Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them Quotes

“When high expectations are communicated to members, the unchurched are attracted to these churches that have meaningful membership. One such church among the churches we have received information on is Carron Baptist Church, an African-American church in Washington, D.C. They actually require their members to agree to a church covenant that mandates the following: To read the Bible daily. To pray with and for members of your family daily. To attend all worship services unless hindered by health or circumstances beyond your control. To abstain from gossip, backbiting, murmuring, or negative talk. To respond to conflict and disagreement according to biblical precepts. To share your faith regularly; to invite people to church. To participate in Bible study/ Sunday school To be in agreement with the church’s doctrine. To be involved in at least one ministry in the church. To tithe. To abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs. To be sexually pure. The unchurched that visit Carron Baptist Church quickly discern that it is a high-expectation church. Yet they keep returning, keep joining, and the church continues to grow.”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“Bob Russell says further about excellence: “Mediocrity breeds indifference, but quality attracts.…Imagine how much easier evangelism would be if your church services were done with so much excellence that they inspired people to the extent that they couldn’t help but tell their friends about their experience.”4”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“Though I am not pleased with the responses regarding another factor in leadership development, integrity demands that I report it. Only three out of ten of those we interviewed indicated that college or seminary training positively impacted their leadership development. And four out of ten told us the influence was slight or not a factor at all.”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“Churches with high expectations not only reach the unchurched but retain them as well.”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“The growing ranks of the unchurched are not due to problems limited to certain geographical areas. For certain there are areas like Yolo County, California, in which only 28 percent of residents are claimed by any church, probably because of the influence of New Age and other alternative religions and the presence of the University of California-Davis. 4 While we shake our heads knowingly that Yolo County is 72 percent unchurched, do we realize that areas like Menifee County, Kentucky (population 5,200), are 87 percent”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“Yet in my role as a church consultant, I find a lot of confusion about the lost and unchurched population. Many Christians do not realize how unevangelized and unchurched America has become.”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“People have no desire to be a part of something that makes no difference, that expects little. And, frankly, many churches have dumbed down church membership to the point that it has no meaning at all.”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them

“Myth # 2: The unchurched are turned off by denominational names in the church name.”
― Thom S. Rainer, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them