East Cobb began implementing Christianity Explored after Assistant Pastor Wesley Horne went to a training conference three years ago. Rev. Horne says, “I love it. I had gotten skeptical of using any program for evangelism. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”

The church now has two Christianity Explored classes each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. They run it in homes. They do it without a full meal, centering around dessert and coffee instead. They have also condensed it to an 8-week course. Horne stressed the importance of adapting the course to your audience, but insists that you “not deviate from making it a safe place.” Make sure people feel comfortable asking questions.

Average attendance at a course varies from 6 to 16 people. Horne reports that close to 20% of the people attending make professions of faith. He has found that the course is more effective when church members invite their friends and then stay and attend the course with their friends.

The two primary ways they get people to come to the course:

• Church members building relationships, then inviting people, and
• Advertising at a local bookstore.

Each night of the course begins with people telling their stories, talking about certain sections of their lives. People become good friends. The leaders try to promote high quality discussion. They also give each person a 3 X 5 card that they can use to write down any question they have.

Horne also stressed the importance of finding the right people to be discussion leaders. You have to pick people who are good at drawing out unbelievers. You need leaders who can create an atmosphere where “any honest question is welcome.”

In July, East Cobb will run a Christianity Explored course in conjunction with a crisis pregnancy center.