Description

Synopsis:

Churchless people are all around us: among our closest loved ones, at our workplaces, in our neighborhoods. And more and more, they are becoming the norm: The number of churchless adults in the US has grown by nearly one-third in the past decade. Yet the startling truth is that many of these people claim they are looking for a genuine, powerful encounter with God―but they just don’t find it in church.

What are they (or we) missing? How can we better reach out to them? What can we say or do that would inspire them to want to join a community of faith? Containing groundbreaking new research from the Barna Group, and edited by bestselling authors George Barna (Revolution) and David Kinnaman (You Lost Me), Churchless reveals the results of a five-year study based on interviews with thousands of churchless men and women. Looking past the surface of church attendance to deeper spiritual realities, Churchless will help us understand those who choose not to be part of a church, build trust-based relationships with them, and be empowered to successfully invite them to engage.

From the Back Cover:

“I’m not interested in church.”
“I used to attend, but it’s been years.”
“I believe in God, but can encounter him anywhere. Why go to church?”

Churchless people are all around us: among our closest loved ones, at our workplaces, in our neighborhoods. And increasingly, they are becoming the norm. The number of churchless adults in the United States has grown by nearly one-third in the past decade.

Yet the startling truth is that many unchurched people claim they are looking for a genuine, powerful encounter with God―but they just don’t find it in church. What are they (or we) missing? How can we better reach out to them? What can we say or do that would inspire them to join a community of faith?

Churchless presents the startling trends revealed by two decades of Barna Group interviews with thousands of churchless men and women, and offers discerning analysis of the results from bestselling authors George Barna (Revolution) and David Kinnaman (You Lost Me). This practical, insight-driven book will help you look past the surface of church attendance to deeper spiritual realities and understand those who choose not to be part of a church―the first step toward building trust-based relationships that lead to Christ-centered community.

From the inside flap:

The surprising reasons why church avoidance is on the rise―and a hopeful analysis of what to do about it.

What causes people to stay away from church? What makes them feel welcomed and willing to engage? Our world is ever-changing, and so are the answers. Churchless people today have different reasons for their choices than previous generations. And until we understand those reasons . . . how can we hope to reach them?

Bestselling authors David Kinnaman and George Barna team up as general editors of Churchless to equip you with the answers from new Barna Group research. They shine a spotlight on today’s culture to reveal what the churchless think and feel about religion, why they might believe in God but avoid the local church, and what kind of faith experience they’re seeking.

In Churchless, you’ll not only learn the newest data, but discover how to turn knowledge into wisdom and action as you lovingly reach out to churchless friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family.