Commission on Evangelization

This book is the result of in-depth interviews by a team of researchers under the direction of Thom Rainer, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth. The project began when the research team wondered, “What if we asked new Christians who have recently also become committed church members, what moved them to join a particular church?”

This group of 350 people was selected because very little interview research has been done to date. The project’s long-range goal is to make available the insights generated by the interviews to other churches as they develop new strategies in reaching out to those who presently claim no “church home."

The book is divided into two major sections: the responses given by the formerly unchurched and insights gained from conversations with their pastors who are leading “effective evangelistic churches.” What skills and abilities have these pastors and leaders developed over the years? And how can other churches grow in these skills?

Rainer summarizes the crucial difference between churches drawing seekers and retaining church members and other “good” churches as excellence. In reality, those things rated as being critical to seekers cost little money but did involve the ongoing effort for excellence in worship, in music, in the depth of commitment of church members and in the overall friendliness experienced.

This book can provide church leaders with a lens through which present evangelization efforts can be scrutinized and future initiatives surfaced.

Reviewed by Lorraine Vancamp, Glenmary’s evangelization consultant.

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