May 3, 2024
SUWANEE, Ga. — Christians who routinely share their faith are finding a willingness among people to engage in conversations about spiritual matters, including salvation.
That’s according to one of the latest articles from Barna Research Group, an organization that monitors cultural and religious trends in America.
“Part of the reason may be that the U.S. is culturally Christian,” Barna wrote, citing past surveys. “In fact, 72 percent of people in the U.S. say they were raised Christian.”
Barna said Christians aren’t being met with strong resistance when they converse with others about the Bible, because a significant number of non-Christians tend to reverence scripture.
“They tend to agree the Christian Bible is both divinely inspired and completely accurate,” Barna said.
Tom Kollars, a Statesboro resident who devotes his spare time to engaging others in gospel conversations, led more than 40 people in prayers of salvation on New Year’s Day alone. A member of First Baptist Church of Statesboro, Kollars, a jovial man with an unwavering commitment to personal evangelism, sees an average of about 300 people commit their lives to Christ each month.
“I love people, and I want them to be able to go to heaven,” he told The Christian Index. “When I go to restaurants, I lead people to Christ. When I go to gas stations, when I go to grocery stores, when I go to hospitals, when I go to clinics, I lead people to Christ. Wherever I go, I encounter people who need Christ.”
Barna’s article said spiritual openness is widespread.
“Barna data show that 77 percent of U.S. adults believe in God or a higher power, 74 percent would like to grow spiritually and 44 percent are more open to God today than they were before the pandemic,” the article said.
Barna said Christians will find that “non-Christians take matters of faith seriously and personally.”
Barna said people of no faith feel more positive about spiritual conversations with Christians when the Christian shares their faith journeys and ask others to share theirs.
“Time and again, this study has shown that Christians need to understand and embrace the give and take required for good conversations about faith,” the article said.
Barna said data show church members would benefit from improved training in how to navigate faith discussions.
“Focusing on offering more options for teaching Christians and then making sure those teachings nurture considerate, invitational conversationalists could be helpful focuses in today’s spiritually open climate,” Barna said.
