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Why Dont Christians Go to Church?

Published: 11/19/2009

Last week I had the privilege of attending the seminar “Empty Pews: Why Houston Christians Don’t Go to Church” by Dr. George Barna.

The ecumenical Houston Coalition of Church Communicators, including several individual United Methodist Churches as well as our own Conference Department of Communications, contracted with Dr. George Barna to survey self-identified Christian people in the Houston area who do not attend church. To my knowledge, this is the first time there has been data specific to the Houston area.

Many of our conference pastors and leaders, some from as far away as Jasper and Bellville, were among the 500-plus people who attended the event. As Dr. Dick White commented, “I figure there’s a lot of similarity between people in Houston and East Texas when it comes to church.”

I would like to share some of the things I learned.

Houston unchurched Christians are highly educated folks – 65% have some college education. The demographic profile of the target group is: female, median age of 50, white, married, without kids under the age of 18, completed one to two years of college, household income of over $50,000. 

One of the biggest surprises for me was that the folks who don’t attend church appear to have a considerable interest in God, faith, scriptures and church life. Over half have a very favorable opinion of Christianity and four out of five used to belong to a church. But these interested persons have fallen out of the church habit. In the surveys, they simply did not believe they received any value from going to church or felt rejected by the church, or have not found an appealing church.

When asked “what would make you much more interested in attending church,” the most frequent response didn’t surprise me:  Unchurched people come to church when a friend invites them. The responsibility rests on us.

So, what are Dr. Barna’s suggestions for what we should do? First, we must want to bring in new members. Programs will not bring the unchurched. However, if we leave church every week believing we are valued, fulfilled, are finding growth as Christians, and are better people because we attended, we will want to share that experience with our friends. Friends bring friends.

Second, we must care about the unchurched as people – not numbers. They know the difference and respond accordingly. Radical hospitality is not a program. It is an attitude in our lives and hearts and it has to be cultivated in everyone who is a part of the congregation.

I encourage you, our clergy and lay leaders across the conference, to take a look at what this study teaches us. Our communications team will have more information in upcoming editions of Cross Connection and on our conference website. Reflect on where you see God at work in your congregation. Where are lives being transformed in your church? Where are futures being re-shaped for a better life? Share those stories with friends. Invite them to join you at a mission work day, a small group, or worship. Allow them to experience the grace that you already enjoy.

Grace and Peace,

Janice Riggle Huie