Of all the things people said would make them likely to return, this is the greatest felt need. We asked two vital questions to understand the animating concerns of the dechurched: What made you leave? And what would entice you to come back? The answers to these questions show us opportunities in front of us in this area of belonging.

churches make an honest attempt at community in a culture that’s forgotten how to do it

Four out of every ten young adults who were church regulars as teens fall into this category. These are young adults who reflect the zeitgeist of their generation, trying on every worldview, lifestyle, and pathway that is open to them, majoring on experiences and relationships rather than on truth and restraint. They are flexing their independence