Engaging the Unreached: Research Insights for Evangelism
- mariannedavis0
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 3
The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:6) illustrates a deep truth about God's love for the spiritually unreached. By some estimates, there are more than three billion individuals living without a clear understanding of the gospel. As disciples of Jesus, we are all called to seek and care for the lost, fulfilling the evangelistic mission of the Church and the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). This post delves into our research findings that illuminate how we can better connect with these individuals, particularly through the lens of Bible engagement.
In the Center for Bible Engagement's (CBE) Spiritual Assessment Model, individuals without any faith in Jesus are broadly categorized as Persona 1 (P1).
This group constitutes the largest segment of the global population and is remarkably diverse, encompassing atheists and agnostics, the spiritually curious, adherents of other faiths, former believers, and even practicing Christians who have doubts about their salvation.
Understanding their unique perspectives and struggles is an important key to connecting with them. Research from our 2025 general population studies provide critical insights into how P1s perceive faith, the Bible, and themselves.
Perception of Christianity: P1s often view Christianity as an organized or institutionalized religion. Many who have had prior exposure to Christianity turn away due to negative external perceptions, citing reasons such as perceived hypocrisy, judgement, personal trauma, conflict with science, or a general distrust of religious institutions.
Moral Truth & Faith's Relevance: P1s are the least aligned with traditional faith statements, especially regarding gender and marriage. They are uncertain about the source of moral truth, often believing it depends on circumstances and individual perspectives. They also struggle with uncertainty about Christian teachings and question how faith applies to daily life. Some P1s may perceive Christianity as a path to morality but feel they can be good people without it.
The Bible: P1s are most likely to view the Bible as simply one among many holy books, not necessarily more valid than other sacred literature, and are the least likely to believe it is the inspired, inerrant word of God. Notably, most (90%) have only read small portions out of curiosity or for historical context.
Salvation: While some P1s may identify culturally as Christian or even believe in Jesus, they doubt they are truly saved, often mixing works with grace.
Emotional Landscape: Emotionally, P1s commonly report struggles with anger, laziness, thinking badly about oneself, discontentment, and destructive thoughts.
The greatest need for Persona 1 individuals is evangelism, but it must be presented or re-presented in appropriate and contextual ways. Many P1s are actively asking fundamental questions: “Is God real?” “Is the Bible true?” “Is faith enough?” The way these questions are answered can significantly impact their spiritual journey. While general P1s may focus on life improvement, a subset, specifically those interacting with ministries, are actively seeking God. Uncertainty is a defining trait among P1 subtypes. They need help overcoming doubts, seeing biblical relevance, and meeting deeper needs like trust and belonging. Many are generally open to gaining knowledge but may not yet be prepared for immediate spiritual transformation.
Engagement Strategies
Engaging P1s requires a patient, grace-filled approach that clarifies truth without judgement. Effective research-backed strategies are listed below.
Acknowledge their starting point, recognizing their lack of spiritual practices and potential intimidation by the Bible.
Present the Bible as relevant and accessible, showing how Jesus and biblical truth matter in daily life.
Use natural connection points like their interests in family, friendships, and mental health for conversation.
Offer low-pressure opportunities to explore the Bible, such as short-term studies.
Leverage preferred communication channels, like social media and video, for relational interaction.
Model authentic faith that demonstrates how a relationship with Christ brings fulfillment and relevance.
The Great Commission is not merely a suggestion, but a powerful, urgent mandate from our loving Father. By applying these research insights into the needs of Persona 1 individuals, we can approach them with greater understanding, grace, and patience. This enables us to present or re-present the truth of the Gospel in contextualized ways, helping them overcome doubts and see the Bible's relevance in their everyday lives, ultimately guiding them toward the transformative power of a relationship with Christ.
See related CBE research:
