for evangelism.

Read part 2 and part 3 of this series.

Thom S. Rainer, Ph.D., is president of Church Central Associates LLC and founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Considered one of the leading experts on the church today, he is the author or co-author of 16 books on the church and has written articles or reviews for more than 30 publications. Dr. Rainer has also served as a pastor and interim pastor in 10 churches and has consulted with more than 300 churches, denominational entities and religious organizations.