Over the past few months, I have been reading and reflecting on a book titled “The Great Dechurching.” The data and stories in that book have caused me to pause and ask hard questions:
Why are so many people stepping away from the church?
What role might we be playing — and what role can we play — in inviting people back?
This edition of our newsletter is dedicated to exploring insights from the book. My hope is that these reflections will stir our hearts, sharpen our mission, and deepen our love — not just for those who are already here, but for those who once were, or who might be in the future.
Let me just make things clear here, I know and recognize that this is a book written by two men, and they have done a lot of work researching and writing for this book. I appreciate and honor their work. Within this newsletter are a lot of my own takeaways, but I also lean on others and their research as well. Please take that into consideration while reading this newsletter.
Nevertheless, there is a pandemic within the church and we have to do something about it. Are you ready?
What is “The Great Dechurching?”
- The authors argue that America is undergoing the largest and fastest religious shift in its history — but in reverse of revival.
- Roughly 40 million Americans have left church attendance over the past 25 years.
- For the first time in decades, the number of adults who do not belong to a church outpaces those who do.
The book’s project is not just diagnostic — it’s also strategic. It seeks to understand who is leaving, why, and what might lead some to return.
Profiles of the Dechurched
One of the strengths of The Great Dechurching is how it uses research and composite profiles to make the trends more human. The authors identify several major “types” of dechurched evangelicals.
| Profile | Description | Key Features / Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural Christians | The largest subset | They often hold weak doctrinal convictions, drifted out through life rhythms more than crisis, but many are open to returning. |
| Dechurched Mainstream Evangelicals | Lifelong believers who stopped attending | They retain orthodox beliefs, but lost the habit (especially after life transitions like moving). |
| Exvangelicals | Intentional, sometimes permanent, departure | Many cite deep hurt, trauma, or disillusionment with church culture. |
| Dechurched BIPOC | Those whose dechurching is shaped by race, culture, and identity | Their experience may include feeling marginalized, culturally out of place, or unheard. |
| Dechurched Mainline / Catholic & Protestant | Not exclusively evangelical | The broader shift includes those from mainline and historic churches too. |
Takeaway: The reasons people leave are varied — not all hurt, not all rebellion. Many simply drifted. And for many, an invitation or relational bridge could make all the difference.
Why Are People Leaving? (and What’s Pulling Them Away)
The authors categorize motivations into beliefs, behavior, and belonging — the three “Bs.”
1. Beliefs
- Some feel the church no longer answers their doubts or questions.
- Others see inconsistency between what the church preaches and how it acts.
- Political polarization and misuse of authority have also driven disillusionment.
2. Behavior
- Life transitions (moving, jobs, marriage, kids) disrupt habits.
- Attendance became inconvenient.
- The “inertia effect” — once someone steps away, it becomes easier to stay away.
3. Belonging
- Many left because they never felt loved, accepted, or known.
- Some say the church felt foreign or culturally distant.
- The deepest barrier may not be theological, but relational.
One especially sobering insight: “casual dechurching” is more common than one might expect. Many people slide away, not because of a crisis of faith, but simply because life changes gradually pull them apart from the church.
Reasons for Hope
Despite the sobering trends, The Great Dechurching is not a book of despair. It offers hope and direction. Here are some of the key encouragements:
- About 51% of dechurched evangelicals say they might return someday.
- Many maintain orthodox beliefs; the shift is often more about habit and relational connection than doctrinal abandonment.
- Belonging, more than persuasion, is often the “hinge” on which a return decision rests.
- The authors call for relational wisdom — posture marked by quiet, calm curiosity — as a better way to engage than debate or coercion.
- The church is invited into exile — to lose its grip on power, to serve from the margins, and to rediscover dependence on God’s grace.
Questions for Reflection for our Families
- Can you think of someone in your life who has drifted away from church? What might be their story?
- Which of the three “Bs” (believe, behave, belong) do you sense we struggle with most as a congregation?
- What might it look like for us to cultivate relational wisdom in how we talk and live together?
- How might we re-imagine our practices so that belonging is built in, especially for newcomers or those unsure?
- As a church, are there places where we’ve prioritized power or prestige over humility and service?
What You Can Do
How you can help:
- Identify one person in your social circle who has drifted away, and extend a personal, low-pressure invitation — “I miss you; would you come with me this Sunday?”
- Be intentional about friendships across generations. Invest time in people who are less familiar or less like you.
- Pray for humility in our church — that we would listen more than lecture, serve more than command.
- If you have gifts in hospitality, visitation, or relational ministry, Please let the Pastoral team know.
Closing Word
Let us not approach this moment with fear or despair, but with humility, hope, and resolve. If The Great Dechurching can teach anything, it is that much of what divides is healed through presence, listening, and steadfast love. The church is not a show, but a family. And every member matters.
After seeing these reports, I’m thrilled to share that our story looks very different. We are in the midst of revival! It may not match what others define as revival, but lives are being changed, people are coming home to the church, and hearts are being awakened to a real relationship with Jesus Christ.
May God in his grace continue to draw many back, and may he continue to draw us ever more deeply into his heart of compassion and wisdom.
Don’t forget to Be The One!
Pastor Shannon
The class will focus on Genesis 4 after spending the past few weeks going over a timeline of key events in the Old Testament. Here’s an outline of notes and things to think about as we go approach Genesis 4.
Questions to Consider
1. Compare the sacrifices of Cain and Abel.
2. Have you ever found yourself in the position of Cain in verse 5?
3. In verse 7, how does God tell Cain to be accepted and to overcome his bad attitude?
Notes from the Scripture
4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.
4:2 And she again bare his brother, Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
We can’t say that being a tiller of the ground was a less honorable occupation than being a keeper of sheep, for God instructed Adam to be a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 3:23)
4:3 And in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering until the Lord.
4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect until Abel and to his offering.
The fruit of the ground was a product of the ground which was cursed in Genesis 3:17, so it could not be offered to remove sin. In Leviticus and Numbers, fruit of the ground was used to tithe and to support the priesthood. But even then, God specifies to bring the BEST or the fat of the crops.
God had used animal sacrifice, the skin of a dead animal, to cover the sin of Adam and Eve. Therefore, an animal sacrifice was necessary for atonement for Cain and Abel.
The Bible doesn’t say that Cain brought of the fat of his offering. It specifically states that Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the “fat” thereof.
4:5 But unto Cain and to his offerings He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
We don’t know why God was not pleased with Cain’s offering. But I must believe that Cain would have known what made an offering acceptable of not acceptable.
We find Cain “wroth” (charah in Hebrew: blaze up, hot, be incensed, jealous). His countenance fell (long-faced, sullen).
4:6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art though wroth? And why is thy countenance fallen?
The Lord doesn’t ignore Cain’s displeasure but tries to help him see the error of his ways and deal with it.
4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
The root of a bad attitude is sin. Do well, be accepted. Don’t do well; sin lies at the door.
Other translations:
NKJ: …And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
KIV: But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.
NLT: But if you refuse to respond correctly, then watch out! Sin is waiting to attack and destroy you, and you must subdue it.
4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.
Cain did not deal with his bitterness. He let his bitterness deal with him. Bitterness led to murder.
4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not; Am I my brother’s keeper?
Again, as with Adam and Eve in the garden, the Lord approaches Cain with a question: Where is Abel, thy brother. God was giving Cain an opportunity to confess.
4:10 And He said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Cain still does not confess.
4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
4:12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Now you are cursed and the earth which opened her mouth and received your brother’s blood will no longer yield her strength unto you.
4:13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
4:14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass that everyone that findesth me shall slay me.
4:15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.
We don’t ever read that Cain confessed. He continued to complain and feel sorry for himself. But our merciful Lord protected him anyway.
4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.
4:17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived and bare Enoch; and he builded a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begat Mehujael; and Mehujael begat Methusael; and Methusael begat Lamech.
4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.
4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and of such as have cattle.
4:21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
4:23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice, ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
Lamech confesses to his wives he has slain a man.
Cain, Enoch, Irad, Mehujael, Methusael, Lamech. Five generations after Cain, Lamech remembers and speaks of Cain have committed murder. He mentions if Cain should be forgiven, then he should be forgiven.
4:24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
God and Adam and Eve started over with a third son, Seth.
Seth had Enos and then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.
4:25 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos; then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.
Points to Remember
🫴 Give rich offerings to God; not subpar or stingy.
🙏 When you have failed, don’t develop a bad attitude ad let it destroy you. Confess and let God help you.
Good morning, class. We never made it to Genesis Chapter 4 last week. We will finish putting the names and events from the list you received, in chronological order this Sunday and then we will look at Genesis Chapter 4. Bring your Rose Timeline Book. Excited to explore God’s Word with you! – Sherry Bull
As a reminder, here were the topics for thought from Genesis 4.
1. Compare the sacrifices of Cain and Abel.
2. Have you ever found yourself in the position of Cain in v5?
3. In verse 7, how does God tell Cain to be accepted and to overcome his bad attitude?
Resources:
Download Events and Names List
Do you want to rep Hector First Assembly with some fresh gear? We’re excited to announce official HFA merchandise is coming soon— HFA T-Shirts and Hoodies designed just for our church family!
This is your chance to wear your faith, show your support, and be part of something special we’ve been working on.
How to Get Yours
📅 Sign-ups open this Sunday!
🙋 The only way to reserve an HFA shirt or hoodie is to sign up in person.
💸Pricing will be announced very soon.
✨ HFA YTH Special!
We especially want our youth to be part of this! A sign-up sheet for HFA YTH T-Shirts will be available starting Wednesday night at Youth. We’d love for every student to have a shirt, so parents—be sure to grab one for your child!
🚨 Don’t Miss Out
Quantities will be limited to those who sign up. If you want to rep HFA in style—make sure you’re on the list!
BE THE ONE!
The Sunday morning service on September 28 finished up Pastor Shannon’s “Living in the Last Days” series. The focus was on “The Final Separation,” and it focused on the judgement of mankind when we stand before Christ. The foundational scripture was Matthew 25: 31-46.
“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.”
Ezekiel 22:30
God is still looking for people who will stand in the gap—people who will intercede, serve, love, and live faithfully so that others can come to know Christ. Standing in the gap means being willing to step in where there’s a need, to pray where there’s a burden, and to fight spiritually for those who cannot fight for themselves.
This month, let’s ask ourselves: Where is God calling me to stand in the gap? It could be for your family, for a neighbor, for our church, for our nation, or for someone who doesn’t yet know Christ.
Prayer Focus
This month, let’s focus our prayers on:
- Families in our church who are struggling.
- Our community leaders, that they may have wisdom.
- The next generation, that they may encounter God’s truth.
- Revival in our homes, our city, and our nation.
Scripture
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land…” (Ezekiel 22:30)
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Church News
Sermon Series: Living in the Last Days, ends this Sunday. Don’t miss it!
Baptism Service last Sunday: We celebrated 8 baptisms and i am continuing to receive testimonies messages of great reports throughout the week.
Fall Fest: This might look different this year. More information to come.
Closing Thought
Standing in the gap is not always glamorous—it often happens in the secret place of prayer or in quiet acts of love. But heaven notices. Let’s be a church that stands strong, together, in the gap for others.
Remember to Be The One,
Pastor Shannon
From Sherry Bull
We are anticipating a good study in Ch 4 this Sunday. Here are some thoughts we can be thinking about in preparation for class:
1. Compare the sacrifices of Cain and Abel.
2. Have you ever found yourself in the position of Cain in v5?
3. In verse 7, how does God tell Cain to be accepted and to overcome his bad attitude?
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Matthew 5:6
All across history, every great move of God began with a hunger that stirred in the hearts of His people. When men and women longed for more than routine, more than religion, and cried out for the living presence of God—He responded.
We are living in a time when distractions are everywhere, but there is a mighty wave of spiritual hunger rising. People are realizing that nothing in this world can satisfy the soul like Jesus. This hunger is not a weakness—it is an invitation to be filled.
Are you hungry for a deeper move of God in your life, your family, and our church? Let’s position ourselves in prayer, worship, and obedience so that when the wave of His Spirit comes, we are ready to be swept up in His power.
Devotional Thought
Hunger is a gift. It proves you were made for more than what this world offers. God promises to fill those who seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
Revival is never accidental—it comes when God’s people are desperate for His presence. Just like waves in the ocean, God’s Spirit moves in power and in timing. Hunger creates the conditions for the wave to rise.
How Do We Stir Our Hunger?
Pray daily – Not just for needs, but for His presence.
Fast – Lay something down to show God your desire for Him above all else.
Worship – Even when you don’t “feel it,” worship draws His Spirit close.
Expect – Believe that God is ready to move here and now.
Church News
Our Wednesday Nights are exploding!
The last several midweek services have been nothing short of Amazing! If you haven’t attended you are missing out. We have been averaging close to 150 each week; 80-100 kids and youth. I want to encourage you to bring your kids, your neighbors kids and yourself to come experience an HFA midweek. You will not be disappointed.
Sermon Series. The current series: Living in the Last Days continues this Sunday. Don’t miss it!
Baptism Service this coming Sunday AM. If you want to be baptized, please let Pastor Shannon know. Bring a change of clothes (nothing white) and a towel.
Fall Fest. This night may look different this year. More information to come.
Closing Encouragement
The world is hungry for entertainment, success, and pleasure — but the church must be hungry for the living God. When a body of believers hungers together, God pours out His Spirit in ways that change communities, families, and nations.
Let’s Be that church. Let’s Be that people. Let’s ride the mighty wave of hunger into a fresh move of God!
Be The One,
Pastor Shannon