Nearly 500 pastors, church staff and lay leaders gathered May 15 in Columbia for Reclaiming the Church, a conference which sought to address one common issue facing all churches across South Carolina and the nation.
Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, and his son Sam presented groundbreaking new research to be released in early 2009 on survey results of nearly 500 people who once attended church but have since left.
“This is the perception of the people in the church, regardless of whether their perception is reality,” said Sam Rainer.
The survey participants cited a number of reasons for initially leaving, including changes in life situations, disenchantment with the pastor, church not fulfilling their needs, feeling out of place, and conflict with a church staff member, among others.
“It is amazing to hear the perspective of an outsider,” noted Thom Rainer, especially those who have at one time been in the church culture.
In an overarching conclusion, Thom Rainer specified that regardless of the reason for leaving, the church has been devalued.
“We have dumbed down in so many churches that it has lost priority – relegated to a lower priority,” he said. Rainer also encouraged attendees to raise the expectation of church members. “Many who are not in church cannot see why they need to be there.”
Rainer especially noted that those who relocate to another city often do not find a new church home. Similarly, Rainer pointed to college students who fail to become actively involved in church once they move away from home.
The Rainers also concluded from the research that the strength of an individual’s faith was a key factor in most of the formerly churched.
“People who are not grounded in their faith first are far more likely to leave,” said Sam Rainer. He also encouraged leaders to view their church pews as a mission field, continuing to challenge church members in discipleship and growth in their personal relationships with the Lord.
The goal of the research was not only to identify reasons for leaving the church, but also to determine ways to bring them back.
“There is good news – the vast majority of people who have left the church want to come back, be reclaimed,” said Sam.
The research found an overwhelming two-thirds of the people who left were willing to come back – and a simple invitation is all it would take.
Sixty percent of the formerly churched ages 18 to 35 are likely to return if a friend or an acquaintance invites them back. Almost all respondents affirmed the power of an invitation, either from a friend, neighbor or even their children.
The Rainers also noted that most people are curious, not cynical.
“People who dropped out are watching you,” Thom said. “People are looking to you to be an example.”
Thom Rainer encouraged those in attendance to continue ministering through their church, but not to forget those who feel the church may have forgotten them.
“The truly missional church is one that reaches out to the community, and that community includes those who have dropped out of church.”
Why individuals leave the church:
1) Too busy
2) Family/home responsibilities
3) Hypocrisy in church members
4) Judgmental church members
5) Moved too far from the church
6) Work situation changed
7) Church did not help us to develop spiritually
8) Stopped believing in organized religion
9) Church cliques
10) Divorce or separation