Church Participation by Adults

Why do adults choose a church? How do they make their choices? The church researcher, George Barna, surveyed American adults with the following factors:

These are a few key factors that determine whether adults will return to a church they have visited. From the following 22 factors, rate them as 1 - extremely important, 2 - pretty important, 3 - somewhat important, 4 - not too important, or 5 - not at all important in your decision of whether to return to a church you have visited.

Now, select the factors over which you, a volunteer adult leader, have an influence in the right column.

For further reading:

• Stephen Arterburn and Jack Fulton, Toxic Faith: Understanding and Overcoming Religious Addiction (Nashville: Oliver Nelson, 1991).
  
  
• John Sisemore, Church Growth Through the Sunday School (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1983).
  
  
• Reid, Topper, Beyond the Walls: Focus on Adults and Young Adults (Nashville: LifeWay Press, 2000).

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Survey reported in On Mission, July-August 1999, 9.

AdultApplication: Look at the items you checked and especially those you circled. Based on what attracts you to a church and keeps you there, how can you help meet others' needs? Do you think your reasons are unique or similar to others in your church? If items you have not marked may be important to others, how can you help make those positive factors in your church?