Contact: Jon Hirst, The Well, 719-362-5235, jhirst@dotheword.org

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Feb. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Churches are constructing more modern buildings despite the fact that surveys show that the unchurched are attracted to more traditional, cathedral-like design. House church leader Ken Eastburn commented saying attracting unbelievers is the wrong goal entirely, "Not only are churches missing the boat in what the unchurched want, but they are also missing the purpose of their existence. The church doesn't exist to be attractive but to be the Body of Christ."

Christianity Today compared two different research projects. The first study, called Sacred Space, was a survey conducted by the Cornerstone Knowledge Network and Lifeway Research in 2008 and found that the unchurched prefer more traditional, cathedral-like building design. The second research project, the Church Facilities Expansion Study, was performed by Christianity Today also in conjunction with the Cornerstone Knowledge Network and found that churches that are planning to build within the next 18 months will turn to a more modern design for their exterior, foyer, and sanctuary. The magazine noted that churches may be deterring those who they intend to reach and suggested they should instead make an effort to draw them in.

"The most important question is not what it takes to get people to come to church, but whether we are becoming the Church," says Eastburn, "We are far too concerned with whether what we are doing looks good to unbelievers when we should be focused on becoming like Christ to them."

Eastburn is a leader with The Well, a network of home-based churches in California and Colorado. After selling their building in 2005, members began meeting in each other's homes where they focus strongly on discipleship.

He continues, "When we become like Christ our focus shifts from being attractive to the unchurched to loving them out of obedience and love for God. In other words, we become the Church that Jesus died to build."

The Well hosts 10-15 members at each of its five locations on a weekly basis. Eastburn and other members post their experiences on a blog maintained by the church, www.leavethebuildingblog.com, with the purpose of interacting with individuals from traditional and house church backgrounds.