I love the process of discovery through research. The journey begins with a question and swerves through multiple twists and turns before finally arriving at an answer. Our team at Church Answers recently conducted a research project that took several months to complete. We wanted to know if unchurched people felt differently about the church than those who are regular attendees. A survey of current research did not yield the results we desired, so we embarked on a study of our own. We found new, surprising insights from the unchurched.
Most of the unchurched are not unfamiliar with churches.
One of the first surprises from our study was that unchurched does not mean unfamiliar. Over 60% of the unchurched individuals surveyed said they attended church regularly as children. These aren’t strangers to Sunday mornings; they’re former attendees. This reality reminds us that evangelism today is often more about reconnecting than introducing something entirely new. The unchurched are not blank slates. Their views of the church are shaped by experience—some of it good, some of it painful, and much of it faded with time.
America is not (yet) a godless nation, but we are clearly becoming a less churched one. However, the presence of childhood exposure to church among the unchurched gives us hope: memories, relationships, and former rhythms can be reawakened. Evangelism begins not just at the edge of belief, but at the edges of remembrance.
The church still matters to the community.
Despite the prevailing narrative that the church is losing relevance, our research shows the opposite: both churched and unchurched individuals believe churches are generally good for their communities. Nearly 6 out of 10 unchurched respondents agreed with this statement. The unchurched aren’t hostile. They’re cautious, indifferent, or disconnected. But they still believe the church can be a force for good.
This perception gives churches an open door. While people in the community may struggle to connect personally with local congregations, the unchurched generally have a favorable opinion of the concept of church. The opportunity lies in turning that abstract goodwill into concrete, local trust.
Local trust in churches is often missing.
Here’s where the challenge becomes clear. While people admire the idea of church, they often don’t trust actual churches in their communities. Only 38% of the unchurched said they viewed local churches favorably. And the trust gap widens further when it comes to church leaders: just 35% trust pastors. Conversely, regular attendees generally trust their churches (81%) and pastors (76%).
Even more fascinating, the unchurched actually view the church as more relevant today than churchgoers do! While 40% of churchgoers said the church is largely irrelevant, only 27% of the unchurched felt the same. The problem isn’t perceived relevance. The problem is trust. The dichotomy is fascinating.
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- Churched people: I trust the church, but believe it’s irrelevant today.
- Unchurched people: The church is still relevant, but not trustworthy.
Why the disconnect? Two factors stand out: insularity and scandal. With less than 1% of churches prioritizing evangelism, the church has become largely inward-focused, relying more on transfer growth than conversion growth. Meanwhile, high-profile scandals have shaped public perception. Unchurched people may like the idea of church, but they’re not sure they can trust the people inside the community church near them.
Friendship becomes the bridge to the community.
Yet, hope persists. More than half of the unchurched believe the church could be a great place to make new friends. However, nearly 60% also say churches feel intimidating when visiting. That intimidation, paired with a lack of personal invitations, keeps them away. Church leaders, take note: the greatest evangelistic tool we have is not a new program or worship style. It’s friendship. A genuine, personal invitation from someone who promises to sit with them through a worship service or small group can change everything. In fact, 8 out of 10 unchurched people say they would attend a church service if invited by a friend who also accompanied them. That single insight should revolutionize how we train and equip our people.
Confusion is a greater barrier to the church than high standards.
Another myth was shattered in our study: the idea that unchurched people avoid church because of rigid rules, moral standards, or high expectations. In reality, confusion is a greater barrier than doctrine. Only 4 out of 10 unchurched respondents said churches had too many rules. But over 60%—and just as many churchgoers—said churches are confusing for outsiders.
People aren’t repelled by theology. They’re puzzled by processes. They don’t understand what we’re doing or why. And this confusion creates distance. The solution? Clarity. A clear membership class that explains the church’s beliefs, structure, and expectations is essential. The more open and understandable we are, the more likely people are to engage.
The church feels unsafe for families.
Because of the confusion and lack of trust, many unchurched people don’t believe the church is a good place to raise a family or discover personal gifts. While regular attendees overwhelmingly believe the church is a good place to raise families (85%) and discover their talents (75%), the unchurched do not share the same perception. Only 44% of the unchurched agree or strongly agree that the church is a good place to raise families. Additionally, only 29% of the unchurched agree or strongly agree that the church is a good place to discover and grow their talents.
These numbers should concern us, but they also offer a call to action. What if your church became known as the safest place in town for families? What if it were the go-to space for helping people discover purpose? This opportunity is ripe for the taking.
Indifference is more common than antagonism among the unchurched.
So why aren’t the unchurched coming to church? It’s not because they’re mad, too busy, or hostile. It’s because they’re indifferent. The most common reasons given were: 1) they don’t see church as necessary, and 2) they simply got out of the habit. This reality is both sobering and empowering. If the main obstacle is apathy, then the answer is intentionality. The solution isn’t to defend the church against attackers; it’s to lovingly engage those who have drifted.
When asked what would prompt them to start attending church again, the unchurched pointed to two things: a spiritual reason (desire to grow spiritually or a prompting from God) and a personal reason (an invitation from a friend or spouse). These answers affirm a powerful truth: evangelism is both divine and relational. God must work. We must be obedient.
Click here to download the entire research report for free.
Posted on October 20, 2025
As President of Church Answers, Sam Rainer wears many hats. From podcast co-host to full-time Pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church, Sam’s heart for ministry and revitalization are evident in all he does.
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