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Survey: Most Americans are open to invitations to church

Despite worries among evangelicals that Americans are set against attending church, most people would attend if invited in a way that sparks their responsiveness, reports Baptist Press.

A recent study by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and LifeWay Research found that 67 percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be effective in getting them to visit a church. A personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be effective for 63 percent of those surveyed.

"We want to help Christians discover what approaches work best in today's culture," said Ken Weathersby, NAMB senior strategist for evangelization. "It's not about changing the Gospel but determining how best to share it."

Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) are willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a family member, and 56 percent are willing to receive such information from a friend or neighbor.

"The primary lesson North American believers should learn from this research is that many of your unchurched friends are ready for an invitation to conversation," said Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research. "Unbelievers next door still need a simple, personal invitation to talk, to be in community and to church. Clearly, relationships are important and work together with marketing."

The survey, commissioned by NAMB and conducted by LifeWay Research, may be the largest survey ever conducted of Americans' receptivity to different methods of church invitations. LifeWay Research, the research arm of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, surveyed more than 15,000 adults in December 2008 using a random, demographically balanced, stratified sample of Americans. NAMB commissioned the research as one of the steps to prepare for "God's Plan for Sharing," its national evangelism initiative that will launch nationwide in 2010.

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TAGS: USA Americans invitations to church evangelization LifeWay Research

[03/31/2009]

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