Closing the Back Door
At Outreach’s website, they report in “Coming Home - Outreach & Evangelism (link broken)” some statistics about why people leave churches and what churches can do to reach back out.
The Number One reason people drop out of church is a change in life situation (almost 60%). I think of the couple that I wrote about in Hospitality is a Piece of Evangelism reflects this. They moved to a different city, tried a a few churches, and then just got too busy to return.
It appears the second biggest reasons was disillusionment with the church (37%).
I’m sure each of us can think of folks who just “drop out.” I once read a statistic that suggested it only takes about 3 weeks of not going for a person to feel disconnected, and then very hesitant to return. With every week that passes, the hesitancy to return is much greater.
Returning home:
The article goes on to suggest solutions to closing the back door. Their research shows that 41% would return if someone invited them. In the 18-35 age group, 60% suggest an invitation would bring them back.
“A simple, yet powerful invitiation is all it may take to prompt a homecoming for the dechurched. Is the church equipping people to invite otehrs back?”
Let me ask you this?
Who do you know that needs an invitation back to church?
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