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You Found Me: New Research on How Unchurched Nones, Millennials, and Irreligious Are Surprisingly Open to Christian Faith
Many bemoan the decline of the church. We hear a steady stream of reports about how droves of people, especially younger generations, are abandoning Christianity. But new research shows that unchurched Americans are surprisingly more receptive and open to the Christian faith than is commonly assumed.
Researcher and practitioner Rick Richardson unveils the findings of the Billy Graham Center Institute's groundbreaking studies on the unchurched. A study of 2000 unchurched people across the country reveals that the unchurched are still remarkably open to faith conversations and the church. Even unchurched "nones" and millennials are quite receptive if they are approached in particular ways.
In this book you will also find best practices from further research into the top ten percent of churches that most effectively reach the unchurched. People who were previously unchurched share what actually moved them to faith and Christian commitment. And the research shows that churches and organizations can be transformed to become places where conversion growth becomes the new normal.
If people tell you "the sky is falling," don't believe them. In today's troubled world, unchurched and unbelieving people are newly receptive to hearing good news. You can lead the change that will help your church reach people--who then reach others.
Researcher and practitioner Rick Richardson unveils the findings of the Billy Graham Center Institute's groundbreaking studies on the unchurched. A study of 2000 unchurched people across the country reveals that the unchurched are still remarkably open to faith conversations and the church. Even unchurched "nones" and millennials are quite receptive if they are approached in particular ways.
In this book you will also find best practices from further research into the top ten percent of churches that most effectively reach the unchurched. People who were previously unchurched share what actually moved them to faith and Christian commitment. And the research shows that churches and organizations can be transformed to become places where conversion growth becomes the new normal.
If people tell you "the sky is falling," don't believe them. In today's troubled world, unchurched and unbelieving people are newly receptive to hearing good news. You can lead the change that will help your church reach people--who then reach others.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2019
56 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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August 15, 2019
When it comes to American churches, I have bad news, and I have good news.
Bad news first: Most churches in America are plateaued or declining, and fewer Americans self-identify as Christians. If you’re a pastor or church leader, you probably don’t need me to tell you these things, since the majority of you see it with your own eyes in your own churches and communities.
Now that you’re depressed, let me tell you the good news. The things happening inside your church and outside your church don’t have to remain that way. Plateau and decline are reversible, and people are winnable. The question pastors and other church leaders need to ask themselves is how these things can happen in their churches.
Rick Richardson’s You Found Me is a good place to start. Richardson is director of the Billy Graham Center Institute, the research arm of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College (Illinois), where he also serves as a professor of evangelism and leadership in the graduate school. His book draws on surveys of 2,000 unchurched people and 4,500 Christian congregations (including 1,500 churches with fewer than 250 in attendance) that BGCI conducted, as well as several smaller research projects.
Richardson divides You Found Me into three parts. In Part 1, “Recovering a Missional Imagination for the Unchurched in America,” he debunks common myths about unchurched America and shows “how unchurched nones, millennials, and irreligious are surprisingly open to Christian faith,” in the words of the book’s subtitle. To reach these people, a church needs to become a “conversion community,” that is, “a congregation that is seeing changed lives and growing primarily through reaching new people rather than by adding already churched people from some other congregation.”
In the BGCI surveys of American congregations, 10 percent are conversion communities. Richardson takes a close look at what sets those churches apart from others and articulates what he calls the Conversion Community Equation:
Part 2, “Developing Missional Leaders,” identifies what the pastor and other church leaders must do to help their churches become conversion communities. Essentially, it involves modeling evangelism in a way that others can imitate. This modeling is multiplicative, however. A pastor models evangelism to others, who in turn model it to still others, and so on.
Part 3, “Cultivating a Missional Congregation,” outlines a four-step process that characterizes conversion community churches. Such a church, Richardson writes, “clearly understood that it belonged to a specific community, which it blessed through service and outreach with the ultimate aim of bringing those in their community into the congregation as beloved children of God.” In other words: (1) belong, (2) bless, (3) bring, and (4) beloved. Interestingly, the “top predictive factor [research showed] was hospitality to the unchurched.” Richardson comments, “If there is a silver bullet, this is it.”
You Found Me is a hopeful, helpful book. It is hopeful because it paints a beautiful portrait of what churches in America could be. It is helpful because it shows the specific brushstrokes that make such a portrait possible. I encourage senior pastors, board members and leading volunteers to read this book. It includes questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate discussion. Additional downloadable resources are available at the publisher’s website here.
Book Reviewed
Rick Richardson, You Found Me: New Research on How Unchurched Nones, Millennials, and Irreligious Are Surprisingly Open to Christian Faith (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2019).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.
P.P.S. This review first appeared at InfluenceMagazine.com and is cross-posted here with permission.
Bad news first: Most churches in America are plateaued or declining, and fewer Americans self-identify as Christians. If you’re a pastor or church leader, you probably don’t need me to tell you these things, since the majority of you see it with your own eyes in your own churches and communities.
Now that you’re depressed, let me tell you the good news. The things happening inside your church and outside your church don’t have to remain that way. Plateau and decline are reversible, and people are winnable. The question pastors and other church leaders need to ask themselves is how these things can happen in their churches.
Rick Richardson’s You Found Me is a good place to start. Richardson is director of the Billy Graham Center Institute, the research arm of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College (Illinois), where he also serves as a professor of evangelism and leadership in the graduate school. His book draws on surveys of 2,000 unchurched people and 4,500 Christian congregations (including 1,500 churches with fewer than 250 in attendance) that BGCI conducted, as well as several smaller research projects.
Richardson divides You Found Me into three parts. In Part 1, “Recovering a Missional Imagination for the Unchurched in America,” he debunks common myths about unchurched America and shows “how unchurched nones, millennials, and irreligious are surprisingly open to Christian faith,” in the words of the book’s subtitle. To reach these people, a church needs to become a “conversion community,” that is, “a congregation that is seeing changed lives and growing primarily through reaching new people rather than by adding already churched people from some other congregation.”
In the BGCI surveys of American congregations, 10 percent are conversion communities. Richardson takes a close look at what sets those churches apart from others and articulates what he calls the Conversion Community Equation:
Missional Leaders + Missional Congregation = Conversion Community.
Part 2, “Developing Missional Leaders,” identifies what the pastor and other church leaders must do to help their churches become conversion communities. Essentially, it involves modeling evangelism in a way that others can imitate. This modeling is multiplicative, however. A pastor models evangelism to others, who in turn model it to still others, and so on.
Part 3, “Cultivating a Missional Congregation,” outlines a four-step process that characterizes conversion community churches. Such a church, Richardson writes, “clearly understood that it belonged to a specific community, which it blessed through service and outreach with the ultimate aim of bringing those in their community into the congregation as beloved children of God.” In other words: (1) belong, (2) bless, (3) bring, and (4) beloved. Interestingly, the “top predictive factor [research showed] was hospitality to the unchurched.” Richardson comments, “If there is a silver bullet, this is it.”
You Found Me is a hopeful, helpful book. It is hopeful because it paints a beautiful portrait of what churches in America could be. It is helpful because it shows the specific brushstrokes that make such a portrait possible. I encourage senior pastors, board members and leading volunteers to read this book. It includes questions at the end of each chapter to facilitate discussion. Additional downloadable resources are available at the publisher’s website here.
Book Reviewed
Rick Richardson, You Found Me: New Research on How Unchurched Nones, Millennials, and Irreligious Are Surprisingly Open to Christian Faith (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2019).
P.S. If you liked my review, please click "Helpful" on my Amazon review page.
P.P.S. This review first appeared at InfluenceMagazine.com and is cross-posted here with permission.
April 10, 2025
For Ryan Cable
Application Report
Chapter 1: Introduction: The Challenges Congregations Face in America
-
Presentation of problems within the church and sobering facts about how the church is
declining due to a lack of evangelism.
-
The church and its leaders are feeling discouraged.
-
Speaks on recovering our desire for missions within the local church.
Chapter 2: Exposing Common Myths about Unchurched Americans
-
Myths about negative views of the church are being spread across the country.
-
These statistics are mainly false and have led to a sense of panic.
Chapter 3: Embracing a New Narrative About the Unchurched
-
The unchurched generally have a positive or a neutral view towards the Christian faith.
-
The unchurched generally don’t have a negative view of their friends' faith, but a third of
the time, they admire their friends' faith and don’t mind if they talk about it with them.
-
Most of the unchurched have never been told what it means to follow Christ.
-
The unchurched are more likely to attend church if they are invited by friends/family vs
online ads.
-
Online videos are the best form of non-personal invites that the unchurched engage with.
-
The unchurched are likelier to attend a worship service than a small group Bible study.
-
The unchurched are likelier to attend a community safety event(making the neighborhood
safer) than a service project or a sports program.
-
33% of the unchurched are likely to attend church in the future, compared to 39% of
unchurched millennials.
Chapter 4: Engaging the Receptive Millennials, Nones, and Nominals in Your Life
-
54% of millennials in the church become regular believers.
-
33% of unchurched millennials see the Christian Faith as a good thing, compared to 9.5%
who see it as harmful.
-
43% of atheists, 21% of agnostics, and 3% of nothings in particular view the Christian
Faith as a bad thing.
-
More stats about the unchurched by ethnic groups, pages 88-91.
-
4 steps to approaching the unchurched: build trust on common interests and values,
affirm what you can about spiritual beliefs and practices, challenge whatever has replaced
God in their lives, talk about what Jesus has done to heal and rescue and reorient you
towards God, inviting them to do the same.
-
Three challenges on page 99.
-
Chapter 5: Exploring the Conversion Community Equation
-
Missional Leaders + Missional Congregation = Conversion Community
-
Conversion community is growing(at least 5 percent per year), unchurched people are
coming to the church, committing to Christ, and staying (at least 10 percent of the
attendance are people who have committed to Christ that year and stayed), outreach and
witness are integrated into every ministry and priority the church has.
-
Qualities of Mission Leaders and Congregation on pages 110-112.
-
Missional imagination, never lose the wonder of the gospel.
Chapter 6: Modeling Outreach Others Can Imitate
-
If you want a missional congregation, you need to be a missional leader.
-
Maximize two-fers, incorporate outreach into things you already have to do: errands,
work, etc.
-
Do something you love with people who don’t know Christ yet.
-
Use painful experiences to connect with others and share your faith perspective.
-
Look for opportunities to serve others but also ask for help in your neighborhood.
-
Prioritize evangelism as a church leader.
-
Have accountability and make a prayer list of people you want to share with.
Chapter 7: Multiplying Missional Leaders
-
Pastors at growing churches hear that those in their congregations are engaging in
evangelistic conversation more than those in churches who don’t.
-
Members of the congregation can grow best through imitation.
-
Stories about faithfulness in evangelism can encourage those in the congregation.
-
Accountability through the 1-10 temperature for their passion to share the gospel in the
past month.
-
How can we increase our number by just one degree each month?
Chapter 8: Belonging to the Broader Community
-
We need to belong to the community in order to bring others to belong to the local
church.
-
Create events/space in the church where the unchurched can belong.
-
Build genuine relationships with community people.
-
Identify and equip the bridge people. Those who are in the church and the community can
create a link between the two.
-
Ministering to the felt needs and cares of the people within the community.
Chapter 9: Blessing the World to Reach the World
-
Obstacle 1- stereotypes of evangelism. Making it seem like evangelism is just sales.
-
Obstacle 2- Dichotomizing Compassion and Gospel Communication.
-
We need to have greater compassion towards the unchurched.
-
Churches that grow more spend more time in ministry outreach to share the gospel with
the unchurched.
-
BLESS acronym. Begin with prayer, listen with care, eat together, serve in love, and
share your story.
-
Happy people who treat people well and care for others' needs are more likely to
influence others to be more receptive to the gospel.
Chapter 10: Bringing the Community to Church
-
Have the unchurched belong to something before they believe.
-
Missed opportunities for outreach within the church.
-
Begin to look for and recognize opportunities around us in the church for outreach.
-
Personal invites are powerful and effective.
-
Create an invitational culture inviting the unchurched into friendship, small groups, and
the church.
-
Also have a bent towards being receiver-oriented. How do we receive the unchurched?
-
Persevere as a church together through rejection of invitations.
Chapter 11: Building a Community of the Beloved Through Hospitality
-
How do we welcome the unchurched at our church?
-
There are often average attenders who are not yet believers. ⅕ in most churches but much
higher in faster-growing churches.
-
Churches that are growing communicate with unchurched people from the pulpit.
-
Offer more introductory classes to new attendees.
-
Use hospitality to overcome the fear and biases of new attendees.
-
Consider unchurched and new believers within the church in small groups and ministries.
-
Entry points and progressive classes for new members.
Chapter 12: Conclusion
-
Try to make a movement based on explosive growth like the Methodists.
-
Reclaim a passion for the gospel.
-
Pray regularly and seek the salvation of others.
Application Report
Chapter 1: Introduction: The Challenges Congregations Face in America
-
Presentation of problems within the church and sobering facts about how the church is
declining due to a lack of evangelism.
-
The church and its leaders are feeling discouraged.
-
Speaks on recovering our desire for missions within the local church.
Chapter 2: Exposing Common Myths about Unchurched Americans
-
Myths about negative views of the church are being spread across the country.
-
These statistics are mainly false and have led to a sense of panic.
Chapter 3: Embracing a New Narrative About the Unchurched
-
The unchurched generally have a positive or a neutral view towards the Christian faith.
-
The unchurched generally don’t have a negative view of their friends' faith, but a third of
the time, they admire their friends' faith and don’t mind if they talk about it with them.
-
Most of the unchurched have never been told what it means to follow Christ.
-
The unchurched are more likely to attend church if they are invited by friends/family vs
online ads.
-
Online videos are the best form of non-personal invites that the unchurched engage with.
-
The unchurched are likelier to attend a worship service than a small group Bible study.
-
The unchurched are likelier to attend a community safety event(making the neighborhood
safer) than a service project or a sports program.
-
33% of the unchurched are likely to attend church in the future, compared to 39% of
unchurched millennials.
Chapter 4: Engaging the Receptive Millennials, Nones, and Nominals in Your Life
-
54% of millennials in the church become regular believers.
-
33% of unchurched millennials see the Christian Faith as a good thing, compared to 9.5%
who see it as harmful.
-
43% of atheists, 21% of agnostics, and 3% of nothings in particular view the Christian
Faith as a bad thing.
-
More stats about the unchurched by ethnic groups, pages 88-91.
-
4 steps to approaching the unchurched: build trust on common interests and values,
affirm what you can about spiritual beliefs and practices, challenge whatever has replaced
God in their lives, talk about what Jesus has done to heal and rescue and reorient you
towards God, inviting them to do the same.
-
Three challenges on page 99.
-
Chapter 5: Exploring the Conversion Community Equation
-
Missional Leaders + Missional Congregation = Conversion Community
-
Conversion community is growing(at least 5 percent per year), unchurched people are
coming to the church, committing to Christ, and staying (at least 10 percent of the
attendance are people who have committed to Christ that year and stayed), outreach and
witness are integrated into every ministry and priority the church has.
-
Qualities of Mission Leaders and Congregation on pages 110-112.
-
Missional imagination, never lose the wonder of the gospel.
Chapter 6: Modeling Outreach Others Can Imitate
-
If you want a missional congregation, you need to be a missional leader.
-
Maximize two-fers, incorporate outreach into things you already have to do: errands,
work, etc.
-
Do something you love with people who don’t know Christ yet.
-
Use painful experiences to connect with others and share your faith perspective.
-
Look for opportunities to serve others but also ask for help in your neighborhood.
-
Prioritize evangelism as a church leader.
-
Have accountability and make a prayer list of people you want to share with.
Chapter 7: Multiplying Missional Leaders
-
Pastors at growing churches hear that those in their congregations are engaging in
evangelistic conversation more than those in churches who don’t.
-
Members of the congregation can grow best through imitation.
-
Stories about faithfulness in evangelism can encourage those in the congregation.
-
Accountability through the 1-10 temperature for their passion to share the gospel in the
past month.
-
How can we increase our number by just one degree each month?
Chapter 8: Belonging to the Broader Community
-
We need to belong to the community in order to bring others to belong to the local
church.
-
Create events/space in the church where the unchurched can belong.
-
Build genuine relationships with community people.
-
Identify and equip the bridge people. Those who are in the church and the community can
create a link between the two.
-
Ministering to the felt needs and cares of the people within the community.
Chapter 9: Blessing the World to Reach the World
-
Obstacle 1- stereotypes of evangelism. Making it seem like evangelism is just sales.
-
Obstacle 2- Dichotomizing Compassion and Gospel Communication.
-
We need to have greater compassion towards the unchurched.
-
Churches that grow more spend more time in ministry outreach to share the gospel with
the unchurched.
-
BLESS acronym. Begin with prayer, listen with care, eat together, serve in love, and
share your story.
-
Happy people who treat people well and care for others' needs are more likely to
influence others to be more receptive to the gospel.
Chapter 10: Bringing the Community to Church
-
Have the unchurched belong to something before they believe.
-
Missed opportunities for outreach within the church.
-
Begin to look for and recognize opportunities around us in the church for outreach.
-
Personal invites are powerful and effective.
-
Create an invitational culture inviting the unchurched into friendship, small groups, and
the church.
-
Also have a bent towards being receiver-oriented. How do we receive the unchurched?
-
Persevere as a church together through rejection of invitations.
Chapter 11: Building a Community of the Beloved Through Hospitality
-
How do we welcome the unchurched at our church?
-
There are often average attenders who are not yet believers. ⅕ in most churches but much
higher in faster-growing churches.
-
Churches that are growing communicate with unchurched people from the pulpit.
-
Offer more introductory classes to new attendees.
-
Use hospitality to overcome the fear and biases of new attendees.
-
Consider unchurched and new believers within the church in small groups and ministries.
-
Entry points and progressive classes for new members.
Chapter 12: Conclusion
-
Try to make a movement based on explosive growth like the Methodists.
-
Reclaim a passion for the gospel.
-
Pray regularly and seek the salvation of others.
February 13, 2022
There are so many good things to say about Rick Richardson's book about sharing the good news of Jesus with people today, in what seems like a resistant culture. First, it is encouraging and immensely practical. Richardson shares his research into the attitudes of millennials, irreligious and formerly religious people. They are much more open than we think. In fact, the church's continued obsession with the impossibility of reaching people today has created an unnecessary barrier to evangelism. Second this book is about research with real people. His book is based on research from interviews and controlled, sociologically based surveys. It is not based on anecdotes and impressions. Even the case studies have come from deep research and cohort relationships. And finally, it is balanced. He refuses to be drawn into debates about attractional and missional churches or between evangelism and community action. They all have a place and are all part of the solution. We need to create conversion communities and hospitable churches, places where leaders and communities are committed to blessing their communities, building relationships and sharing the good news of Jesus consistently. This book challenged me and caused me to look at myself as well as the church today.
January 12, 2021
For the church, for the individual, this book is an encouragement and practical help in being faithful to our Christian call to invite and welcome others into the church - energetically, thoughtfully, and with great trust in the Holy Spirit!
This is one of those books (maybe one of those topics), which sticks with you and changes your perspective forever once you’ve been exposed to it. But quite honestly the book felt long and I was ready to be finished!
This is one of those books (maybe one of those topics), which sticks with you and changes your perspective forever once you’ve been exposed to it. But quite honestly the book felt long and I was ready to be finished!
December 21, 2020
Rick Richardson is a professor of evangelism at Wheaton College and the director of the Billy Graham Center Research Institute. He is Anglican, has a PhD from Trinity, and gained years of experience as a campus minister. His book, “You Found Me”, should absolutely motivate those of us in leadership roles at Bridge to Grace Church (check our web site, our FB page and more on YouTube under Bridge to Grace Evangelical Covenant Church – Roswell) as well as other churches who are looking inward rather than outward and feel like they are stagnating. I am not intimating that our church is looking inward. To the contrary we have very ambitious outreach plans that are already underway and will accelerate once this COVID-19 situation is in a manageable phase. I am very proud and humbled to be a part of those plans.
First, he clarifies that things are not as bad as portrayed by writers and the media.
1. Christians should be more optimistic and positive about how receptive our unchurched neighbors are. You may be surprised to find that many unbelievers would welcome an invitation to attend church. Yes, even yours.
2. There is no one size fits all program to grow your church with new converts. It will take building a culture of evangelism and that may look different depending on your context.
I believe that we need to be optimistic. While there are statistics that seem to indicate a decline in Christianity, that is not true. First, we should be optimistic. The author’s statistics show those who are committed religiously are just as religious or more so than ever. That fact alone should be reassuring and bodes well for the future.
In addition our non-Christian friends and neighbors are not as opposed to Christianity as we have been led to believe or some of us might believe. Reminds me of Jesus when he said the vineyard is abundant, but workers are few. I hear many comments about millennials leaving or being lost. Don’t believe it. I have two people very close to me who fit that group, one is my granddaughter who came to Christ maybe 8 yea rs ago – and whose mother is a non-believer. She told us she was heavily influenced by how my wife Shari and I lived our lives as Christians. The other is a younger man (25, I think) who is in our mens Bible study. He is well read, knowledgeable and is a grand contributor to our weekly meetings. Let’s not assume that our neighbor will be hostile. And yes, some of our neighbors may be hostile to Christianity, but some – a lot - are hungry for the Good News.
Second, as leaders we must build a culture of evangelism and outreach in our church. The author is a supporter of I will call “friendship evangelism: He says “As Christians, we must reach out in friendship to unchurched individuals around us and find ways to build trust in all areas of life”. I am long retired, but worked in a large international corporation for over 30 years and worked with customers in many areas. My approach was and in today – in my life as a retiree – to build and nurture relationships. Done right, this builds trust and a willingness to listen to you and HEAR what you have to say.
Richardson says that new culture of being a church that is thoughtful and warm to non-Christians who may attend a service. The social side is a very important aspect of building relationships. Not pressuring new people to join or get in the Bible study OR small groups. Take your time. Be patient.
The author strongly suggests that urges us to go beyond physical church building and build bridges to our communities, serving where there is a need and sharing our faith at every opportunity. Bridge to Grace is doing that right now, with our food program for the poor, offering English to Spanish speaking and soon Job for Life (jfl.org).
Third, we as leaders need to be models of evangelism. I believe that we need to seek opportunities to be ‘salt and light” in the communities at large. A quote that stuck with me was “It is very hard to lead what you are not living.”
Fourth, be a verbal witness to Christ. Share your story – it is personal and no one can take it away or deny it. We can do a lot of things with food, coffee and other activities, but we are to share the Word. That was Jesus’ charge at the last supper. Live and example your and faith. Don’t be preachy, be conversational and warm n sharing your story and faith. This is especially effective when your faith has carried you through difficult times. Small Bible study groups are an excellent way to build relationships. New attendees need to feel welcome and not intimidated by Christian jargon. Keep it simple. It is often helpful for those who have been with a group for a time, and have a new attendee/s to tell their stories so they can see how Christ has changed your life.
Let us never forget that Jesus walked right past the establishment – the Pharisees – and to the lost and poor and downtrodden. The Pharisees were convinced that they needed no help that they found Jesus a threat. That says a lot.
The sky is not falling. Rather it is a measuring stick for all of us, reach for Him and in so doing, we attract others who are seeking as we were at one time.
God’s Peace . . .
First, he clarifies that things are not as bad as portrayed by writers and the media.
1. Christians should be more optimistic and positive about how receptive our unchurched neighbors are. You may be surprised to find that many unbelievers would welcome an invitation to attend church. Yes, even yours.
2. There is no one size fits all program to grow your church with new converts. It will take building a culture of evangelism and that may look different depending on your context.
I believe that we need to be optimistic. While there are statistics that seem to indicate a decline in Christianity, that is not true. First, we should be optimistic. The author’s statistics show those who are committed religiously are just as religious or more so than ever. That fact alone should be reassuring and bodes well for the future.
In addition our non-Christian friends and neighbors are not as opposed to Christianity as we have been led to believe or some of us might believe. Reminds me of Jesus when he said the vineyard is abundant, but workers are few. I hear many comments about millennials leaving or being lost. Don’t believe it. I have two people very close to me who fit that group, one is my granddaughter who came to Christ maybe 8 yea rs ago – and whose mother is a non-believer. She told us she was heavily influenced by how my wife Shari and I lived our lives as Christians. The other is a younger man (25, I think) who is in our mens Bible study. He is well read, knowledgeable and is a grand contributor to our weekly meetings. Let’s not assume that our neighbor will be hostile. And yes, some of our neighbors may be hostile to Christianity, but some – a lot - are hungry for the Good News.
Second, as leaders we must build a culture of evangelism and outreach in our church. The author is a supporter of I will call “friendship evangelism: He says “As Christians, we must reach out in friendship to unchurched individuals around us and find ways to build trust in all areas of life”. I am long retired, but worked in a large international corporation for over 30 years and worked with customers in many areas. My approach was and in today – in my life as a retiree – to build and nurture relationships. Done right, this builds trust and a willingness to listen to you and HEAR what you have to say.
Richardson says that new culture of being a church that is thoughtful and warm to non-Christians who may attend a service. The social side is a very important aspect of building relationships. Not pressuring new people to join or get in the Bible study OR small groups. Take your time. Be patient.
The author strongly suggests that urges us to go beyond physical church building and build bridges to our communities, serving where there is a need and sharing our faith at every opportunity. Bridge to Grace is doing that right now, with our food program for the poor, offering English to Spanish speaking and soon Job for Life (jfl.org).
Third, we as leaders need to be models of evangelism. I believe that we need to seek opportunities to be ‘salt and light” in the communities at large. A quote that stuck with me was “It is very hard to lead what you are not living.”
Fourth, be a verbal witness to Christ. Share your story – it is personal and no one can take it away or deny it. We can do a lot of things with food, coffee and other activities, but we are to share the Word. That was Jesus’ charge at the last supper. Live and example your and faith. Don’t be preachy, be conversational and warm n sharing your story and faith. This is especially effective when your faith has carried you through difficult times. Small Bible study groups are an excellent way to build relationships. New attendees need to feel welcome and not intimidated by Christian jargon. Keep it simple. It is often helpful for those who have been with a group for a time, and have a new attendee/s to tell their stories so they can see how Christ has changed your life.
Let us never forget that Jesus walked right past the establishment – the Pharisees – and to the lost and poor and downtrodden. The Pharisees were convinced that they needed no help that they found Jesus a threat. That says a lot.
The sky is not falling. Rather it is a measuring stick for all of us, reach for Him and in so doing, we attract others who are seeking as we were at one time.
God’s Peace . . .
May 31, 2023
Surprisingly great. The research data was never boring. Sure, there were a few stats that I glazed over, but they were always followed by what the stats meant, and it was encouraging news.
Despite the "sky is falling" mentality that some take with stats, this book gives encouragement and inspiration to view the "nones" as open fields in which to plant and water seeds! I was challenged to use whatever means I can to connect to people's lives and preach the Good News to them.
Another good insight was on social gospel vs. confrontational gospel. If we are only social but never confront with the Gospel, we're doing it wrong. But if we're only confrontational and never do anyone any good, then we're equally wrong. I think there can be a good balance, and the book helped make that case.
I saw this recommended on Facebook in 2021 and just now got to it. I found it both practical and instructional, although probably not on my ultimate-favorites list. :)
Despite the "sky is falling" mentality that some take with stats, this book gives encouragement and inspiration to view the "nones" as open fields in which to plant and water seeds! I was challenged to use whatever means I can to connect to people's lives and preach the Good News to them.
Another good insight was on social gospel vs. confrontational gospel. If we are only social but never confront with the Gospel, we're doing it wrong. But if we're only confrontational and never do anyone any good, then we're equally wrong. I think there can be a good balance, and the book helped make that case.
I saw this recommended on Facebook in 2021 and just now got to it. I found it both practical and instructional, although probably not on my ultimate-favorites list. :)
January 23, 2020
New research that shows the proverbial sky over the American Church is in fact not falling, and that there is very good statistical evidence to suggest that people will positively receive a Christian’s invitation to learn more about their faith, also long as it is offered in genuine love and within relationship. Richardson’s challenge: We need to take seriously Jesus’ promise that the harvest is plentiful. Go do the work.
January 7, 2025
Content 4-5 star - but “Why waste time say lot word when few word do trick”
October 22, 2019
You Found Me is among the most important and consequential evangelism publications of this generation.
The current reality of the church in terms of evangelistic impact is simply stated at the outset: "Over the last three years, 59 percent of Protestant churches in America are plateaued or declining. In addition, 31 percent are growing but primarily through transfers, which come at the expense of the churches that are declining. Only 10 percent are growing primarily through reaching new people and therefore fit our definition of a conversion community." (7)
Richardson and his colleagues set out on a quest to learn from the American churches which are most fruitful in terms of new conversions. They did this through a series of in-depth research studies conducted by the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton, Lifeway Research, and more. In total, thousands of churches were surveyed for both quantitative and qualitative insights, the treasures of which are now summarized for us in this work. Particularly insightful are the learnings from churches defined as "conversion communities" which means that these churches are characterized by the following qualities:
(1) The congregation is growing (at least 5 percent per year).
(2) Unchurched people are coming to the church, committing to Christ, and staying (at least 10 percent of the attendance each year consists of people who committed to Christ that year and stayed - they are not transfers).
(3) Outreach and witness are integrated into every ministry and priority the church has.
But the power of the book goes beyond summarizing research. Richardson and his colleagues are practitioners par excellence, providing us with soundly tested tools, practices, and frameworks to *apply* all that the research has revealed. Their goal is nothing less than a revival of faith sharing and disciple multiplication in our lifetime. And to see this dream come true, we are provided not with a silver bullet, but with a simple equation to be pursued over a multiple-year process of heart and culture change: "Our research has not given us a silver bullet but rather a simple equation to pursue for the long haul. Our research shows that churches successfully pursuing this simple equation or process are getting better at growing through reaching unchurched people and are having a greater impact on their community." (107) That simple equation, around which the book is structured, is as follows:
Missional Imagination + Missional Leaders + Missional Congregation = Conversion Community
Don't let the simplicity of this equation mislead you. The book dives deeply into each factor of this equation, yielding fresh and profound insights that are not to be missed by contemporary leaders. A few highlights:
**Missional Imagination**
"Receptivity to church is much higher than we have often thought or been led to expect. One out of two people say they would accept an invitation from a friend or family member to attend a church, and nearly four out of five are fine with hearing about the faith of their friends if it matters to their friends. Remember that nearly fifty million Americans (47.6 million, to be more precise), one out of every three unchurched people, expect to be regularly attending church in the future. For millennials the percentage goes up to nearly 40 percent." (71)
"Often the reason people do not seem receptive to our faith is that we do not capitalize on their receptivity but instead raise their resistance. It is not a lack of receptivity on the part of others but rather our approach that needs to be changed." (77)
**Missional Leaders**
"Pastors of top-10-percent conversion-growth churches are engaged in personal relationships and spiritual conversations. The first step in helping your congregation develop missional leaders is to be one yourself. It is very hard to lead what you are not living. The first step in becoming an evangelistic and missional church is to have a missional senior leader." (121)
"Committing to intentional personal weekly outreach is a marker of pastors leading churches that are growing through conversion. They model outreach their people can imitate, and then their people do. Leaders in the church catch it from the pastor and then model it for the people they lead, cascading outreach passion and practice throughout the church." (125)
**Missional Congregations**
"Too much has been made of the dichotomy between being attractional and being extensional or missional. We must be both." (155)
"People are not interested in churches that show no desire to make a positive impact on the community. But here is one of our findings that is also quite interesting. Churches that only engage in compassion ministry and never verbally proclaim their faith in Christ are the worst at reaching new people and growing their congregations as a result. In essence, both sides of this dichotomy between words and deeds, proclamation and demonstration, proved deficient in the actual task of influencing people toward faith. However, it was churches where both were emphasized that saw the most significant impact, churches where service and verbal witness were intertwined and valued. In these cases, there was no dichotomy between social engagement and proclaiming the good news." (169)
**Conversion Community**
"You might think I have used the word conversion too much in this book. But our research and the sweep of history have shown that once the church drifts away from a focus on conversionism and changed lives, movements lose vitality and evangelism loses its focus and purpose. And once the church loses its priority for evangelism, mission drift and congregational decline will not be far behind." (238)
In addition to solid research and strong practical application, "You Found Me" is also a powerful read because, quite simply, it is personally transformational. No silver bullet or perfect program will lead to the dream-come-true of becoming a conversion community for Jesus. Growing our churches starts with growing our own hearts, the hearts of our leaders, and the culture of our communities. Through trustworthy wisdom and joyful encouragement, this book opens the door and gets us started on the journey.
The current reality of the church in terms of evangelistic impact is simply stated at the outset: "Over the last three years, 59 percent of Protestant churches in America are plateaued or declining. In addition, 31 percent are growing but primarily through transfers, which come at the expense of the churches that are declining. Only 10 percent are growing primarily through reaching new people and therefore fit our definition of a conversion community." (7)
Richardson and his colleagues set out on a quest to learn from the American churches which are most fruitful in terms of new conversions. They did this through a series of in-depth research studies conducted by the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton, Lifeway Research, and more. In total, thousands of churches were surveyed for both quantitative and qualitative insights, the treasures of which are now summarized for us in this work. Particularly insightful are the learnings from churches defined as "conversion communities" which means that these churches are characterized by the following qualities:
(1) The congregation is growing (at least 5 percent per year).
(2) Unchurched people are coming to the church, committing to Christ, and staying (at least 10 percent of the attendance each year consists of people who committed to Christ that year and stayed - they are not transfers).
(3) Outreach and witness are integrated into every ministry and priority the church has.
But the power of the book goes beyond summarizing research. Richardson and his colleagues are practitioners par excellence, providing us with soundly tested tools, practices, and frameworks to *apply* all that the research has revealed. Their goal is nothing less than a revival of faith sharing and disciple multiplication in our lifetime. And to see this dream come true, we are provided not with a silver bullet, but with a simple equation to be pursued over a multiple-year process of heart and culture change: "Our research has not given us a silver bullet but rather a simple equation to pursue for the long haul. Our research shows that churches successfully pursuing this simple equation or process are getting better at growing through reaching unchurched people and are having a greater impact on their community." (107) That simple equation, around which the book is structured, is as follows:
Missional Imagination + Missional Leaders + Missional Congregation = Conversion Community
Don't let the simplicity of this equation mislead you. The book dives deeply into each factor of this equation, yielding fresh and profound insights that are not to be missed by contemporary leaders. A few highlights:
**Missional Imagination**
"Receptivity to church is much higher than we have often thought or been led to expect. One out of two people say they would accept an invitation from a friend or family member to attend a church, and nearly four out of five are fine with hearing about the faith of their friends if it matters to their friends. Remember that nearly fifty million Americans (47.6 million, to be more precise), one out of every three unchurched people, expect to be regularly attending church in the future. For millennials the percentage goes up to nearly 40 percent." (71)
"Often the reason people do not seem receptive to our faith is that we do not capitalize on their receptivity but instead raise their resistance. It is not a lack of receptivity on the part of others but rather our approach that needs to be changed." (77)
**Missional Leaders**
"Pastors of top-10-percent conversion-growth churches are engaged in personal relationships and spiritual conversations. The first step in helping your congregation develop missional leaders is to be one yourself. It is very hard to lead what you are not living. The first step in becoming an evangelistic and missional church is to have a missional senior leader." (121)
"Committing to intentional personal weekly outreach is a marker of pastors leading churches that are growing through conversion. They model outreach their people can imitate, and then their people do. Leaders in the church catch it from the pastor and then model it for the people they lead, cascading outreach passion and practice throughout the church." (125)
**Missional Congregations**
"Too much has been made of the dichotomy between being attractional and being extensional or missional. We must be both." (155)
"People are not interested in churches that show no desire to make a positive impact on the community. But here is one of our findings that is also quite interesting. Churches that only engage in compassion ministry and never verbally proclaim their faith in Christ are the worst at reaching new people and growing their congregations as a result. In essence, both sides of this dichotomy between words and deeds, proclamation and demonstration, proved deficient in the actual task of influencing people toward faith. However, it was churches where both were emphasized that saw the most significant impact, churches where service and verbal witness were intertwined and valued. In these cases, there was no dichotomy between social engagement and proclaiming the good news." (169)
**Conversion Community**
"You might think I have used the word conversion too much in this book. But our research and the sweep of history have shown that once the church drifts away from a focus on conversionism and changed lives, movements lose vitality and evangelism loses its focus and purpose. And once the church loses its priority for evangelism, mission drift and congregational decline will not be far behind." (238)
In addition to solid research and strong practical application, "You Found Me" is also a powerful read because, quite simply, it is personally transformational. No silver bullet or perfect program will lead to the dream-come-true of becoming a conversion community for Jesus. Growing our churches starts with growing our own hearts, the hearts of our leaders, and the culture of our communities. Through trustworthy wisdom and joyful encouragement, this book opens the door and gets us started on the journey.
August 12, 2025
I listened to this book this summer because it was in our family Audible. It's a book about evangelism, specifically towards people in the US who are irreligious. It focuses on a lot of studies/surveys of how open people are to conversation, how Christians feel about evangelism, and what makes churches "conversion communities" (where people are being saved)
I found the research somewhat interesting, but there were a lot of statistics, especially in the first 2 chapters. The personal stories are engaging. I liked some of the practical applications of how to practically share the gospel with neighbors and others in the community by actually being in those spaces, listening well, creating safe and welcoming church environments for newcomers, praying, and being consistent.
However for a book about sharing the gospel, I really wish this book was more gospel centered. There was a brief line at the beginning mentioning that to share the gospel, you must be in awe of it yourself, and then it was never talked about again. I also feel like they relyed much more on their research and personal stories than Scripture to make their arguments. For most of the book they were trying to refute the narrative that Christianity is dying in America, and they didn't use the fact that the Bible says that many people will deny Christ and not repent but that His church will prevail because He will keep it safe! The research and stories are both good, but the tone that came across to me was that sharing the gospel and seeing people saved is mostly up to you and not God. I'm sure that wasn't the intent, but there was little focus on Him and it rubbed me the wrong way.
I think this book accomplished what it set out to do, as it's not a theology book. My critiques are mostly on what I wish was present, not what it.
I found the research somewhat interesting, but there were a lot of statistics, especially in the first 2 chapters. The personal stories are engaging. I liked some of the practical applications of how to practically share the gospel with neighbors and others in the community by actually being in those spaces, listening well, creating safe and welcoming church environments for newcomers, praying, and being consistent.
However for a book about sharing the gospel, I really wish this book was more gospel centered. There was a brief line at the beginning mentioning that to share the gospel, you must be in awe of it yourself, and then it was never talked about again. I also feel like they relyed much more on their research and personal stories than Scripture to make their arguments. For most of the book they were trying to refute the narrative that Christianity is dying in America, and they didn't use the fact that the Bible says that many people will deny Christ and not repent but that His church will prevail because He will keep it safe! The research and stories are both good, but the tone that came across to me was that sharing the gospel and seeing people saved is mostly up to you and not God. I'm sure that wasn't the intent, but there was little focus on Him and it rubbed me the wrong way.
I think this book accomplished what it set out to do, as it's not a theology book. My critiques are mostly on what I wish was present, not what it.
November 21, 2020
The book overall was not some ground shattering new information, but rather things that you already intuitively know to be true about outreach systematized and backed up by research.
I appreciated the emphasis on accountability as crucial in seeking to develop both a personal and communal missional culture. As with any change that we want to introduce, whether is exercise, healthy diet, more prayer or evangelism it is excruciatingly hard for most of us if we attempt to do it alone. Gathering a community around yourself (even if it’s just one other person) that is interested in the same change that you are and discussing your progress regularly can be the decisive factor for change to occur.
Another important aspect for creating a conversion community and faithfully imitating the mission of Jesus is belonging to the broader community. Too often we as churches see ourselves as an island or a boat that we try to get others into and thus isolate ourselves from the larger community. This works against our missional efforts because it creates distrust. Today to be heard, we must first earn the trust of our neighbours. This can be done thorough building simple and authentic relationships, through identifying the needs of our community and responding to them, or both.
This brings me to the final point that I appreciated. We often dichotomize compassion ministry and verbal gospel presentation. I liked the research of the Thai businesses that were seeking to bless as they did business and those who were primarily seeking to convert. The blessers had a much better missional impact because they were trusted in the community; their evangelistic agenda did not overshadow their relationships. The blessers were genuinely committed to the well-being of the community.
I appreciated the emphasis on accountability as crucial in seeking to develop both a personal and communal missional culture. As with any change that we want to introduce, whether is exercise, healthy diet, more prayer or evangelism it is excruciatingly hard for most of us if we attempt to do it alone. Gathering a community around yourself (even if it’s just one other person) that is interested in the same change that you are and discussing your progress regularly can be the decisive factor for change to occur.
Another important aspect for creating a conversion community and faithfully imitating the mission of Jesus is belonging to the broader community. Too often we as churches see ourselves as an island or a boat that we try to get others into and thus isolate ourselves from the larger community. This works against our missional efforts because it creates distrust. Today to be heard, we must first earn the trust of our neighbours. This can be done thorough building simple and authentic relationships, through identifying the needs of our community and responding to them, or both.
This brings me to the final point that I appreciated. We often dichotomize compassion ministry and verbal gospel presentation. I liked the research of the Thai businesses that were seeking to bless as they did business and those who were primarily seeking to convert. The blessers had a much better missional impact because they were trusted in the community; their evangelistic agenda did not overshadow their relationships. The blessers were genuinely committed to the well-being of the community.
November 19, 2019
A well researched and written book, this work is an encouragement to the church to reach out to Millennials, Nones, and the Irreligious that many churches had given up on. He states over and over that this group is surprisingly open to faith if approached with sensitivity and hospitality. He admits that there is some tension in having church to disciple believers and reach the irreligious at the same time, but he cites the Great Commission as proof that the effort is worth it. He gives practical instruction about how to achieve these ends as well as lots of poignant, personal examples that show the principles in practice.
The reason that I did give this book 5 stars is that Richardson does not seem to make a difference between people being drawn into evangelical churches and Catholic churches, or other faith communities. If all we are after is how to get someone into a building with the name church over the door, the bar is too low. Admittedly, he talks a lot about conversion and the need to remain consistent in focusing on conversion, but that makes some of the examples and testimony a little fuzzy.
Overall, I am glad I read the book and will work to make hospitality a part of the culture of our church.
The reason that I did give this book 5 stars is that Richardson does not seem to make a difference between people being drawn into evangelical churches and Catholic churches, or other faith communities. If all we are after is how to get someone into a building with the name church over the door, the bar is too low. Admittedly, he talks a lot about conversion and the need to remain consistent in focusing on conversion, but that makes some of the examples and testimony a little fuzzy.
Overall, I am glad I read the book and will work to make hospitality a part of the culture of our church.
August 11, 2019
There has been a great deal of handwringing among conservative Christians in recent years about a supposed exodus from their churches. In this book, Rick Richardson addresses the underlying mythology around the panic and undercuts it with hard data which suggests that while there are challenges for Evangelicals, there are reasons for hope also. These hopes amount to the church recapturing a vision for lost people and to care more for a broken world than their own institutions. Leveraging resources to preach the clear Gospel message which is embodied in the life of vibrant carnational communities is the prescription Richardson writes.
The book reveals the result of years of careful research and historical review and offers specific strategies individuals, churches, denominations and networks can employ to engage along the lines he prescribes. A worthwhile and important book which deserves a wide readership and an as wide application.
The book reveals the result of years of careful research and historical review and offers specific strategies individuals, churches, denominations and networks can employ to engage along the lines he prescribes. A worthwhile and important book which deserves a wide readership and an as wide application.
Read
October 16, 2019Rick Richardson is a sociologist and Christian minister and professor. This book is written to quell any fears in Evangelical Church circles that the movement is becoming irrelevant in contemporary America. He uses surveys and studies to show that the core of Evangelical numbers in America remains steady, but there are large numbers of people moving away or feeling alienated from churches today. Then he uses surveys of over 3000 churches to find ways to attract and grow healthy congregations.
Becoming first and then belonging is his pattern.
Can't argue with his findings, I see a lot of practical advice in the sections on how to attract people, but I have just one observation. Remember that I am an evangelical pastor as I make this statement about a fellow evangelical's work. 250 pages, and no mention of the Holy Spirit. Do we do all this on our own?
Becoming first and then belonging is his pattern.
Can't argue with his findings, I see a lot of practical advice in the sections on how to attract people, but I have just one observation. Remember that I am an evangelical pastor as I make this statement about a fellow evangelical's work. 250 pages, and no mention of the Holy Spirit. Do we do all this on our own?
January 27, 2021
I appreciated that Mr. Richardson had done a lot of research on evangelism, but I found the fact that he was constantly sticking references in the midst of his text made it extremely difficult to follow what he was actually trying to say in this book. (Also seemed a bit arrogant to be constantly referring to other books he's written). It would have been better to simply have a reference number in the text and the rest of the information at the bottom of the text. By the time I got to chapter 11 & 12 I felt as though it had been worth reading through, and that he had some good things to offer.
June 2, 2021
This was really one of the most powerful books on evangelism that I've ever read. It's not just theoretical but extremely practical in helping leaders and congregations develop ways of sharing Christ with the unchurched. The statistics reveal that the unchurched are there ready to be engaged, we as believers just have to speak their language and love them as as Christ does. Open, transparent faith and hospitality are key. Such a great book!
March 7, 2020
This book was well researched and addressed many issues of what is happening in the church today. Trends both positive and negative and some very practical examples from real churches and leaders on how to reach people and engage a community for Jesus. Good read for anyone passionate about Jesus, loving God and people and making a difference in this world.
September 6, 2019
Lots of really interesting research in this one. Part 1 the most insightful and interesting to me, Part 2 was great, and Part 3 was good. Church leaders need to familiarize themselves with some of these statistics - it will directly impact the "how" of evangelism and mission in their church.
October 5, 2020
This book is full of information, data, and charts in the first section and I originally thought it would based on stats but I was wrong.
It uses states but is driven by the gospel and the stories of being transformed by the gospel
It uses states but is driven by the gospel and the stories of being transformed by the gospel
September 15, 2022
Not the most exciting book to read, unless you enjoy survey results and anecdotes that accompany. But helpful to be reminded of the changing religious world around the church, and how the objective results of surveys will often counteract the subjective wisdom of observations.
September 4, 2019
Great and encouraging read towards becoming a conversion community.
May 15, 2020
If you are in church leadership this book is a must-read.
June 29, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of good research. Very encouraging.
May 26, 2023
A manual for building an outreach-oriented church community beginning with the lead pastor. Researched. Comprehensive. Hopeful.
September 13, 2025
Really helpful phrasing of what an effective church looks like
September 21, 2023
Richardson interviews many non-churched people and finds that some/many are open to returning to church/faith if friends are involved in the prosses. Book aims to help Christians realize that most unchurched people are not antagonistic toward the faith, but through friendship or service we can find ways to connect and show/share our faith.
September 28, 2020
This book has a good mix of research and practical steps to reach people for Jesus and engage them. I found it very hopeful for churches who choose to be communities of inclusion and hospitality.
September 19, 2021
Richardson is writing to people whose primary goal is evangelism - getting people to say the prayer. And, he ever-so-gently confronts that as a motivation, inviting people to start with deeper relationships instead, setting aside their conversion motives. He does a great job of meeting evangelicals where they are and helping them take a step to more humane conversations, and (dare I say?) more Christlike behavior in how they/we engage outsiders.
If you have someone in your life who is doing evangelism in a cringey way, THIS is the gift for them. If you are a pastor and have multiple people in your congregation doing evangelism in a cringey way, this could serve as a guide for your "evangelism training" group.
If you have someone in your life who is doing evangelism in a cringey way, THIS is the gift for them. If you are a pastor and have multiple people in your congregation doing evangelism in a cringey way, this could serve as a guide for your "evangelism training" group.
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