We live in a time of radical church decline where one-third of religious buildings in Canada will be abandoned in the next 10-years.

Christians find themselves listening to pastors’ messages through a podcast or YouTube video rather than going to a physical church service. In light of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, churches all over the world have moved their services online, begging the question: does church really matter? In a time when the global church is changing to virtual services, Canadian pastor, speaker and author Kevin Makins believes the church still matters – perhaps more than ever.

In this exceptionally honest account, using personal stories from his congregation and adding humour, Makins helps readers rediscover the primal elements of Christian community, such as forgiveness, adventure, unity and participation, without glossing over any difficult issues. Readers will understand why they should reclaim the local church, despite the messiness.

“Our church community is asking pressing questions about what the Christian community will look like for the next generation, who the church will be for and why anyone would go to church,” noted Makins. “Over the last decade of church planting, not only have we discovered that church still matters, but we’ve been learning that it may be more relevant than ever before.”

Endorsements for Why Would Anyone Go to Church? include David Fitch, Scott Erickson and The Meeting House’s Bruxy Cavey who says, “Why Would Anyone Go to Church? inspires people to experience and express the beauty and brokenness of life in the local church. Thank you, Kevin, for helping the Good News message shine more brightly as we join together in true community in the places where Jesus has put us.”

For those who have been burned or burned out by the church, silenced or misunderstood, left the church or never joined, Makins candidly and hopefully invites readers to consider what they miss out on when they give up on church and what the church misses out on when it gives up on them.