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| Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them | 
 enlarge | Author: Thom S. Rainer
Publisher: Zondervan
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $9.16
You Save: $7.83 (46%)
New (29) Used (9) from $8.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 147921
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0310286131
Dewey Decimal Number: 269
EAN: 9780310286134
ASIN: 0310286131
Publication Date: March 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A comprehensive study of the formerly unchurched explodes some common myths as to what it takes to reach people and provides insight into how the Christian church can develop effective approaches to reach the growing number of unchurched in North America.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 An excellent resource for the church that wants to grow November 25, 2008
In SURPRISING INSIGHTS FROM THE UNCHURCHED AND PROVEN WAYS TO REACH THEM Dr. Rainer provides a well researched exploration into why only 3 out of 100 churches in America are growing by bringing people in from the world into committment to the church. It begins with a Pastor who is called and equipped to win the lost and a church that takes care of the basics of preparation for New People to come. This is a product that is well worth the cost. (to my surprise, I discovered I already own two of Dr. Rainer's other insightful books. This was probably the best)
 A must for pastors. April 15, 2008
Full of good practical advice and more-or-less interesting statistics. Gives a new and intensely practical perspective on how Americans percieve church, pastors and preaching. Far from theological, the book is none-the-less worthwhile as an anthology of sensible suggestions from successful pastors and the "formerly unchurched."
quality resource January 1, 2008
Great stats for church progress written with quality expertise.
This is a must have for every pastor interested in church growth.
This will stir your heart to reach people for JESUS.
Great insights! September 1, 2007
Tom Rainer offers very interesting insights from his surveys of formerly unchurched. Churches, pastors and leaders can use the survey responses to develop effective strategies for reaching the lost in their communities.
Church Growth Remains Elusive June 30, 2006
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
With more research and "How To" books than any other time in history the American Church still seems to be on the decline. In this volume Thom Rainer, Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth, takes his best shot at the problem. Is his "best shot" good enough? It's certainly helpful, but probably not a home run.
PROS:
This book reiterates solid leadership principles.
This book insists (thankfully) that traditional conservative churches can grow without becoming "odd".
This book paints a vivid contrast between effective and ineffective pastors.
This book actually goes to those recently converted to Christianity and asks them why they converted.
This book was written by someone who knows what he is talking about.
CONS:
The research sample is too small and biased. Rainer studied 350 new Christians, 350 Christians who transferred to a new church, and 100 pastors - ALL from conservative evangelical churches! This is circular logic. That is, if you asked all of the new people who came to my church why they came to church, they would mostly respond that they liked particular aspects of my church. This only shows that my church has the ability to attract new persons, not that my church has the only way or even the best way. NCD (Natural Church Development) has interviewed more churches of more types on more continents than any other study. Do not overlook NCD material when researching this subject.
This book accepts national statistics that are no longer universally accepted. This book "assumes" that Conservative Evangelical and Fundamentalists Church in American outgrow liberal and mainstream churches. 10 years ago this statement could have been made as a fact. This is no longer the case. Recent studies have shown that conservative churches are also in decline at about the same rate. The reasons are heavily debated, but the results are that church growth is isolated in all Christian movements.
RECOMMENDATION:
This book is a must read, if for no other reason, it reinforces that churches CAN be effective without being out of balance. But this book should not be viewed as the final word on the matter.
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