Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture

Introverts in the Church“Sometimes it seems that our many words are more an expression of our doubt than our faith” -Henri NouwenYou want to know what the worst two minutes of my life are every week? It starts with that moment directly after we sing in church when the worship pastor asks the congregation to turn to someone next to you and say hi. Every single time, my eyes just want to roll.I’m not against meeting new people. I actually think people are pretty cool. I used to think that I was just being shy and needed to fight my innate shyness, but in reality, what I loathe is the lack of genuineness. The whole procedure is forced and fake. By the time I am done shaking my neighbor’s hand, I have already forgotten his name. Why? Because I don’t know him and there has been no attempt to know each other.This situation is a great example of my introvertedness. Introverts, for the most part, don’t like small talk, instead wanting deeper and more meaningful conversations.I used to be very ashamed of my introverted nature. Now I embrace it fully. After reading Quiet by Susan and The Introvert Advantage by Marti Olsen Laney, I felt like a new person ready to use my strengths in all that I do.However, the one place I still feel left out is church. Now I have gone to some amazing churches and a few bad ones. Most of the them have been wonderful and inviting places, but they are definitely designed for extroverts. Naturally, I picked up Introverts in the Church to learn more.It was great to hear about the common challenges introverts encounter at church including small groups, evangelism, and mission trips. McHugh shares his personal experiences of perceived failure in church. He mentions almost giving up on everything during seminary.This is a good book. I felt like I learned more from Quiet and The Introvert Advantage, but if you are looking for something shorter to read and specifically about church, then I would recommend this book.

I'm as high on the introvert spectrum as it gets and enjoy books like this. And I do know they are made to build confidence and too see how other introverts live life. The only thing about that is extroverts NEVER have to do that so this automatically distinguishes us as being different , and not in the good way we all know we are. Just some of the phrases really make us sound like we are people at a disadvantage in life, like our own form of disability. And we can all agree that we are more thorough than others so even in reading, I direct as well and here's a few phrases that make me cringe."Introverts even choose extroverts as their leaders""Technology is not favorable for introverts"Preparation will help introverts have conversations ""Introverts need to search for meaning" (don't all humans?)"Life can be a challenge for us""Introverts should find a mentor" (????) Really??"Introverts always seem to have 2 left feet"And to be transparent, some are in better context in their sentences, but that's how it jumps out to me. God bless!

This entire topic is very much needed right now, in the church and in general American society. Thank you to the author for pointing out that introversion is a gift, not a detriment or sin to Christian living. While it’s true that even introverts must be part of a larger community, I would appreciate the larger louder community respecting some of the older values of contemplation, prayerfulness, and listening. Hopefully many church leaders will Allow Christians to worship and serve in many different ways. In the body of Christ, introverts are the ears, maybe not the mouth.

I have been learning the full extent of what it means to be an introvert (and a HSP to boot)..the more I read about being an introvert, the more I've learned about being ME. I have often struggled with 'fitting in' with any church I've ever gone to, big or small. Now I'm understanding more WHY this may be so. And that God likes me as I am. Churches ARE geared towards extroverts, but we introverts have our place too. We introverts are important to God as well.

I am holed up in my ivory tower (my home) with a heating pad on my neck for all the nodding, nodding, nodding with every word I'm reading. Usually, I read with pen-in-hand, but there is no point; the whole book would underlined.I've spent the last 20 years crafting a rule of life without knowing there was a name for it, although I'm familiar with examen and lectio divina. It has proved so valuable a practice that I've had over 100 opportunities to share about the value of how I live.This book will affirm your introverted ways and encourage you to embrace your place in an extroverted culture. It is truly a valuable resource for every leader and layperson.

This book helped me to understand why I so often feel out of place in our big, loud church. It gave me insight into how my gifts and temperament are valuable and necessary. And it gently reminded me that my introversion is not an excuse to retreat from community. An informative and insightful book.

A wonderful book, useful in its practical thought and ideas of application, and encouraging for us believers who dwell on the introversion side of the social energy. It was refreshing seeing Adam's view of things as a Christian introvert and his research of other believers and their experience on the church as introverts. I will definitely re-read this again and study it, and pray that God uses it to help my relationship with Him, and with fellow believers in the church. If you are an introvert who is feeling discouraged in the church, or an extravert looking to becoming more welcome to those who behave differently from you, then you must read this book!

I am an introvert and have always known that. This book has helped me understand what that means about myself. It has helped me articulate what that means to my extroverted husband. It has made me comfortable with who I am and how I am. I wish every church leader could read this book; could understand that an introvert can have a role in church ministry.