Our conversation started soon after liftoff, Atlanta to Boston. The busy executive heading home opened his laptop and hunkered down to work. Booting up, he said he was in software sales and would spend the flight on his Q3 forecast. What about me? he wanted to know, clicking to a spreadsheet. He seemed distracted, and I considered his question perfunctory, feeling if I said Im a circus clown, he wouldnt even blink.

I work for a church denomination, I answered. Which one? he asked. When I said Southern Baptist, he immediately shut his laptop and tucked it away. His action was so swift, it unnerved me. Then he turned in his seat, locked eyes and said, Tell me what Southern Baptists believe.

Suddenly I remembered what I loved about New Englanders when I lived there myselftheyre direct and bright, drawn to discussions, the deeper the better. I told him everything I could think of about our faith. He probed and seemed fascinated. Hed been raised Catholic but said he was discontent. Hed heard about us and was searching for something new.

More deep talk. We spent half the flight on religion versus relationship. Then something unsettling happened. Im thinking of trying the Unitarians, he confided. They seem influential. He even used the word potent to describe the impact they were making in his part of the country.

A few days laterand many miles on my rental carI saw what he meant. I ran across Unitarians everywhere, often setting up shop in the colonial churches that anchor villages and dot the New England countryside. Why arent the Christians there able to stem the tide?

And I saw evidence of their potency. Religions that arent based on Gods Word are shaping our social agenda. My vacation spawned a story on Unitarianism.

But theres more to this problem, and its roots are closer to home, says Alvin Reid in his cover story. Those of us with the Truth can scarcely point fingers at other regions of our continent while so many in our midst are lost themselves. We must find them and share the Savior theyve been missing. Theyre inside our churches, but they dont know the Light. Oh, they may have walked the aisle. But they dont really know Christ personally, dont really live for Him with passion.

How can we stem the tide of deceit when so many in our church pews are dim as unplugged lightbulbs, lost in darkness?

Carolyn Curtis, editor, ccurtis@namb.net