Synopses & Reviews
A research team from the Billy Graham School of Southern Seminary has personally interviewed over 300 unchurched persons representing all 50 states and Canada, equally divided by gender, and representing every major ethnic, racial, educational, and socioeconomic group. No other Christian research has ever focused on unchurched people from a "faith stage" perspective. The researchers discovered a major reason why the typical Christian is unsuccessful in reaching the unchurched - they fail to understand the principle of faith stages. Different types of receptivity to the gospel require different approaches. The unchurched have certain characteristics that correspond to their current faith stage. Understanding this is critical to effectively relating to and reaching them. The book presents what the researchers learned about the unchurched to reach them at whatever stage they are in. It shows the points of contact and the common objections at each stage and how to reach a person at any stage. It rates unchurched people on the Rainer scale from U5 (most resistant) to U1 (most receptive). The book is written in a conversational style and includes dozens of stories and remarks from representative unchurched individuals. It takes the reader inside the world of the unchurched. It is written primarily for Christian laypersons to help them realize that the unchurched are really "next door" to our homes, work, schools, etc. It reveals how much Christians actually have in common with the unchurched. Among the discoveries was that 8 out of 10 unchurched individuals indicated they would come to a church service if only they were personality invited.
Synopsis
Encourage active and effective evangelism in your church by exploring the mindset of unchurched people. With a relaxed, conversational style and lots of Stories, Rainer teaches how to determine the "faith stage" of a neighbor, coworker, or friend and offer an effective invitation.
Synopsis
This Silver Medallion Book award-winning national interview survey of unchurched people sheds insight on who the unchurched next door are, what objections they raise, and how to connect with them, taking into account their various faith stages based on the Rainer scale with rankings from U5 to U1.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 268) and index.
Synopsis
If You Invite Them, They Will Come.It's true. In a national survey done by author Thom Rainer and his staff, eight out of ten unchurched men and women said they would come to church---if only someone would invite them. When and how is the next big question. Rainer helps you figure out where your neighbors, friends, and coworkers are in their spiritual quest, and how you can know who among the unchurched people in your life are receptive to Christ.In this fascinating book, Rainer identifies five 'faith stages'---levels of responsiveness, prefixed with a 'U' for 'Unchurched'---that represent your running buddy, your sister-in-law, or your hairdresser: U1 Highly receptive to hearing and believing the Good NewsU2 Receptive to the gospel and churchU3 Neutral, with no clear signs of being interested yet perhaps being open to discussionU4 Resistant to the gospel, but with no antagonistic attitudeU5 Highly antagonistic and even hostile to the gospel'A discovery we made is that reaching lost and unchurched people is not always best accomplished with some cookie-cutter strategy, ' Rainer writes. 'The unchurched are different in how they respond to the gospel.' How different? You'll be amazed at the variables that exist when it comes to how open people are to the Christian message. Once you've recognized which stage your unchurched friends and family are, you can much more effectively connect them with Christ. Open this book, and open your mind and heart to the powerful new possibilities of reaching The Unchurched Next Door.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Why Justin is not like Jane is not like Jack -- The unchurched next door -- Faith stages of the unchurched -- Religion is okay for the weak-minded : the world of the U5 -- Just what is truth? : the world of the U4 -- Church is just not my thing : the world of the U3 -- Jesus is just alright with me : the world of the U2 -- What must I do to be saved? : the world of the U1 -- The formerly unchurched offer some insights -- Ten reasons we have not reached the unchurched -- Reaching the unchurched at their faith stages.