Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

By: Thom S. Rainer

Narrated by: Don Reed

We’ve read all the hot books on evangelism, we’ve attended scores of seminars—and still we’re not reaching the unchurched. Eighty to ninety percent of churchless Americans will never darken our culturally relevant, seeker-sensitive doors. What are we missing?Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong people. Instead of consulting the unchurched masses, it’s time we heard what the small but important minority who have recently begun attending a church have to say. What made the difference for them? What critical factors helped spark their faith in Jesus and drew them into the community of believers?Thom S. Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, shares the results and conclusions of his school’s groundbreaking survey of the formerly unchurched. At last, here are proven insights into what evangelistically effective churches are doing right. Flying in the face of much contemporary wisdom, the answers will surprise you.This is truly one of the most valuable resources you can own as a church leader. Filled with charts, graphs, and other visual aids, plus an abundance of true-life accounts, this book explodes common myths about the unchurched. You’ll discoverWhy pastors and doctrinal preaching are criticalThe enormous influence of family and relationships Which things matter more than we’d thought, and which matter lessWhat causes visitors to returnThe traits of unchurched-reaching leadersHow to preach effectively to the unchurchedHow to become a church for the unchurchedAnd much, much moreThis eye-opening compendium of information includes reproducible appendices that can help you fine-tune or even restructure your church. From one of the nations foremost authorities on evangelism and church growth, here are insights and tools that will change the way you think of and deal with--and win--unchurched men and women who long to connect with God.Photocopyable material includesUnchurched-Reaching Readiness InventoryChurch Health Survey

Missed Group Speaks Out

This was a great insight into the world of people who used to be out of church and now have changed lives attending church. This book answers what actually worked to reach people not in church. A must read for anyone serving in leadership in a church somewhere.
AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

I highly recommend this book.

I totally enjoyed it. Very interesting research. This should be read by all pastors working to reach the unchurched.

Of Narrow Interest

Thom Rainwer's book is well written and read. He presents the findings of a study he has undertaken and even his descriptions of methodology are not tiring. I have two concerns about this book and have given it two stars because (1) it has very narrow interest and (2) the presentation of findings is on the superficial side.

Actually, Thom Rainer should have titled his book "Insights from Those Who Were Unchurched but Have Embraced Evangelical Christianity" rather than his chosen alternative. For those seeking an understanding of religion in American, you will not find much help here.

Leaders in the Evangelical world will find information helpful to marketing their ministries, but Rainer provides no broad context from which to understand what is taking place among these individuals. I wish he had approached the topic (even with the narrow target mentioned) after having listened to "Outliers" also available from Audible. I worry that many ministers reading this book will come away feeling inadequate if not guilty about their struggling ministries. For the evangelical leader there is 2% milk, but no meat for the soul. That is ashame, because this is a very needly area of study.

I suspect that Thom Rainer is well meaning, but this book reads as though it was written to sell books and the research was secondary. I hope that he will write additional volumes giving the general reading more insight and provide greater understanding to those who have an evangelical orientation. A secular society deserves more.