Unchurched friend #2

http://developingoutreach.blogspot.com/


Addison Roberts
CRL 233 Developing Outreach and Discipleship Programs
Instructor Gerry Stoltzfoos
1/24/2009

Interviewee profile
Name: Sean
Occupation: Student
Lifestyle: Lives in suburb and attends community college.


Sean felt that the greatest need in his area was diversity. He feels that his area needs more places where there can be a free flow of ideas and cultures and where all people can feel comfortable just being themselves without being worried about what kind of criticisms may come. He wants to see more things where people of different backgrounds and ideologies can come together in unity. Shouldn't the church provide a place like this? Not to say that we bend on our beliefs but that we lovingly accept others where they are.

Sean is interested in such issues as the economy, civil rights, football and traveling. He feels that most people do not attend because of the time factor. They feel that it takes up too much of their Sunday to be worth the time. He feels that people just want to relax on Sunday. They don't want to take several hours of their day to go to church. I can understand that. Sometimes I feel that way too! Let's pray that these type of people realize the importance of a relationship with Christ and his body.

In looking for a church, some of the things that would turn Sean off are close-mindedness, bigotry, and fanaticism. He feels that the church needs to keep an open mind and act like they have made mistakes before. He also thinks that people have private relationships with God and don't need to act fanatical and crazy to express that. I have a feeling that the 11:15 service would turn him off.

As far as what he looks for in Pastors. He want a pastor to be down to earth, open minded and honest about his flaws. He also thinks that pastors would get to know people before they try to fix them. I think this is a good point and we should all remember it in ministry.