Why I'm Chasing the Unchurched: The Paradox of Serving the "Saved”

I have a confession to make, and it might be hard for you to accept or agree, but hear me out:

As a woman who has been actively serving in marketplace ministry for over a decade, coaching women through massive life and career transitions, and running a thriving women’s writing collective for over five years, I have seen countless women transform their lives. I’ve seen women who started with nothing become authors, and women who felt stuck suddenly find their voice.

And here is the raw truth born of that experience: My marketplace ministry and women's organization have never been more effective than when I am serving women who are unchurched, unsaved, and untethered by religious tradition.

I know, that sounds counterintuitive. Shouldn't serving women who already know the Word be easier? Shouldn't those who have already accepted Christ be the most flexible, the most teachable, the most ready to heal, grow, and serve beside you?

In theory, yes. But in practice, I’ve found the opposite to be true.

If I'm being brutally honest, the most challenging, frustrating, and draining experiences I’ve had in ministry have been leading and serving women who are technically saved but spiritually stagnant.

I’m talking about the women who have the jargon down: they can quote the scripture, they know the difference between grace and mercy, and they can pray a magnificent prayer in a small group. But they are often the hardest to move off the starting block.

Why?

I’ve spent a lot of time praying and reflecting on this paradox, and I’ve identified the spiritual "weights" they often carry:

The Weight of Entitlement and Self-Righteousness: This is the spirit that whispers, "I've done the work, I've earned my access." They can often carry a palpable self-righteousness, feeling they possess "more God" or a higher quality of faith than those outside the church or even those in the community who are struggling. They feel entitled to ease and validation, which makes them resentful when ministry requires vulnerability or true work.

The Weight of Self-Sufficiency: They’ve been in church so long, they think they already know all the answers. They approach new teaching or a fresh move of the Spirit with a posture of critique, not curiosity. They’re busy comparing your vision to what their home church, small group, or women’s ministry did five years ago, rather than asking God what He wants them to do right now.

The Weight of Experience (Baggage): They often carry deep wounds from previous church politics, bad leadership, or religious judgment. This baggage makes them distrustful, cautious, and defensive. They may be "saved," but they are not free from the trauma of religion.

The Weight of Appearance: They prioritize looking "right" over being real. They are so concerned with maintaining the image of the "good Christian woman" that they refuse to admit their struggles, expose their blind spots, and fully participate in the transparent vulnerability required for true transformation.

Leading women who are already tied to a religion or way of thinking can sometimes feel like trying to update an iOS platform with an Android server.

Then there are the women I find myself drawn to, the ones who have never stepped foot inside a sanctuary. The unchurched. The unsaved. When I connect with these women in the marketplace, in my career coaching, publishing consulting, or even just over coffee, I notice a stark contrast:

They are Real and Ready: They are honest about their mess. They’ll say, "I'm miserable, I don't know what I believe, and my life is falling apart." They don't have the church vocabulary to hide behind. This honesty is the fertile ground for God to move.

They are Curious, Not Critical: They don't have preconceived notions about God, faith, or ministry. They approach my work with a genuine thirst for solutions and transformation. When they hear the Word (often packaged as practical life wisdom), they receive it like rain on dry ground.

They Don't Fear the Cost: When they see a truth that can change their life, they aren't afraid of the cost. They are willing to cut off toxic habits, rearrange their lives, and make radical shifts. They don't have the ingrained resistance that says, "I'll change, but only as long as I can keep my Sunday morning routine."

This isn't an indictment of the church, and it's certainly not a judgment on the redeemed. It’s an honest look at the spiritual effectiveness of my own ministry.

My heart desires to be a bridge. Women who have never experienced the goodness of God need a clear path to the truth, and often, that path isn't paved with stained glass and tradition; it's paved with authentic connection and relatable empowerment.

If my purpose is to equip women to step into their power and destiny, then I must go where the soil is most receptive. And right now, I see the greatest hunger, the greatest willingness to be discipled, and the greatest rate of transformation in the hearts of those women who are still trying to figure it all out.

I’m chasing the unchurched, not because I've given up on the saved, but because I know that when God moves in a genuinely free and hungry heart, the transformation is explosive. And truthfully, those free hearts are often found outside the walls we've built.

My focus is on bringing Kingdom power to marketplace problems, and for many women, that's exactly the Gospel they need to hear first.

This is my story; continue writing your story, one healing page at a time... QP