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‘Back to Church’ Campaign to Woo ‘De-churched” and ‘Un-churched’

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Tue, August 04, 2009
Viewed 82
(27) comments so far

‘Back to Church’ Campaign to Woo ‘De-churched” and ‘Un-churched’

LifeWay Research, an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, found that 82 percent of un-churched people surveyed said that they’d be open to visit a church, if a friend or family member invited them.

Unfortunately, said Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay, few church members invite their friends and neighbors. “Only two percent of church members invite an un-churched person to church,” he says. “Ninety-eight percent of churchgoers never extend an invitation in a given year.”

While most Americans say they believe in God, and many tell pollsters that they attend church regularly, only about 20 percent of Americans actually show up in church on Sunday, according to the “The American Church in Crisis,” a recent study of church attendance.

Organizers say most people who drop out of church haven’t lost their faith in God. Instead, they fell out of the habit of churchgoing. Some moved or had another change in life circumstances, or had a falling out with their former church and simply drifted away. Most often, life simply became too busy.

That means they are open to returning to church.

“Many de-churched people are a simple re-invitation away,” says Mark Batterson, of the National Community Church in Washington, D.C.

Inviting newcomers is only part of the campaign. The other part is getting the church ready for them to show up. Outreach has put together several tools to help churches prepare for visitors.

A free downloadable planning guide offers advice on everything from sermon planning to instructions for greeters. Churches are asked to plan for the program and to make sure their buildings are visitor friendly. They’re also encouraged to pay attention to small details--like clear signage and clean bathrooms–that are important to visitors.

“When people come to church for the first time, or come back after a long absence, they notice everything,” says Nelson Searcy, lead pastor of The Journey in New York City. “In fact, most of them form innate judgments about the environment within seven seconds of walking through the door.”

Organizers point out that returning to church is a process. “Rebuilding trust with this group is essential, and building trust requires authenticity and consistency,” says the campaign-organizing guide. “Otherwise, your returning guests may feel that you have tried a ‘bait and switch.’”

Along with the campaign planning guide and an interactive Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/backtochurch), Outreach has put together a “Rethink Church” booklet, addressing the 10 top reasons why people drop out of church, along with videos, articles and other resources. The booklet addresses common objections such as, “I don’t believe in organized religion,” “Church is boring,” and “Christians are judgmental and hypocritical.”

“Back to Church Sunday has the potential to be a day that changes the future course of someone’s life,” says Chad McCallum, lead pastor of Compass Church in Byron Center, Mich. “In a world where so many people fall into the definition of ‘de-churched,’ this is a doable effort for any church that wants to reach more people for Christ.”

Good idea? Will people respond? My thought: Some might… most probably won’t.

Is this a good idea? (The people in the logo sure look happy to be back in church!)

As millions of Americans head back to school, organizers of a new faith-based outreach campaign hope that millions more will come back to church as well.

The "Back to Church Sunday" campaign (http://www.backtochurch.com) from San Diego-based Outreach Inc. makes it easy for church members to invite their friends and family by creating a worship service specifically geared toward visitors.

The program kicks off with national "Back to Church Sunday" on Sept.13 aimed at reaching the "un-churched" and "de-churched"-- people who used to go to church, but don't any more.

The campaign is based on a simple idea. If you ask un-churched people to come with you to church--mostly likely they'll say yes.

Comments

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Brian L. on Tue, August 04, 2009

Jan,

I think many of us are doing just what you advocate.

But why is intentionally helping your church understand the power of inviting “another gimmick?”

I think that anything (and that includes the dreaded “program”) that helps our people get past the idea that church is only for those who fit our little holy huddle is a good thing, not a gimmick.

The idea of this “program” is simply to help people invite others to church so they can hear the gospel. But apparently because it is labeled as “outreach,” it can’t possibly be a good thing, according to some. How sad…
Leonard on Tue, August 04, 2009

Jan, it is obvious you know your community and have a handle on where to begin. thanks
Brian L. on Tue, August 04, 2009

Jan,

I agree wholeheartedly with Leonard. I should have included that in my previous post!
Pat on Tue, August 04, 2009

While I agree that most people are just an invitation away from coming to church, and I would encourage more church attendees to invite people, cleaning up and putting on your best face for that day strikes me as odd. Shouldn’t we have on our best face every Sunday? Although we may not have ton of visitors each week, many churches get at least one or two a week, if not more. We should always do our best, be our best and look and sound our best. Not only should we do this for visitors but because we value the house of God and the community of faith. So, while I’m not against this event, I would encourage to look at their practices and ask themselves do they do their best every Sunday, even if there are no visitors.
john david delgado on Tue, August 04, 2009

Funny,

I know of a church that is doing a “Don’t Come to Our Church” campaign. They are asking it’s members to not invite people to church, rather to invite them to Jesus. They are sick of church invites.

dontcometoourchurch.com

No church is mentioned at the web site. Only stories about Jesus.
Christopher G Fontenot on Wed, August 05, 2009

Make no mistake….I am all for inviting people to church. But there are two issues that concern me.

1. Christians are using it as an excuse to NOT witness to the lost. Too many Christians leave it up to the pastor to hopefully preach a message that brings about the need for repentance as well as a Savior. Since only 2% of Christians regularly share their faith it’s no wonder the Church in America is so anemic.

2. The invitee will more than likely not hear a message that centers on the holiness of God, the Lordship of Christ and the exceeding sinfulness of sin. They’re probably going to hear a message about how to improve their lives, why it is important to tithe, or worse….why it is important for wives to perform oral sex.

My zeal for evangelism should not be the exception but the rule. We wouldn’t have to invite people to church if the sheep would go out and have lambs! (share the Gospel) Winning souls for Christ would fill the pews with real believers with the same zeal for evangelism, thus perpetually growing the Church. We must never forget that salvation is never the choice of the sinner but a miracle of God. He raises their dead spirit to new life in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the Gospel.

Evangelism, like prayer or studying of the Word or baptism, is not a gift but instead it is a matter of obedience or disobedience to God.
Peter Hamm on Wed, August 05, 2009

Christopher, just a couple comments.

1. Many Christians are using invitation as an ADJUNCT to their Gospel presentation to unsaved friends.

2. Many of us in “seeker-sensitive” churches work hard for people to learn about what God has done during pretty much any weekend service.
Leonard on Wed, August 05, 2009

Christopher,

I agree, far too few people share their faith. I also believe that sharing Christ and inviting poeple into an authentic community of faith where Christ is central, is highly effective. You seem to place a huge emphasis on the sermon.

I think you overstate your conviction, as to what people might hear from the pulpit. I agree there are many churches where you are left scratching your head, wondering what you just heard.

This is not an either or issue. People should witness and people should invite. I do both.

As for the messages of the holiness of God, the Lordship of Christ and the exceeding sinfulness of men. Is that what you believe a person needs to hear to become saved? I am just asking.

Forgive me but it seems you leave out the Holy Spirit in the process here.
Jerry on Wed, August 05, 2009

Not making any excuses for those who don’t regularly share their faith, but in the words of Paul is his letter to Ephesians, chapter 4 verse 11, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.”

We’re not all called to be evangelists, however, we should all be ready to give an answer in and out of season for the hope that lies within us. Sometimes the best thing we can do to share our faith is to invite people to church. But I also think we should be asking them regularly, not for just one special Sunday.
Jerry on Wed, August 05, 2009

There is also good reason to regularly engage people in a conversation about God and find out what they actually believe and know. In a lot of areas, people call themselves “Christian” and not really understand their condition before a holy God. They only are “Christian” because they attend church every Sunday and don’t live like it the rest of the week.
Peter Hamm on Wed, August 05, 2009

Jerry,

Also a good reason why people who don’t have a gift of evangelism, but live their faith out in such an obvious way that other people WANT to visit the church where somebody like that might come from shouldn’t feel bad about living the way they do. I know many like this!
Jerry on Wed, August 05, 2009

Amen, Peter, amen. My prayer for our church specifically, and the church as a whole is that God would plant a desire in the hearts of HIs people to know Him more and more so their (our) hearts would be pure and shine His light in our communities. Our lives should be winsome to those with whom we come in contact.

We are role models - the world is watching - and we have a duty as stewards of the image of Christ to model Him accurately in all phases of our lives so others will want to know why we act the way we do. Then we tell them!