Did you Know?:
The Antioch Foundation in Houston (Houston Baptist University ) has reported that 88% of Houstonians are not members of any church. A large percentage of this population are immigrants to Houston from many parts of the world. 93 languages are spoken by students in the school system. Another large community of the unchurched are the previously churched. They literally quit "churchianity" because it did not meet any need in their lives.

Another reason there is such a high percentage of unchurched is because most Americans view the church as "community furniture." Like the bank, the school, the hospital, and the police station, the church is present to "service" the citizens only when needed like for weddings or burials. Otherwise, it has no attraction any more than a healthy person needs to go into a hospital.

The TOUCH Family believes its calling is specifically to the unchurched, who consistently say, "I am spiritual, but I cannot stand religion." Our calling is to become incarnated groups of believers who reveal the true life of Christ to those who are not seeking for belief, but the King of Kings. He will attract the unchurched best when the traditional "community" church life is stripped away and we relate the Christ who dwells in us to those who are searching in all directions for truth.

George Barna writes: "If we are honest with ourselves, part of the reason why many people remain unchurched is that they have looked us over and don't especially like what they see. Some of us talk the faith but don't live the faith. Others don't even talk it very well. Maybe we've never thought of ourselves as hypocrites, but here's a test: How many people can we name who have re-examined their life because there was something in ours that they saw and craved but did not possess? That something is more than just having said a prayer to determine your salvation. It is a continual awareness of, and response to, the presence of God in a spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical transformation accomplished by giving the Holy Spirit free reign in your life, resulting in an entirely new way of being God's Church on earth.
"Our research is clear on this point: many people name Jesus as their savior, but relatively few have lives that consistently demonstrate He is truly the Lord of their heart, mind and soul. Perhaps before we invite other people to take part in the things of God we should commit ourselves to fully experiencing all that is available to us through Jesus. When that happens, we won't have to worry too much about attracting and assimilating others into the church. When God becomes the true priority in our life, and we imitate the heart of Christ and live in the power of the indwelling Spirit, what we represent will be irresistible."

The TOUCH Family seeks to be a community of incarnational small groups where unbelievers can observe God "close up" and say, "God is certainly among you! And the Person you have received into your lives is the One I desire to live in me!

If you are unchurched and reading these words, don't throw out the Baby with the bathwater! We also feel that the church has let you down but Christ is alive today, and lives in us, and we wish to reveal Him "close up" to you!