Exit Interviews: Revealing Stories of Why People are Leaving the Church [Hardcover]

William D. Hendricks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1993

53,000 people leave churches every week and never come back. Curious, William Hendricks interviewed many of these people and discovered that a craving for spirituality leads many outside the established churches.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 305 pages
• Publisher: Moody Press (September 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802423191
• ISBN-13: 978-0802423191
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #938,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing information for all church members to know!, October 9, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Dottie Villesvik) (Marysville, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Exit Interviews : Revealing Stories of Why People Are Leaving Church (Paperback)

Since I have been an active member of a local congregation for years, I have been aware of the fact that over the years, some people just seem to "drift away". I must acknowledge that I have not followed up on those individuals thinking that they have their reasons and probably don't want to be "badgered" with questions as to why they left.

After reading this book, I realize that there are many complex reasons why people leave the church and that this "Exodus" must be part of the ministry of the local congregation. Mr. Hendircks points out that the local church needs to develop a "system for listening" to our people. Not just those that are happy with the program, but those on the fringe.

I also appreciated the authors provocative ideas on "What Churches Can Do". He not only dealt with the problem but also offered some solutions.

I highly recommend that the leaders in all congregations read and discuss this book as a means to facing this critical issue.

His final chapter speaks to those who might be considering leaving, or have already left a congregation. He reminds them and us, that "You'll Never Find the Perfect Church".

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All church leaders should read this book, October 17, 2004

By 

Marc Drayer (Topeka, Kansas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Exit Interviews: Revealing Stories of Why People are Leaving the Church (Hardcover)

This book should be on the bookshelf of every minister and church leader. One word of warning, the stories within will break your heart. Most books on church growth have people standing at the front door, asking why they joined. In this book, Hendricks stands at the back door, asking "Why are you leaving?"
The answers will surprise you. These are not malcontents, disgruntled people who didn't get there way and so migrate from church to church. These are all people who sincerely want to serve Christ, and find that the Church is unresponsive.
It really moves one to start listening to what people are saying within the church.
One major factor, is that many churches have left grace behind. As Hendricks points out:
"the greatest tragedy was that a system promising forgiveness to people and freedom from guilt ended up making so many of them feel guilty. That, in turn led to chronic legalism. At every turn, they staggered under massive expectations that they could never quite fulfill....
Thus grace became a theological fiction. Yet rumors of a gracious God persisted. And once people discovered what for so long they had been denied, they felt cheated and outraged and made a beeline for the exit."

Hendricks ends that section by saying "As I say, it appears the church has a lot of theological ground to reclaim."

No book other than the Bible itself has served to upend my own theology and open my eyes to something that all Christians need to remember, myself included. It is that five letter word, which many are so afraid of...GRACE.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Insightful, Deeply Moving, February 28, 2005

By 

javajunkie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Exit Interviews: Revealing Stories of Why People are Leaving the Church (Hardcover)

This is the second time I am reading this book. It should be read by every pastor and every parish council member or every outreach ministry.

We are so eager to get people in the door of the church - but we need to listen to those who slip out the back. They ussally leave, without saying a word, with so much to teach us. They may be perceived as malcontents, or "uncommitted," but this book reminds us that they are almost always in search of truth and reality, and somehow, the rest of us have failed them. We need to listen - and take heed. It also gives profound understanding to those who are thinking about heading out the back door themselves. Perhaps all of us are one of "them" at times too.