Top 10 Reasons for Leaving Previous Church

In our quest in finding a new church we visited 1st Baptist in Bethalto for the first time several weeks ago. The sermon topic on our visit by Pastor Chip Faulkner was from Acts 2. The message was centered on the beginnings of the very first church. It was a great sermon which told of the struggles the first church had, and how the apostles worked through them. In his sermon, Pastor Chip told us of a research he had come across that LifeWay had done called Top 10 reasons people had for leaving their previous churches among American Protestants. Curtis & I thought it was unique that this was the sermon topic, since we in fact were looking for a new church home. God is amazing, isn't He? A week later I asked Pastor Chip for a copy of the survey, which he gladly gave me. I want to share it with you. Thanks Pastor Chip!

Top 10 Reasons for Leaving Previous Church

#10. Pastor seemed hypocritical 13%

#9. Pastor was judgmental of others. 14%

#8. Church was run by a clique that discouraged involvement. 14%

#7. Church didn't seem to be a place in which God was at work. 14%

#6. Church members seemed hypocritical. 15%

#5. Pastor was not a good preacher. 16%

#4. TOO MANY THINGS IN GENERAL CHANGED. 16%

#3. Church members were judgmental of others. 18%

#2. Did not feel engaged/involved in meaningful work in church. 20%

#1. Church was not helping individual to develop spiritually. 28%

Bold - Church not fulling needs
Italic - Disenchanted with pastor/church
ALL CAPS - CHANGES WITHIN PREVIOUS CHURCH

Note: Because respondents could check "all reasons that apply," the total answers sum more than 100%.

Just thought this was interesting. Hope you do too. Have a good one!