Essential Church?: One of my biggest passions/concerns is connecting with young adults (18-20-somethings) so they can experience God, connect with others, grow in their faith and serve others–that’s what the Interview Project has been all about. Since I love to read, I read every book and article I find that looks interesting or addresses the problems associated with working with young adults. Normally I’m not one to recommend a book before I read it, but I just stumbled upon Essential Church? and trust Thom Rainer as a researcher and author. (He  wrote Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, Breakout Churches, The Unchurched Next Door–along with the forewords to some important books like Simple Church and In Real Time).

I’m sure it’s going to be a great read and am looking forward to getting it in the mail! If you can’t wait, you can download a free copy here.

Product Description
Why do so many young adults (18 to 22) leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back? This important question is examined and duly answered in Essential Church? with his son, research expert Sam Rainer.

The book is based on a study of one-thousand so-called “church dropouts” who were interviewed about why they left. Their answers are quite surprising, having less to do with “losing their religion” and more about the desire for a community that isn’t made stale by simply maintaining the status quo.

In turn, the Rainers offer churches four concrete solutions toward making their worship community an essential part these young people’s lives again:

Simplify – develop a clear structure and process for making disciples.
Deepen – provide strong biblical teaching and preaching.
Expect - let members know the need for commitment to the congregation.
Multiply - emphasize evangelism, outward focus, and starting new churches.

About the Authors
Thom S. Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies worldwide, and the best-selling coauthor of Simple Church. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sam S. Rainer is a senior pastor, writer, and the president and CEO of Rainer Research. He also blogs and writes a column for Outreach magazine and lives with his wife, Erin, in Floyds Knobs, Indiana.