It’s Not the Music or Preaching: What Truly Draws the Unchurched (New Research!)

What actually prompts people to attend church? We surveyed 604 people in the United States from a variety of backgrounds. We asked the same questions of two groups.

1. 1. Those who attend church regularly.
   2. Those who do not attend church regularly.

After comparing the two groups, we found new, surprising insights of the unchurched. One of the most surprising findings from our recent research was the simplicity behind what moves people to attend church for the first time (if unchurched) or to choose a new congregation (if churched). While many leaders assume that polished programming, charismatic preaching, or cutting-edge worship styles are the strongest magnets, the data reveals otherwise. 

The unchurched are often characterized as indifferent to church life. As we discovered in our research, many do not harbor hostility; they are simply disengaged. That indifference, however,