Reviewed by: G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Introduction

Title: You Found Me: New Research on How Unchurched Nones, Millennials, and Irreligious Are Surprisingly Open to Christian Faith

Author: Rick Richardson

Publisher: IVP Praxis (InterVarsity Press)

Publication Date: June 18, 2019

Format: Hardcover

Length: 256 pages

OVERVIEW

By most accounts, Christianity is losing its respected place in American society. Christian leaders claim that statistics show all or most Americans no longer believe in Christianity, and it’s generally assumed nonreligious people have no real interest in spiritual matters. Rick Richardson argues that in fact this bleak image is overstated. Analyzing the statistics everyone seems to use about faith dying out in America, he shows how people have exaggerated the numbers and context. He couples this with new statistical research by the Billy Graham Center and Lifeway Research, showing surprising new facts about how non-religious people view the faith, and what the most successful churches in America have in common.

Richardson does a great job of avoiding the problem so many evangelicals fall into, misreading or not fully investigating statistics. Instead, he relies carefully on meticulous research and reaches surprising new conclusions about the state of American Christianity. Using interviews with some of America’s most effective churches, he then plots a new course of American Christians to follow, one that turns out to be highly Biblical and key to regaining lost ground. All told, this may be one of the most important books pastors and other church leaders can read right now about the state of American Christianity

ASSESSMENT

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

5 stars

Intended Audience

Readers seeking to understand religious trends in America and how to evangelize to non-Christians, pastors seeking to cast vision for their congregations to perform evangelism and missions work.

Christian Impact

This book will radically change how readers view evangelism and American Christianity, opening them up to new evangelism opportunities.

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