That’s not just a line from the wonderful movie Field of Dreams, but also the evangelistic program of many churches. If we build a building, the unchurched will come. But they don’t. Why?
Many Christians are puzzled about why unchurched people stay away from church. Some time back Gallup asked that question in a survey conducted through the Princeton Religious Research Center. What did the unchurched say?
The unchurched said they were lonely, alienated, and apprehensive. In their experience, when they looked to the church for direction, they got a cold shoulder. It doesn’t matter how warm the bricks are if the people are cold.
The unchurched said that if they had a “spiritual counselor” or a “faith partner,” if they had somebody to share their doubts with and hold their hand as they searched for answers, they would come.
It’s not the building that attracts the people, it’s the hope of somebody to walk with them on the road of faith. Not a preacher, but a friend. Not a theologian, but a sensitive believer.
We’ve built buildings in every city. The unchurched tell us they are more interested in people than buildings. It’s not big auditoriums that attract them, but big hearts. If we build open hearts, they will come.
Warm greetings to you and Sally and your two sons and wives. Eva and I
attend Natchez Trace church near Vanderbilt. Terry Briley and Phillip Camp
preach, lead and teach at Lipscomb. Just turned 70 on Jan. 20. Our 4 sons and their families threw me a party. We celebrate our 45 th anniversary on April 11th. We have 9 grandchildren, half in Nashville, half in Florida. Dr.Jack
will be 96 on March 13th. I call him regularly. I am sure he would enjoy hearing from you, but then you may be already doing that. Karen, his granddaughter lives with him and she injured herself at her work at Walgreens. We pray for you and yours. I am so thankful to call you friend and brother. Now peace and joy in believing in the living God, Joe T.
What a great reminder. Thanks for sharing and reminding us of this.
Mark