Most churches are built around investing in churched people. Think about that reality. It’s true and if you have thought about this idea much it can drive you crazy because our mission from Jesus was to help people outside the faith become followers of Jesus. We are also called to teach those who are already followers of Christ so they can grow. What we have discovered in our context at Grace Community Church is that this is a tension to manage not a problem to solve. We are called to invest in both outsiders and insiders.
Today at The Orange Conference I had the chance to hear Carey Nieuwhof talk about how we can help our churches connect with unchurched people. I know as a church leader I often forget to think about these ideas because I spend most of my time with people plugged into our church. Check out these 11 ideas and see what they stir in your heart…
1. They don’t come back when they have kids.
a. 50% of parents said that having children did not affect their connection to a church. (Even many churched parents said that children did not change their level of churchgoing.)
b. 5% of unchurched parents said that having children helped them become active in a church for the first time.
2.They feel less guilty than you think.
a. Unchurched people feel no more guilty about missing church on a Sunday than you feel about missing synagogue on a Saturday.
b. Guilt is a short-term motivator.
3. When they attend, they attend less often.
a. Small Groups can provide the motivation for people to come more regularly.
b. No one should be able to out-community the local church.
c. Disconnected families generally don’t stick.
d. They will become your best inviters if they like your ministry.
4. Most are spiritual
a. Most unchurched people believe in some kind of God.
b. Respecting their past journey better enables them to start a new journey.
5. They’re intelligent, just not biblically literate.
a. Be inclusive without being condescending
6. They want you to be Christian. Be authentically Christian.
a. Don’t alter the content of your services for unchurched people, alter the approach and experience.
7. They expect transparency.
a. admire your strengths, but they resonate with your weakness.
8.They struggle with every social issue you were hoping to avoid.
a. You can’t hold non-Christian people accountable for Christian values
b. Have conversations.
c. Allow ministry to precede theology.
9. Their kids matter to them… maybe even more than they should.
a. Safe is even more important than ‘right’ to families.
b. What you spend on families communicates value to unchurched families.
c. The quality of your team determines the quality of their experience with you.
10. They are looking for partners.
a. They’re looking for partners; they’ve just never thought the church could help.
b. Strategy is almost more important than content when it comes to partnering with parents.
11. They need help with the homeside of the Orange strategy
a. They are not sure what “Christian” means.
b. They do not have a precedent for what a Christian home looks like. So you need to make that clear.
12. They do not follow a predictable spiritual growth curve.
a. Design a flexible on ramp.
b. Think steps, not programs.
c. Maturity takes time.
d. Relationships matter most.
Make sure and check out Carey’s blog here. It’s one of my favorite blogs to read!
1. They don’t come back when they have kids.
a. 50% of parents said that having children did not affect their connection to a church. (Even many churched parents said that children did not change their level of churchgoing.)
b. 5% of unchurched parents said that having children helped them become active in a church for the first time.
2.They feel less guilty than you think.
a. Unchurched people feel no more guilty about missing church on a Sunday than you feel about missing synagogue on a Saturday.
b. Guilt is a short-term motivator.
3. When they attend, they attend less often.
a. Small Groups can provide the motivation for people to come more regularly.
b. No one should be able to out-community the local church.
c. Disconnected families generally don’t stick.
d. They will become your best inviters if they like your ministry.
4. Most are spiritual
a. Most unchurched people believe in some kind of God.
b. Respecting their past journey better enables them to start a new journey.
5. They’re intelligent, just not biblically literate.
a. Be inclusive without being condescending
6. They want you to be Christian. Be authentically Christian.
a. Don’t alter the content of your services for unchurched people, alter the approach and experience.
7. They expect transparency.
a. admire your strengths, but they resonate with your weakness.
8.They struggle with every social issue you were hoping to avoid.
a. You can’t hold non-Christian people accountable for Christian values
b. Have conversations.
c. Allow ministry to precede theology.
9. Their kids matter to them… maybe even more than they should.
a. Safe is even more important than ‘right’ to families.
b. What you spend on families communicates value to unchurched families.
c. The quality of your team determines the quality of their experience with you.
10. They are looking for partners.
a. They’re looking for partners; they’ve just never thought the church could help.
b. Strategy is almost more important than content when it comes to partnering with parents.
11. They need help with the homeside of the Orange strategy
a. They are not sure what “Christian” means.
b. They do not have a precedent for what a Christian home looks like. So you need to make that clear.
12. They do not follow a predictable spiritual growth curve.
a. Design a flexible on ramp.
b. Think steps, not programs.
c. Maturity takes time.
d. Relationships matter most.
– See more at: http://careynieuwhof.com/2014/04/unchurchedfamilies/?utm_content=bufferdce6f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.3rg3PkzR.dpuf
1. They don’t come back when they have kids.
a. 50% of parents said that having children did not affect their connection to a church. (Even many churched parents said that children did not change their level of churchgoing.)
b. 5% of unchurched parents said that having children helped them become active in a church for the first time.
2.They feel less guilty than you think.
a. Unchurched people feel no more guilty about missing church on a Sunday than you feel about missing synagogue on a Saturday.
b. Guilt is a short-term motivator.
3. When they attend, they attend less often.
a. Small Groups can provide the motivation for people to come more regularly.
b. No one should be able to out-community the local church.
c. Disconnected families generally don’t stick.
d. They will become your best inviters if they like your ministry.
4. Most are spiritual
a. Most unchurched people believe in some kind of God.
b. Respecting their past journey better enables them to start a new journey.
5. They’re intelligent, just not biblically literate.
a. Be inclusive without being condescending
6. They want you to be Christian. Be authentically Christian.
a. Don’t alter the content of your services for unchurched people, alter the approach and experience.
7. They expect transparency.
a. admire your strengths, but they resonate with your weakness.
8.They struggle with every social issue you were hoping to avoid.
a. You can’t hold non-Christian people accountable for Christian values
b. Have conversations.
c. Allow ministry to precede theology.
9. Their kids matter to them… maybe even more than they should.
a. Safe is even more important than ‘right’ to families.
b. What you spend on families communicates value to unchurched families.
c. The quality of your team determines the quality of their experience with you.
10. They are looking for partners.
a. They’re looking for partners; they’ve just never thought the church could help.
b. Strategy is almost more important than content when it comes to partnering with parents.
11. They need help with the homeside of the Orange strategy
a. They are not sure what “Christian” means.
b. They do not have a precedent for what a Christian home looks like. So you need to make that clear.
12. They do not follow a predictable spiritual growth curve.
a. Design a flexible on ramp.
b. Think steps, not programs.
c. Maturity takes time.
d. Relationships matter most.
– See more at: http://careynieuwhof.com/2014/04/unchurchedfamilies/?utm_content=bufferdce6f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#sthash.3rg3PkzR.dpuf