Since we live in such a secular culture, it’s easy to think most nonbelievers are indifferent — even hostile — to the idea of attending church. But Relevant magazine reports new research indicating that 80% of non-churchgoers say they would attend if invited.
It confirms the findings of the book Jonathan Bock and I wrote called “The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Get It Back.”
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Contrast that with my visit a few years ago to Calvary Temple in Hyderabad, India, a church with nearly 300,000 members. After the Sunday morning service, I asked founding pastor Satish Kumar about the church’s remarkable growth. I wondered whether he was following one of the “church growth strategies” popular in America.
No church growth strategy required
He looked at me like I was an idiot. Puzzled, he said they have no church growth strategy, but they do have a culture of invitation. Almost everyone who attends on Sunday brings a family member, friend or coworker. He’s instilled a passion for inviting others, and the result is astonishing.
Maybe it’s time we created a similar culture of invitation in our churches. As the research indicates, 80% of people will generally say “yes!”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by philcooke.com.
