If We Can't Reach the Dechurched,
Can We Really Reach the Unchurched?

C. Michael Johnson

Or another way to ask this might be: Are the keys to being effective at reaching the Unchurched to be found in the Dechurched? George Barna states that recently Dechurched Christians represent the largest growth rate of any segment they monitor. Few churches in America are unaffected by this growing trend. This may be old news to you, but my question is this: Could thoughtful dialog with this group provide insights to not only open our front door, but close our backdoor as well? If our campaigns to reach the Unchurched have been weak or unfruitful, is it possible we could be ignoring a group that represents a more immediate potential for cityreaching and community transformation and a key to reaching every other group?

If you think so, and if you have a heart for the Dechurched, I have some thoughts and ideas I'd like you to consider:

THOUGHTS:

1. Would it make more sense to first become the kind of church that is highly effective in reaching the Dechurched?
2. What we can learn from the Dechurched, may be more important than what they can learn from us.
3. Collaboration, rather than assimilation, may be a more appropriate goal to set with regard to the Dechurched.
4. This collaboration, done right, could produce the most transformational impact on your ministry and your community of any program presently in place.

IDEAS:

1. Dispel the stereotypes. Research points out that the growing portion of this group, are not weak in faith, but in fact are strong Christians. Many are former church leaders, many have years of ministry experience, and some are even former pastors. They are not disillusioned with God, just the organized church they've known; and many are experimenting with the house church movement or pursuing other creative formats like marketplace or community missions. In fact, for the most part it is because of their strong faith, not the lack of faith, that they have the courage to step beyond the known comfort zones of their traditions and face the misunderstanding of other Christians.

2. Avoid Simplistic Definitions. If someone is part of a house church, mission group, marketplace fellowship, or even on a temporary sabbatical, they are still part of THE Church. We say the church is not a building or an organization, it's the Body of Christ, but we tend to forget this when we attach labels.

3. Listen to the Dechurched. Seek them out, know who they are, listen to their perspective. Focus groups and one-on-one interviews with the Unchurched are good to get a broad, uninitiated, community perspective so important. But the recently Dechurched will have the most informed and intuitive perspective, the kind that can uncover great insights and ideas for change.

4. Partner With The Dechurched. Sound strange? But think about it. The Dechurched are probably the closest people to the creative solutions needed to really reach and transform your city. But, you say, isn't that like rewarding independence? Would that not legitimize them? What if all my people took their path? Stop for a minute and unpack that line of thinking. Don't we want all of our people to be independent, to stand confident in their gifts and calling, follow the call of God, to meet the needs in the community they are uniquely meant to fill? They should not have to leave the fellowship to do that, only if we've made it necessary. We may have to admit that if people have to leave to follow their calling, or for that matter if they are that easily drawn away by outside influence, there is something inherently wrong with the way we've wired our organization. Could it be that the reason they are disconnected from much of the Body the result of church institutions that fail to provide a wide birth for creativity, imagination, risk, and missional ideas? We also must admit that God may have these people where they are for a reason, to experiment, venture into new areas, cross-pollinate with different cultures, or take a sabbatical to process or work through something important with God in a way which a high level of church activity would be a major distraction. But they still might be open to collaborate or partner for specific reasons. Whatever relationship that might be, can you see the mutual benefit for cityreaching?

5. Create Community Idea Factories. In almost every case, the reason people leave the church, is not a relational problem in and of itself. At its base it's a failure to channel inspiration and imagination. If dreams and ideas keep bumping up against walls and internal obstacles, sooner or later they will find their way outside the enclosure. A better way would be to take the proactive position and actually stimulate ideas. But, facilitating ideas is not the same as endorsing or funding ideas. Read some of Tommy Barnett and his son Matthew Barnett's experience with the Dream Centers (The Church That Never Sleeps) for effective ways to create and channel an idea movement. Remember, the path to transformation goes through dreams.

There are 12 million Dechurched people in America right now. That means if your town is average there are thousands of recently dechurched people living near your church. With a little openness and creativity put into it, what could an intelligent withreach strategy that effectively connected with them mean to your church, and in turn, what impact it could have on your city?

I have more ideas on this, some practical steps and strategies, and maybe even a synergistic marketing strategy that would reach them. If you want to explore this further, call 804-557-3119 or email me at mike@breakthroughchurch.com.

Michael
Planning Guides and Documents:

• Community of Dreams Overview
• New Church Launch Marketing Plan
• Strategy Articles
• Withreach.com

Copyright 2006, Breakthrough Media Group

Want to get specific?

If you’d like to explore this in an email dialog, please feel free to drop the author a note at mike@breakthroughchurch.com.

The Community of Dreams National Cityreaching Partnership is launching innovative pilot projects with a local churches in 500 U.S. cities in 2006 through 2008. The focus is on using Withreach and Community of Dreams positioning strategies to support one church as an effective catalyst in each of those cities, using innovative cityreaching strategies, comprehensive marketing plans, and an integrated, branded identity package.

If you would like to learn more about this initiative, please send a short backgrounder on your church with complete information on how to contact you. Email to:

mike@breakthroughchurch.com

If you know of another church in another city who may be a good candidate for their city, please feel free to forward this document.
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Contacts:
For coaching and strategic outreach questions contact

C. Michael Johnson
mike@breakthroughchurch.com

All other inquiries contact:

Donna Crowell
missdonna@Breakthroughchurch.com
800-595-4327
Breakthroughchurch.com

*This entire report copyright © 2006 by Breakthrough Media Group. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward, copy or share single copies of this document in the context of local church outreach planning, provided entire document is kept intact. Small portions can be freely quoted. For permission to excerpt, or to make multiple copies (more than five), or to reprint in a publication or post online, contact: