3. Unchurched Adults In Kentucky
Understanding The
Unchurched Adults In Kentucky
AND HOW TO REACH THEM

4. Unchurched – Who Are They?
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Unchurched – Who Are They?
- Have not attended a non-holiday
service in last six months
- Represents nearly 1 million adult
Kentuckians, another 650,000 are
not committed to their current church

5. Unchurched – Who Are They?
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Unchurched – Who Are They?
Two segments of the unchurched:
De - churched
43% churched in last five years
38% churched five years ago or more
Never - Churched
19% never churched

6. Unchurched – Who Are They?
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Unchurched – Who Are They?
- De-churched:
81% formerly churched
42% Baptist
16% Catholics

7. Unchurched – Who Are They?
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Unchurched – Who Are They?
- Of the never churched:
25% are Busters (21-39)
11% are Boomers (40-58)
7% are Builders (59-77)

8. Myths About The Unchurched:
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Myths About The Unchurched:
- MYTH – Never been to church
- TRUTH – 4 out of 5 were at one time
active

9. Myths About The Unchurched:
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Myths About The Unchurched:
- MYTH – Ignorant of what church has
to offer
- TRUTH – 2 out of 5 have been to
church in the last five years

10. Myths About The Unchurched:
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Myths About The Unchurched:
- MYTH – Immoral
- TRUTH – 9 out of 10 say they are
moral in their lifestyle

11. Myths About The Unchurched:
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Myths About The Unchurched:
- MYTH – Southern Baptist “brand”
is a problem
- TRUTH – 79% have no specific
concerns about SBC

12. Windows To The Unchurched World Demographics:
- The unchurched adults in Kentucky
tend to be more educated, politically
moderate and younger (34% vs. 22%
18-39 years old), compared to
churchgoers.

13. Windows To The Unchurched World Demographics:
- Most are married (56%); one-third are
parents of young children (35%)
- More than 1 out of 3 (37%) have
been divorced

14. Windows To The Unchurched World Demographics:
- Less likely to participate in
community activities than
churchgoers (25% vs. 50%)

15. Windows To The Unchurched World Religious Commitment Theological Views
Views about the Bible
Spiritual Engagement

16. KY's "Christianized" Unchurched KY Unchurched US Unchurched
82%
67%
54%
39%
33%
30%
17%
13%
13% 4%
self-identified atheist/agnostic other faith commitment born again
Christian made to Christ Christian

17. Windows To The Unchurched World Religious Commitment Theological Views
Views about the Bible
Spiritual Engagement

18. Windows To The Unchurched World Theological Views:
- Syncretism (faith blending)
- 6 out of 10 believe they will go to
heaven when they die
- 7 out of 10 believe Satan is just a
symbol of evil

19. Windows To The Unchurched World Theological Views:
- They want to believe the best
without embracing the worst
- 5 out of 10 believe a person can lead
a satisfying life without pursuing
biblical faith

20. Windows To The Unchurched World Religious Commitment Theological Views
Views about the Bible
Spiritual Engagement

21. Windows To The Unchurched World Views About The Bible:
- 90% own a Bible
- 59% believe the Bible is inspired,
has no errors (US avg: 39%)

22. Windows To The Unchurched World Religious Commitment Theological Views
Views about the Bible
Spiritual Engagement

23. Spiritual Engagement:
Windows To The
Unchurched World
Spiritual Engagement:
(within last month)
- 85% prayed
- 45% read the Bible
% had website worship experience
% attended house church

24. Moral Decision Making:
Who Are The
Unchurched?
Moral Decision Making:
- 9 out of 10 consider themselves
moral
- 40% follow a specific set of principles
- Where do the principles come from?
- 36% from parents
- 20% from the Bible

25. Moral Decision Making:
Who Are The
Unchurched?
Moral Decision Making:
- 21% do whatever feels right or will
produce the best outcome -
a self-defined form of morality
- Contrast: Moral people but make
decisions on whatever works -
moral pragmatism

26. 70% Satisfied With Life But…
Who Are The
Unchurched?
70% Satisfied With Life But…
- 48% stressed out
- 45% looking for a few good friends
- Needs: health, finances, career,
parenting, relationships - future,
finances, family, friends - all practical
issues with spiritual answers

27. 70% Satisfied With Life But…
Who Are The
Unchurched?
70% Satisfied With Life But…
- Only 15% say they would consider
seeking out a church for advice or
help for a challenge they were facing

28. Why They Avoid Churches:
Who Are The
Unchurched?
Why They Avoid Churches:

30. Why they stay away BORING…HYPOCRITES IRRELEVANT TOO NARROW
BAD EXPERIENCES
WANT TO CONVERT NOT CONNECT
BUMPER STICKER THEOLOGY

32. Bottom line: - The unchurched in Kentucky are
primarily de-churched - people who
have tried the church and found it
unfulfilling or irrelevant
The unchurched are a diverse
audience who require diverse
means of connections

33. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET REAL
John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
John 15:8 "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and {so} prove to be My disciples.

34. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET REAL
Real Testimonies/Stories/Lifestyles
We have to be redeemed and live lives that reflect our redemption.
Real ways of meeting needs, caring for people, making a difference and changing our world.
To reach the de-churched we have to be real, genuine, authentic, bearing the fruit of love and good works.

36. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RELATIONAL
Mark 2:3-4
3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.
4 And being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.

37. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RELATIONAL
Evangelism is most effectively done through relationships.
9 of 10 who come to church and get connected to Christ do so because a friend, co-worker, relative, neighbor invited them.
Teach and model developing relationships with the dechurched and the unchurched.

38. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RELATIONAL
Find new ways, creative ways to connect believers with the dechurched and the unchurched.
They come because of relationships and they stay because of new relationships
Teach believers to develop relationships in their everyday paths of life and in their areas of passion and interests.

39. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET READY
Matt 3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, `Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!'"
Matt 24:44"For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think {He will.}

40. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET READY - Get ready by making a good first impression.
Get ready by changing the climate, atmosphere in your church to be a welcoming community and be known for that in the community.
Get ready by teaching people to be open and accepting of new faces and people. – Number one reason the dechurched are being reached is they feel accepted and a relational connection with someone who is living their faith.

41. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET READY
Get ready by having small groups where new folks came come and ask questions, find answers and friends.
Get ready by offering relevant, life changing teaching, worship and preaching.

42. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RELEVANT
MATT 5:16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Eph 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

43. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RELEVANT
Teaching that is biblical and focused on the life changing power of the Gospel.
Discipleship that is a dynamic process that is personal, practical, and results in making disciples.
Preaching that is strongly biblical, Christ focused and speaks to felt needs.

44. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RELEVANT
Ministry that meets needs in practical ways
Multiple ways for people to be involved in ministry
Stream-line decision making and structure to free people to do ministry
Discover ways to impact the community and culture in positive ways with the Good News.

45. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RIGHT
I Jn 4:19-21
19 We love, because He first loved us.
20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

46. HOW TO REACH THE DECHURCHED
GET RIGHT
We must GET RIGHT with God and each other.
A willingness to change or repent is the first step in GETTING RIGHT.
We must get right because our world needs the Good News.
We must get right because of future generations
We must get right because of what God has done for us in Christ