12 Lessons We Learn From People Who Don’t Go To Church

When is the last time you truly listened to a visitor of your church?  I think we can learn much from them.  Yesterday, I posted a blog that was an interview of my two unchurched nieces after they attended a recent service.  You can read that post here.

Here are the key applications that church leaders can take from their statements.

1. Relationships Are The Key Ingredient In Reaching The Unchurched – They were excited to be going (to church) “because it was with us”.  Without a doubt the best way to get visitors to your church is to have their friends and family invite them.   
2. Competing Voices – They were concerned about how the service was going to conflict with their already scheduled Bo Burnham comedy concert.  All unchurched individuals will have competing voices – concerts, sports activities, hobbies, the newspaper, sleep, etc….
3. No Fear – They were not nervous about going to church.  I have always taught that visitors were nervous about going to church.  I am learning this is no longer the case.
4. Affinity – They “were comfortable because kids their age were going to be there.”  Does your church look like your community?
5. First Impressions – They will know “in the first 5-10 minutes if they will love it.”  Your hospitality team and opening song must be done with excellence.
6. Diversity – They noticed “how many white people were there.”  Multi-cultural ministries have a greater opportunity to impact their communities.
7. Kindness – They noticed “how nice people were when they went to the bathroom.”  They will know us by our love.  Enough said.
8. Insider Information – “It was short and sweet getting into the music.”  Let me interpret this – little to no announcements.  Announcements answer questions visitors are not asking.
9. The Pastor – They liked the pastor.  ”He was cool and someone you could open up to.”  The #1 reason people return to a church is because of the pastor.
10. Trust – “You shouldn’t take what people say as fact.”  They didn’t agree “with the fact that everyone thinks what the preacher says is true.”  Unchurched people no longer trust someone just because he/she is the pastor. 
11. Life Change Is A Process – “There is truth in something everyone says.  If you’re living for something that you feel, there must be truth in there somewhere.”  The unchurched will normally not experience transformation during their first visit.  Changing someone’s world view takes time. 
12. They Are Watching Everything, Including You - My youngest niece watches things – “specifically body language.”   A girl “next to her was writing down everything.  This was strange.”   Visitors are watching and paying attention to everything. 

That last one made me think the most.  We need to keep unchurched people tuned in and watching us as long as possible.  Because if they watch us long enough, maybe they will see the love of God.

To receive future posts automatically, simply subscribe or click here.