Incredible study done by NAMB’s CRM department headed by Ed Stetzer. The report reads:
The North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research studied the attitudes and perceptions of the lost regarding Southern Baptists. The results of this study provided insights into the mindset of those outside our churches. Based upon their attendance at a church-but not necessarily Southern Baptist-service within the past six months, respondents were asked their impression of Southern Baptists (Favorable, Unfavorable, or Not Familiar).
In addition, broken down regionally, the study shows:
Although the positive perception of Southern Baptists in the South was the highest for any region, the negative impressions were actually higher than the positive. In other words, the surveyed unchurched in the South who have an opinion about Southern Baptists were more negative than positive.
When broken down by age:
We also examined the survey results by age and willingness to “visit or join” a church. The same pattern was found from the last study-younger adults were substantially less willing to visit and join a church if they knew it was an SBC church.
Well guys, we have a lot of work to do. This confirms my experience in talking with the unchurched. That’s why I almost refuse to tell them we’re a SBC church. Too much baggage.
Wow, I guess the part that suprised me was not the people who had a negative idea about the SBC but how many people knew nothing about us. Thanks for the link.
KB…
That shocked me as well. I think it might also explain the negativity. I wonder if the question was asked of those who didn’t know anything about us what their view of us was. Is that in there and I not see it?
thanks for the linkage, david…