We have been given the Great Commission to make disciples, to share the gospel, and to build God's house. But significant numbers of American churches and Christians are not being obedient. For many reasons we remain still and silent. And none of those reasons is acceptable to God.

From a generational perspective, our research shows that churches are losing 70 percent of young adults ages 18 to 22. But our research also reveals good news. We heard from young adults who returned to church after several years' absence. Simply stated, one of the most receptive fields toward multiplication in a church is the young adult group who dropped out a few years earlier.

Churches that are intentional about reclaiming dechurched young adults are seeing significant responses in this group returning to church. Let's look at some of their approaches.

Get the action right. Evangelism. Say the word in a crowd and the reactions will be mixed. But most people will have a reaction. Some will respond with excitement: "That's the Great Commission. That's what all Christians and churches should be doing!" Others may respond with a stereotype of evangelistic Christians: "Yeah, I've seen those types. They try to grab you on the streets and cram some stuff down you." Still others view evangelism as a narrow-minded theological reality. They see Christians as offensive, and they see an exclusive gospel as the most offensive.

Regardless of perspectives, two realities are clear. First, evangelism is not an option for Christians or for churches. The Great Commission is a mandate. Second, every church we have studied that is effectively reaching and retaining young adults is highly intentional about evangelism. They have a passion for multiplication. They get the action right. No exceptions. Period.

Of course, methods of evangelism vary. We did not see a cookie-cutter approach in any of the churches we have studied. But we did see a passion for reaching people who are without Christ. We did witness churches that make evangelism a high priority in their ministries.

Churches with an outward focus are successful at reclaiming church dropouts for two main reasons. First, church dropouts are more likely to return to faith communities that are reaching out to them. These dropouts are not likely to return without encouragement from other church members. Additionally, these dropouts have some understanding of what God requires of His people. Many of them, if they return, have a desire to go to a church that is doing what God commands.

Focus on the fringes. There is good news—those that leave are some of the most likely to return. There is a definite pilgrimage back to church for many of the dropouts. In fact, our research shows nearly two-thirds of the dechurched return. Those that have come back, however, are on the fringes. Many of them attend only a few services a year. The church is still periphery to them. They are one worship service away from totally leaving the church again.

Churches that maintain a culture of multiplication focus on the outliers. These churches understand that those returning are many times barely connected to the people of the church, and they are intentional about re-assimilating returnees after an extended absence.

Enlist Friends and Family. We interviewed 394 rechurched young adults to find out why they returned to church. One myth that could be easily dismissed is that they were too angry at the church to return. To the contrary, the rechurched told us in overwhelming numbers that anger at the church was not a factor in their departures. Apathy typically trumped anger.

So the dechurched often just needed a gentle nod to become the rechurched. And that gentle nod came most often from friends and family. Nearly four out ten (39 percent) rechurched told us that parents or other family members were instrumental in their return to church. Another two out of ten (21 percent) said that they returned to church after friends or acquaintances encouraged them to attend.

If we eliminate the overlapping responses, we find that exactly half (50 percent) of the rechurched are back in church because of the encouragement of a friend or family members. This is a profound reality: We lose two-thirds of young adults between the ages of 18 and 22, but we can reclaim half of them with simple encouragement from family and friends.

Can the churches play a role in this encouragement to return? Indeed, we found that churches must play a role. And this encouragement is best received when it comes from friends and family.

Multiplying churches do whatever it takes to connect the lost to Jesus Christ. They are intentional about reaching outward. Multiplying churches also focus on reclaiming church dropouts. These churches know that some of these dropouts are believers and some are not. The reconnection is made the same way, through reaching outward to them with the gospel. God's mission remains central in churches that are essential to the lives of the people.