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Tough future for evangelicals, numbers reveal

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Also, pastors by nature want to be upbeat about the transformative potential of their faith. “The thought that what we're doing is not working is hard,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson's book proposes various ways for evangelicals to correct course, including backing away from politics, reaching out to gays and other “tribes” of “sinners” (Dickerson's terms), engaging in social justice work, and emphasizing one-on-one Christian mentoring over entertainment-oriented worship services.

It's a challenging set of prescriptions for a movement whose values were formed over decades and could take equally long to change.

Dickerson sees no alternative.

“While God is sovereign and in control, it's really up to the leaders he placed here to change our course of action and respond to the times and adapt,” he said.

“We have to do what Jesus says, no matter the cost.”

Contact the writer: jhinch@ocregister.com